911 ASSIST BY WIRELESS CHARGER WITH NFC IN THE VEHICLE

• US 20150264545A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Reiji
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A method for requesting emergency assistance for a vehicle involved in an accident. The method includes the following: storing vehicle operating conditions prior to the accident in a storage device; detecting the accident; after the accident, deactivating charging of a smartphone being charged on a wireless charging pad; transmitting to the smartphone the vehicle operating conditions stored prior to the accident; transmitting the vehicle operating conditions from the smartphone to emergency authorities; and calling the emergency authorities using the smartphone and initiating handsfree communication with the emergency authorities.

Claims

1. A method for requesting emergency assistance for a vehicle involved in an accident, the method comprising:

storing vehicle operating conditions prior to the accident in a storage device;

detecting the accident;

after the accident, deactivating charging of a smartphone being charged on a wireless charging pad;

transmitting to the smartphone the vehicle operating conditions stored prior to the accident;

transmitting the vehicle operating conditions from the smartphone to emergency authorities; and

calling the emergency authorities using the smartphone and initiating handsfree communication with the emergency authorities.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing one or more of the following as the vehicle operating conditions:

vehicle position, airbag status, roll-over status, and time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the vehicle operating conditions in a plurality of data packets, each one of the data packets including the following:

vehicle position, airbag status, roll over status, and time.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing the vehicle operating conditions of each one of the plurality of data packets at different times based on a predetermined time interval.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing the data packets of the most recent time intervals.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing the data packets of the five most recent time intervals.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting to the emergency authorities the most recently stored data packet.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein if the most recently stored data packet is incomplete, transmitting to the emergency authorities the next most recently stored data packet with complete vehicle operating conditions.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting to the smart phone the vehicle operating conditions using near field communication (NFC).

10. A system for requesting emergency assistance for a vehicle involved in an accident, the system comprising:

a controller configured to control at least a portion of the system;

a storage device configured to store vehicle operating conditions present prior to the accident;

a wireless charging pad configured to wirelessly charge a smartphone placed thereon, the controller configured to cease charging by the charging pad after detection of the accident; and

a transmitter configured to transmit to the smartphone the vehicle operating conditions stored prior to the accident;

wherein the controller is configured to;

command the smartphone to transmit the vehicle operating conditions to emergency authorities after the accident;

command the smartphone to call the emergency authorities; and

initiate hands free communication with the emergency authorities.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle operating conditions are stored in a plurality of data packets, each one of the data packets including the following:

vehicle position, airbag status, roll over status, and time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle operating conditions of each one of the plurality of data packets are stored at different times based on a predetermined time interval, and only data packets of the most recent time intervals are stored.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to command the smartphone to transmit to emergency authorities the most recently stored data packet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to command the smartphone to transmit to emergency authorities the next most recently stored data packet with complete data when the most recently stored data packet is incomplete.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the wireless charging pad includes a wireless charging coil and a near field communication (NFC) coil of the transmitter.

16. A device for requesting emergency assistance for a vehicle involved in an accident, the device comprising:

a controller;

a storage device configured to store vehicle operating conditions present prior to the accident;

a wireless charging pad configured to wirelessly charge a smartphone placed thereon, the controller configured to cease charging by the wireless charging pad after detection of the accident;

a transmitter configured to transmit to the smartphone vehicle operating conditions stored prior to the accident; and

a housing including the controller, the storage device, the wireless charging pad, and the transmitter.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to be installed in the vehicle to retrofit the vehicle.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the transmitter is a near field communication (NFC) transmitter.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein:

the controller is configured to store vehicle operating conditions in a plurality of data packets, each one of the data packets including the following;

vehicle position, airbag status, roll over status, and time; and

the controller is configured to store the vehicle operating conditions of each one of the plurality of data packets at different times based on a predetermined time interval.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein:

the controller is configured to command the smartphone to transmit to emergency authorities the most recently stored data packet; and

the controller is configured to command the smartphone to transmit to the emergency authorities the next most recently stored data packet with complete data when the most recently stored data packet is incomplete.