Patent ID: 6768420
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: B60N,B60R,H03K

Abstract:
A vehicle compartment sensing system for detecting the presence of a person in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle having an ignition, said vehicle compartment sensing system comprising:at least one electric field sensor which is operable to detect occupancy in the vehicle compartment by detecting a change in an electric field within the compartment which is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, said at least one electric field sensor generating an electric field sensor output; a temperature sensor operable to detect an ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment, said temperature sensor generating a temperature sensor output; and a control, said control being operable to receive an input indicative of said temperature sensor output and an input indicative of said electric field sensor output, said control being operable to process said inputs and to generate an alert output, said control generating said alert output when (a) said electric field sensor output is indicative of a presence of a person within the compartment, (b) said temperature sensor output is indicative of the ambient temperature within the vehicle compartment being at or above a threshold temperature, and (c) a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off; wherein said change in said electric field is indicative of a respiration characteristic.