Vehicle cabin safety system and method
AssigneeKostal of America
InventorsFabio Pupillo, Adrian Kizy, Christine Kashat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle cabin hazard detection and management system includes an engine state sensor, a driver presence sensor, a cabin passenger sensor, a door latch sensor for each passenger door, a vehicle movement sensor, a cabin temperature sensor, an alarm device, a wireless messaging system, and a controller. The controller receives signals from the sensors, evaluates whether a hazardous condition is imminent for a cabin occupant, and activates an alarm and/or takes other action to counter the hazard.
Claims19
A vehicle cabin hazard detection and management system for a vehicle having an ignition switch, at least one passenger door, power door locks, power windows, and an HVAC system, comprising:
- an engine state sensor;
- a driver presence sensor;
- a cabin passenger sensor;
- a door latch sensor associated with each passenger door to detect when the associated door is open;
- a vehicle movement sensing system;
- a cabin temperature sensor;
- an alarm signaling device;
- a wireless messaging system for communicating an imminent hazardous condition for a cabin occupant;
- and
- a controller for receiving signal inputs from the sensors, analyzing the inputs to evaluate whether a hazardous condition exists or is imminent for a cabin occupant, and generating an output signal to activate at least one of the alarm signaling device, the wireless messaging system, power door locks, power windows, vehicle ignition switch and HVAC system when a hazardous condition exists or is imminent for a cabin occupant,
- wherein the controller is configured to activate the alarm device within a first predetermined time after the driver has turned off the ignition switch and exited the vehicle cabin, and at least one occupant has been detected, regardless of temperature readings from the temperature sensor wherein the vehicle movement sensing system reports a condition of non-movement only after a movement sensor has not detected movement over a second predetermined time period.
A vehicle cabin hazard detection and management system for a vehicle having an ignition switch, at least one passenger door, power door locks, power windows, and an HVAC system, comprising:
- an engine state sensor;
- a driver presence sensor;
- a cabin passenger sensor;
- a door latch sensor associated with each passenger door to detect when the associated door is open;
- a vehicle movement sensing system;
- a cabin temperature sensor;
- an exterior temperature sensor;
- an alarm signaling device;
- a wireless messaging system for communicating an imminent hazardous condition for a cabin occupant;
- and
- a controller for receiving signal inputs from the sensors, analyzing the inputs to evaluate whether a hazardous condition exists or is imminent for a cabin occupant, and generating an output signal to activate at least one of the alarm signaling device, the wireless messaging system, power door locks, power windows, vehicle ignition switch and HVAC system when a hazardous condition exists or is imminent for a cabin occupant,
- wherein the controller is configured to activate the alarm device within a first predetermined time after the driver has turned off the ignition switch and exited the vehicle cabin, and at least one occupant has been detected, regardless of temperature readings from the temperature sensor,
- wherein the controller is configured to evaluate whether a hazardous condition for a cabin occupant is imminent based on the temperature readings from both the cabin temperature sensor and the exterior temperature sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.