VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20150274062A1
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jet Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Jet Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: WEN, MICHAEL TAI-HAO
• Granted Patent: US 9,652,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A vehicle monitoring system, comprises: at least a sensor; a head unit; at least a smart unit; wherein the sensor is capable of detecting vehicle status, generating a corresponding signal and then sending the generated signal to the head unit; the head unit is capable of receiving and analyzing the generated signal, and generating an analysis result, and they informing whether the vehicle status is abnormal by outputting a warning in the vehicle or sending the analysis result to the smart unit; the smart unit is authorized by the head unit and capable of displaying the analysis result.

Claims

1. A vehicle monitoring system, comprising:

at least one sensor;

a head unit;

at least one smart unit;

wherein the sensor is capable of detecting vehicle status, generating a corresponding signal and then sending the generated signal to the head unit;

wherein the head unit further comprises a screen;

wherein the head unit is capable of receiving and analyzing the generated signal, and generating an analysis result, and then informing if the vehicle status is abnormal by outputting a warning in the vehicle or sending the analysis result to the smart unit;

wherein the head unit is capable of recording the behavior of the driver in a log and sending the log to the smart unit; and

wherein the smart unit is authorized by the head unit and capable of displaying the analysis result and the log in audio or visual format.

2. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising an application program for recording a plurality of predetermined or standard values;

wherein the head unit is capable of comparing the generated signal with the predetermined or standard value for confirming the vehicle status.

3. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of sensors;

the head unit is programmed to process different signals from respective sensors in a parallel manner.

4. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of sensors;

the head unit is programmed under a priority algorithm to select one signal from a corresponding sensor as a prioritized task over others, wherein the head unit is configured to process the prioritized task first, even if the head unit is in the middle of processing a normal task.

5. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the priority algorithm is set according to the importance or the arrival sequence of the signals.

6. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of sensors, at least one pre-assigned sensor is pre-assigned to the smart unit by the head unit, and the smart unit is capable of receiving the analysis result corresponding to the pre-assigned sensor.

7. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the head unit is further capable of recording the analysis result in a log which is accessible to the smart unit and being sent to the smart unit periodically or at real-time.

8. The vechicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the sensor and the head unit takes place in real-time.

9. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a speed sensor and capable of detecting the speed of the vehicle and sending a speed data to the head unit;

and the head unit is capable of comparing the detected speed with the speed limit and analyzing the vehicle status.

10. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensors is capable of detecting direction change of a steering wheel of the vehicle, or wherein the sensor is a camera and capable of detecting lane changing of the vehicle;

and wherein the head unit is capable of obtaining a frequency according to the direction change or lane changing and informing when the frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency.

11. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a GPS device and capable of detecting and sending location data of the vehicle to the head unit;

and the head unit is capable of recording a list of forbidden locations, analyzing a detected location of the vehicle and informing if the vehicle is stopped at one of the forbidden locations.

12. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor, a laser sensor or a proximity sensor, which is capable of detecting a distance between the vehicle and its front vehicle;

and the head unit is capable of comparing the detected distance with a safe distance and informing when the detected distance is less than the safe distance.

13. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a force sensor and capable of detecting an applying force to a brake of the vehicle;

and the head unit is capable of comparing the value of the detected force with a standard value and informing when the detected force exceeds the standard value;

14. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a force sensor or a camera, which is capable of detecting if the corresponding seat is occupied and if a seat belt corresponding to its occupied seat is fastened;

and the head unit is capable of informing if the seat belt is not fastened when the corresponding seat is occupied.

15. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a force sensor or a camera capable of detecting the number of passengers in the vehicle;

and the head unit is capable of comparing the number of passengers with a permitted number and Informing if the detected number exceeds the permitted number.

16. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is further capable of detecting Whether a headlight of the vehicle is turned off when the vehicle is not working.

17. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a camera and the head unit comprises a facial and eyeball movement recognition algorithm for analyzing if the driver is concentrating on driving;

the head unit is capable of informing if the driver is not concentrating on driving.

18. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the head unit is further capable of informing if the vehicle is driven at a forbidden time set by the head unit or by the smart unit.

19. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the head unit is further capable of recording a predetermined maintenance date of the vehicle and informing if the vehicle is not maintained on the predetermined date.

20. The vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the head unit is further capable of sending the vehicle status to an authorized car shop for remote diagnosis.

21. A method for operating a vehicle monitoring system, comprising:

detecting vehicle status, generating a signal and sending the generated signal via at least one sensor;

receiving the generated signal via a head unit;

analyzing the generated signal via the head unit;

comparing the generated signal with a predetermined or a standard value via the head unit;

determining if the vehicle status is abnormal according to the generated signal via the head unit;

displaying a warning on the head unit or informing at least one smart unit when the vehicle status is abnormal via the head unit.

22. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein the system comprises a plurality of sensors;

the head unit is programmed to process different signals from respective sensors in a parallel manner.

23. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 21, the system comprises a plurality of sensors;

the head unit is programed under a priority algorithm to select one signal from a corresponding sensor as a prioritized task over others, wherein the head unit is configured to process the prioritized task first, even if the head unit is in the middle of processing a normal task.

24. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 23, the priority algorithm is set according to the importance or the arrival sequence of the signal.

25. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein the system comprises a plurality of sensors, at least one pre-assigned sensor is pre-assigned to the smart unit by the head unit, and the smart unit is capable of receiving the analysis result which is corresponding to the pre-assigned sensor.

26. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein the sensor and the head unit operate continuously and the communication between the sensor and the head unit takes place in real-time.

28. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein if the generated signal does not conform to the value, the vehicle status is abnormal;

and the head unit is capable of receiving a new signal if the generated signal conforms to the value.

29. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined or standard value is recorded in an application program and capable of being updated via internet or user input.

30. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein the informing manner of head unit is preset.

31. The method for operating the vehicle monitoring system according to claim 30, wherein the driver has the option to turn off the alarm (one of informing manners) generated by head unit.

27. (canceled)