An alarm system can remind or alert an adult about the presence of a child in a vehicle. A child detector, such as a weight sensor or weight-activated circuit, can detect whether a child is occupying the child safety seat. The child detector may be integrated with or coupled to a child safety seat. The child detector can be used in coordination with a vehicle alarm system to remind or alert a driver that a child is occupying the child safety seat when a key is not in the ignition.

One variation of a method for renting a vehicle includes: receiving a signal from a fleet manager, the signal specifying a current availability of the vehicle for rent; updating a visual indicator arranged on the vehicle according to the signal, the visual indicator visually detectable from outside the vehicle; receiving identification information of a user proximal the vehicle; enabling access to the vehicle for the user in response to verification of the user as a driver of the vehicle; determining, through a sensor arranged within the vehicle, that the user is seated in a driver's seat within the vehicle; and enabling ignition of the vehicle for the user in response to determination that the user is seated in the driver's seat.

An automotive vehicle has arranged therein a vehicle seat and is equipped with an occupant detection system for detecting whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, the system including a first antenna electrode arranged in the seat and a sensing circuit associated with the seat where the sensing circuit includes an oscillation circuit connected to the first antenna electrode for applying to the first antenna electrode a first oscillating signal and a current detection circuit also connected to the first antenna electrode for determining a first current flowing in the first antenna electrode in response to the first oscillating signal being applied, the first current indicating whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, where the vehicle is further equipped with an appliance including an appliance control device arranged in the vehicle compartment at a location where it can be operated by an occupant of the seat and the occupant detection system is configured for detecting whether the occupant attempts to interact with the appliance control device, in particular, the occupant detection system includes a second antenna electrode arranged together with the appliance control device, and an oscillator is operatively connected to the second antenna electrode for applying a second oscillating signal to the second antenna electrode and the current detection circuit is configured for determining a second current flowing in the first antenna electrode in response to the second oscillating signal being applied to the second antenna electrode where the second current thus indicates whether an occupant of the vehicle seat has a part of their body proximate to the appliance control device.

An occupant information acquisition apparatus includes riding information acquisition means for acquiring riding information of an occupant on a rear seat of a vehicle from a sensor configured to detect the occupant, imaging condition control means for activating, in an imaging device, a second imaging condition different from a first imaging condition for capturing image data of the occupant on a driver's seat and causing the imaging device to capture image data of the occupant on the rear seat, and image data acquisition means for acquiring the image data captured by the imaging device.

A microclimate control system for a seated occupant includes a seat having a cushion and a back respectively including a first array of pressure sensors and a second array of pressure sensors. The first array of pressure sensors provides a cushion occupant output. The second array of pressure sensors provides a back occupant output. The cushion and back occupant outputs correspond to load distributions from the seated occupant. At least one thermal effector is configured to provide thermal conditioning to the seated occupant. A controller is in communication with the first and second arrays of pressure sensors and with the at least one thermal effector. The controller includes an occupant personal parameters algorithm configured to extract occupant personal parameters based upon the cushion and back occupant outputs. The occupant personal parameters include at least two of an occupant weight, an occupant height, and an occupant gender. The occupant personal parameter algorithm estimates an occupant clothing insulation value from the occupant personal parameters. The controller is configured to regulate the at least one thermal effector based upon the occupant clothing insulation value.

A system for notifying emergency services of a vehicular crash may (i) receive sensor data of a vehicular crash from at least one mobile device associated with a user; (ii) generate a scenario model of the vehicular crash based upon the received sensor data; (iii) store the scenario model; and/or (iv) transmit a message to one or more emergency services based upon the scenario model. As a result, the speed and accuracy of deploying emergency services to the vehicular crash location is increased. The system may also utilize vehicle occupant positional data, and internal and external sensor data to detect potential imminent vehicle collisions, take corrective actions, automatically engage autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle features, and/or generate virtual reconstructions of the vehicle collision.

Disclosed embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for automotive seats for a vehicle, and seating arrangements within a vehicle. Disclosed embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for moving a vehicle seat between a first driving position and a second access position and moving the vehicle seat between the second access position and the first driving position. The driving position may be in the center of the vehicle and the access positions may be on either side of a vehicle. Disclosed embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for modular automotive seat assemblies comprising interchangeable portions in order to replace worn-out or damaged parts, or to change seat styles and configurations. Disclosed embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for automotive seating arrangements that allow for better line-of-sight for passengers.

A seat control apparatus includes an input device, a driving device, a memory that stores one or more instructions, and a controller operatively connected to the input device, the driving device, and the memory. The controller is configured to execute the one or more instructions to receive a specified input regarding a location control of a seat through the input device. The controller is also configured to identify an output current required for controlling the seat from a current state to a target state corresponding to the specified input by using the driving device. The controller is also configured to determine an operation sequence of one or more motors included in the driving device, based on the output current. The controller is also configured to control the seat to the target state by using the driving device, based on the determined operation sequence.

Embodiments related to systems and methods for controlling an active vehicle seat are described. In some embodiments, the active vehicle seat is controlled based at least partly on internal sensor information, external sensor information, and operator input from a user interface.

A vehicle door interior trim assembly includes a trim panel and an armrest supported by the trim panel. The armrest includes an energy absorbing device. The energy absorbing device includes an inboard panel and an outboard panel. The outboard panel is between the inboard panel and the trim panel. The energy absorbing device has a variable crush resistance based on a temperature of the energy absorbing device. A heater is operatively coupled to the energy absorbing device.