System and method for controlling the interior temperature of a vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for remote control of an undesirable climate condition inside a vehicle comprising:
- an occupancy detector that detects a presence of an occupant of the vehicle;
an undesirable climate condition sensor disposed in the interior of the vehicle that detects the undesirable climate condition to the occupant of the vehicle;
a controller contained within the vehicle and operably coupled to the sensor and the occupancy detector, the controller responsive to a signal from the sensor and operative to compare the signal received from the sensor to a threshold and generate at least one control signal based on the comparison; and
a wireless communication device operably coupled to the controller operative to transmit a wireless signal in response to the at least one control signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A passenger compartment monitoring and control system provides for remote control of an undesirable condition inside a vehicle. The passenger compartment monitoring and control system includes an undesirable condition sensor disposed in the interior of the car that detects the undesirable condition. In response to a signal from the sensor, a controller contained within the vehicle and operably coupled to the sensor generates at least one control signal based on the comparison. A wireless communication device operably coupled to the controller then transmits a wireless signal in response to the at least one control signal. The transmitted wireless signal may be received by a vehicle operator'"'"'s mobile station or by a call center, which are each capable of then engaging in remedial actions to remotely ameliorate the undesirable condition.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for remote control of an undesirable climate condition inside a vehicle comprising:
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an occupancy detector that detects a presence of an occupant of the vehicle;
an undesirable climate condition sensor disposed in the interior of the vehicle that detects the undesirable climate condition to the occupant of the vehicle;
a controller contained within the vehicle and operably coupled to the sensor and the occupancy detector, the controller responsive to a signal from the sensor and operative to compare the signal received from the sensor to a threshold and generate at least one control signal based on the comparison; and
a wireless communication device operably coupled to the controller operative to transmit a wireless signal in response to the at least one control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting and communicating an undesirable climate condition inside a vehicle when the vehicle is off, the method comprising steps of:
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detecting, by an occupancy detector, a presence of an occupant within the vehicle;
sensing an undesirable climate condition in a passenger compartment of the vehicle through a sensor disposed in the interior of the vehicle;
comparing the sensed interior condition to an interior threshold;
generating at least one control signal based on the comparison and the detected presence of an occupant within the vehicle; and
transmitting a wireless signal in response to the at least one control signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
recording pictures of the passenger compartment; and
wirelessly transmitting the recorded pictures.
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20. The method of claim 18, further comprising steps of:
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recording pictures of an exterior area proximate to the vehicle; and
wirelessly transmitting the recorded pictures.
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21. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of determining a location of the vehicle and wherein the wireless signal comprises the determined location.
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22. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of determining a number of occupants of the vehicle and wherein the wireless signal further comprises the number of occupants.
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23. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of setting up a call between a call center and vehicle occupants.
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24. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of ameliorating the undesirable climate condition in response to the at least one control signal.
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25. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of sensing an undesirable climate condition in a passenger compartment of the vehicle comprises a step of detecting a temperature of the passenger compartment of the vehicle through a sensor disposed in the interior of the vehicle.
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26. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of sensing exterior moisture via a moisture sensor.
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27. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitted wireless signal comprises a first wireless signal, and further comprising a step of receiving a second wireless signal in response to transmitting the first wireless signal.
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28. The method of claim 27, further comprising steps of:
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recording pictures of the interior of the vehicle in response to receiving the second wireless signal; and
wirelessly transmitting the recorded pictures.
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29. The method of claim 27, further comprising steps of:
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recording pictures of an exterior area proximate to the vehicle in response to receiving the second wireless signal; and
wirelessly transmitting the recorded pictures.
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30. The method of claim 27, further comprising a step of ameliorating the undesirable climate condition in response to receiving the second wireless signal.
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31. The method of claim 27, further comprising a step of starting up the vehicle in response to receiving the second wireless signal.
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32. The method of claim 31, wherein the undesirable climate condition is a carbon monoxide level and further comprising a step of monitoring the carbon monoxide level of the interior of the vehicle.
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33. The method of claim 32, further comprising a step of shutting off the vehicle in response to a detection of an undesirable carbon monoxide level by the carbon monoxide sensor.
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34. The method of claim 33, further comprising a step of, when an undesirable carbon monoxide level is detected, transmitting a wireless signal informing of the undesirable carbon monoxide level.
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35. The method of claim 18, further comprising steps of:
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receiving the transmitted wireless signal; and
notifying an emergency services provider in response to receiving the transmitted wireless signal.
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Specification