Abstract:
A system for alerting a person when a child has been left unattended comprising at least one sensor pad configured to send a first signal to a transmitter which in turn simultaneously relays the first signal to a plurality of receiver modules, wherein said plurality of receiver modules are configured to notify a person that a child has been left unattended if communication between the sensor pad and at least one of the plurality of receiver modules ceases. In addition, a method is provided for alerting a person when a child has been left unattended comprising the steps of sending a first signal, via a sensor pad, to a transmitter; simultaneously relaying the first signal to a plurality of receiver modules; and notifying a person that a child has been left unattended if communication between the sensor pad and at least one of the plurality of receiver modules ceases.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/903,590 filed on Nov. 13, 2013. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a warning system for detecting the presence of an unattended child occupant left inside a vehicle. 
     2. Discussion of the Background 
     The number of infants who perish because they have been left behind in an unattended vehicle is on the rise. In 2013, 44 children died of hyperthermia after being forgotten in a car and many more close calls were documented in the U.S. alone. The deaths usually happened after an otherwise caring and doting parent stepped out of the car, inadvertently leaving the child inside. New technology is needed to address this troubling problem. 
     There are different systems that tackle this issue. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,378,801 describes an invention that features a plurality of sensors connected to a seatbelt in which each sensor determines if the seatbelt is engaged. The present disclosure proposes using a sensor pad as a means to detect if a child is indeed on the car seat. This would avoid the scenario in which a parent or caregiver were to forget the infant even after unbuckling them. 
     As opposed to prior baby seat occupant detection systems, like U.S. Pat. No. 8,058,983, the present disclosure not only includes a remote unit (a keychain) to alert caregivers that a child has been left in the car, but also takes advantage of smart phone technology by directly pairing the car seat module to the parent&#39;s phone via Bluetooth®. The key chain and phone application work independently of each other, so if one fails the other is not affected. The settings on the application are customizable, so that in addition to alerting the user it can also send emails to a specified contact list whenever the alarm is activated. The present disclosure also includes a remote alarm that can alert persons in close proximity to the vehicle of the presence of an unattended child inside the vehicle. A bracelet is also provided for older children that do not require a car seat. 
     The present disclosure operates using multiple power supply circuits. This provides redundancy in terms of power sources, avoiding any system failure due to the failure of one power supply source. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for alerting people when a child has been left unattended in a car. 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the disclosure multiple presence sensors are located in a Car Seat Module, along with a temperature sensor. A Bracelet Module is also provided to alert caregivers if the infant is in imminent danger. The signals from these sensors are sent to multiple receiver modules independently to alert the caregiver in the event the child is left unattended in the car. The receiver modules are: Keychain, Remote Alarm &amp; Smart Phone. A driver sensor module detects when the caregiver is present in the vehicle and also when the caregiver is no longer present in the vehicle. This sensor communicates with the remote alarm module to alert the caregiver when it detects that the child is left unattended in the vehicle. 
     It is a further objective of the present disclosure to require simple installation procedures, since it operates with multiple power supply circuits such as car plug connection, rechargeable batteries, piezoelectric materials, photovoltaic cells, or any other easily installed power supply mechanism. Another objective is that any end user can quickly install the system with minimal or no electro-mechanical connection expertise. In addition, the system not only provides redundancy in terms of power sources, but also in terms of alert mechanisms, reducing the possibility of complete system failure. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure at least one sensor pad is configured to send a first signal to a transmitter which in turn simultaneously relays the first signal to a plurality of receiver modules, wherein said plurality of receiver modules are configured to notify a person that a child has been left unattended if communication between the sensor pad and at least one of the plurality of receiver modules ceases. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure a method is provided for alerting a person when a child has been left unattended comprising the steps of sending a first signal, via a sensor pad, to a transmitter; simultaneously relaying the first signal to a plurality of receiver modules; and notifying a person that a child has been left unattended if communication between the sensor pad and at least one of the plurality of receiver modules ceases. 
     Still other features relating to the aforementioned system and method are contemplated in the present application, as described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the system. 
         FIG. 2  shows a general overview of the system. 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of the car seat module. 
         FIG. 4  shows the keychain module. 
         FIG. 5A  shows the remote alarm module, 
         FIG. 5B  shows an exemplary embodiment of the remote alarm module. 
         FIG. 6A  shows the driver sensor transmitter module. 
         FIG. 6B  shows an exemplary embodiment of the driver sensor module. 
         FIG. 7  shows the smart phone module. 
         FIG. 8A  shows the bracelet module. 
         FIG. 8B  shows an exemplary embodiment of the bracelet. 
         FIG. 9  shows a flowchart which depicts the smart phone application. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows a general overview of the present disclosure. The disclosure consists of a Car Seat Module and Bracelet Module, which monitor the infant, a Driver Sensor Transmitter Module which monitors the presence of the caregiver within the vehicle, and the Keychain, Remote Alarm and Smart Phone modules, which activate when a child is left unattended in the vehicle, or if the infant is in danger due to high temperatures. The system offers the benefit of being redundant, in terms of the modules that detect the presence of the infant and the modules that notify when there is an emergency situation. There is also redundancy in terms of the power supplies, since most modules have more than one power supply. These redundancies reduce the possibility of a complete system failure. 
       FIG. 2  shows the interaction between the components of a preferred embodiment. According to this preferred embodiment, the disclosure includes a car seat module  11  that works together with a keychain module  13 , a remote (passerby) alarm module  14  and a smartphone module  15  to alert caregivers of the presence of an infant in the car after the caregiver has left close proximity of the vehicle. According to said preferred embodiment, there is also a bracelet module  12  (shown in  FIG. 8B ) which communicates with the smart phone module  15 , and a driver sensor module  16  which communicates directly with the remote alarm module  14 . The bracelet module is intended to monitor older children that do not require a car seat to travel inside the vehicle. 
     The car seat module is shown in  FIG. 3 . A primary sensor pad  33  works as a detection device to alert that the baby is on the car seat. Said embodiment has a backup sensor  37  which detects the presence of the child in case the primary sensor  33  fails. The signal received from the sensor pad  33  is sent through a control circuit  34  to a RF transmitter with encoder  35  system which transmits a “wireless” signal  36  to multiple independent RF receiver modules. The same signal received from the sensor pad will be sent via the Bluetooth 4.0 communication protocol to the smart phone application. 
     Said embodiment also has a temperature sensor  39  that detects dangerous temperature spikes, in which case it sends a signal to the control circuit  34 , which in turn sends a signal to a high temperature buzzer alarm  38  to alert a person that the infant is in imminent danger. 
       FIG. 4  shows the key chain module. The signal received from the car seat module  41  is processed via a RF receiver circuit with decoder  42  which is in turn is processed by a control circuit  43  that activates multiple independent alarm signals (e.g., vibration motor, buzzer alarm and a light emitting diode (LED)) ( 44 ,  45 ,  46 ). The purpose of this keychain module is to alert a user of the keychain, when he or she moves away from the car, that a child is still inside the car. The keychain module provides an alert in case the other alert systems are not working or were ignored. The keychain module works independently from the other modules. 
       FIG. 5A  shows the Remote Alarm module. The signal  57  received from the car seat module will be processed via a RF receiver circuit with decoder  52  which will be used as an input in combination with the input from the signal  58  received from the driver sensor transmitter module, which will also be processed via a RF receiver circuit with decoder  56 , located at the driver&#39;s seat that will activate an alarm  54  and a message  55  via a control circuit  53  when caregivers step out of the car and do not come back within a pre-determined time span. According to one embodiment, the alarm  54  is a piezo-buzzer alarm, and the message  55  is a pre-recorded voice message. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the interaction between the car seat module  11 , the driver sensor module  16  and the remote alarm module  14 . According to one embodiment the driver sensor module  16  communicates with the remote alarm module  14  if the presence of a driver is detected. Meanwhile, the car seat module communicates with the remote alarm module if the presence of a child is detected. The remote alarm module will activate when the presence of a child is detected and the presence of a driver is not detected after a predetermined time-span. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the Driver Sensor Transmitter module. A primary sensor  62  detects the presence of the driver within the car. There is also a backup sensor  63  which detects the presence of the driver in the car, in case the primary sensor  62  fails. According to one embodiment, the primary sensor  62  is an electro-mechanical presence pad, and the backup sensor  63  is a three-axis accelerometer which alerts the system if the car has stopped in case the primary sensor fails. The signals received from these sensors ( 62 ,  63 ) are sent through a control circuit  65  to a RF transmitter with encoder  64  system which transmits a “wireless” signal  61  to the Remote Alarm module. 
       FIG. 7  shows the Smart Phone module. The smart phone module consists of a smart phone device that contains a customized application  73  within the device that is in charge of executing the steps shown in  FIG. 9 . The signal received from the car seat module  71  is processed via the RF receiver (Bluetooth) circuit inside the smart phone device  72 . The car seat module and the smart phone are paired via the Bluetooth transmitter. The car seat module utilizes Bluetooth technology so that it can be easily discovered by the smart phone and paired, just as you would pair any other Bluetooth device such as a headset. Once the devices are paired, the user can access the application  73  and monitor the car seat. According to one embodiment, the application provides the ability to customize the alert protocol  74  and provide a list of emergency contacts that are notified via text or e-mail  75 . According to another embodiment, the application leverages the use of the accelerometer and GPS device of the smart phone to determine whether the car is moving or not. The purpose of this application is to notify a user that an unattended infant is inside the vehicle when he or she moves away from the car in the event the remaining alert systems are not working or were ignored. 
       FIG. 8A  shows the bracelet module. According to one embodiment, the bracelet module will have a Bluetooth device  85  which will communicate with the smart phone application that will be in charge of alerting the status of the child presence inside or outside the vehicle. The bracelet module will transmit its Bluetooth information so that it can be easily discovered by the smart phone and paired. The bracelet contains various sensors  83  to determine if the infant is in danger or if the user of the bracelet steps too far away from the child. These sensors  83  send signals through a control circuit  84  which in turn sends a signal through the Bluetooth  85  which sends a signal  86  to the smart phone. The purpose of the bracelet module is to provide a detection mechanism for children that do not require a car seat.  FIG. 8B  shows an exemplary embodiment of the bracelet. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart demonstrating the operation of the Smart Phone application. The first step in the application  93  is determining if the smart phone device is paired with the car seat module  11 . If they are not paired, the instructions on how to pair the devices appear on the smart phone device as shown in step  92 . Once they are paired, the paired device appears on the smart phone device  94 , and monitoring begins  95 . Two parallel processes run in the application once the devices are paired. One of the processes detects if the car is moving  96 ; according to one embodiment, the car movements are detected with the smartphone&#39;s internal movement sensors. If the car is moving, monitoring continues  95 . If on the contrary, the car has stopped, the application verifies that the Bluetooth connection is still active  97 , and if it is, it then verifies it the baby is on the car seat  98 . 
     If the baby is not on the car seat, monitoring continues  95 . If the baby is on the car seat, a timer commences  99 , and if it times out  910  with the baby still on the car seat, the application triggers the alert protocol  71 . If on the contrary, the caregiver removes the baby from the car seat while the timer is still running, the application commences monitoring again  95 . 
     The second process runs parallel to the aforementioned one, and verifies that the Bluetooth connection is active. This process is necessary because if the Bluetooth connection fails, the application can no longer verify if the infant is present in the car seat. It begins by verifying if the Bluetooth connection is active  912 . If the connection is active, monitoring continues  95 . If the connection is not active, the application verifies if the baby is on the car seat  913 . If the baby is not on the car seat, the application continues monitoring  95 . If on the contrary the baby is still on the car seat, the application triggers the alarm  914 . 
     The system has the benefit of utilizing various power sources, establishing a certain level of redundancy. This reduces the possibility of a module failing due to lack of power. Of the modules which comprise the system, the Car Seat Module, the Keychain Module and the Bracelet Module have two power supplies: a primary power source ( 31 ,  47 ,  81 ) and a secondary power source ( 32 ,  48 ,  82 ). These multiple power supplies do not only provide redundancy, but also increase battery uptime. According to one embodiment, one of the power sources may be a rechargeable battery pack and the other may be a photovoltaic cell. According to another embodiment, one of the power sources may be a battery cell, and the other may be a photovoltaic cell. A person having ordinary skill in the art will be able to decide which configuration of power sources will be the best, given system constraints. 
     The other modules, that is the Driver Sensor Transmitter module and the Remote Alarm module, utilize one power source ( 51 ,  66 ). According to one embodiment, the power sources may be rechargeable battery packs. 
     According to another embodiment, the disclosure detects the presence of hazardous gases when the infant is still confined within the vehicle. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method and system of the present disclosure. Other embodiments of the method and system will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the method and system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the forthcoming claims.