Child safety seat alarm

Abstract

An alarm system can remind or alert an adult about the presence of a child in a vehicle. A child detector, such as a weight sensor or weight-activated circuit, can detect whether a child is occupying the child safety seat. The child detector may be integrated with or coupled to a child safety seat. The child detector can be used in coordination with a vehicle alarm system to remind or alert a driver that a child is occupying the child safety seat when a key is not in the ignition.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A vehicle comprising:
 a seat for a passenger;   an ignition sensor configured to indicate whether an engine of the vehicle is running;   a detector configured to detect a presence of the passenger in the seat; and   an alarm system coupled to the detector and the ignition sensor, wherein the alarm system is configured to produce a distinct alert in response to detecting the presence of the passenger in the seat when the ignition sensor indicates that the engine is deactivated.   
     
     
         23 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the detector is part of a child safety seat system in the vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the distinct alert is different from a confirmatory honk normally associated with securing the vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the detector comprises at least one of a weight sensor, a weight-sensitive switch, or a pressure-activated switch. 
     
     
         26 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the detector comprises at least one of an in-vehicle camera, a motion detector, an infrared sensor, a buckle sensor, or a proximity detector. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the alarm system is further configured to produce an alternative notification that is normally associated with a problem preventing the alarm system from securing the vehicle. 
     
     
         28 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the alarm system is configured to refrain from securing the vehicle in response to detecting the presence of the passenger in the seat. 
     
     
         29 . The vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the detector is coupled to the alarm system via an interface unit. 
     
     
         30 . The vehicle of  claim 29 , wherein the interface unit comprises a junction to a door or window sensor coupled to the alarm system. 
     
     
         31 . The vehicle of  claim 29 , wherein the interface unit comprises at least one of:
 an electrical connection to a sensor input of the alarm system;   a wireless connection to the alarm system;   a junction to an existing sensor coupled to the alarm system; or   a circuit for controlling an output device associated with the alarm system.   
     
     
         32 . An alarm system for use in a vehicle, the alarm system comprising:
 a first input for coupling to a detector configured to detect a presence of a passenger in a seat of the vehicle;   a second input for coupling to an ignition sensor configured to indicate whether an engine of the vehicle is running;   at least one output for coupling to an apparatus for generating an alert; and   a controller configured to:
 receive, via the first input, a first signal indicative of the presence of the passenger in the seat, 
 receive, via the second input, a second signal indicative that the engine is deactivated, and 
 produce, via the at least one output, a distinct alert in response to receiving the first signal indicative of the presence of the passenger in the seat and the second signal indicative that the engine is deactivated. 
   
     
     
         33 . The alarm system of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 prevent the alarm system from producing a confirmatory honk normally associated with securing the vehicle in response to a command associated with securing the vehicle.   
     
     
         34 . The alarm system of  claim 32 , wherein the controller configured to produce the distinct alert includes the controller being configured to produce the distinct alert when the first signal indicates the presence of the passenger after a threshold wait time. 
     
     
         35 . The alarm system of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a network interface capable of transmitting an emergency alert message;   wherein the controller is further configured to send the emergency alert message when the first signal indicates the presence of the passenger after a threshold wait time.   
     
     
         36 . The alarm system of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a key sensor; and   the controller further configured to:
 detect, via the key sensor, a removal of a key from an ignition of the vehicle, and 
 produce, via the at least one output, the distinct alert in response to receiving the first signal indicative of the presence of the passenger in the seat and in response to the removal of the key. 
   
     
     
         37 . A method for use in an alarm system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 detecting, via a detector of the vehicle, a presence of a passenger in a seat of the vehicle;   determining, via an ignition sensor, whether an engine of the vehicle is running; and   producing a distinct alert in response to detecting the presence of the passenger in the seat when the ignition sensor indicates that the engine is deactivated.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the distinct alert is different from a confirmatory honk normally associated with securing the vehicle. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 receiving a command from a fob of the alarm system, the command associated with a user attempting to secure the vehicle using the alarm system, wherein the distinct alert is further in response to receiving the command.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 detecting, via the detector, the presence of the passenger for more than a threshold wait time; and   causing a notification, in response to detecting, via the detector, the presence of the passenger for more than the threshold wait time.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein causing the notification comprises at least one of:
 sounding an audible alarm;   transmitting an emergency alert message; or   broadcasting a distress signal.