TRUNK INVENTORY DETECTOR

• US 20170337437A1
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: KANAGARAJ, PADMANABAN, FREUND, KATHERINE J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,331,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax

Abstract

A trunk inventory detection arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a camera positioned to capture images of objects within a trunk of the motor vehicle. A weight detection device is positioned to detect a weight of the objects in the trunk. An electronic processing device is communicatively coupled to each of the camera and the weight detection device. The electronic processing device causes a user of the vehicle to be informed of the objects in the trunk based on signals received from the camera and the weight detection device.

Claims

1. A trunk inventory detection arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a camera positioned to capture images of objects within a trunk of the motor vehicle;

a weight detection device positioned to detect a weight of the objects in the trunk; and

an electronic processing device communicatively coupled to each of the camera and the weight detection device, the electronic processing device being configured to cause a user of the vehicle to be informed of the objects in the trunk based on signals received from the camera and the weight detection device.

2. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 1 further comprising an electronic human interface device communicatively coupled to the electronic processing device and configured to inform a human user of the contents of the trunk based on the signals received from the camera and the weight detection device.

3. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 2 wherein the electronic human interface device comprises an instrument cluster display installed in the motor vehicle.

4. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 2 wherein the electronic human interface device comprises a center stack installed in the motor vehicle.

5. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 1 wherein the signals received by the electronic processing device comprise first signals, the electronic processing device being configured to cause a user of the vehicle to be informed of the objects in the trunk by transmitting second signals to a cell phone of the user of the vehicle.

6. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 1 wherein the electronic processing device is configured to cause a user of the vehicle to be informed of the objects in the trunk only if at least one said signal received from the weight detection device indicates that a weight of the objects in the trunk is above a threshold level.

7. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 1 wherein the weight detection device comprises a load cell.

8. A trunk inventory detection method for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing images of objects within a trunk of the motor vehicle;

detecting a weight of the objects in the trunk; and

causing a user of the vehicle to be informed of the objects in the trunk based on the captured images and the detected weight of the objects in the trunk.

9. The trunk inventory detection method of claim 8 wherein the images are captured while the trunk is closed.

10. The trunk inventory detection method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing an electronic human interface device communicatively coupled to the electronic processing device; and

using the electronic human interface device to inform a human user of the contents of the trunk based on the signals received from the camera and the weight detection device.

11. The trunk inventory detection method of claim 8 wherein the images are captured while a lid of the trunk is being closed, but is not yet closed.

12. The trunk inventory detection method of claim 8 wherein the images are captured in response to the vehicle being put into park or an engine ignition being turned off.

13. The trunk inventory detection method of claim 8 wherein the user of the vehicle is caused to be informed of the objects in the trunk by transmitting signals to a cell phone of the user of the vehicle.

14. The trunk inventory detection method of claim 8 wherein the user of the vehicle is caused to be informed of the objects in the trunk only if the detected weight of the objects in the trunk is above a threshold level.

15. The trunk inventory detection method of claim 14 wherein the threshold level is dependent upon a steady state weight of equipment semi-permanently stored in the trunk.

16. A trunk inventory detection arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a camera positioned to capture images of objects within a trunk of the motor vehicle;

a weight detection device positioned to detect a weight of the objects in the trunk;

an electronic processing device communicatively coupled to each of the camera and the weight detection device, the electronic processing device being configured to transmit signals based on signals received from the camera and the weight detection device; and

an electronic human interface device configured to;

receive the signals from the electronic processing device; and

inform a human user of the contents of the trunk based on the signals from the electronic processing device.

17. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 16 wherein the camera is configured to capture the images while the trunk is closed.

18. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 16 wherein the camera is configured to capture the images while a lid of the trunk is being closed, but is not yet closed.

19. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 16 wherein the camera is configured to capture the images in response to the vehicle being put into park or an engine ignition being turned off.

20. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 16 wherein the electronic human interface device is configured to inform the user of the objects in the trunk only if the detected weight of the objects in the trunk is above a threshold level.

21. The trunk inventory detection arrangement of claim 20 wherein the threshold level is dependent upon a minimum weight of trunk contents measured in a previous period of time exceeding twelve hours.