Patent Publication Number: US-2017372579-A1

Title: Sensory device for a motor vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/354,112, filed Jun. 23, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle driver alert devices and more specifically relates to sensory device for a motor vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Families travel together in vehicles to go to many places such as on vacations, shopping, restaurants, and innumerous other locations. Many of these families have children and quite often these children are infants. During travel, most family members get involved in conversation and become preoccupied scarcely playing attention to the travel home. After arriving, the family members exit the vehicle carrying shopping bags, school books, and other items into the house. In recent years such a common occurrence has turned tragic because with increasing frequency sleeping infants are forgotten in their car seats and die from exposure. With the windows rolled up during summer, the interiors of cars can reach 140 degrees F., far too hot for helpless infants to survive. There have been recent incidents where distracted parents had forgotten to drop their infant child off at the babysitter on the way to work, leaving the sleeping infant in the car seat, only to discover later that the infant had died from exposure. Parents that have had such a tragedy occur in their life never completely recover. These tragedies are never intentional but in most cases the parent gets charged with negligent homicide, increasing the tragedy and changing the life of the parent even further. A change of routine or a very stressful job, such as is very common in the modern workplace, sets the stage for such a tragedy to occur. An innovation that is able to prevent this type of disaster is needed. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, but as of yet, none of the prior art taken either singly or in combination is seen to solve the problem. 
     Ideally, a vehicle driver alert device should provide convenience and fail safe functionality, and yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable sensory device for a motor vehicle to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known vehicle driver alert devices art, the present invention provides a novel sensory device for a motor vehicle. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide convenience and fail safe functionality of an automated car driver alert system. 
     The sensory device for a motor vehicle may comprise a main body that includes a front wall including a reflective surface, a body wall that detachably connects with the front wall and forms an interior volume therewith, a scanner member attached to the main body that is adapted to scan the interior volume of the motor vehicle, measure heat and detect motion therein, and send data signals to a processor member. Also, there preferably is included a processor member located within the interior volume of the main body that is electrically connected with the scanner member that is adapted to receive data signals from the scanner member, process the heat measurements, process motion detection signals, and send instructions to a transmitter. A transmitter is located within the interior volume of the main body that is electrically connected with and is adapted to receive instructions from the processor member. 
     The transmitter is adapted to send electronic signals to at least one external receiver to thereby perform certain desired functions. The desired functions are chosen from a list of functions consisting of turning on the engine of the motor vehicle, unlocking the doors of the motor vehicle, sounding an alarm, and sending an alert to at least one external receiver. A sound detector member is attached to the main body that is adapted to detect sound waves within the motor vehicle and send data signals to the processor member. A power source located within the interior volume of the main body is electrically connected to the scanner member, the processor member, the transmitter, and the sound detector member. 
     The power source preferably includes at least one battery member but may include a number of options in addition to the batter source. The transmitter includes BLUETOOTH technology as well as cellular functions. The external receiver(s) may be smart phones, land lines, radio, or other BLUETOOTH capable devices adapted to receive signals from the BLUETOOTH technology of the transmitter. There may be an alert button located upon the front wall of the device that is adapted to send an alert signal to the transmitter and thereby send an alert signal to the designated external receiver(s). An on/off button located upon the front wall is adapted to turn the sensory device on or off and there is an emergency service button located upon the front wall that is adapted to send an emergency service request signal to the transmitter and thereby send an emergency service request signal to a local emergency service system. 
     The sensory device for a motor vehicle may be offered as a combination of a motor vehicle and a sensory device for use within the motor vehicle. The combination may comprise a motor vehicle that includes as originally manufactured equipment, an interior passenger compartment, a windshield member, a power source, an engine member, and at least one door having an automatic locking mechanism. Also included is a sensory device comprising a main body having a front wall, having a reflective surface, a body wall detachably connected to the front wall that forms an interior volume therewith, a connector arm connected to a back portion of the body wall of the sensory device that is adapted to be releasably attached to the windshield member of the motor vehicle, a scanner member attached to the main body that is adapted to scan the interior passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, measure heat and detect motion therein, and send data signals to a processor member. 
     The processor member is located within the interior volume of the main body and is electrically connected with the scanner member. The processor member is adapted to receive data signals from the scanner member, process heat measurements, process motion detection signals, and send instructions to a transmitter located within the interior volume of the main body that is electrically connected with and is adapted to receive the instructions from the processor member. The transmitter is adapted to send electronic signals to at least one external receiver to perform desired functions. The power source of the motor vehicle is electrically connected with the scanner member, the processor member, the transmitter, and the sound detector member. The desired functions are chosen from a list of functions consisting of turning on the engine of the motor vehicle, unlocking at least one door of the motor vehicle, sounding an alarm, and sending an alert to at least one external receiver. 
     There may also be a sound detector member attached to the main body that is adapted to detect sound waves within the interior passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and send data signals to the processor member, and a power source located within the interior volume of the main body that is electrically connected with the scanner member. The processor member, the transmitter, and the sound detector member, is adapted to supply power to the scanner member, the processor member, the transmitter, and the sound detector member when the power source of the motor vehicle is unavailable. The power source may include at least one battery member. 
     The transmitter preferably includes BLUETOOTH technology. The external receiver(s) may be smart phones, land lines, radios, or other devices capable of receiving radio, BLUETOOTH, or cellular signals. There may be an alert button located upon the front wall of the device and adapted to send an alert signal to the transmitter to thereby send an alert signal to the specified external receiver(s), an on/off button located upon the front wall adapted to turn the sensory device on or off, and an emergency service button located upon the front wall adapted to send an emergency service request signal to the transmitter thereby sending an emergency service request signal to an emergency service system. The external receiver(s) preferably are smart phones that include a computer application adapted to alert the owner of the motor vehicle that a passenger is still remaining in their motor vehicle. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a sensory device for a motor vehicle. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, sensory device for a motor vehicle, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of a sensory device for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the sensory device for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the sensory device for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an external receiver of the sensory device for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a vehicle driver alert devices and more particularly to a sensory device for a motor vehicle as used to improve the convenience and fail safe functionality of an automated car driver alert system. 
     Generally speaking, The sensory device for a motor vehicle is a system for automatically preventing the driver of a vehicle from forgetting and leaving an infant in a car seat when exiting the vehicle. The system uses the mirror of a vehicle to house many of the functions for scanning the vehicle and detecting various types of sensitive indicators that a person is still in the vehicle. A transmitter is able to transmit a signal using various methods, to receivers such as smart cell phones to alert the driver and/or other individuals either in the vehicle or otherwise, that an infant was left behind. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , shows a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  may be offered as a combination of a motor vehicle  170  and sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  or sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  may be offered separately as an aftermarket system for retrofitting an existing motor vehicle  170 . When in combination, the combination may comprise motor vehicle  170 , interior passenger compartment  172 , windshield member  173 , power source  140 , engine member  175 , and at least one door  176  having automatic locking mechanism  177 . Also included is sensory device  180  comprising main body  105  having front wall  106 , having reflective surface  107 , body wall  108  detachably connected to front wall  106  that forms interior volume  109  therewith, connector arm  111  connected to back portion  112  of body wall  108  of sensory device  180  that is adapted to be releasably attached to windshield member  173  of motor vehicle  170 , scanner member  115  attached to main body  105  that is adapted to scan interior passenger compartment  172  of motor vehicle  170 , measure heat and detect motion therein, and send data signals to processor member  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , is a perspective view illustrating sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  may comprise main body  105  that includes front wall  106  including reflective surface  107 , body wall  108  that detachably connects with front wall  106  and forms interior volume  109  therewith scanner member  110  attached to main body  105  that is adapted to scan interior passenger compartment  172  of motor vehicle  170 , measure heat and detect motion therein, and send data signals to processor member  120 . Processor member  120  is located within interior volume  109  of main body  105  that is electrically connected with scanner member  115  that is adapted to receive data signals from scanner member  115 , process the heat measurements, process motion detection signals, and send instructions to transmitter  125 . Transmitter  125  is located within interior volume  109  of main body  105  that is electrically connected with and is adapted to receive instructions from processor member  120 . 
     There may be alert button  150  located upon front wall  106  of main body  105  that is adapted to send an alert signal to transmitter  125  and thereby send an alert signal to the designated external receiver(s)  130 . On/off button  155  located upon front wall  106  is adapted to turn sensory device  180  on or off and there is emergency service button  160  located upon front wall  106  that is adapted to send an emergency service request signal to transmitter  125  and thereby send an emergency service request signal to a local emergency service system. 
     Power source  140  of motor vehicle  170  is electrically connected with scanner member  110 , processor member  120 , transmitter  125 , and sound detector member  135 . The desired functions are chosen from a list of functions consisting of turning on engine member  175  of motor vehicle  170 , unlocking at least one door  176  of motor vehicle  170 , sounding an alarm, and sending an alert to at least one external receiver(s)  130 . 
     There may also be sound detector member  135  attached to main body  105  that is adapted to detect sound waves within interior passenger compartment  172  of motor vehicle  170  and send data signals to processor member  120 , and power source  140  located within interior volume  109  of main body  105  that is electrically connected with scanner member  115 . Processor member  120 , transmitter  125 , and sound detector member  135 , is adapted to supply power to scanner member  115 , processor member  120 , transmitter  125 , and sound detector member  135  when power source  140  of motor vehicle  170  is unavailable. Power source  140  may include at least one battery member  145 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , is a perspective view illustrating sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Processor member  120  is located within interior volume  109  of main body  105  and is electrically connected with scanner member  115 . Processor member  120  is adapted to receive data signals from scanner member  115 , process heat measurements, process motion detection signals, and send instructions to transmitter  125  located within interior volume  109  of main body  105  that is electrically connected with and is adapted to receive the instructions from processor member  120 . Transmitter  125  is adapted to send electronic signals to at least one external receiver(s)  130  to perform desired functions. 
     Transmitter  125  is adapted to send electronic signals to at least one external receiver(s)  130  to thereby perform certain desired functions. The desired functions are chosen from a list of functions consisting of turning on engine member  175  of motor vehicle  170 , unlocking door  176  of motor vehicle  170 , sounding an alarm, and sending an alert to at least one external receiver(s)  130 . Sound detector member  135  is attached to main body  105  that is adapted to detect sound waves within motor vehicle  170  and send data signals to processor member  120 . Power source  140  located within interior volume  109  of main body  105  is electrically connected to scanner member  115 , processor member  120 , transmitter  125 , and sound detector member  135 . 
     Power source  140  preferably includes at least one battery member  145  but may include a number of options in addition to battery member  145 . Transmitter  125  includes BLUETOOTH technology as well as cellular functions. External receiver(s)  130  may be smart phones, land lines, radio, or other BLUETOOTH capable devices adapted to receive signals from the BLUETOOTH technology of transmitter  125 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , is a perspective view illustrating external receiver(s)  130  of sensory device for a motor vehicle  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Transmitter  125  preferably includes BLUETOOTH technology. External receiver(s)  130  may be smart phones  131 , land lines, radios, or other devices capable of receiving radio, BLUETOOTH, or cellular signals. There may be an alert button located upon front wall  106  of main body  105  and adapted to send an alert signal to transmitter  125  to thereby send an alert signal to the specified external receiver(s)  130 . On/off button  155  button located upon front wall  106  adapted to turn sensory device  180  on or off, and emergency service button  160  located upon front wall  106  adapted to send an emergency service request signal to transmitter  125  thereby sending an emergency service request signal to an emergency service system. External receiver(s)  130  preferably are smart phones  131  that include a computer application adapted to alert the owner of motor vehicle  170  that a passenger is still remaining in their motor vehicle  170 . 
     Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.