SYSTEM FOR MONITORING ITEMS IN PROXIMITY TO A VEHICLE

• US 20130038432A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Grost, Timothy J., Highstrom, Matthew M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,030,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID

Abstract

A vehicle having an item detection system is provided having at least one indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated, a vehicle alarm control module, at least one radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag, and a radio frequency (“RF”) interrogator. The vehicle alarm control module is in communication with the at least one indicator and includes control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one indicator to selectively activate the at least one indicator. The RFID tag is configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal. The RF interrogator is in communication with the vehicle alarm and is located within a specified distance of the RFID tag. The RF interrogator has a processor, and includes control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A vehicle having an item detection system, comprising:

at least one indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated;

a vehicle alarm control module that is in communication with the at least one indicator, the vehicle alarm control module including control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one indicator to selectively activate the at least one indicator;

at least one radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag that is configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal;

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator in communication with the vehicle alarm control module and located within a specified distance of the at least one RFID tag, the RF interrogator having a processor, the RF interrogator comprising;

a control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag;

a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for the reply RF signal;

a control logic for determining if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, wherein the RFID interrogator will not receive the reply RF signal from the at least one RFID tag if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance; and

a control logic for sending a trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module for activating the at least one indicator if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the item detection system comprises a wireless communication device in communication with the vehicle alarm control module, wherein the wireless communication device is in selective wireless communication with a personal electronic device.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the selective wireless communication is based on one of the IEEE 802.15 standard, the IEEE 802.11 standard, and cellular signals.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the vehicle alarm control module includes control logic for sending an indicator data signal to the wireless communication device indicating if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication device sends a message to the personal electronic device if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

6. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the message is one of a text message and a recorded voice call, and wherein the message indicates that the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, comprising a plurality of RFID tags, wherein a portion of the plurality of RFID tags are activated and a remainder of the plurality of RFID tags are deactivated.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module to activate the at least one indicator in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is activated is moved out of range of the specified distance, and wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for not sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is deactivated is moved out of range of the specified distance.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending an initialization query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag and a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for an initialization reply RF signal, wherein the initialization query RF signal represents the first RF signal sent to the at least one RFID tag, and wherein receipt of the initialization reply signal confirms that the at least one RFID tag is within the specified distance of the RF interrogator.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID tag is associated with a personal item.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the personal item is sized such that the personal item is unable to fit within a passenger compartment and a trunk of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle having an item detection system, comprising:

a wireless communication device in selective wireless communication with a personal electronic device;

at least one radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag that is configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal;

at least one indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated;

a vehicle alarm control module that is in communication with the at least one indicator and the wireless communication device, the vehicle alarm control module including control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one indicator to selectively activate the at least one indicator;

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator in communication with the vehicle alarm and located within a specified distance of the at least one RFID tag, the RF interrogator having a processor, wherein the vehicle control module includes control logic for sending an indicator data signal to the wireless communication device if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, and the wireless communication device sends a message to the personal electronic device if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, the RF interrogator comprising;

a control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag;

a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for the reply RF signal;

a control logic for determining if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, wherein the RFID interrogator will not receive the reply RF signal from the at least one RFID tag if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance; and

a control logic for sending a data signal to the vehicle alarm control module indicating the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the RF interrogator includes a control logic for sending a trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module for activating the at least one indicator if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the selective wireless communication is based on one of the IEEE 802.15 standard, the IEEE 802.11 standard, and cellular signals.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the message is one of a text message and a recorded voice call, and wherein the message indicates that the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, comprising a plurality of RFID tags, wherein a portion of the plurality of RFID tags are activated and a remainder of the plurality of RFID tags are deactivated.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module to activate the at least one indicator in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is activated is moved out of range of the specified distance, and wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for not sending the trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module in the event at least one of the plurality of RFID tags that is deactivated is moved out of range of the specified distance.

18. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the RF interrogator includes control logic for sending an initialization query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag and a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for an initialization reply RF signal, wherein the initialization query RF signal represents the first RF signal sent to the at least one RFID tag, and wherein receipt of the initialization reply signal confirms that the at least one RFID tag is within the specified distance of the RF interrogator.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one RFID tag is associated with a personal item.

20. A vehicle having an item detection system, comprising:

a wireless communication device in selective wireless communication with a personal electronic device;

at least one radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag that is configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal, and wherein the at least one RFID tag is associated with a personal item;

at least one indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated;

a vehicle alarm control module that is in communication with the at least one indicator and the wireless communication device, the vehicle alarm control module including control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one indicator to selectively activate the at least one indicator; and

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) interrogator in communication with the vehicle alarm and located within a specified distance of the at least one RFID tag, the RF interrogator having a processor, wherein the vehicle control module includes control logic for sending an indicator data signal to the wireless communication device if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, and the wireless communication device sends a message to the personal electronic device if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, the RF interrogator comprising;

a control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the at least one RFID tag;

a control logic for monitoring the at least one RFID tag for the reply RF signal;

a control logic for determining if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance, wherein the RFID interrogator will not receive the reply RF signal from the at least one RFID tag if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance;

a control logic for sending a data signal to the vehicle alarm control module indicating the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance; and

a control logic for sending a trigger data signal to the vehicle alarm control module for activating the at least one indicator if the at least one RFID tag is moved out of range of the specified distance.