Sensing vehicle battery charging and/or engine block heating to trigger pre-heating of a mobile electronic device

• US 6,624,611 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HUBB Systems LLC (Broadcast Microwave Services LLC)
• Original Assignee: T.A.W. Security Concepts, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirmuss, Charles Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/216,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/107, 320/110, 348/61, 348/143, 348/149, 348/148, 348/151, 348/158, 348/352, 348/376, 224/924, 224/929, 224/917.5, 455/575, 455/90, 386/1, 386/107, 701/36, 701/10, 701/65, 374/10, 374/20, 361/687
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus that includes temperature-sensitive functional means for performing pre-configured functionality (such as video recording), mounting means for mounting the apparatus to a motor vehicle, and heating means for heating the functional means. Detection means detects at least one of: whether an automobile battery in the automobile is being charged and whether an engine block in the automobile is being heated. Control means controls the heating means and initiates a heating process upon detection by the detection means.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a temperature-sensitive electronic device;

(b) mounting means for mounting said temperature-sensitive electronic device in a motor vehicle;

(c) heating means for heating said temperature-sensitive electronic device;

(d) detection means for detecting at least one of;

whether an automobile battery within said automobile is being charged, or whether an engine block within said automobile is being heated; and

(e) control means for controlling said heating means, wherein said control means initiates a heating process of heating temperature-sensitive electronic device upon a detection by said detection means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a temperature detection means for detecting a temperature within said temperature-sensitive electronic device, and wherein the heating process comprises activating said heating means if the detected temperature is less than a specified threshold.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the specified threshold is approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection means comprises a power line from a battery charger.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the power line taps a connection between the battery charger and the automobile battery, wherein a diode is included in the connection between the battery charger and the automobile battery, and wherein the power line taps the connection on a side of the diode that connects to the battery charger.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection means comprises a pair of mating plugs, at least one of which having a power loop-back from one pin to another.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature-sensitive electronic device comprises a video recorder.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature-sensitive electronic device is mounted in a trunk of the motor vehicle.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises a solid-state heat pump.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said heating means comprises a Peltier element.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature-sensitive electronic device comprises a hard disk drive.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature-sensitive electronic device is located remotely from said engine block.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an engine block heater is used to heat the engine block within said automobile, and wherein said heating means is a different device than said engine block heater.