Systems and methods for removable vehicle seat sensor

Abstract

Methods and systems for detection of removable vehicle seats may be used to indicate presence or absence of a child in the vehicle. In some examples, an alarm system includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver and a removable seat magnetic coupling. Various actions are triggered when the parent (e.g., guardian) goes beyond a predefined range while the removable seat is within the vehicle, such as sounding an alarm on a mobile electronic device.

1 . A removable object proximity detection system, the system comprising:
 a magnet attached to a removable object;   a magnetic sensor attached to a base, the magnetic sensor configured to generate a magnetic proximity signal representative of a magnetic proximity between the removable object and the base, the removable object configured to be removably attached to the base;   a radio frequency (RF) circuit, the RF circuit configured to communicate with a mobile electronic device and to generate an RF proximity indication, the RF proximity indication representative of a device distance between the RF circuit and the mobile electronic device; and   a device processor electrically coupled to the magnetic sensor and to the RF circuit, the device processor specifically programmed to:
 receive the magnetic proximity signal from the magnetic sensor; 
 determine, based on the magnetic proximity signal, that the removable object is attached to the base; 
 receive the RF proximity indication from the RF circuit; 
 determine, based on the RF proximity indication, that the device distance exceeds a maximum device distance threshold; and 
 generate an abandonment alert, the alert indicating that the removable object is attached to the base and that the device distance exceeds the maximum device distance threshold.