Operational omission alarm system and apparatus for vehicle

• US 7,187,271 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nagata, Asako
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/063,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/457, 340/457.2, 340/457.3, 340/458, 340/459, 340/460, 340/461, 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/001 Alarm devices when the motor is stopped and the lights are on
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator

Abstract

An operational omission alarm system for a vehicle includes an alarm apparatus, at least one terminal device, and a central server. The alarm apparatus is located on the vehicle for determining whether at least one operational omission remains after a user of the vehicle has left the vehicle and for sending an alarm signal to a network when detecting the existence of the at least one operational omission. The at least one terminal device is separately assembled from the vehicle for notifying the user of the existence of the at least one operational omission in accordance with the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus. The central server is for registering the at least one terminal device and receiving the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus and for transferring the alarm signal to the at least one terminal device.

Claims

1. An operational omission alarm system for a vehicle comprising:

an alarm apparatus located on the vehicle for determining whether at least one operational omission remains after a user of the vehicle has left the vehicle and for sending an alarm signal to a network when detecting the existence of the at least one operational omission;

at least one terminal device separately assembled from the vehicle for notifying the user of the existence of the at least one operational omission in accordance with the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus; and

a central server for registering the at least one terminal device, the central server for receiving the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus and for transferring the alarm signal to the at least one terminal device.

2. The operational omission alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm apparatus determines that the user has left the vehicle when:

a communication device transits a signal to the central server indicating that a smart key, which is used for a smart key system located on the vehicle, has not been located within a communication distance from the vehicle for a predetermined period of time;

the communication device transmits a signal to the central server indicating that no driver has been seated in the vehicle for a predetermined period of time;

the communication device transmits a signal to the central server indicating that all doors of the vehicle have been locked for a predetermined period of time; and

the communication device transmits a signal to the central server indicating that no piece of a plurality of pieces of equipment on the vehicle have been operated within a predetermined period of time after detecting that all the doors on the vehicle were closed.

3. The operational omission alarm system according to claim 1,

wherein the alarm apparatus determines that the at least one operational omission remains upon detecting at least one of:

an open door;

an unlocked door;

an open window;

a key remaining in a key cylinder of the vehicle;

a cabin lamps being illuminated;

at least one of a headlight, a position lamp, a turn lamp, and fog a lamp being illuminated; and

at least one of an engine hood, a trunk hood, and a sunroof being unlatched.

4. The operational omission alarm system according to claim 1, wherein:

the alarm apparatus retrieves a current time upon determining that the at least one operational omission remains and sends the current time together with the alarm signal; and

the central server transfers the current time together with the alarm signal to the terminal device that is registered therewith when receiving the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus.

5. The operational omission alarm system according to claim 1, wherein:

the alarm apparatus retrieves a current location of a vehicle upon determining that the at least one operational omission remains and sends the current location together with the alarm signal; and

the central server transfers the current location of the vehicle together with the alarm signal to the terminal device that is registered therewith when receiving the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus.

6. The operational omission alarm system according to claim 5, the central server retrieves geographical information surrounding the current location of the vehicle when receiving the current location sent by the alarm apparatus, combines the current location and the geographical data, and transfers the geographical data together with the alarm signal to the terminal device registered therewith when receiving the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus.

7. An operational omission alarm system for a vehicle comprising:

an alarm apparatus located on the vehicle for determining whether the at least one operational omission remains after a user of the vehicle has left the vehicle and for sending an alarm signal to a network upon detecting the existence of the at least one operational omission; and

a terminal device separately assembled from the vehicle for notifying the user of the existence of the at least one operational omission in accordance with the alarm signal sent by the alarm apparatus.

8. An operational omission alarm apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a controller for determining whether at least one operational omission remains after a user has left the vehicle; and

a wireless set for sending an alarm signal via a wireless communication network to a terminal device, which is separately assembled from the vehicle for notifying the user of the existence of the at least one operational omission in accordance with the alarm signal.

9. The operational omission alarm apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the wireless set arranges the alarm signal to be received by a central server, which is separately located from the vehicle and for transferring the alarm signal to a terminal device separately assembled from the vehicle and for notifying the user of the existence of the at least one operational omission.

10. The operational omission alarm apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the wireless set arranges the alarm signal to be received by the terminal device, which is separately assembled from the vehicle and for memorizing a destination for sending the alarm signal to the terminal device.

11. The operational omission alarm apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the controller determines that the user has left the vehicle when:

the controller determines that a smart key, which is used for a smart key system located on the vehicle, has not been located within a communication distance from the vehicle for a predetermined period of time;

the controller determines that no driver has been seated in the vehicle for a predetermined period of time;

the controller determines that all doors of the vehicle have been locked for a predetermined period of time; and

the controller determines that no piece of a plurality of pieces of equipment on the vehicle have been operated within a predetermined period of time after detecting that all the doors on the vehicle were closed.

12. The operational omission alarm apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the controller determines the any operational omission remains after the user has left the vehicle upon detecting at least one of:

an open door;

an unlocked door;

an open window;

a key remaining in a key cylinder of the vehicle;

a cabin lamps being illuminated;

at least one of a headlight, a position lamp, a turn lamp, and fog a lamp being illuminated; and

at least one of an engine hood, a trunk hood, and a sunroof being unlatched.