Patent ID: 6166625
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A method of ensuring reliable thermal detection of the presence of a body having a thermal profile in a compartment of a parked motor vehicle comprising the steps of:providing a thermal energy detection system including a pyroelectric detector, said pyroelectric detector having a first pyroelectric sensing element and a second pyroelectric sensing element, said first and second pyroelectric sensing elements arranged in opposed connection, said thermal energy detection system further comprising control circuitry responsive to electrical indicatives generated by said opposed first and second sensing elements;mounting said thermal energy detection system either in a trunk compartment or an interior compartment of the vehicle;monitoring a thermal profile of said trunk compartment or said interior compartment of the vehicle using said thermal energy detection system when the vehicle is parked and operating under vehicle battery power;sensing a change in the thermal profile due to the presence of a moving human body having a temperature different than the thermal profile; andgenerating a signal indicative of the change in the sensed thermal profile in the trunk compartment or the interior compartment,wherein said thermal energy detection system is responsive to frequencies of change in sensed thermal profile in a restricted frequency range, thereby reducing the chance of a false alarm situation.