On-board emergency reporting apparatus

• US 20080228349A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays

Abstract

An on-board emergency reporting apparatus includes a collision detection sensor, an airbag inflator for inflating an airbag in the event of collision detection, an airbag deflator for deflating the inflated airbag, a camera for capturing an image of an occupant seated on a seat provided with the airbag, a controller for transmitting the captured image to an emergency reporting center through a communication device, and a deflation sensor for detecting whether the volume of the inflated airbag is reduced to a predetermined threshold value. The controller causes the camera to start capturing upon detection of a reduction in the volume of the inflated airbag to the predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. An emergency reporting apparatus for a vehicle equipped with an airbag, the emergency reporting apparatus comprising:

a collision detection device mounted to a predetermined portion of the vehicle to detect a collision of the vehicle;

an airbag inflator configured to inflate the airbag upon detection of the collision;

an airbag deflator configured to deflate the inflated airbag;

a camera device configured to capture an image of an occupant seated on a seat provided with the airbag;

a controller configured to transmit the image captured by the camera device to an emergency reporting center through a communication device; and

a deflation sensor configured to detect whether a volume of the inflated airbag is reduced to a predetermined threshold value,

wherein the controller causes the camera device to start capturing upon detection of a reduction in the volume of the inflated airbag to the predetermined threshold value.

2. The emergency reporting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the controller includes a timer device configured to count a time period elapsed since completion of inflation of the airbag, and

wherein the controller causes the camera device to start capturing upon lapse of the time period prior to the detection of the reduction in the volume of the inflated airbag to the predetermined threshold value.

3. The emergency reporting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the deflation sensor detects the reduction in the volume of the inflated airbag to the predetermined threshold value by analyzing the image captured by the camera device.

4. The emergency reporting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the deflation sensor detects the reduction in the volume of the inflated airbag to the predetermined threshold value by calculating a difference between a volume of gas charged to the airbag and a volume of gas discharged from the airbag.

5. An emergency reporting apparatus for a vehicle equipped with a plurality of airbags, the emergency reporting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of collision detection devices, each collision detection device being mounted to a different portion of the vehicle to detect a collision of the vehicle;

an airbag inflator configured to inflate the plurality of airbags upon detection of the collision by at least one of the plurality of collision detection devices;

a plurality of camera devices, each camera device being configured to capture an image of an occupant seated on a seat provided with a corresponding one of the plurality of airbags, each camera device being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of collision detection devices; and

a controller configured to transmit the plurality of images captured by the plurality of camera devices to an emergency reporting center through a communication device,

wherein the controller identifies which of the plurality of collision detection devices detects the collusion and transmits the image captured by the camera device associated with the identified collision detection device to the emergency reporting center prior to other captured images.

6. The emergency reporting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an airbag deflator configured to deflate the inflated plurality of airbags; and

a deflation sensor configured to detect whether a volume of the inflated plurality of airbags is reduced to a predetermined threshold value,

wherein the controller causes each camera device to start capturing upon detection of a reduction in the volume of the corresponding one of the inflated plurality of airbags to the predetermined threshold value.

7. The emergency reporting apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the controller transmits the other captured images to the emergency reporting center in an order in which the deflation sensor detects the reduction of the inflated plurality of airbags to the predetermined threshold value.

8. The emergency reporting apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the controller transmits the other captured images to the emergency reporting center in a predetermined priority order.