System and method of controlling a child seat latching assembly for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358401-B2
Application number	US-202318347094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2023
Priority date	Jul 5, 2023
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

Method of controlling and smart indication of a child seat latch assembly for a vehicle is provided. The method comprises identifying a vehicle seat in the vehicle when a request for child seat latch assembly activation is received. The vehicle seat is arranged to receive a child seat for securement in the vehicle. The method comprises automatic or manual activating the child seat latch assembly and aligning the child seat with the vehicle seat. The method comprises sensing the base bar relative to the base connector and sensing the back bar relative to the back connector. The method comprises locking the base bar in the base connector and locking the back bar in the back connector. The method further comprises monitoring the portable child seat relative to the stationary vehicle seat to maintain an aligned position, a locked base position, communication of the secureness status and a locked back position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a child seat latch assembly for a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a portable child seat arranged to be securable in the vehicle, the portable child seat comprising:
a base portion comprising a base bar disposed therein for securement of the base portion in the vehicle;
a back portion comprising a back bar disposed therein for securement of the back portion in the vehicle, the back portion connected to the base portion such that the back portion extends from the base portion; and
a first magnet disposed on one of the base portion and the back portion, the first magnet arranged to generate a first magnetic field for alignment in the vehicle;

identifying a stationary vehicle seat in the vehicle when a request for child seat latch assembly activation is received, the stationary vehicle seat arranged to receive the portable child seat for securement in the vehicle, the stationary vehicle seat comprising:
a receiving portion comprising a base latch unit to receive the base bar, the base latch unit comprising a base connector formed to receive the base bar such that the base bar is lockable therein when the base bar is at a first distance relative to the base connector for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion;
a support portion comprising a back latch unit disposed therein to receive the back bar, the back latch unit comprising a back connector formed to receive the back bar such that the back bar is lockable therein when the back bar is at a second distance relative to the back connector for securement of the back portion to the support portion; and
a second magnet arranged to generate a second magnetic field in operation with the first magnet, the second magnet disposed on one of the receiving portion and the support portion to align the portable child seat with the vehicle seat when the first and second magnets are within a third distance defining the child seat latch assembly;

activating the child seat latch assembly to enable the base latch unit and the back latch unit of the stationary vehicle seat for securement of the portable child seat thereto;
aligning the portable child seat with the vehicle seat by generating the first and second magnetic fields to engage the portable child seat with the stationary vehicle seat when the first and second magnets are within the third distance defining an aligned position;
sensing the base bar relative to the base connector to insert the base bar therein when the portable child seat is aligned with the vehicle seat;
sensing the back bar relative to the back connector to insert the back bar therein when the portable child seat is aligned with the vehicle seat;
locking the base bar in the base connector when the base bar is sensed therein at the first distance for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion defining a locked base position;
locking the back bar in the back connector when the back bar is sensed therein at the second distance for securement of the back portion to the support portion defining a locked back position; and
monitoring the portable child seat relative to the stationary vehicle seat to maintain the aligned position, the locked base position, and the locked back position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
depowering the first and second magnetic fields when a determination for child seat latch assembly deactivation is completed; and
unlocking the base bar from the base connector and the back bar from the back connector to disengage the portable child seat from the stationary vehicle seat upon depowering the first and second magnetic fields.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the stationary vehicle seat comprises a plurality of vehicle seats including a first vehicle seat, a second vehicle seat, and a third vehicle seat.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein identifying the stationary vehicle seat comprises receiving a booking ticket for a car ride and the request for child seat latch assembly activation from a user having a global positioning system (GPS) location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein identifying the stationary vehicle seat comprises selecting one of the plurality of vehicle seats based on the GPS location of the user relative to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein depowering the first and second magnetic fields comprises determining a child seat latch assembly deactivation when the car ride is completed.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the portable child seat comprises monitoring the base portion relative to the receiving portion.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the portable child seat comprises monitoring the back portion relative to the support portion.

9. A system for controlling a child seat latching assembly for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a portable child seat arranged to be securable in the vehicle, the portable child seat comprising:
a base portion comprising a base bar for securement of the base portion in the vehicle, the base portion having a base edge;
a back portion comprising a back bar for securement of the back portion in the vehicle, the back portion connected to the base portion such that the back portion extends from the base portion; and
a first magnetic unit disposed on one of the base portion and the back portion, the first magnetic unit arranged to generate a first magnetic field for alignment in the vehicle,

a stationary vehicle seat arranged to receive the portable child seat for securement in the vehicle, the stationary vehicle seat comprising:
a receiving portion comprising a base latch unit to receive the base bar, the base latch unit comprising a base connector formed to receive the base bar, the base latch unit comprising a base sensor disposed on the base connector for sensing insertion of the base bar in the base connector and a base lock disposed on the base connector for locking the base bar in the base connector such that the base bar is locked therein when the base bar is inserted therein at a first distance for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion;
a support portion comprising a back latch unit to receive the back bar, the back latch unit comprising a back connector formed to receive the back bar, the back latch unit comprising a back sensor disposed on the back connector for sensing insertion of the back bar in the back connector and a back lock disposed on the back connector for locking the back bar in the back connector such that the back bar is locked therein when the back bar is inserted therein at a second distance for securement of the back portion to the support portion; and

a second magnetic unit arranged to generate a second magnetic field in operation with the first magnetic field, the second magnetic unit disposed on one of the receiving portion and the support portion, the second magnetic unit arranged to align the portable child seat with the vehicle seat via the first and second magnetic fields to engage the portable child seat with the stationary vehicle seat when the first and second magnetic units are within a third distance defining an aligned position, the second magnetic unit arranged to monitor the portable child seat relative to the stationary vehicle seat to maintain the aligned position;
wherein the base sensor is arranged to sense the base bar relative to the base connector for insertion of the base bar therein when the portable child seat is aligned with the vehicle seat,
wherein the base latch unit is arranged to lock the base bar in the base connector when the base bar is sensed therein at the first distance for securement of the base portion to the receiving portion defining a locked base position, the base sensor being ar

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Islam Md Mhafuzul
• Peranandam Prakash M
• Golm Erik Brandon
• Forero Rueda Manuel

Classifications

• B60N2/2887

  Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix · CPC title

• B60N2/269

  detecting or alerting means responsive to the Isofix locking on the child seat or vehicle · CPC title

• B60N2/274

  characterised by the communication means between the child seat and another entity, e.g. vehicle or portable device · CPC title

• B60N2/28 Primary

  Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats {or other parts} of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60N2/268 Primary

  detecting or alerting means responsive to the installation of the child seats in the vehicle · CPC title