Patent ID: 7012533
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: B60N,B60R,G08B

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting and notifying that a child has been abandoned in a vehicle, comprising: providing an occupant detection and notification system for installation in a vehicle, said occupant detection and notification system further comprising: sequentially performing the step-by-step operational functions of said system according to the sequential steps, comprised of: step 1, determining when a child occupies said child car seat, by means of monitoring the state of said cushion pressure switch; step 2, enabling said system once responsible occupants are in said vehicle and all doors are closed, by means of monitoring the state of said door switch(es); step 3, detecting when a door of said vehicle is opened, by means of monitoring the state of said door switch(es); step 4, enabling an internal audible alarm or voice message stating that said child is in said child car seat, by means of an output enabling signal from said micro-controller unit; step 5, inhibiting said system if said child is removed from said child car seat, determined by monitoring the state of said cushion pressure switch; otherwise, if said child is left unattended in said child car seat: step 6, sensing the internal temperature inside said vehicle if said child is left in said child car seat inside said vehicle, by means of monitoring said inside vehicle temperature sensor; step 7, triggering said external vehicle alarm until someone comes to the aid of said child when vehicle inside temperature reaches an unsafe temperature, by means of by means of an output enabling signal from said micro-controller unit; and step 8, resetting said system when said child is safely removed from said vehicle.