# US 12,179,664 B2 · Apparatus for alerting fire of a vehicle and method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,664 B2 - Document ID: US12179664B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/880,228 - Filed: 2022-08-03 - Published: 2023-06-08 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-07 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Inventors: Geun Ok Sin; Won Jun Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179664B2 ## CPC - B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} - G01K 3/005: {Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature (fire detection G08B17/00)} - B60R 16/02: electric {constitutive elements} - G01K 13/00: Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes - B60R 16/0239: {Electronic boxes} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A fire alerting apparatus for a vehicle, includes: a temperature sensing device configured to detect a temperature of a bus bar of a high-voltage junction box; and performing a warning by determining at least one of a fire warning state, an overtemperature state, or a vehicle inspection state in accordance with a temperature detection result of the temperature sensing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fire alerting apparatus for a vehicle, the fire alerting apparatus comprising: a temperature sensing device configured to detect a temperature of a bus bar of a junction box; and a controller configured to perform a warning by determining at least one of a fire warning state, an overtemperature state, or a vehicle inspection state in accordance with a result of detecting the temperature of the bus bar, wherein the controller determines whether the junction box is in a normal state, in a fire risk situation, or in the overtemperature state based on a level of the temperature of the bus bar, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the temperature of the bus bar is greater than a first reference value, wherein when the temperature of the bus bar is greater than the first reference value, the controller is configured to determine whether the temperature of the bus bar is greater than a second reference value which is greater than the first reference value, and wherein when the temperature of the bus bar is greater than the second reference value and a vehicle state is in an abnormal load state in which overcurrent or overvoltage occurs, the controller is configured to conclude that the vehicle is in the fire risk situation and to output the warning including a fire warning notification through an interface device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 1, further including: the interface device controlled by the controller to notify the at least one of the fire warning state, the overtemperature state, or the vehicle inspection state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to: conclude that driving of the vehicle is in the normal state when the temperature of the bus bar is equal to or smaller than the first reference value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the temperature of the bus bar is greater than the second reference value, the controller is configured to conclude that the vehicle is in the fire risk situation and to output the warning including a fire warning notification through the interface device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the temperature of the bus bar is smaller than the second reference value and greater than the first reference value, the controller is configured to start counting the overtemperature state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 5, wherein when an overtemperature state counting value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the controller is configured to conclude that the vehicle state is the overtemperature state, and to output the warning including an overtemperature state notification through the interface device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 5, wherein when an overtemperature state counting value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the controller is configured to conclude that vehicle inspection is required, and to output a vehicle inspection notification through the interface device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interface device is configured to differentiate a color of a warning light when the fire warning state is notified and the overtemperature state is notified, and to display an overtemperature state repetition number together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 2, further including: a communication device which is controlled by the controller to transmit the fire warning state of the vehicle to an external vehicle service center, when the fire warning state is notified. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to switch a driving mode of the vehicle to an emergency mode when the fire warning state is notified, and to block a load operation in the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing device is provided in a load having a peak current or voltage greater than a predetermined value among connectors configured in the junction box. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing device is provided in a part having a temperature greater than a predetermined value in accordance with an internal temperature distribution of the bus bar of the junction box. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fire alerting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing device is provided in a load having a maximum allowable temperature lower than a predetermined value or a high voltage connector body of the junction box. ### Claim 14 A fire alerting method for a vehicle, the fire alerting method comprising: detecting a temperature of a bus bar of a junction box; and performing, by a controller, a warning by determining at least one of a fire warning state, an overtemperature state, or a vehicle inspection state in accordance with a temperature detecting result of a temperature sensing device, wherein the performing of the warning includes determining whether the junction box is in a normal state, in a fire risk situation, or in the overtemperature state based on a level of the temperature of the bus bar, wherein the performing of the warning includes: determining, by the controller, whether the temperature of the bus bar is greater than a first reference value, when the temperature of the bus bar is greater than the first reference value, determining, by the controller, whether the temperature of the bus bar is greater than a second reference value which is greater than the first reference value, and when the temperature of the bus bar is greater than the second reference value and a vehicle state is in an abnormal load state in which overcurrent or overvoltage occurs, concluding, by the controller, that the vehicle is in the fire risk situation and outputting the warning including a fire warning notification through an interface device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fire alerting method of claim 14, wherein the performing of the warning further includes: concluding, by the controller, that driving of the vehicle is in the normal state when the temperature of the bus bar is equal to or smaller than the first reference value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fire alerting method of claim 15, wherein the performing of the warning further includes: concluding, by the controller, that the vehicle is in the fire risk situation to output the warning including a fire warning notification when the temperature of the bus bar is greater than the second reference value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fire alerting method of claim 16, wherein the performing of the warning includes: starting, by the controller, counting the overtemperature state when the temperature of the bus bar is equal to or smaller than the second reference value and greater than the first reference value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fire alerting method of claim 17, further including: when an overtemperature state counting value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, concluding, by the controller, that the vehicle state is the overtemperature state, and outputting, by the controller, the warning including an overtemperature state notification; and concluding, by the controller, that vehicle inspection is required, and outputting, by the controller, the warning including a vehicle inspection notification when the overtemperature state counting value is smaller than the predetermined threshold value.