The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2004
Li-pen J Ho, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Galen E. Ressler, White Lake, MI (US);
Veronica M Yahkind, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Li-Pen J Ho, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Galen E. Ressler, White Lake, MI (US);
Veronica M Yahkind, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
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.