Vehicle Occupant Detection with Temperature Forewarning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infants, children, and pets are at risk of heat-related trauma due to being left in vehicles, where temperatures can rise rapidly, leading to hyperthermia and fatalities, despite existing laws and safety measures, as current occupant detection systems do not adequately address the variable temperature settings within vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A safety system that combines occupant detection with temperature sensing, using sensors to alert custodial persons or emergency services when an occupant is present in a hazardous temperature setting, incorporating features like a time delay, low battery alert, and intruder detection, and can be integrated with existing vehicle infrastructure, with sensors affixed to key fobs or seats, to initiate responses such as alarms, window lowering, and emergency notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing occupant detection systems are used, then occupant presence can be detected, but they do not adequately address variable temperature settings leading to heat-related trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines existing occupant detection systems with temperature monitoring sensors to create an integrated safety system. The control module receives signals from both the occupant sensor and temperature sensor, merging their functions to provide comprehensive protection against heat-related trauma while maintaining reliable occupant detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting occupant presence, monitoring temperature conditions, determining hazardous situations, and initiating appropriate responses. This multi-functional approach allows the system to address both occupant detection and temperature-related safety concerns within a single integrated platform.
2Reliability
If temperature monitoring is added to occupant detection systems, then heat-related trauma can be prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control module automatically determines hazardous situations by processing signals from both sensors and initiates appropriate responses without requiring external intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of integrating multiple sensing functions and response mechanisms, reducing the burden on users while maintaining reliable heat trauma prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors both occupant presence and temperature conditions, using feedback from these sensors to dynamically determine hazardous situations and adjust responses accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to manage complexity by using real-time data to guide its decision-making and response initiation processes.
3Loss of time
If immediate alerts are initiated upon detecting hazardous conditions, then response time is reduced, but false alarms may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control module is pre-programmed with criteria for determining hazardous situations based on combinations of occupant presence and temperature sensor readings. This preliminary setup allows the system to immediately recognize and respond to hazardous conditions without delay, while the pre-established criteria help filter out false alarms by requiring specific threshold conditions to be met.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its response based on real-time sensor inputs, only initiating alerts when both occupant presence and hazardous temperature conditions are confirmed. This dynamic approach allows for rapid response when truly hazardous situations occur while maintaining alert accuracy by requiring concurrent validation from multiple sensors before triggering warnings.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method are provided for alerting of an occupant endangered by being situated in a variable temperature setting. The system can be utilized within a motor vehicle, and occupants include an infant, a child, a person, and an animal or pet. In an aspect, when a security device (130) receives a signal that an occupant sensor (116) detects the presence of an occupant and a temperature sensor (114) detects a predetermined temperature, both within a predetermined time period, then a security response is initiated. A security response (134 and 136) can include triggering an audible alarm, flashing a light, lowering a window, unlocking a door, notifying an owner of the security device, and transmitting an emergency signal to an emergency system including telephone 911 and an emergency response company. The occupant sensor (116) and the temperature sensor (114) may be affixed to a key fob (220) such that an antenna (212) transmits to the security device (230).