GARAGE DOOR ALERT

• US 20100271193A1
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: GONZAGA, JOHN S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/354 End positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/51 of position, of back drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for alerting a vehicle driver that an automatic garage door has been left open. The system includes an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door; a GPS receiver; an alert device; and an onboard processor. The onboard processor is coupled to the onboard transmitter, the GPS receiver, and to the alert device. The onboard processor is configured to monitor a distance between the vehicle and the predetermined location. The onboard processor activates the alert device if the distance exceeds a predetermined distance.

Claims

1. A system for alerting a driver of a vehicle that an automatic garage door at a predetermined location has not been closed, the system comprising:

an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door;

a GPS receiver;

an alert device; and

an onboard processor coupled to the onboard transmitter, the GPS receiver, and to the alert device, the onboard processor configured to monitor a distance between the vehicle and the predetermined location, and activate the alert device if the distance reaches a predetermined distance.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the onboard processor activates the alert device if the onboard transmitter has not been activated to close the automatic garage door.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle ignition coupled to the onboard processor, wherein the onboard processor is configured to receive a signal from the vehicle ignition when the vehicle ignition is activated.

4. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a vehicle ignition coupled to the onboard processor, wherein the onboard processor begins to monitor the distance from the predetermined location approximately when the vehicle ignition is activated.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the onboard processor determines if the vehicle is starting at the predetermined location by receiving a starting location from the GPS receiver and comparing the starting location with the predetermined location.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the onboard processor is configured to deactivate the alert device if the onboard transmitter is activated.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the alert device is configured to produce one of:

an audible alarm;

an audible voice prompt;

a visual alert;

or a tactile stimulation alert.

8. A system for alerting a driver of a vehicle that an automatic garage door at a predetermined location has not been closed;

the system comprising;

an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door;

a GPS receiver for determining a current location of the vehicle;

a comparator coupled to the GPS receiver for comparing the current location with the predetermined location; and

an alert device coupled to the comparator and to the onboard transmitter for generating an alert when the current location is at least a predetermined distance from the predetermined location and the onboard transmitter has not initiated the closing of the automatic garage door.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein:

the GPS receiver is configured to determine a starting location;

the comparator is configured to compare the predetermined location with the starting location; and

the alert device is configured to generate the alert when the current location is at least the predetermined distance, if the predetermined location is substantially equal to the starting location.

10. A system according to claim 9 further comprising a vehicle ignition coupled to the comparator for turning on the vehicle;

wherein the comparator compares the predetermined location with the starting location approximately when the vehicle ignition is activated.

11. A system according to claim 8 wherein the alert device is configured to produce an audible alarm.

12. A system according to claim 8 wherein the alert device is configured to produce an audible voice prompt.

13. A system according to claim 8 wherein the alert device is configured to produce a visual alert.

14. A system according to claim 8 wherein the alert device is configured to produce a tactile stimulation alert.

15. A system according to claim 8 wherein the onboard transmitter is configured to transmit to the automatic garage door within a transmission range, and wherein the transmission range is greater than the predetermined distance.

16. A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle that an automatic garage door on a garage has not been closed using an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door, the method comprising:

determining a distance of the vehicle from the garage;

comparing the distance of the vehicle from the garage with a predetermined distance; and

activating an alert device when the distance of the vehicle from the garage is at least the predetermined distance.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising:

monitoring the onboard transmitter to determine if the closing of the automatic garage door is initiated; and

wherein the alert device is activated if the closing of the automatic garage door has not been initiated.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the vehicle includes a memory module, wherein determining the distance from the garage further comprises storing a garage location in the memory module.

19. A method according to claim 18 comprising determining that the vehicle is starting at the garage location prior to activating the alert device.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS receiver, and wherein determining the distance from the garage further comprises receiving a current vehicle location from the GPS receiver.