# US 11,299,013 B2 · Method and apparatus for active vehicle cabin occupant protection system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,013 B2 - Document ID: US11299013B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/450,117 - Filed: 2019-06-24 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-24 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Insu Chang; Edward R. Masters; Dooil Hwang; Zhe Li; Jeremie Dernotte; Mohammad Firouz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299013B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00778: {the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping} - B60H 1/00892: {Devices specially adapted for avoiding uncomfortable feeling, e.g. sudden temperature changes (B60H1/00885 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/00742: {by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors} - B60H 1/00792: {Arrangement of detectors (B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence)} - B60H 1/00807: {the input being a specific way of measuring or calculating an air or coolant temperature} - B60H 1/00828: {Ventilators, e.g. speed control (B60H1/00864 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/245: {located in the roof} - B60H 1/262: {Openings in or on the vehicle roof} - B60H 2001/0015: {Temperature regulation} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant protection system. The method includes detecting a vehicle cabin temperature using a cabin thermal sensor, engaging a vehicle fan and opening a vehicle outside air ventilation duct in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a first threshold temperature, and starting a vehicle engine and engaging a vehicle air conditioning system in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature wherein the second threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a cabin temperature sensor operative for detecting a vehicle cabin temperature; a ventilation system having a fan and an outside air duct operative for introducing outside air into a vehicle cabin; a global positing system to provide data indicative of a vehicle location and a vehicle orientation; a sunshade; a luminance detector configured for detecting a luminance level outside of the vehicle cabin; and a processor for engaging the ventilation system in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a first threshold temperature and operative for deploying the sunshade in response to the vehicle location, the vehicle orientation, the luminance level exceeding a luminance threshold value and the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding the first threshold temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further including a transmitter operative for transmitting an alert to an emergency services provider in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further including an outside temperature sensor operative for measuring an outside temperature and wherein the vehicle cabin temperature is detected in response to the outside temperature exceeding a third threshold temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further including an occupancy detector operative for detecting the absence of a driver and wherein the vehicle cabin temperature is detected in response to the detected absence of the driver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further including an occupancy detector operative for detecting a vehicle occupant and wherein the vehicle cabin temperature is detected in response to the detection of a vehicle occupant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a carbon monoxide detector operative for detecting a vehicle cabin carbon monoxide level and wherein the processor is further operative to engage the ventilation system in response to the vehicle cabin carbon monoxide level exceeding a carbon monoxide level threshold value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further including an air conditioning system driven by a vehicle engine operative for cooling the vehicle cabin wherein the air conditioning system is engaged in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature wherein the second threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further including a vehicle ignition switch and wherein the detecting of the vehicle cabin temperature is made in response to the ignition switch being in an off position. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: detecting a vehicle cabin temperature using a cabin thermal sensor; detecting a vehicle location and a vehicle orientation; detecting a luminance level outside of a vehicle cabin; deploying a sunshade in response to the vehicle location, the vehicle orientation, the luminance level exceeding a luminance threshold value and the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding the first threshold temperature; and engaging a vehicle fan and opening an outside air ventilation duct in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a first threshold temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further including generating an alert and transmitting the alert via a wireless network in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding the second threshold temperature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the detecting of the vehicle cabin temperature is made in response to determining the absence of a driver in response to an occupancy detector within a vehicle cabin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the detecting of the vehicle cabin temperature is made in response to determining the vehicle engine is stopped. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the detecting of the vehicle cabin temperature is made in response to a vehicle ignition switch being in an off position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the detecting of the vehicle cabin temperature is made in response to determining an outside temperature exceeding a third temperature threshold as measured by an outside temperature sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising starting a vehicle engine and engaging a vehicle air conditioning system in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature wherein the second threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature. ### Claim 16 A method of controlling a temperature in a vehicle cabin comprising: detecting a driver absence using an occupancy detector; detecting a run state of a vehicle in response to the detection of the driver absence; detecting an outside temperature in response to the vehicle run stating being off; determining a vehicle location and a vehicle orientation; detecting a cabin temperature in response to the outside temperature exceeding an outside temperature threshold; determining a light intensity outside of the vehicle and engaging a sunshade in response to the vehicle location, the vehicle orientation, and the light intensity exceeding a luminance threshold; engaging an outside air ventilation system in response to the cabin temperature exceeding a first temperature; and transmitting an alert to an emergency services provider in response to the cabin temperature exceeding the second temperature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of controlling a temperature in a vehicle cabin of claim 16 further including engaging a vehicle engine and a vehicle air conditioning system in response to the cabin temperature exceeding a second temperature wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of controlling a temperature in a vehicle cabin of claim 16 wherein the run state is determined in response to an ignition switch being in an off position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of controlling a temperature in a vehicle cabin of claim 16 wherein the light intensity is determined by a luminance detector mounted outside of the vehicle cabin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of controlling a temperature in a vehicle cabin of claim 16 wherein the alert is transmitted via a cellular communications network.