Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Veronica M Yahkind

Galen E Ressler

Li-Pen J Ho

Methods and apparatus are provided for providing an indication to a person external to a vehicle, of an occupant inside the vehicle. The method comprises determining whether an occupant is in a vehicle, based on a capacitance measured within the vehicle; sensing whether an ignition of the vehicle is in an off position; detecting whether a first door coupled to the vehicle has been opened and closed, if the vehicle ignition is in an off position; if the first door has been opened and closed and an occupant is sensed in the vehicle, measuring a first time (T) beginning from the instant the first door is closed; and activating the alert, if Tis greater than a predetermined threshold time.

Vehicle-based vehicle occupant reminder using capacitive field-based sensor

Methods and apparatus are provided for providing an indication to a person external to a vehicle, of an occupant inside the vehicle. The method comprises determining whether a first object in the vehicle is an occupant, based, in part, on a weight of the first object; sensing whether an ignition of the vehicle is in an off position; detecting whether a first door coupled to the vehicle has been opened and closed, if the vehicle ignition is in an off position; if the first door has been opened and closed and an occupant is in the vehicle, measuring a first time (T) from an instant the first door is closed to an instant after the first door is closed; and activating the alert, if Tis greater than a predetermined threshold time (T).

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Veronica M Yahkind