# US 10,504,344 B2 · Wireless tilt sensor system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,504,344 B2 - Document ID: US10504344B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/069,022 - Filed: 2017-01-12 - Published: 2019-01-10 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-13 - Applicants: Travis Copen; David Kolar - Inventors: Travis Copen; David Kolar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10504344B2 ## CPC - G08B 13/08: by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind - B60R 25/00: Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles (locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00) - B60R 25/10: actuating a signalling device - G08B 21/00: Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for - B60R 25/1004: {Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means (using door lock sensors B60R25/1001)} - G01S 2013/9315: {Monitoring blind spots} - G01S 2013/9317: {Driving backwards} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A wireless sensor system and method detects when a tailgate, door, or other object on a vehicle moves from a closed position to an open position and then generates an alarm. The wireless sensor system includes a wireless sensor and a transceiver module. The transceiver module is plugged into a cigarette lighter of the vehicle to receive its power. The wireless sensor detects a movement of an object on a vehicle from a first position to a second position. The wireless sensor transmits data indicating the object moved from the first position to the second position to the transceiver module. The transceiver module receives the transmitted data and determines whether to cause an alarm to be generated based, at least in part, on the transmitted data. When an alarm is to be generated, the transceiver module causes the alarm to be generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless sensor system for monitoring position of a component of a vehicle, the wireless sensor system comprising: a sensor module for monitoring position of the component on which the sensor module is mounted, the sensor module having a power source and a sensor connected to the power source, the sensor module wirelessly transmitting data indicative of the component's position when the component is in a desired position; and a transceiver module that receives data transmitted from the sensor module to determine whether the component is in the desirable position, the transceiver having a power connector that receives power from the vehicle and a user indicator for generating an alert indicative of the component's position, wherein the transceiver module causes the user indicator to generate the alert where the component is not in the desirable position or where no data is received from the sensor module; wherein the sensor module does not transmit data indicative of the component's position when the component is out of the desired position, and the transceiver module causes the user indicator to generate the alert when the transceiver module receives no data from the sensor module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a tilt sensor, a tilt switch, an accelerometer, a Hall-effect sensor, a reed switch, and an object detection sensor for detecting objects behind the vehicle, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module further comprises tilt switch that cuts power to the sensor module when the component is not in the desired position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is configured to transmit data indicative of the component's position when the component is out of the desired position, and the transceiver module causes the user indicator to generate the alert when the transceiver module receives data from the sensor module indicating that the component is out of the desired position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the user indicator includes a speaker and the alert is an audible alarm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the user indicator includes at least one status light and the alert is a visual alarm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the power connector is selected from the group consisting of a USB charger and a plug for an electrical socket of the vehicle, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the power source of the sensor module is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell, and a regenerative power source, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with a computing system of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wireless sensor system of claim 9, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with the vehicle's computing system via an on-board diagnostic port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The wireless sensor system of claim 9, wherein the alert is communicated to a dashboard of the vehicle and/or a sound system of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with at least one mobile device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, the sensor module further comprising an object detection sensor for detecting objects behind the vehicle, wherein the object detection sensor is selected from the group consisting of a camera and an electromagnetic wave sensor, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein voltage drop monitored by the transceiver module triggers generation of the alert if the component is not in the desirable position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the component of the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle tailgate, a vehicle door, a trailer door, a snow plow blade, a moveable tractor attachment, a moveable attachment for construction equipment or farm equipment, a blade or scoop, and a piece of equipment moveable between deployed and undeployed positions, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 16 A wireless sensor system for monitoring position of a component of a vehicle, the wireless sensor system comprising: a sensor module for monitoring position of the component on which the sensor module is mounted, the sensor module having a power source and a sensor connected to the power source, the sensor module wirelessly transmitting data indicative of the component's position when the component is in a desired position; and a transceiver module that receives data transmitted from the sensor module to determine whether the component is in the desirable position, the transceiver having a power connector that receives power from the vehicle and a user indicator for generating an alert indicative of the component's position, wherein the transceiver module causes the user indicator to generate the alert where the component is not in the desirable position or where no data is received from the sensor module; wherein the transceiver module monitors voltage fluctuation of the vehicle to determine when the vehicle starts via voltage drop, and wherein position of the component is automatically determined when the vehicle starts. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the sensor module automatically detects position of the component when the vehicle starts and transmits a signal indicative of the same to the transceiver module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the transceiver module automatically determines whether the component is in the desired position based on whether the transceiver module is receiving data from the sensor module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the user indicator generates the alert upon vehicle start if the component is not in the desirable position, and wherein the user indicator does not generate the alert upon vehicle start if the component is in the desirable position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein, if the component is not in the desirable position after determining that the vehicle has been started, the transceiver module causes the user indicator to generate the alert. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the user indicator includes a speaker and the alert is an audible alarm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the user indicator includes at least one status light and the alert is a visual alarm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the power connector is selected from the group consisting of a USB charger and a plug for an electrical socket of the vehicle, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the power source of the sensor module is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell, and a regenerative power source, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with a computing system of the vehicle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The wireless sensor system of claim 25, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with the vehicle's computing system via an on-board diagnostic port. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The wireless sensor system of claim 25, wherein the alert is communicated to a dashboard of the vehicle and/or a sound system of the vehicle. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with at least one mobile device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, the sensor module further comprising an object detection sensor for detecting objects behind the vehicle, wherein the object detection sensor is selected from the group consisting of a camera and an electromagnetic wave sensor, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 30 (depends on 16) The wireless sensor system of claim 16, wherein the component of the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle tailgate, a vehicle door, a trailer door, a snow plow blade, a moveable tractor attachment, a moveable attachment for construction equipment or farm equipment, a blade or scoop, and a piece of equipment moveable between deployed and undeployed positions, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 31 A wireless sensor system for monitoring position of a component of a vehicle, the wireless sensor system comprising: a sensor module for monitoring position of the component on which the sensor module is mounted, the sensor module having a power source and a sensor connected to the power source, the sensor module wirelessly transmitting data indicative of the component's position when the component is in a desired position; and a transceiver module that receives data transmitted from the sensor module to determine whether the component is in the desirable position, the transceiver having a power connector that receives power from the vehicle and a user indicator for generating an alert indicative of the component's position, wherein the transceiver module causes the user indicator to generate the alert where the component is not in the desirable position or where no data is received from the sensor module; wherein the transceiver module monitors position of the component via data transmitted from the sensor module before the vehicle has been started; and wherein the transceiver module monitors voltage fluctuation of the vehicle and, upon detecting vehicle voltage drop, determines that the vehicle has been started. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the transceiver module generates an alert when the vehicle is started if the component is not in the desirable position. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the component of the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle tailgate, a vehicle door, a trailer door, a snow plow blade, a moveable tractor attachment, a moveable attachment for construction equipment or farm equipment, a blade or scoop, and a piece of equipment moveable between deployed and undeployed positions, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein, if the component is not in the desirable position after determining that the vehicle has been started, the transceiver module causes the user indicator to generate the alert. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the user indicator includes a speaker and the alert is an audible alarm. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the user indicator includes at least one status light and the alert is a visual alarm. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the power connector is selected from the group consisting of a USB charger and a plug for an electrical socket of the vehicle, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 38 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the power source of the sensor module is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell, and a regenerative power source, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 39 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with a computing system of the vehicle. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The wireless sensor system of claim 39, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with the vehicle's computing system via an on-board diagnostic port. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The wireless sensor system of claim 39, wherein the alert is communicated to a dashboard of the vehicle and/or a sound system of the vehicle. ### Claim 42 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, wherein the transceiver module is adapted to interface with at least one mobile device. ### Claim 43 (depends on 31) The wireless sensor system of claim 31, the sensor module further comprising an object detection sensor for detecting objects behind the vehicle, wherein the object detection sensor is selected from the group consisting of a camera and an electromagnetic wave sensor, and combinations of the same.