Trunk monitoring system
First Claim
1. A confinement warning device for a vehicle storage compartment for warning others outside the vehicle storage compartment that a living being has been confined in said vehicle storage compartment, said confinement warning device comprising:
- at least one sensor adapted for sensing the presence of said living being in said vehicle storage compartment and producing a sensor signal in response thereto, the at least one sensor including a heat sensor operable for sensing heat radiated from said living being;
a controller coupled to said at least one sensor and automatically generating an actuation signal in response to said sensor signal; and
a warning device coupled to said controller and operable for producing a predetermined audible warning in response to said actuation signal.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for monitoring a vehicle storage compartment for the presence of a confined individual includes at least one sensor adapted for sensing the presence of a living being confined in a vehicle storage compartment and generating a sensor signal in response thereto and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor and generating an actuation signal in response to the sensor signal. The actuation signal may be used to automatically open the vehicle storage compartment and/or to cause an audible warning device coupled to the controller to produce a predetermined warning in response to the actuation signal. The actuation signal may also be used to produce a visual signal which draws attention to the vehicle.
45 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A confinement warning device for a vehicle storage compartment for warning others outside the vehicle storage compartment that a living being has been confined in said vehicle storage compartment, said confinement warning device comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted for sensing the presence of said living being in said vehicle storage compartment and producing a sensor signal in response thereto, the at least one sensor including a heat sensor operable for sensing heat radiated from said living being; a controller coupled to said at least one sensor and automatically generating an actuation signal in response to said sensor signal; and a warning device coupled to said controller and operable for producing a predetermined audible warning in response to said actuation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A confinement warning device for a vehicle storage compartment having a storage cavity and a lid member, said lid member operable in a closed position substantially covering said storage cavity, said lid member also operable in an open position substantially clearing said storage cavity, said lid member including a latch mechanism operable in a latched condition for retaining said lid member in said closed position and an unlatched condition permitting said lid member to be positioned in said open position, said confinement warning device comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted for sensing the presence of said living being in said vehicle storage compartment and producing a sensor signal in response thereto; a controller coupled to said sensor and generating an actuation signal in response to said sensor signal, said actuation signal including an unlatching signal adapted for causing said latching mechanism to be positioned in said unlatched condition. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. In a vehicle having a vehicle body and a transmission having a plurality of gear settings, one of said gear settings being a park setting, said vehicle body defining a storage compartment with a compartment aperture and a closure member for selectively closing said compartment aperture, a method for warning persons outside the storage compartment that a living being is trapped within said storage compartment comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one sensor adapted for sensing the presence of said living being in said storage compartment; determining whether said closure member is positioned so as to close said storage compartment; if said closure member is positioned so as to close said storage compartment, determining whether said transmission is engaged in said park setting; if said transmission is engaged in said park setting, providing power to said at least one sensor; and automatically generating an audible warning if said at least one sensor senses said living being. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. In a vehicle having a vehicle body and a transmission having a plurality of gear settings, one of said gear settings being a park setting, said vehicle body defining a storage compartment with a compartment aperture and a closure member for selectively closing said compartment aperture, said closure member having a latching mechanism operable in a latched condition for retaining said closure member in a closed position substantially closing said storage compartment, said latching mechanism operable in an unlatched condition for permitting said closure member to be positioned in an open position substantially clearing said storage compartment, a method for releasing a living being trapped within said storage compartment comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one sensor adapted for sensing the presence of said living being in said storage compartment; determining whether said closure member is positioned so as to close said storage compartment; if said closure member is positioned so as to close said storage compartment, determining whether said transmission is engaged in said park setting; if said transmission is engaged in said park setting, providing power to said at least one sensor; and if said at least one sensor senses said living being, automatically generating an unlatch signal adapted for causing said latching mechanism to be positioned in said unlatched condition.
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Specification