System for deterring use of a mobile communications device

• US 10,118,552 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Constantine, Patricia Clare Landis
• Original Assignee: Alexander Constantine, Patricia Clare Landis
• Inventors: Constantine, Alexander, Landis, Patricia Clare
• Primary Examiner(s): Flores, Leon
• Application Number:
  US15/725,470
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system is disclosed for deterring use of a mobile communications device, such as a mobile phone, in a moving vehicle. The system can comprise a case comprising a housing adapted for containing the mobile communications device therein, and at least one touch sensor positioned on an outer surface of the housing, an alarm unit for producing an alarm, and a motion detection device. The motion detection device can detect motion of the alarm unit. A computing device can be operatively connected to the capacitive touch sensor(s), the motion detection device and the alarm device, and activates the alarm when the touch sensor(s) senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects motion of the alarm unit.

Claims

1. A kit for deterring use of a mobile communications device in a moving vehicle comprising:

(a) a case comprising a housing adapted for containing a mobile communications device therein, and at least one touch sensor positioned on an outer surface of the housing;

(b) an alarm device adapted for producing an alarm comprising visible light or audible sound;

(c) a motion detection device adapted for detecting motion of the case or adapted for detecting motion of the alarm device; and

(d) a computing device operatively connected to the at least one capacitive touch sensor, the motion detection device, and the alarm device, wherein the computing device causes the alarm device to produce visible light or audible sound to emanate from the alarm device when the at least one touch sensor senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects motion.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the computing device and the alarm device are adapted for wireless communication with each other.

3. The kit according to claim 2, further comprising BLUETOOTH wireless communication technology, whereby the computing device transmits a wireless signal to the alarm device that causes the alarm device to produce visible light or audible sound to emanate from the alarm device when the at least one touch sensor senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects motion.

4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the case is substantially rectangular, and the at least one touch sensor comprises a plurality of elongate capacitive touch sensor sections positioned longitudinally on the case housing.

5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a mobile phone, and the housing of the case is adapted for containing the mobile phone therein, the housing having a substantial rectangular prism shape, and comprising first and second opposed major faces, first and second opposed side faces, and first and second opposed end faces.

6. The kit according to claim 5, wherein the at least one touch sensor comprises a first plurality of elongate capacitive touch sensor sections positioned longitudinally on at least one of the first and second opposed major faces, and a second plurality of elongate capacitive touch sensor sections positioned longitudinally on at least one of the first and second opposed side faces.

7. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the motion detection device comprises at least one from the group consisting of an accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, and a global positioning system receiver.

8. A kit for deterring use of a mobile communications device in a moving vehicle comprising:

(a) a case comprising a housing adapted for containing a mobile communications device therein, and at least one touch sensor positioned on an outer surface of the housing;

(b) an alarm device adapted for producing an alarm;

(c) a motion detection device adapted for detecting motion of the case or adapted for detecting motion of the alarm device;

(d) a computing device operatively connected to the at least one capacitive touch sensor, the motion detection device, and the alarm device, wherein the computing device activates the alarm when the at least one touch sensor senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects motion;

(e) wherein the mobile communications device comprises a mobile phone, and the housing of the case is adapted for containing the mobile phone therein, the housing having a substantial rectangular prism shape, and comprising first and second opposed major faces, first and second opposed side faces, and first and second opposed end faces; and

(f) wherein the at least one touch sensor comprises a first plurality of elongate capacitive touch sensor sections positioned longitudinally on one of the first and second opposed major faces, and a second plurality of elongate capacitive touch sensor sections comprised of a first elongate section positioned longitudinally on the first side face, and a second elongate section positioned longitudinally on the second side face.

9. A kit for deterring use of a mobile communications device in a moving vehicle comprising:

(a) a case comprising a housing adapted for containing a mobile communications device therein, and at least one touch sensor positioned on an outer surface of the housing;

(b) an alarm device adapted for producing an alarm;

(c) a motion detection device adapted for detecting motion of the case or adapted for detecting motion of the alarm device;

(d) a computing device operatively connected to the at least one capacitive touch sensor, the motion detection device, and the alarm device, wherein the computing device activates the alarm when the at least one touch sensor senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects motion; and

(e) an alarm unit housing the alarm device, and wherein the motion detection device is positioned in the alarm unit and is adapted for detecting motion of the alarm unit.

10. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the alarm comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of light and sound.

11. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the computing device comprises a first microcontroller positioned in the case and operatively connected to the at least one touch sensor, and a second microcontroller positioned in the alarm unit and operatively connected to the alarm device and the motion detection device.

12. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the first microcontroller sends a signal to the second microcontroller activating the alarm when the at least one capacitive touch sensor senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects movement of the alarm unit.

13. The kit according to claim 12, wherein the first microcontroller sends the signal to the second microcontroller via BLUETOOTH wireless communication technology.

14. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the motion detection device comprises at least one from the group consisting of an accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, and a global positioning system receiver.

15. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a mobile phone or a case adapted for containing the mobile phone therein, the mobile communications device having a substantial rectangular prism shape, and comprising first and second opposed major faces, first and second opposed side faces, and first and second opposed end faces.

16. The kit according to claim 15, wherein the at least one capacitive touch sensor comprises a plurality of elongate sections comprised of a first elongate section positioned longitudinally on the first side face, and a second elongate section positioned longitudinally on the second side face.

17. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the computing device comprises a computer processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having programming instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to send a signal to the alarm unit that causes the alarm unit to produce the alarm when the at least one touch sensor senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects motion.

18. A kit for deterring use of a mobile communications device in a moving vehicle comprising:

(a) a case comprising a housing adapted for containing a mobile communications device therein, and at least one touch sensor positioned on an outer surface of the housing;

(b) an alarm device adapted for producing an alarm;

(c) a motion detection device adapted for detecting motion of the case or adapted for detecting motion of the alarm device;

(d) a computing device operatively connected to the at least one capacitive touch sensor, the motion detection device, and the alarm device, wherein the computing device activates the alarm when the at least one touch sensor senses contact by a person and the motion detector device detects motion; and

(e) an alarm unit housing the alarm device, and wherein the alarm unit is adapted for releasable attachment to an interior part of an automobile.

19. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the alarm unit comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a suction cup that can be releasably attached to a dashboard in an automobile, and a clip adapted to receive and frictionally engage a portion of an automobile sun visor.

20. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a mobile phone or a case adapted for containing the mobile phone therein, the mobile communications device having a substantial rectangular prism shape, and comprising first and second opposed major faces, first and second opposed side faces, and first and second opposed end faces, wherein the at least one capacitive touch sensor comprises a first capacitive touch sensor positioned longitudinally on the first side face, and a second capacitive touch sensor positioned longitudinally on the second side face.