Abstract:
A system for sensing the presence of a vehicle occupant and taking remedial action so as to prevent overheating of an occupant of the vehicle. The system comprises a presence sensor, a temperature sensor, and a control module. The presence sensor provides information relating to the presence of an occupant in the vehicle and he temperature sensor measures an interior temperature of the vehicle. The control module receives temperature measurements from the temperature sensor, receiving the information from the presence sensor, forms a temperature comparison by comparing the information from the presence sensor with predetermined criteria, forms a determination whether to operate a cooling mechanism of the vehicle so as to reduce the interior temperature, the determination based on the temperature comparison and the information from the presence sensor, and operates the cooling mechanism based on the determination.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Vehicles such as cars, automobiles, and sport utility vehicles (S.U.V.&#39;s) all share a common characteristic in that their interiors heat up drastically when the vehicles are exposed to the sun. In particular, the greenhouse effect can cause the interior of a vehicle to reach temperatures much above that of the surrounding air. Consequently, the interiors of vehicles can reach levels unsafe for adults, children, dogs, cats, and other living beings. 
         [0002]    There are several ways of taking remedial action in order to keep the interior of a vehicle at a safe temperature. For example, opening one or more car windows allows heated air to escape and be replaced by atmospheric air so as to maintain the vehicle interior at a temperature near ambient. A vehicle&#39;s air conditioning system can be utilized to cool the interior air of the vehicle. Other systems can also be employed. For instance, one can utilize fans and vents in a vehicle to exchange interior air with cooler atmospheric air. Placing shades in one or more windows can block the sun&#39;s radiation, thereby slowing the process at which the sun heats the vehicle interior. In general, any method of cooling air or preventing the sun&#39;s radiation can be used as a remedial measure to prevent the interior of a vehicle from reaching an unsafe temperature. 
         [0003]    Remedial measures, however, are usually taken by a person inside the vehicle, such as an operator of the vehicle, who is present and able to operate various controls for lowering windows, operating the air conditioner, and the like. Often occupants can be trapped in a vehicle being heated by the sun because, for example, the occupants are small children or animals who have neither the ability nor the knowledge necessary for causing the interior of the vehicle to become cooler. For instance, a person may leave a dog in a vehicle while he or she shops in a store. If the weather is mild, the person may slightly open a window of the vehicle in order to provide a minimal level of necessary ventilation to the dog. If the weather changes abruptly while the person is in the store, the interior of the vehicle may reach unsafe temperatures unbeknownst to the operator. In other instances, a person may simply forget that a dog or child is in the back seat of the vehicle when he or she leaves the vehicle for a period of time. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with an embodiment, a system for sensing the presence of a vehicle occupant and taking remedial action is provided. The system includes a presence sensor, a temperature sensor, and a control module. The presence sensor provides information relating to the presence of an occupant in the vehicle and the temperature sensor measures an interior temperature of the vehicle. The control module receives temperature measurements from the temperature sensor, receives the information from the presence sensor, forms a temperature comparison by comparing the information from the presence sensor with predetermined criteria, forms a determination whether to operate a cooling mechanism of the vehicle so as to reduce the interior temperature, and operates the cooling mechanism based on the determination. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another embodiment, a method of sensing the presence of a vehicle occupant and taking remedial action is provided. The method includes operating a presence sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant inside the vehicle, receiving information from the presence sensor and comparing the information to predetermined criteria to determine the presence of an occupant inside the vehicle, operating a temperature sensor to measure an interior temperature of the vehicle, receiving the interior temperature from the temperature sensor, forming a temperature comparison by comparing the interior temperature with a predetermined value, forming a determination whether to operate a cooling mechanism of the vehicle so as to reduce the interior temperature, the determination based on the temperature comparison, and operating the cooling mechanism based on the determination. 
         [0006]    In accordance with yet another embodiment, a system for sensing the presence of a vehicle occupant and taking remedial action is provided. The system includes a presence sensing module, a temperature module, and a remedial action module. The presence sensing module comprises one or more presence sensors for providing presence information relating to the presence of an occupant in the vehicle, the presence sensing module for comparing the information with predetermined criteria so as to form a decision whether an occupant is present in the vehicle. The temperature module comprises one or more temperature sensors for providing an interior temperature measurement of the vehicle. The remedial action module for forms a determination whether to operate a cooling mechanism of the vehicle so as to reduce the interior temperature, the determination based on the decision and the internal temperature measurement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a partial view of the interior of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a system for preventing overheating in the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a presence sensor of the system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart representing a method employed by the system of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a flow chart representing a method for sensing the presence of an occupant of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described. In addition, to the extent that orientations of the embodiments are described, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “right,” and the like, the orientations are to aid the reader in understanding the embodiment being described, and are not meant to be limiting. 
         [0013]    Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows the rear interior portion of a vehicle  100 . The vehicle  100  has features common to vehicles such as doors, seats, such as the back seat  110 , windows  120 , and other features. The windows  120  are controlled electronically so that operation of a switch either raises or lowers each window  120 . In an embodiment, the vehicle  100  includes a presence sensor  130 , described more fully below, for detecting the presence of an occupant of the vehicle such as a dog  140 , a person, child, or other living being. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a system  200  for preventing overheating of the vehicle  100  is shown. In an embodiment, the system  200  includes a control module  210  for communicating with and controlling the various other mechanisms of the system  200 . In an embodiment, the control module  210  is a computer or other electronic device that communicates with the presence sensor  130  and a temperature sensor  220 , both described more fully below. Based on information received from the presence sensor  130  and the temperature sensor  220 , the control module  210  operates various cooling mechanisms of the vehicle  100 , such as a ventilation system control which controls the flow of air in and out of the vehicle  100 , a window control  240 , which controls the position of each window  120 , and a communication unit  250  which may remotely alert an operator  260  of any remedial action taken by the control module  210 . In an embodiment, the window control closes a circuit including a power source and a motor for lowering and raising the window, as determined by the control module  210 . The communication unit  250  sends an alert to a mobile telephone  270  of the operator  260  in the event that the control module  210  operates the ventilation system control  230  or the window control  240 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the presence sensor  130  in more detail. In an embodiment, the presence sensor  130  includes an infrared detector  300 , which is capable of measuring the temperature of various objects inside the vehicle  100 . The infrared detector  300  can be any device capable of performing infrared thermography, or in general, any device that divides an area into sub-areas and measures the temperature of each area by measuring the frequency of infrared light emitted from each area or by measuring temperature using any other method. In an alternate embodiment, a remote thermal measuring device, such as those commonly found in thermometer guns, is used in various places throughout the vehicle  100 , such as one remote thermal measuring device focused on each seat in the vehicle  100 . 
         [0016]    The presence sensor  130  in an embodiment also includes a motion sensor  310 . In an embodiment, the motion sensor  310  is a pyroelectric sensor, any sensor commonly found in motion sensing lights, or any device capable of detecting motion. In addition, in an embodiment, the presence sensor  130  also includes a plurality of weight sensors  320  which are embedded in the seat  110  of the vehicle  100  and electrically connected to other parts of the presence sensor  310  via electrical wires concealed throughout the frame and paneling of the vehicle  100 . Each weight sensor  320 , is a strain gauge, such as a strain gauge commonly found in digital bathroom scales. However, any device capable of determining whether a weight is applied, such as common push button switches oriented in the seats with the buttons oriented upward, is suitable for use with the presence sensor  130 . In an embodiment, the presence sensor  130  also includes an audio sensor  330  which is a microphone or any device capable of converting any noise inside the vehicle  100  into an electronic signal. 
         [0017]    In accordance with an embodiment, the infrared detector  300 , motion sensor  310 , and audio sensor  330  are located together in a single unit mounted on the ceiling of the interior of the vehicle  100  and the weight sensors  320  are wired to the single unit, although various components of the presence sensor  130  need not be part of a single unit, but can be positioned in various places throughout the vehicle  100 . 
         [0018]    Other sensors and detectors in addition to or in alternative to the sensors and detectors listed above can be utilized in the system  200 . For instance, in an embodiment, temperature sensors can be embedded in the seats of the vehicle  100  so as to sense heat from a person or animal sitting or lying on the seat  110 . In alternate embodiments, subsets of the sensors and detectors listed above are used with the system  200  and as little as one sensor or detector can be used with the system  200 . In an embodiment, the presence sensor  130  is part of a presence sensing module which is a device that receives data from various sensors and detectors, such as those described above, and compares that data with predetermined criteria in order to make a decision whether an occupant is in the vehicle  100 . In this embodiment, the control module  210  receives the decision from the presence sensor  130 . In an alternate embodiment, the presence sensor  130  relays the data from the various sensors and detectors, such as those described above, to the control module  210  which compares the data with predetermined criteria in order to make a decision whether an occupant is in the vehicle  100 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows the operation of the system  200  in accordance with an embodiment. The system  200  begins its operation at step  400  which occurs when certain criteria are met. For instance, in an embodiment, the system  200  begins operation when the engine of the vehicle  100  has been shut off and a time period of two minutes has passed. Alternatively, the system  200  begins operation when a key for the vehicle  100  is removed from the vehicle  100 , the driver-side door has closed, and a period of two minutes has been passed. Generally, the system  200  can begin operation at any point of time after criteria are met that indicate that operation of the vehicle  100  has temporarily paused. Alternatively, the system  200  operates continuously regardless of whether the vehicle  100  is being operated. Additional sensors can be utilized in the system  200  so as to determine whether the criteria have been met and the system  200  can be integrated with other systems of the vehicle  100 . 
         [0020]    Once the system  200  begins operation, the presence sensor  130  is operated at step  410  to determine whether a presence is sensed. If no presence is sensed, the system  200  returns to the beginning at step  400  and determines whether a presence is sensed again. In this manner, if a presence is not sensed in the vehicle  100 , the system  200  cycles between steps  410  and  400 , thereby periodically determining whether a presence has been sensed in the vehicle  100 . 
         [0021]    If at any time a presence has been sensed, the system  200 , in an embodiment, produces an in-car alert at step  420 . In an embodiment, the in-car alert comprises an audible signal in connection with illumination of a button near the steering wheel of the vehicle  100  so that the vehicle operator  260  may push the button to manually shut off the system  200 . In an embodiment, the in-car alert comprises recorded instructions for the operator  260  to press the button to if he or she intends to remain in the vehicle  100  for an extended time without operating the vehicle  100 . In this manner, the system  200  will not proceed further when a vehicle occupant is intentionally inside the vehicle  100  when the vehicle  100  is not being driven. For example, if the operator  260  of the vehicle  100  has parked the vehicle  100  and is sitting in the driver&#39;s seat waiting for someone, the system  200  senses the operator  260  at step  410  and, at step  420 , alerts the operator that the system  200  is functioning so that the operator may manually shut off the system  200  by pressing the button. Other mechanisms and devices for producing an in-car alert and deactivating the system  200  can also be used. 
         [0022]    Upon producing the in-car alert at step  420 , the system at step  430  determines whether the system  200  has been deactivated by the operator  260 . If at step  430  the system  200  determines that it has been deactivated, the system  200  ends at step  440 , which in an embodiment comprises entering a stand-by mode until other criteria are met to indicate that the system  200  should begin at step  400  again. In an embodiment, the system  200  leaves stand-by mode after a period of time, such as ten minutes, has passed. 
         [0023]    If at step  430 , the system  200  determines that it has not been deactivated, the system  200  determines whether the interior temperature of the vehicle  100  is greater than a predetermined maximum. In an embodiment, the control model  130  receives temperature measurements from the temperature sensor  220 , and compares the temperature measurements from the temperature sensor  220  with a predetermined value, such as 120° Fahrenheit or other temperature. In an embodiment, if the interior temperature is not greater than the predetermined maximum, the system  200  returns to the beginning at step  400 . 
         [0024]    If at step  450 , the system  200  determines that the interior temperature is greater than the predetermined maximum, the control module  130  instructs the vehicle  100  to take remedial action at step  460 . The determination whether to take remedial action at step  450 , in an embodiment, is performed in a remedial action module, which is a computer, subsystem, or other device of the control module having instructions for making a determination whether to take remedial action. In an embodiment, remedial action includes instructing a window control to lower one or more of the windows  120  by applying a proper amount of power to one or more of the windows  120  for a predetermined period of time, such as five seconds. Remedial action can also or alternatively include operating an air conditioning system of the vehicle  100  or operating a fan and vents of the vehicle  100  so as to replace interior air of the vehicle  100  with cooler exterior air of the vehicle  100 . In general, remedial action can include any action or combination of actions suitable for reducing the temperature of the interior of the vehicle  100 . If necessary, the system  200 , in an embodiment, operates the engine of the vehicle  100  so as to generate power from an alternator of the vehicle  100 . 
         [0025]    Once remedial action has been taken, the system  200  at step  470  produces a remote alert; however, the remote alert can be produced by the system  200  as early as step  450  or at a later step. In an embodiment, the remote alert  470  includes sending an alert to a cellular telephone  270  of the operator  260  to inform the operator  260  that remedial action has been taken. The remote alert  470  can also include digital photographs or video taken by a camera in the vehicle  100 . In an embodiment, the vehicle  100  includes cellular functionality so that it dials the telephone number of the operator  260  of the mobile telephone  270  and sends a recorded message, or sends a text or other message to the telephone  270 , or both. In an alternate embodiment, the system  200  produces the remote alert via a telematic unit such as the Onstar® system offered by General Motors. In yet another alternate embodiment, a remote alert is given before remedial action is taken so that the operator  260  can prevent remedial action before it happens either through the telephone  270  or other mobile device, by a remote key fob, by instructing an employee of a service offering telematic service, or by walking to the vehicle  100  and manually deactivating the system  200 . Also, the remote alert may indicate to the operator  260  that a child or animal is in the vehicle  100  in possibly unsafe conditions so that the operator  260  can return to the vehicle to rescue the child or animal. 
         [0026]    Once the remote alert has been given at step  470 , the system pauses for a period of time, such as three minutes, at step  480 , and subsequently returns to the beginning step  400 . In this manner, time is given for the interior temperature of the vehicle  100  to fall according to the remedial action taken at step  460 . In an embodiment, the system  200  records that remedial action has been taken and, if the system  200  proceeds to take remedial action at step  460 , the system takes additional remedial action by, for example, further lowering one or more of the windows  120  lower or operating the air conditioner of the vehicle  100  for a longer period of time. In an embodiment where remedial action includes operating the air conditioner of the vehicle  100  or other power-operated device, the system  200  can use the temperature sensor  220  to monitor the internal temperature of the vehicle  100  and operate the air conditioner or other power-operated device continuously until the internal temperature reaches an acceptable level, such as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows step  410  in greater detail in accordance with an embodiment. In an embodiment, the step  410  is performed in a presence sensing module, as described above, but it can be performed in the control module  210 . At step  500 , the infrared detector  300  determines whether an object in the vehicle  100  has a temperature approximately equal to the temperature of an animal, such as the dog  140 , or human. For instance, in an embodiment the infrared detector  300  at step  500  determines whether an object in the vehicle  100  displays an external temperature between 95° and 102°. If no object in the car exhibits such a temperature, the system  200  at step  510  determines there is no presence of an occupant in the vehicle  100 . If an object having a temperature of a human or animal is sensed in the vehicle  100 , the system  200  proceeds to step  520  where it determines whether there is any weight on the seats of the car such as the seat  110 . In an embodiment, if a weight is sensed on any of the seats  110 , the system  200  proceeds to step  530  with a determination that there is a presence of an occupant inside the vehicle  100 . If no weight is sensed, the system  200  proceeds to determine whether or not sound is sensed. For example, a microphone of the audio sensor  330  at step  540  indicates whether a baby is crying or a dog is barking in the vehicle  100 . If sound is sensed in the vehicle  100 , the system  200  proceeds to step  530  to determine that there is a presence of an occupant inside the vehicle  100 . If no sound in the vehicle  100  is sensed at step  540 , the system  200  proceeds to step  550  to determine whether motion is sensed. In an embodiment, at step  550  the motion sensor  310  determines whether or not an object is moving in the vehicle  100 . For example, the dog  140  moving across the seat  110 . If motion is sensed, the system  200  determines at step  530  that there is a presence of an occupant inside the vehicle  100 . If not, the system  200  proceeds to step  510  to determine that there is not a presence of an occupant of the vehicle  100 . 
         [0028]    In this manner, the system must determine that an object in the vehicle has a temperature profile matching that of a human or animal in addition to sensing weight, sound, or motion. While the system  200 , in an embodiment, can sense the presence of a vehicle occupant using only one of the infrared detector  300 , motion sensor  310 , weight sensor  320 , and audio sensor  330 , any combination of the sensors or detectors can be used. Additional sensors and detectors can also be used. Using multiple sensors, as in the embodiment described above, has the advantage of reducing the likelihood that the system  200  will falsely detect the presence of an occupant of the vehicle  100 . For example, warm take-out food packaging may have a surface temperature of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit which, to an infrared detector, may be indistinguishable from a person or a dog. Therefore, including an additional requirement of motion, sound, or weight increases makes the determination of a presence inside the vehicle  100  more accurate. In addition, using multiple sensors, each measuring a different sensory characteristics, increases the chance that the system  200  will correctly identify that an occupant is inside the vehicle  100 . For example, if a child is asleep on the back seat  110 , the infrared detector and one of the weight sensors  320  would provide sufficient information to identify that the child is in the vehicle when the audio sensor  330  may not detect any sound while the child sleeps. 
         [0029]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0030]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0031]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.