# US 11,027,669 B1 · Control device

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- Number: US 11,027,669 B1
- Document ID: US11027669B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/114,371
- Filed: 2020-12-07
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-09
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Wataru Kato; Yuko Asano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027669B1

## CPC

- B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
- B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)}
- B60R 16/0231: {Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P)}
- B60R 2300/40: characterised by the details of the power supply or the coupling to vehicle components
- B60R 2300/8093: for obstacle warning
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A control device is installed in a vehicle including an electrical storage device to which is connected a plurality of electrical paths. The vehicle includes an external signal recognition device that recognizes a predetermined image or signal based on an image outside of the vehicle or a signal from outside of the vehicle, an external environment recognition device that recognizes a predetermined environment based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle when the predetermined image or signal is recognized by the external signal recognition device, regardless of whether a system of the vehicle is started, and a relay connected to at least one object electrical path. The control device includes a processor that turns the relay off when a count of times of the external environment recognition device continuously recognizing the predetermined environment for no shorter than a predetermined time is no less than a predetermined count of times.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control device installed in a vehicle including an electrical storage device to which is connected a plurality of electrical paths,
the vehicle including
an external signal recognition device configured to recognize a predetermined image or a predetermined signal based on an image outside of the vehicle or a signal from outside of the vehicle,
an external environment recognition device configured to recognize a predetermined environment based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle when the predetermined image or the predetermined signal is recognized by the external signal recognition device, regardless of whether a system of the vehicle is started, and
a relay connected to at least one object electrical path of the electrical paths,
the control device comprising
a processor configured to turn the relay off when a count of times of the external environment recognition device continuously recognizing the predetermined environment for no shorter than a predetermined time is no less than a predetermined count of times.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control device according to claim 1,
wherein the external signal recognition device is configured to recognize, as the predetermined image, at least one of an image of a one-dimensional code, an image of a two-dimensional code, and a plurality of image patterns.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control device according to claim 1,
wherein the external signal recognition device is configured to recognize, as the predetermined signal, a light signal where light is emitted at a different frequency from a household alternating current power frequency, or a light signal where light is emitted at a predetermined pattern at a frequency different from the household alternating current power frequency.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control device according to claim 1,
wherein the external environment recognition device is configured to recognize at least one of
an inter-vehicular distance between the vehicle and an adjacent vehicle being shorter than a predetermined distance,
the vehicle vibrating at a predetermined vibration,
an inclination of the vehicle being no smaller than a predetermined inclination,
an acceleration of the vehicle being a predetermined acceleration, and
sound outside of the vehicle being a predetermined sound,
as the predetermined environment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The control device according to claim 1,
wherein the vehicle includes at least one electrical component that does not need supply of power when the vehicle is parked during shipping, but needs supply of power when parked other than during shipping, and
wherein the object electrical path is connected to the electrical storage device and to the electrical component.