Vehicular Mass Detection Circuit for Unattended Child Safety

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a significant risk of children and pets being left unattended in vehicles, leading to severe heatstroke or death, often due to routine habits turning into autopilot, and there is a need for a solution that can prevent such incidents independently of the parent's daily routine.

Innovation Solution

A wireless and redundant mass detection system that includes a circuit integrated into a vehicle or a child seat, which detects the presence of a mass and establishes communication links with electronic devices, sending alerts if the mass is left unattended for a predetermined time, escalating to emergency services if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a parent relies on daily routine habits to remember children, then the parent can efficiently manage daily tasks, but the parent may accidentally leave children unattended when routine changes or stress occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of daily task managementVSAvoidreliability of child safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by using automatic sensors and processors to detect child presence and send alerts without requiring parental memory or attention. The circuit autonomously monitors the vehicle interior and communicates with external devices, making the safety function independent of human routine or stress levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/cognitive system of human memory and routine with an electronic detection system. Sensors, processors, and communication circuits substitute for parental vigilance, providing reliable safety monitoring that does not depend on human cognitive limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a simple reminder system is used, then the system remains easy to operate, but it may not provide sufficient redundancy to prevent fatalities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of system operationVSAvoidsafety assurance level

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the safety function across multiple independent components: presence sensors, processing circuits, multiple communication devices, and escalation protocols. This segmentation provides redundancy while maintaining simplicity, as each component performs a specific function and the system as a whole achieves high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements beforehand cushioning through escalation protocols that prepare multiple alert levels in advance. If the first alert is not acknowledged, the system automatically escalates to more urgent notifications and eventually to emergency services, providing a safety buffer that accounts for potential alert failures or user unavailability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If multiple electronic devices are monitored for proximity, then the system provides redundant safety alerts, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety alert reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses universal communication protocols and standard electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, wearables) that users already possess. By leveraging existing multi-functional devices with built-in communication capabilities, the system achieves redundancy without proportionally increasing complexity, as each device can serve multiple functions including alerting, location tracking, and emergency communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10946768B2Wireless and redundant vehicular mass detection systems and methods

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 C-SAFE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A system may be integrated within or coupled to a vehicle, in a car seat, a seat cover, a pad, or another device. The system may determine placement of an object within the vehicle. When the driver parks and turns off the vehicle, the system may provide one or more visible or audible indicators to remind the user to check the back seat, trunk, or storage area of the vehicle. The audible indicators may utilize the speakers of the vehicle or the car horn. The visible indicators may include turning on or flashing interior or exterior lights, displaying information on a dashboard display or on a projected or augmented display on the windshield, and so on. In some instances, the system may send an alert to a smartphone, a key fob, another electronic device, or an emergency system to prevent overheating of an infant, a pet, groceries, and so on.