WO2013128346A1

WO2013128346A1 - Safety system for at least one occupant of a motor vehicle and method for protecting the occupant

Info

Publication number: WO2013128346A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/051414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zohra CHRAIEF
Original assignee: Chraief Zohra
Priority date: 2012-02-28
Filing date: 2013-02-21
Publication date: 2013-09-06
Also published as: ITBO20120096A1

Abstract

Described are a safety system for at least one occupant of a motor vehicle and a method for protecting the occupant whereby the occupant is provided with a portable kit comprising first detection means (4) for detecting the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3); the first detection means (4) being configured to make available a first signal (S1) which indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3); second detection means (5), configured to connect to a GPS satellite network (6), and to make available a second signal (S2) which indicates the geographical position of the motor vehicle (3); a control unit (7) connected to the first detection means (4) to receive the first signal (51) and to the second detection means (5) to receive the second signal (52); the system and the method comprising enabling an alarm signal (A), through the control unit (7), when the value of the first signal (S1) indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3) and when the value of the second signal (S2) indicates that the motor vehicle (3) is stationary beyond a predetermined limit time interval.

Description

DESCRIPTION

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST ONE OCCUPANT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING THE OCCUPANT

Technical field

This invention relates to a safety system for at least one occupant of a motor vehicle and to a method for protecting the occupant.

Background art

All too well known from news reports are cases of motor vehicle drivers leaving their motor vehicle (motor car, motorhome, minibus, etc) parked somewhere and forgetting one or more occupants inside the vehicle.

These news reports very often regard infants but cases of pet animals or physically or mentally challenged adult persons forgotten inside parked vehicles are also known.

For convenience of description, this specification refers expressly, but without limiting the scope of the invention, to the more frequent problem of an infant being forgotten inside a motor vehicle.

Current road safety regulations specify that infants (meaning by this term new-born babies as well as children up to several years old) riding in motor vehicles must be restrained in specially designed seats, carrier cots or baby safety seats, which are normally installed on the back seat of the vehicle (and secured in known manner relative to the vehicle frame).

In this context, the infant restrained in the seat is not immediately visible to the driver who, under certain psychophysical conditions (nervous strain, fatigue, etc.) may forget the presence of the infant in the safety seat, and may lock the vehicle and unwittingly leave the infant inside. This is made worse by the fact that infants riding in motor vehicles often fall asleep and, without uttering words or sounds, fail to draw attention to their presence.

Although most cases of infants unintentionally abandoned inside motor vehicles do not have tragic consequences thanks to the prompt intervention of passers-by, there have been cases where infants abandoned in motor vehicles have died.

Forgetting an infant inside a motor vehicle, although relatively infrequent, is therefore extremely dangerous for the health of the infant, particularly if the vehicle is left in the sun during very hot weather, and may lead to the infant's death in a very short time.

Parents, therefore, have long felt the need to avoid the risk of forgetting their children inside their cars.

In particular, the need for systems or devices which can prevent the occurrence of such events is felt particularly strongly.

As mentioned above, this need regards not only children but also pet animals and physically or mentally challenged adults.

More generally speaking, a particularly strong need is felt for safety systems or devices which can generate an alarm if the occupant of a motor vehicle is unintentionally left inside the vehicle for more than a predetermined length of time.

Disclosure of the invention

This invention therefore has for an aim to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a safety system for at least one occupant of a motor vehicle and a method for protecting the occupant.

According to the invention, this aim is achieved by a safety system for at least one occupant of a motor vehicle and a method for protecting the occupant, as described in the appended claims.

Brief description of drawing

The technical features of the invention, according to the above aim, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention

In the accompanying drawing, the reference numeral 1 denotes a safety system for at least one occupant 2 of a motor vehicle 3.

The term "occupant" is used generically to denote any living being present on board the motor vehicle 3. More specifically, the occupant 2 may be either the driver of the motor vehicle 3, who, for example, after losing consciousness, remains inside the motor vehicle 3 for longer than a predetermined time interval, or a passenger. The passenger may be an adult, a child, an infant or a pet animal forgotten and/or abandoned inside the motor vehicle 3 beyond a predetermined time interval.

The system 1 comprises at least a first detection device 4 for detecting the presence of the occupant to be protected on board the motor vehicle 3. The device 4 is configured to make available a first signal S1 which indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle 3.

The system 1 also comprises a second detection device 5 which is configured to connect to a GPS satellite network 6 and to make available a second signal S2 which indicates the geographical position of the motor vehicle 3.

The system 1 also comprises a control unit 7 which is connected to the device 4 to receive the first signal S1 and to the device 5 to receive the second signal S2.

The control unit 7 may or may not be integrated in the ECU of the motor vehicle.

More specifically, the control unit 7 may be integrated in the infant safety seat or it may be installed in the motor vehicle (for example, in the car bonnet).

Preferably and advantageously, the control unit 7 might also have other functions such as, for example, impact detection (for insurance purposes). The control unit 7 is configured to enable an alarm signal A when the value of the first signal S1 indicates the presence of the occupant 2 on board the motor vehicle 3 and the value of the second vehicle position signal S2 indicates that the motor vehicle 3 is stationary beyond a predetermined limit time interval (which may or may not be set by the user).

The limit time interval, which is preferably programmable in the unit 7, for example in steps of 30 minutes to 2 hours, may be calculated starting from each time the motor vehicle 3 is stopped.

In other words, the stationary state is detected as a function of the second, vehicle position signal S2, where the position of the vehicle does not change over time.

It should be noted that the stationary state not only means a stationary state which is temporally consecutive upon the stopping of vehicle movement but it may also exist in the case where the stationary state is not temporally consecutive upon the stopping of vehicle movement.

To clarify the latter case, we may consider the case of a particularly prolonged stop during which no one is inside the vehicle and where a passenger and/or the driver returns into the vehicle and remains inside without causing the vehicle to move.

In this case, too, the system detects a stationary state with a passenger present inside the vehicle and activates the alarm.

More generally speaking, therefore, the stationary state means absence of change of vehicle position detected through the agency of the GPS module.

In one embodiment of it, the first detection device 4 comprises at least one sensor 8, in particular an RFID sensor (or more generally speaking, a wireless sensor) associated with an object (which is portable) belonging to the occupant. More specifically, in the case of an infant, the sensor 8 may be associated with a comforter or a bracelet; in the case of a pet animal, the sensor 8 may be associated with a collar; in the case of the driver or of an adult or child passenger, the sensor 8 may be associated with a tag, for example to be attached to a key ring, or it may be defined by the GPS module of the occupant's mobile phone (for example, a smartphone). In the latter case, the occupant's mobile phone must be configured to communicate with the control unit 7, that is to say, to transmit the signal S1 to the control unit 7 in wireless mode.

It should be noted, more generally speaking, that the sensor 8 associated with the vehicle occupant (irrespective of the device it is integrated in - be it a comforter, a smartphone, a bracelet, a tag, etc.) may therefore comprise a GPS device.

According to this aspect, the system comprises a module, either hardware or software, which may or may not be integrated in the control unit 7 and which is configured to compare the vehicle's GPS position signal with the GPS position signal of the sensor 8 associated with the occupant of the vehicle.

By comparing the GPS signals, the module can discern whether the person carrying the sensor 8 is inside or outside the vehicle so as to set the value of the signal S1 or S3 transmitted to the unit 7.

It should be noted that if the distance between the position of the vehicle and the position of the sensor 8 is less than a preset value, it means the sensor 8 is inside the vehicle and thus the module sets the signal S1 or S3 to a value corresponding to a condition of user present inside the vehicle.

Where used, an RFID device may also contain personal data of the occupant to be protected, for example, age, sex, blood group, ongoing diseases, allergies, etc. The occupant's personal data are useful in a case where the safety system sends an alarm signal to a central operations unit: knowing the personal data of the occupants advantageously means being able to send one specific rescue team rather than another.

Whatever the case, through the first signal S1 , the sensor 8 communicates to the control unit 7 that the occupant to be protected is on board the motor vehicle 3.

In a different embodiment of it, the first detection device 4 comprises a first weight sensor 9, in particular at least a first load cell,

More specifically, the first weight sensor 9 may be integrated in a seat, a seat cover, or in a child safety seat 10, a baby carrier cot or the like, designed to be placed on board the motor vehicle 3.

A telephone alarm signalling device or module 13 is connected to the control unit 7.

The term "telephone alarm signalling" is used to mean at least one telephone call and/or at least one SMS text message sent through a mobile telephone network.

The device 13 forming part of the system 1 comprises a communication module configured to connect to a mobile telephone network, and the control unit 7 is programmed to send an alarm signal to one or more predetermined telephones through the communication module.

Other auxiliary alarm signalling devices 14, for example, sound and/or visual devices, may be connected to the control unit 7.

Preferably, the auxiliary devices 14 form part of the motor vehicle 3, for example, headlights, direction indicators, horn.

Preferably, the first detection device 4, the second detection device 5, the control unit 7 and the alarm signalling device 13 are integrated in a portable kit belonging to the occupant to be protected.

More specifically, in the case where the first detection device 4 comprises the aforementioned weight sensor 9, the latter, together with the second detection device 5, the control unit 7 and the alarm signalling device 13, may be integrated in a seat cover.

In a variant embodiment, where the first detection device 4 comprises the aforementioned weight sensor 9 and is intended for an infant, the sensor 9, the second detection device 5, the control unit 7 and the alarm signalling device 13 may be integrated in a child safety seat, a baby carrier cot or the like, designed to be placed on board the motor vehicle 3. In the case where the first detection device 4 comprises the aforementioned sensor 8, the latter must be carried or worn by the occupant to be protected, whilst the second detection device 5, the control unit 7 and the alarm signalling device 13 may be integrated in a child safety seat, a baby carrier cot or the like, designed to be placed on board the motor vehicle.

In all the cases described above, after the device 13 sends an alarm signal, the control unit 7 is programmed to wait for a response (acknowledgment of receipt) within a predetermined time interval (for example, 5 minutes). The response must be provided by the receiver of the alarm signal and may be sent, for example by a telephone call or an SMS text message, to a predetermined telephone number, for example of a central operations unit in charge of dealing with the alarm signals or to a telephone number corresponding to the selfsame control unit 7.

Preferably, the response is sent to the telephone number corresponding to the control unit 7: that way, the user can disable the alarm directly (without going by way of the central operations unit) by sending an alarm disable signal (in the form of a predetermined key combination, a voice message, an SMS text message, etc.) to the control unit 7.

If the control unit 7 does not receive a response (acknowledgment of receipt) within the predetermined time interval, the control unit 7 itself is programmed to send an alarm signal, via its own communication module, to one or more other telephone numbers and/or to the central operations unit.

For example, the control unit 7 sends an alarm signal to a second telephone number and waits for a response from that number, too: if the second number called does not send a response to the control unit 7, the control unit 7 may be configured to call yet another number or to alert a central operations unit.

Preferably, the control unit 7 can send (via the communication module) an alarm signal comprising the position of the vehicle: that way, advantageously, third parties other than the driver (for example operators of the central operations unit or other persons alerted by the operations unit, or members of the family) know the exact position of the vehicle so that rescue action can be taken promptly and more easily.

It should be noted that the control unit 7 may be configured in such a way as to disable the alarm automatically if the vehicle is moved.

Alternatively, the system may comprise a remote control device (which can be associated with a key ring, for example) to allow the alarm to be disabled.

The system 1 may comprise an acceleration sensor (not illustrated) associated with the first detection device 4 or with the second detection device 5 to communicate to the control unit 7 a condition that indicates that an accident has occurred.

Advantageously, the presence of an acceleration sensor to detect an accident condition allows the safety system to send a signal to a central operations unit (or more generally speaking, to persons not on board the vehicle) communicating that an accident has occurred and the position of the vehicle involved in the accident.

This considerably lessens the risk of dangerous situations for all the occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident in an isolated location (for example in the countryside at night), allowing specialized personnel to promptly reach the site of the accident (and, in particular, may allow the intervention of a specialized team if there is an infant on board the vehicle).

According to an optional embodiment, the system 1 may also comprise a third detection device 1 1 for detecting the absence of the driver from the driver's seat.

The third detection device 1 1 is configured to make available a third signal S3 indicating the absence of the driver from the driving seat.

The control unit 7 is connected to the device 1 1 to receive the third signal S3.

In this case, the control unit 7 is configured to enable an alarm signal when the following conditions occur (simultaneously):

- the value of the first signal S1 indicates the presence of the occupant to be protected on board the motor vehicle;

- the value of the second signal S2 indicates that the motor vehicle 3 is stationary beyond a certain limit time interval;

- the value of the third signal S3 indicates the absence of the driver from the driving seat.

According to one embodiment of the third device 1 1 , the device 1 1 comprises at least one weight sensor 12, in particular at least one load cell, associated with the driving seat.

Preferably, the device 1 1 makes available the aforementioned value of the third signal S3 indicating the absence of the driver from the driving seat only if the weight detected by the second weight sensor 12 does not exceed a predetermined upper threshold limit.

In other words, if the weight detected by the sensor 12 is greater than a certain threshold (for example, 40 Kg) the driver is detected as present; otherwise the driver is detected as absent. It should be noted that the threshold (for example, 40 Kg) must be chosen so as not to give a false indication of driver present should the driving position be occupied by a child or pet locked inside the vehicle. In practice, two dangerous situations are contemplated:

- in the first condition of potential danger, the driver is present, alone or in the company of at least one passenger, inside the vehicle, which is stationary, for a prolonged period of time;

- in the second condition of danger, the driver is away from the stationary vehicle in which there is at least one passenger.

With reference to the first condition of potential danger, the system 1 , through the signal S2, detects an anomalous condition in the fact that the motor vehicle 3 is stationary for an extended length of time with the driver (and possibly other passengers) on board. In effect, the driver and the passengers, if any, detected as being inside the vehicle via the signal S1 and/or the signal S3, might be unconscious due to sudden illness or might have been involved in an accident (and, for example, are trapped inside the vehicle).

In this context, if the signal S1 refers to the driver, the presence of the signal S3 is redundant for the purposes of enabling the alarm signal.

With reference to the second condition of danger, the system 1 , through the signal S2, detects an anomalous condition in the fact that the motor vehicle 3 is stationary for an extended length of time with the driver not on board and at least one passenger on board. The signal S3 indicates that the driver is absent, while the signal S1 indicates that at least one other passenger is present. It should be noted that even in the presence of the signal S1 indicating that there is a pet, or child, on board and even if the pet or child occupies the driving position, the weight of the pet of child would not exceed the preset threshold of the signal S3 which, therefore, would still indicate that the driver is absent.

In this context, the presence of the signal S3 is useful but not necessary. In effect, in the absence of the device 1 1 , the control unit 7 enables an alarm signal both in the presence and in the absence of the driver.

The signal S3 is therefore useful to reduce false alarms but not using it reduces the amount of information to be processed, thus simplifying the system 1 and increasing its dependability and safety.

Moreover, the absence of the device 1 1 makes the system 1 more economical and suitable for installation in portable kits (infant safety seats, seat covers, comforters, collars, etc.) totally independent of components of the motor vehicle 3.

On the other hand, if the safety system 1 is partly integrated in the motor vehicle 3, it may interact with two or more portable kits associated with two or more occupants to be protected.

It should also be noted that in a variant embodiment (not illustrated) the system 1 comprises a further detection device for detecting the on/off state of the vehicle engine.

According to this variant embodiment, the detection device for detecting the on/off state of the vehicle engine transmits to the control unit a signal which indicates the state of the engine.

This signal may be used to discern further danger situations (for example, accident resulting in vehicle being stationary but with engine still running and producing harmful gases).

Preferably, the detection device for detecting the on/off state of the vehicle engine comprises an accelerometer.

It should be noted that the accelerometer might also be used to detect a condition indicating that an accident has occurred, as described above.

According to this embodiment, therefore, the control unit 7 is connected to the accelerometer to receive the acceleration signal and is configured to detect the on/off state of the vehicle engine based on the acceleration signal (and possibly also to detect a condition indicating that an accident has occurred, based on the acceleration signal).

More specifically, the control unit 7 can include the engine state in the alarm signal it sends.

The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application. It may also be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

According to another embodiment, the safety system comprises a module for detecting the presence of the key in the ignition lock and the control unit 7 is connected to the module to detect the presence / absence of the key in the ignition lock.

Thus, according to this variant embodiment, the control unit 7 is configured to enable an alarm signal when the value of the first signal S1 indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle 3, when the value of the second signal S2 indicates that the motor vehicle 3 is stationary beyond a predetermined limit time interval, and when the value of a further signal indicates the absence of the key from the ignition lock (these conditions are related by a logical AND, that is to say, they must be simultaneous).

According to another embodiment, the safety system comprises a module for detecting whether or not the vehicle doors are closed and the control unit 7 is connected to the module to detect the open/closed state of the vehicle doors.

It should be noted that according to this variant embodiment, the control unit 7 is configured to enable an alarm signal when the value of the first signal S1 indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle 3, when the value of the second signal S2 indicates that the motor vehicle 3 is stationary beyond a predetermined limit time interval, and when the value of another signal indicates that the vehicle doors are closed (these conditions are related by a logical AND, that is to say, they must be simultaneous).

It should be noted that according to a yet further variant embodiment, the control unit 7 is configured to enable an alarm signal when the value of the first signal S1 indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle 3, when the value of the second signal S2 indicates that the motor vehicle 3 is stationary beyond a predetermined limit time interval, when the value of another signal indicates the absence of the key from the ignition lock, and when the value of another signal indicates that the vehicle doors are closed (these conditions are related by a logical AND, that is to say, they must be simultaneous).

According to another aspect, it should be noted that the control unit 7 is configured to disable the alarm signal, if enabled, if a value of the first signal S1 is detected which indicates the absence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle 3.

Claims

1 . A safety system for at least one occupant of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises:

- first detection means (4) for detecting the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle; the first detection means (4) being configured to make available a first signal (S1 ) which indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3);

- second detection means (5), configured to connect to a GPS satellite network (6), and to make available a second signal (S2) which indicates the geographical position of the motor vehicle (3);

- a control unit (7) connected to the first detection means (4) to receive the first signal (S1 ) and to the second detection means (5) to receive the second signal (S2); said control unit (7) being configured to enable an alarm signal (A) when the value of the first signal (S1 ) indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3) and the value of the second signal (S2) indicates that the motor vehicle (3) is stationary, beyond a predetermined limit time interval.

2. A system according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises first alarm signalling means (13) which are connected to the control unit (7) and which can be enabled by said control unit (7) to generate a telephone signal.

3. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the first alarm signalling means (13) comprise a communication module configured to connect to a mobile telephone network, and wherein the control unit (7) is programmed to send the alarm signal (A) to one or more predetermined telephones, through the communication module, by phone calls and/or SMS text messages.

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (7) is configured to receive an alarm disable signal from a remote device and, subsequent to the control unit (7) receiving the disable signal, to disable the alarm signal if it is enabled.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (7) is configured to disable the alarm signal, if enabled, if a value of the first signal (S1 ) is detected which indicates the absence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3).

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (7) is configured to disable the alarm signal, if the alarm signal is enabled, if a value of the second signal (S2) is detected which indicates movement of the vehicle.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second detection means (5) and the control unit (7) are associated with the vehicle and the first detection means (4) for detecting the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle are portable and can be associated with the occupant to be protected.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises second alarm signalling means (14), which are connected to the control unit (7) and can be enabled by said control unit (7) to generate an acoustic and/or visual alarm signal (A).

9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first detection means (4) comprise at least one sensor (8) associated with a personal object of the occupant to be protected.

10. A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor (8) is associated with an object, in particular a comforter or a bracelet of an infant.

1 1 . A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor (8) is associated with an object, in particular a collar of a pet.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims from 9 to 1 1 , wherein the sensor (8) comprises a GPS module for receiving a position signal which indicates the position of the sensor (8), and the system comprises a module configured to compare the position of the sensor (8) and the position of the vehicle and to make the signal (S1 ) indicating the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3) available to the unit (7), the value of said signal (S1 ) being a function of the outcome of the comparison.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims from 1 to 12, where the occupant to be protected is identifiable as a separate passenger from the driver and/or located on board in a given position separate from the driving seat, characterized in that it comprises third detection means (1 1 ) for detecting the absence of the driver from the driving seat; said third detection means (1 1 ) being configured to make available a third signal (S3) indicating the absence of the driver from the driving seat; the control unit (7) being configured to enable an alarm signal when:

- the value of the first signal (S1 ) indicates the presence of the occupant to be protected on board the motor vehicle (3);

- the value of the second signal (S2) indicates that the motor vehicle (3) is stationary beyond a certain limit time interval;

- the value of the third signal (S3) indicates the absence of the driver from the driving seat.

14. A system according to claim 13, characterized in that the third detection means (1 1 ) comprise at least one second weight sensor (12), in particular at least one second load cell, associated with the driving seat.

15. A method for protecting at least one occupant of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is equipped with a system (1 ) comprising:

- first detection means (4) for detecting the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3); the first detection means (4) being configured to make available a first signal (S1 ) which indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3); - second detection means (5), configured to connect to a GPS satellite network (6), and to make available a second signal (S2) which indicates the geographical position of the motor vehicle (3);

- a control unit (7) connected to the first detection means (4) to receive the first signal (S1 ) and to the second detection means (5) to receive the second signal (S2);

the method comprising enabling an alarm signal (A), through the control unit (7), when the value of the first signal (S1 ) indicates the presence of the occupant on board the motor vehicle (3) and when the value of the second signal (S2) indicates that the motor vehicle (3) is stationary beyond a predetermined limit time interval.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the system (1 ) is at least partly integrated within an infant safety seat (10), cot or the like.

17. A method according to either claim 15 or 16, wherein the first detection means (4) are integrated within a seat cover.