GB2432738A

GB2432738A - Child reassurance system

Info

Publication number: GB2432738A
Application number: GB0604442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Atherton; Simone C Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-26
Filing date: 2006-03-06
Publication date: 2007-05-30
Also published as: GB0524094D0; GB0604442D0

Abstract

A child reassurance system for use in a vehicle, comprising a camera 20 positioned to view the parent's face while driving, and a display screen 23 positioned for viewing by a child in the vehicle. The display screen may be detachably mounted on the head restraint 11 of a seat using Velcro (RTM). The attachment means can conveniently engage with the head restraint of the appropriate seat and has an adjustable joint for altering the viewing angle. The system may be removably retro-fitted to an existing car, be a permanently retro-fitted installation, or be installed during the car manufacturing process if desired. The system may be used in reverse to allow the parent to monitor the child.

Description

1 2432738 Child Reassurance System The present invention relates to

child reassurance systems, particularly for use in cars.

The use of child monitoring or surveillance systems is well known. These systems were initially intended mainly to allow a sleeping child to be monitored from another room.

The early systems were audio only, with a microphone in the child's bedroom and a speaker typically in the sitting room. Over time, such systems have developed greatly, for example with the addition of video and of systems including a switch-controlled audio link in the reverse direction so that the parents can speak to the child from the sitting room if they hear that the child is becoming distressed. There have also been great improvements in the manner in which the child's bedroom and the other room (sitting room) are coupled together.

The object of the present invention is to provide a child reassurance system particularly intended for use in cars.

The need for a child reassurance system in a car is not immediately obvious. If a child is in a car, a parent is almost always in the car as well; each can see the other, and the parent can speak to the child directly.

However, the parent and the child are both normally strapped in by suitable seat belts or other restraints. It is commonplace for the child to be placed in the rear of the car. In that situation, the child can see only the back of the parent's head, or cannot see the parent at all if the child's seat is facing backwards. Also, since the parent will be driving, they cannot turn to face the child, and cannot watch the child to see how it is behaving. The child is therefore in a situation where its contact with the parent is greatly reduced.

We have therefore realized that there is in fact a need for a child reassurance system which increases the amount of contact between a parent and a child in a car or the like.

According to the present invention there is provided a child reassurance system for use in a vehicle, comprising a video monitor or camera positioned to view the parent's face while driving, and a display screen positioned for viewing by a child in the vehicle. The display screen is preferably detachably mounted on the head restraint of a seat.

The system will normally be used when the child is in the back of the vehicle. If the child is in a forward facing seat, the screen will be attached to the rear of the appropriate front seat; if the child is in a backward-facing seat, the screen will be attached to the front of the appropriate rear seat. The system can of course also be used if the child is in a front seat, with the screen being attached either to the dashboard or the front of the front seat depending on which way the child is facing. The attachment means can conveniently engage with the head restraint of the appropriate seat.

The basic system thus comprises an interactive camera and screen combination which enables a baby or child to see an adult's face whilst they are in their car seat, typically in the rear of the car in either a rear or forward facing position. The system ordinarily clips together into a single unit to form a compact portable lightweight package for ease of transportation.

The system will normally be removably retro-fitted to an existing car, although it can of course be a permanently retro-fitted installation, as well as being installed during the car manufacturing process if desired.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, given by way of example and with reference to the drawing, which is a schematic representation of the system.

The drawing shows in diagrammatic form a section through a car, with a driver's seat 10 and a rear seat 11; there is a dashboard 14 in front of the driver's seat. The two seats 10 and 11 have head restraints 12 and 13 respectively. A driver (not shown) will occupy the driver's seat, and it is assumed that a child will either be strapped into the back seat using a child harness or be placed in a forward facing child's seat (not shown) attached to the rear seat 11. The rear seat 11 may be either on the driver's side or the passenger's side.

A video camera 20, including a short-range radio transmitter 21, is adjustably mounted on the dashboard to view the driver's face. A display screen unit 22, including a screen 23 and a short-range radio receiver 24, is mounted on the head restraint of the driver's seat to face the child in the rear seat. The image viewed by the camera 20 is transmitted to the screen 23. The child is thus shown a live image of the driver's face, which reassures it that its parent or guardian is looking at it. A convenient size for the is screen is in the region of 170 x 250 mm.

The picture image, coupled with the adult's voice, will enable the baby/child to have prolonged face recognition of the adult. This, in turn, soothes the baby/child and makes their journey more comfortable, allowing the adult to drive with fewer distractions. It will be noted that the system does not require any audio function, since the parent and child will be close to reach other and can speak directly to each other without difficulty.

The car also has a windscreen 30 and roof 31, with a rear view mirror 32 attached either to the top of the windscreen or the roof near the windscreen. The camera 20 may alternatively be mounted on the rear view mirror 32 or its mounting, as shown at 33.

The screen unit 22 may conveniently include a mounting plate 24 to which the screen 23 is attached and provided with straps 27 having hook and eye material fasteners.

The screen unit can then be mounted on a variety of head restraints, and have its screen adjusted to face square on to the child. The use of straps will usually allow the angle of the en to be adjusted to face the child, but an adjustable joint 26 may be provided between the screen and the mounting plate if desired.

If the child's seat is rear facing, the screen unit can alternatively be mounted on the rear seat head restraint 13, as shown at 35.

The camera and the screen unit are preferably both battery powered, although either or both can be powered from the car's electrical system if desired. They are both prefer-ably provided with charging units which are compatible with the car's electrical system and/or the 240 V mains.

The transmitter-to-receiver range need only be a few metres, but a range of up to 100 metres may be convenient since it allows certain other uses of the system. If desired, communication between the camera and screen unit may alternatively be provided by a is cellular public mobile phone system through which the signals are relayed, or by infra-red or by a wire connection.

The camera unit will normally be a special-purpose unit, but optionally a mobile telephone with a video function may be used. The mobile phone may be plugged into a holder incorporating the transmitter 21; alternatively, the mobile phone transmit function may be used to transmit direct to the screen unit.

in a more advanced form of the system, the screen unit may include a DVD player with integrated speakers, and optionally a set of headphones for use by an older child. This allows the child to be shown a DVD or CD instead of being shown the driver's face. A suitable control unit (not shown) may be provided, either as part of the camera or sepa-rately, to allow the driver to control the screen unit remotely to switch between showing the driver's face and the DVD/CD function.

In a further advanced form of the system, the screen unit may also be provided with a camera and the camera with a screen, enabling two-way vision between the parent and .. 1. The camera unit may in this case have a video function with a small screen which will in this use be used to display the child's face. This system preferably includes a time lapse unit between the video camera monitoring the child and the screen displaying the results to the driver, so that the driver is presented with a sequence of still images with a time spacing of say around 5 s. This means that the driver will not be tempted to watch the image too closely. The time lapse means is preferably switchable between on and off, so that the driver can switch to normal continuous viewing when the car is stationary, or when the system is removed from the car. The switching may include means for automatically switching to the time lapse mode if the car is moving or if the engine or ignition is on. I0

Alternatively, a mobile phone screen may be used to display the child's face instead of a separate screen with the in-built mobile phone camera being be used to relay the image of the parent to the child.

is As noted above, there are many baby monitors on the market, which monitor a child whilst they are asleep -some even with sensors and alarms. The present system is not intended to be a baby monitor, but an interactive unit to keep baby amused and to see their parent's face in the car whilst they are being talked to (rather than seeing the back of car seat or their parent's head). The present system is primarily for the benefit of the baby! child, not the parent.

The system may also effectively be used in reverse, with a child monitor which is visible to the parent, using a video camera viewing the child and a small screen visible to the parent but without the normal main screen visible to the child. This arrangement would be used primarily if a pet such as a dog is in the back of the car instead of a child.

Claims Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).

Claims

Claims 1 A child reassurance system for use in a vehicle, comprising a

video monitor or camera positioned to view the parent's face while driving, and a display screen coupled thereto and positioned for viewing by a child in the vehicle.

2 A system according to claim 1 wherein the display screen is detachably mounted on the head restraint of a seat.

3 A system according to either previous claim which clips together into a single unit to form a compact portable lightweight package for ease of transportation.

4 A system according to any previous claim which is removably retro-fittable to an existing car.

A system according to any of claim 1 to 3 which is permanently retro-fittable to an existing car. is..

S's 5 A system according to any of claim I to 3 which is permanently installed : , during manufacture of the car. 5...

6 A system according to any previous claim wherein the screen unit includes * : : a mounting plate to which the screen is attached and provided with straps having hook and eye material fasteners.

7 A system according to claim 6 including an adjustable joint between the screen and the mounting plate.

8 A system according to any previous claim wherein the camera and the screen unit are battery powered.

9 A system according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the camera and screen is provided with a charging unit compatible with the car's electrical system and/or the 240 V mains.

A system according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein at least one of the camera and screen is powered from the car's electrical system.

11 A system according to any previous claim wherein the camera and screen are coupled together by wire.

12 A system according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the camera and screen is are coupled together by radio or infra-red.

13 A system according to any previous claim wherein the camera is a mobile telephone with a video function.

:. 20 14 A system according to any previous claim wherein the screen unit includes *::: a DVD player with integrated speakers, and optionally a set of headphones for use by an older child. I.e S * S S

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A system according to claim 14 including a control unit which allows the *, * 25 driver to control the screen unit remotely to switch between showing the driver's : face and the DVD/CD function.

16 A system according to any previous claim wherein the screen unit is provided with a camera and the camera with a screen, enabling two-way vision between the parent and child. z

17 A system according to claim 16 wherein the camera unit has a video function with a small screen usable to display the child's face.

18 A system according to claim 17 wherein the video function is instead provided by a mobile phone screen.

19 A child reassurance system for use in a vehicle, substantially as herein described.

20 Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention). * *1. * . -I.. *, . * . S * S. I...

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