Systems and methods for indicating the presence of a child in a vehicle
Systems and methods which provide for an alarm or notification that a child is in a car seat. The systems generally determine if a child is in the seat and that the seat, and therefore the vehicle, is not in motion. Upon detecting both situations, the notification or alarm is activated.
1. A child car seat and notification device, in combination, comprising:
a sensor integral with said child car seat;
an accelerometer;
a notification system; and
a controller;
wherein
if said sensor detects a child in said child car seat and said accelerometer detects repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller does not activate said notification system; and
if said sensor does not detect a child in said child car seat and said accelerometer detects repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller activates said notification system to provide a first notification.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein if said sensor does detect a child in said child car seat and said accelerometer does not detect repeated acceleration along a fixed axis, then said controller activates said notification system to provide a second notification.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first notification and said second notification are the same.
4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first notification and said second notification are different.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.
6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.
7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sensor detects that a buckle has been fastened about said child.
8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer is not integral to said car seat.
9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said controller is not integral to said car seat.
10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said notification system is not integral to said car seat.