IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,592,138
Granted Patent B2
US 12,592,138 · App. 18/198,870 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Rear seat passenger notification device and a method therefor

Inventors: Seul Ki Jeon (Hwaseong-si, KR); Hui Won Shin (Hwaseong-si, KR); Eung Hwan Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
G08B21/02B60H1/00742E05F15/73G06V10/26G06V20/593G06V40/10E05F2015/767
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,592,138
App. No.
18/198,870
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rear seat passenger notification device includes a sensor device that identifies information about at least one passenger who is present in a host vehicle when the host vehicle enters a lock state. The rear seat passenger notification device also includes an alarm device that performs a visual and audible alarm function, and an information collection device that collects information about the host vehicle and information about a user of the host vehicle The rear seat passenger notification device further includes an action determination and control device that identifies, based on at least one of the information about the at least one passenger, the information about the host vehicle, the information about the user, or a combination thereof, at least one action item for control of the host vehicle, and provides the user with the at least one action item.

Claims (75)

1 . A rear seat passenger notification device, comprising:

a sensor device configured to:

identify information about at least one passenger who is present in a host vehicle when the host vehicle enters a lock state, the information including at least one of a location where the at least one passenger is seated, a state where the at least one passenger is seated, an age group of the at least one passenger, or a combination thereof, and

identify whether the at least one passenger is an adult or a child using at least one of a detection area where a detected passenger is detected, a detection intensity where the detected passenger is detected, a detection height where the detected passenger is detected, a location where breathing of the detected passenger occurs, or a combination thereof;

an alarm device configured to perform a visual and audible alarm function including at least one of a visual alarm function, an audible alarm function, or a combination thereof, when it is identified that the information about the at least one passenger meets a specified condition including at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof;

an information collection device configured to collect information about the host vehicle and information about a user of the host vehicle when it is identified that the information about the at least one passenger meets the specified condition; and

an action determination and control device configured to:

identify, based on at least one of the information about the at least one passenger, the information about the host vehicle, the information about the user, or a combination thereof, at least one action item for control of the host vehicle, and

provide the user with the at least one action item, wherein the action determination and control device is configured to provide the user with a function to control a window adjacent to an area identified as including the child,

wherein the information collection device includes:

a user location information collection device configured to collect a location of the user based on wireless communication with a user terminal, and

an outsider detection device configured to identify an outsider adjacent to the host vehicle using at least one of a biometric sensor, a motion sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a combination thereof.

2 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein the alarm device is configured to perform the visual and audible alarm function when it is identified, based on whether at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof included in the specified condition is met, that the at least one passenger includes the child.

3 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein:

the information collection device is configured to collect a separation distance between the user and the host vehicle when it is identified, based on whether at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof included in the specified condition is met, that the at least one passenger includes the child, and

the alarm device is configured to gradually strengthen and repeatedly perform the visual and audible alarm function when it is identified that the separation distance is less than a specified distance.

4 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein:

the information collection device is configured to collect a separation distance between the user and the host vehicle when it is identified, based on whether at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof included in the specified condition is met, that the at least one passenger includes the child, and

the action determination and control device is configured to transmit a user interface including the at least one action item for the control of the host vehicle to a terminal of the user when it is identified that the separation distance is greater than a specified distance.

5 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one action item includes at least one of control of air conditioning of the host vehicle, control of starting of the host vehicle, control of at least one window of the host vehicle, control of at least one door of the host vehicle, communication with a terminal of the user, digital key transmission to a terminal of an external user adjacent to the host vehicle, or a combination thereof.

6 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein the action determination and control device is configured to:

execute one of control of air conditioning of the host vehicle, control of at least one window of the host vehicle, control of at least one door of the host vehicle, or a combination thereof such that an interior temperature of the host vehicle, the interior temperature being in included in the information of the host vehicle, decreases when it is identified that the interior temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature, and

execute one of the control of air conditioning of the host vehicle, the control of the at least one window of the host vehicle, the control of the at least one door of the host vehicle, or the combination thereof such that the interior temperature of the host vehicle, the interior temperature being in included in the information of the host vehicle, increases when it is identified that the interior temperature is less than a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

7 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein the action determination and control device is configured to transmit a digital key of the host vehicle to a terminal of an external user adjacent to the host vehicle when presence of the external user is identified by means of adjacent information of the host vehicle, the adjacent information being included in the information of the host vehicle.

8 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein:

the sensor device is configured to:

divide an interior of the host vehicle into a plurality of areas based on a field of view (FOV) of at least one sensor included in the sensor device, and

identify information of the at least one passenger with respect to each of the plurality of areas, and

the action determination and control device is configured to:

identify the location where the at least one passenger is seated among the plurality of areas, and

provide the user with the at least one action item to execute at least one of air conditioning control, window control, door control, or a combination thereof in an area adjacent to the location.

9 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein:

the sensor device is configured to identify that an external user adjacent to the host vehicle approaches the host vehicle using at least one camera, and

the action determination and control device is configured to:

continue setting all doors of the host vehicle to the lock state, and

transmit information about the external user to a terminal of the user.

10 . The rear seat passenger notification device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes:

at least one camera configured to capture an area in front of the host vehicle, an area behind the host vehicle, and an area at a side of the host vehicle, and

at least one rear occupant alert (ROA) sensor configured to divide and identify an interior of the host vehicle into a plurality of areas for each sitting seat.

11 . A rear seat passenger notification method, comprising:

identifying, by a sensor device, information about at least one passenger who is present in a host vehicle, the information including at least one of a location where the at least one passenger is seated, a state where the at least one passenger is seated, an age group of the at least one passenger, or a combination thereof, when the host vehicle enters a lock state;

identifying, by the sensor device, whether the at least one passenger is an adult or a child using at least one of a detection area where a detected passenger is detected, a detection intensity where the detected passenger is detected, a detection height where the detected passenger is detected, a location where breathing of the detected passenger occurs, or a combination thereof;

performing, by an alarm device, a visual and audible alarm function including at least one of a visual alarm function, an audible alarm function, or a combination thereof, when it is identified that the information about the at least one passenger meets a specified condition including at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof;

collecting, by an information collection device, information about the host vehicle and information about a user of the host vehicle when it is identified that the information about the at least one passenger meets the specified condition;

collecting, by a user location information collection device, a location of the user based on wireless communication with a user terminal;

identifying, by an outsider detection device, an outsider adjacent to the host vehicle using at least one of a biometric sensor, a motion sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a combination thereof;

identifying, by an action determination and control device, based on at least one of the information about the at least one passenger, the information about the host vehicle, the information about the user, or a combination thereof, at least one action item for control of the host vehicle; and

providing, by the action determination and control device, the user with the at least one action item, including providing the user with a function to control a window adjacent to an area identified as including the child.

12 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein performing the visual and audible alarm function by the alarm device includes:

performing the visual and audible alarm function when it is identified, based on whether at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof included in the specified condition is met, that the at least one passenger includes the child.

13 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein:

collecting the information by the information collection device includes collecting, by the information collection device, a separation distance between the user and the host vehicle when it is identified, based on whether at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof included in the specified condition is met, that the at least one passenger includes the child, and

performing the visual and audible alarm function by the alarm device includes gradually strengthening and repeatedly performing the visual and audible alarm function when it is identified that the separation distance is less than a specified distance.

14 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein:

collecting the information by the information collection device includes collecting a separation distance between the user and the host vehicle when it is identified, based on whether at least one of the detection area, the detection intensity, the detection height, or a combination thereof included in the specified condition is met, that the at least one passenger includes the child, and

providing the at least one action item to the user by the action determination and control device includes transmitting, by the action determination and control device, a user interface including the at least one action item for the control of the host vehicle to a terminal of the user when it is identified that the separation distance is greater than a specified distance.

15 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one action item includes at least one of control of air conditioning of the host vehicle, control of starting of the host vehicle, control of at least one window of the host vehicle, control of at least one door of the host vehicle, communication with a terminal of the user, digital key transmission to a terminal of an external user adjacent to the host vehicle, or a combination thereof.

16 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein providing the at least one action item to the user by the action determination and control device includes:

executing, by the action determination and control device, one of control of air conditioning of the host vehicle, control of at least one window of the host vehicle, control of at least one door of the host vehicle, or a combination thereof such that an interior temperature of the host vehicle, the interior temperature being in included in the information of the host vehicle, decreases when it is identified that the interior temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature, or

executing, by the action determination and control device, one of the control of the air conditioning of the host vehicle, the control of the at least one window of the host vehicle, the control of the at least one door of the host vehicle, or the combination thereof such that the interior temperature of the host vehicle, the interior temperature being in included in the information of the host vehicle, increases when it is identified that the interior temperature is less than a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

17 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein providing the at least one action item to the user includes:

transmitting, by the action determination and control device, a digital key of the host vehicle to a terminal of an external user adjacent to the host vehicle when presence of the external user is identified, using adjacent information of the host vehicle, the adjacent information being included in the information of the host vehicle.

18 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein:

identifying the information about the at least one passenger includes dividing, by the sensor device, an interior of the host vehicle into a plurality of areas based on a field of view (FOV) of at least one sensor included in the sensor device and identifying, by the sensor device, information of the at least one passenger with respect to each of the plurality of areas, and

providing the at least one action item to the user by the action determination and control device includes:

identifying, by the action determination and control device, the location where the at least one passenger is seated among the plurality of areas, and

providing, by the action determination and control device, the user with the at least one action item to execute at least one of air conditioning control, window control, door control, or a combination thereof, in an area adjacent to the location.

19 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein:

identifying the information about the at least one passenger by the sensor device includes identifying, by the sensor device, that an external user adjacent to the host vehicle approaches the host vehicle using at least one camera, and

providing the at least one action item to the user by the action determination and control device includes

continuing, by the action determination and control device, setting all doors of the host vehicle to the lock state, and

transmitting, by the action determination and control device, information about the external user to a terminal of the user.

20 . The rear seat passenger notification method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor device includes:

at least one camera configured to capture an area in front of the host vehicle, an area behind the host vehicle, and an area at a side of the host vehicle, and

at least one rear occupant alert (ROA) sensor configured to divide and identify an interior of the host vehicle into a plurality of areas for each sitting seat.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2023
From: JEON, SEUL KI; SHIN, HUI WON; KIM, EUNG HWAN
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063681/0086 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0142989 · Oct 31, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240144801A1 · May 2, 2024
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