Patent · US Expired

System to detect the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle

US7170401B1 · kind B1 · utility

70Cited by
6References
13Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 13, 2004
Grant dateJan 30, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 17, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60N2210/30
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system detects the presence of an unattended child within a vehicle and when the child is so detected, disables the vehicle's door locks by preventing doors from being locked or remaining locked and sounds an alarm. The presence of a child is detected by measuring pressure on the back seat and measurements above a threshold limit signify a child is present or if any of the rear seat belts are buckled a child is detected. The system can be shut off by the driver, although the system has an override in the shutoff mode so that if the temperature rises above or falls below a certain level and the presence of a child is detected, the alarm is sounded. In this mode, the presence of the child can also be detected by a motion sensor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.