Emergency informing terminal and emergency informing system including the terminal

• US 6,674,362 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanahashi, Takayuki, Inui, Takeshi, Shimizu, Toshiyuki, Yoshioka, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/921,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/505, 340/508, 340/426.1, 340/438, 340/3.1, 455/456, 455/433
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A main controller for controlling an emergency informing terminal, and a sub controller for controlling communications with an external device are provided. The main controller and sub controller have microcomputers, and the main controller and sub controller monitor the operation of each other. If the other is abnormal, a reset signal is issued to initialize it, and if still abnormal, the history of abnormality is recorded, and the abnormality is informed to the user by means of sound or light.

The power source device of this emergency informing terminal has a function of cutting off power supply to the emergency informing terminal when overheat or overcurrent occurs in the auxiliary battery which operate when supply from the main battery is interrupted, and if overheat or voltage drop occurs due to short circuit of the auxiliary battery or other trouble, power supply into the emergency informing terminal is cut off, so that spread of damage may be avoided.

Claims

1. An emergency informing terminal mounted on a vehicle or other mobile body for communicating with a center for supervising an emergency informing system, comprising:

a main controller for controlling the emergency informing terminal, and

a sub controller for controlling communications with an external device in the vehicle, the sub controller monitoring operation of the main controller, and the main controller monitoring operation of the sub controller, such that in the event of a problem of one of the main controller and the sub controller an indication of the problem is provided by the other of the main controller and the sub controller.

2. The emergency informing terminal of claim 1, wherein said main controller monitors the operation of said sub controller.

3. The emergency informing terminal of claim 2, wherein said main controller monitors the operation of said sub controller by monitoring periodic communication signals from said sub controller.

4. The emergency informing terminal of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of said main controller and said sub controller has a microcomputer.

5. The emergency informing terminal of claim 3, wherein periodic communication signals from said sub controller are serial signals, and said main controller monitors the operation of said sub controller by the data on the basis of a specified format obtained from the serial signals.

6. The emergency informing terminal of claim 3, wherein periodic communication signals from said sub controller are periodically changing signals such as clock waveform, and said main controller monitors the operation of said sub controller by these periodic communication signals.

7. The emergency informing terminal of any one of claims 3, 5, and 6, wherein said main controller judges said sub controller is abnormal when periodic communication signals from said sub controller are other than normal signals or are not received.

8. The emergency informing terminal of claim 7, wherein if said sub controller is abnormal, said main controller issues a reset signal to said sub controller, and initializes said sub controller and restores the normal operation.

9. The emergency informing terminal of claim 7, wherein if said sub controller is abnormal, said main controller processes to record the abnormality of said sub controller in the history.

10. The emergency informing terminal of claim 8, wherein if said sub controller is not normally restored by the reset signal but remains abnormal, said main controller processes to record the abnormality of said sub controller in the history.

11. The emergency informing terminal of claim 9, wherein said external device acquires the history data recording the abnormality of said sub controller from the emergency informing terminal.

12. The emergency informing terminal of claim 10, wherein said external device acquires the history data recording the abnormality of said sub controller from the emergency informing terminal.

13. The emergency informing terminal of claim 7, wherein if said sub controller is abnormal, said main controller has a function of informing the user of abnormality of said sub controller.

14. The emergency informing terminal of claim 8, wherein if said sub controller is not normally restored by the reset signal but remains abnormal, said main controller has a function of informing the user of abnormality of said sub controller.

15. The emergency informing terminal of claim 13, wherein if said sub controller is not normally restored by the reset signal but remains abnormal, said main controller has a function of informing the user of abnormality of said sub controller.

16. The emergency informing terminal of claim 1, wherein said sub controller monitors the operation of said main controller.

17. The emergency informing terminal of claim 16, wherein said sub controller monitors the operation of said main controller by monitoring periodic communication signals from said main controller.

18. The emergency informing terminal of claim 17, wherein periodic communication signals from said main controller are serial signals, and said sub controller monitors the operation of said main controller by the data on the basis of a specified format obtained from the serial signals.

19. The emergency informing terminal of claim 17, wherein periodic communication signals from said main controller are periodically changing signals such as clock waveform, and said sub controller monitors the operation of said main controller by these periodic communication signals.

20. The emergency informing terminal of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein said sub controller judges said main controller is abnormal when periodic communication signals from said main controller are other than normal signals or are not received.

21. The emergency informing terminal of claim 20, wherein if said main controller is abnormal, said sub controller issues a reset signal to said main controller, and initializes said main controller and restores the normal operation.

22. The emergency informing terminal of claim 20, wherein if said main controller is abnormal, said sub controller processes to record the abnormality of said main controller in the history.

23. The emergency informing terminal of claim 21, wherein if said main controller is not normally restored by the reset signal but remains abnormal, said sub controller processes to record the abnormality of said main controller in the history.

24. The emergency informing terminal of claim 22, wherein said external device acquires the history data recording the abnormality of said main controller from the emergency informing terminal.

25. The emergency informing terminal of claim 23, wherein said external device acquires the history data recording the abnormality of said main controller from the emergency informing terminal.

26. The emergency informing terminal of claim 20, wherein if said main controller is abnormal, said sub controller has a function of informing the user of abnormality of said main controller.

27. The emergency informing terminal of claim 21, wherein if said main controller is not normally restored by the reset signal but remains abnormal, said sub controller has a function of informing the user of abnormality of said main controller.

28. The emergency informing terminal of claim 26, wherein if said main controller is not normally restored by the reset signal but remains abnormal, said sub controller has a function of informing the user of abnormality of said main controller.

29. An emergency informing terminal mounted on a vehicle or other mobile body having an air bag for communicating with a center for supervising an emergency informing system, comprising:

a main controller and a sub controller for controlling the emergency informing terminal,

said sub controller also for controlling communications with an external device,

said main controller and said sub controller monitor each other, and

wherein operation of said air bag is monitored by the sub controller acquiring periodic communication signals from the air bag.

30. The emergency informing terminal of claim 29, wherein said main controller acquires periodic communication signals from the air bag, and issues a signal proving acquisition of periodic communication signals to said sub controller, and said sub controller monitors the operation of the air bag and said main controller.

31. The emergency informing terminal of claim 29, wherein said sub controller acquires periodic communication signals from the air bag, and issues a signal proving acquisition of periodic communication signals to said main controller, and said main controller monitors the operation of the air bag and said sub controller.

32. The emergency informing terminal of claim 30, wherein said main controller issues other periodic communication signals than the periodic communication signals from the air bag, and monitors the operation of the air bag and said main controller, and if either the periodic communication signals from the air bag or the other periodic communication signals from said main controller are not normally entered in said sub controller, said sub controller judges abnormality of either the air bag or said main controller.

33. The emergency informing terminal of claim 31, wherein said sub controller issues other periodic communication signals than the periodic communication signals from the air bag, and monitors the operation of the air bag and said sub controller, and if either the periodic communication signals from the air bag or the other periodic communication signals from said sub controller are not normally entered in said main controller, said main controller judges abnormality of either the air bag or said sub controller.

34. The emergency informing terminal of claim 31, wherein said main controller monitors the periodic communication signals showing the status of the air bag from said sub controller and other periodic communication signals issued from said sub controller, and if the monitored periodic communication signals or other periodic communication signals are other than normal signal or are not received, it judges abnormality of the air bag or said sub controller.

35. The emergency informing terminal of claim 34, wherein said main controller judges abnormality of the air bag if the monitored periodic communication signals showing the status of the air bag are other than normal signals or are not received.

36. The emergency informing terminal of claim 34, wherein said main controller judges abnormality of said sub controller if the monitored other periodic communication signals issued by said sub controller are other than normal signals or are not received.

37. The emergency informing terminal of claim 34, wherein said main controller processes to record abnormality of the air bag or said sub controller in history if the monitored periodic communication signals or other periodic communication signals issued by said sub controller are other than normal signals or are not received.

38. The emergency informing terminal of claim 31, wherein said main controller monitors the periodic communication signals showing the status of the air bag from said sub controller and other periodic communication signals issued from said sub controller, and issues response signals to the periodic communication signals showing the status of the air bag and other periodic communication signals issued from said sub controller.

39. An emergency informing terminal mounted on a vehicle or other mobile body, for communicating with a center for supervising an emergency informing system, by switching power supply between a main battery of the mobile body and a power supply from an auxiliary battery,

a main controller and a sub controller for controlling the emergency informing terminal,

said sub controller also for controlling communications with an external device,

said main controller and said sub controller monitor each other, and

wherein means for cutting off power supply into the emergency informing terminal is provided in the auxiliary battery.

40. The emergency informing terminal of claim 39, wherein said means for cutting off power supply judges abnormal when the voltage in the auxiliary battery is lowered below a specific voltage, and cuts off power supply to the emergency informing terminal.

41. The emergency informing terminal of claim 39, wherein said means for cutting off power supply monitors the supply voltage of the supply source produced from the auxiliary battery, and judges abnormal when the supply voltage is lowered below a specific voltage, and cuts off power supply to the emergency informing terminal.

42. The emergency informing terminal of claim 40 or 41, wherein said means for cutting off power supply can adjust the judging voltage for judging abnormal when the supply voltage is lowered below a specific voltage.

43. The emergency informing terminal of claim 42, wherein a plurality of resistors connected parallel to the power source are used for adjustment of the judging voltage.

44. The emergency informing terminal of claim 43, wherein said partial voltage generated by dividing the supply voltage by the plural resistors is used as the judging voltage.

45. The emergency informing terminal of claim 41, wherein in the case of the auxiliary battery composed of plural cells connected in parallel or in series, said means for cutting off power supply has a plurality of supply voltage detecting means for detecting drop below a specific voltage.

46. The emergency informing terminal of claim 45, wherein supply voltage detecting means are disposed in individual cells of the auxiliary battery.

47. The emergency informing terminal of claim 39, wherein said means for cutting off power supply judges abnormal when the current from the auxiliary battery exceeds a specific current, and cuts off the power source.

48. The emergency informing terminal of claim 47, wherein in the case of the battery composed of plural cells connected in parallel or in series, said means for cutting off power supply has a plurality of supply current detecting means for detecting rise above a specific current.

49. The emergency informing terminal of claim 48, wherein said supply current detecting means are disposed in individual cells of the auxiliary battery.

50. The emergency informing terminal of claim 39, wherein said means for cutting off power supply judges abnormal when the cells of the auxiliary battery generate heat to exceed a specific temperature, and cuts off the power source.

51. The emergency informing terminal of claim 50, wherein said means for cutting off power supply is composed of an overcurrent and overheat protective element.

52. The emergency informing terminal of any one of claims 39 to 41, wherein lithium primary cells are used as cells for the auxiliary battery.

53. The emergency informing terminal of any one of claims 39 to 41, wherein the auxiliary battery is a battery module having three or more cells connected in series.

54. An emergency informing terminal mounted on a vehicle or other mobile body, for communicating with a center for supervising an emergency informing system, by switching power supply between a main battery of the mobile body and a power supply from an auxiliary battery,

a main controller and a sub controller for controlling the emergency informing terminal,

said sub controller also for controlling communications with an external device,

said main controller and said sub controller monitor each other, and

wherein said auxiliary battery includes a battery module composed of a plurality of cells connected in series, and a plurality of diodes connected parallel to said plurality of cells of said battery module.

55. The emergency informing terminal of claim 54, wherein cathode of each said plurality of diodes is connected to the plus terminal of each of said plurality of cells, and anode of each of said plurality of diodes is connected to minus terminal of each of said plurality of cells.

56. The emergency informing terminal of claim 54 or 55, wherein each of said plurality of diode is connected parallel to each of said plurality cells.

57. The emergency informing terminal of claim 54 or 55, wherein each of said plurality of diode is connected to every two cells of said plurality of cells.

58. The emergency informing terminal of claim 54 or 55, wherein said plurality of cells comprise a first cell, a second cell, a third cell, a fourth cell, and fifth cell, said plurality of diodes comprise a first diode, a second diode, and a third diode, and said first diode is connected parallel to said first cell and second cell connected in series, said second diode parallel to said third cell and fourth cell connected in series, and said third diode parallel to said fifth cell.

59. The emergency informing terminal of claim 54 or 55, wherein said plurality cells comprise a first cell, a second cell, a third cell, a fourth cell, and a fifth cell, said plurality of diodes comprise a first diode, a second diode, and a third diode, and said first diode is connected parallel to said first cell and second cell connected in series, said second diode parallel to said third cell, and said third diode parallel to said fourth cell and said fifth cell connected in series.

60. The emergency informing terminal of claim 54 or 55, wherein said plurality of cells comprise a first cell, a second cell, a third cell, a fourth cell, and a fifth cell, said plurality of diodes include a first diode, a second diode, and a third diode, and said first diode is connected parallel to said first cell, said second diode parallel to said second cell and said third cell connected in series, and said third diode parallel to said fourth cell and said fifth cell connected in series.

61. An emergency informing system comprising:

an emergency informing terminal mounted on a vehicle or other mobile body having an air bag, and

an emergency call center for receiving an emergency call send signal from the emergency informing terminal,

a main controller and a sub controller for controlling the emergency informing terminal,

said sub controller also for controlling communications with an external device,

said main controller and said sub controller monitor each other, and

wherein the emergency informing terminal monitors the operation of the air bag by acquiring periodic communication signals from the air bag.

62. An emergency informing system comprising:

an emergency informing terminal mounted on a vehicle or other mobile body, for providing a continuous emergency call notifying process, by switching power supply between a main battery of the mobile body and a power supply from an auxiliary battery, and

a main controller and a sub controller for controlling the emergency informing terminal,

said sub controller also for controlling communications with an external device,

said main controller and said sub controller monitor each other,

an emergency call center for receiving an emergency call send signal from the emergency informing terminal,

wherein the auxiliary battery includes means for cutting off power supply into the emergency informing terminal in the event of abnormality of the power source.