In-vehicle emergency call apparatus

• US 7,864,028 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Maruo, Seiji, Sakai, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US12/074,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/438, 340660-664, 701/45, 280/802, 280/735, 307/10.1, 180/271
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

An in-vehicle emergency call apparatus capable of performing an emergency call operation when electric power supply from a vehicle battery is cut is provided. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus includes a first electric power supply line system causing an electric power supply unit to supply electric power to an emergency notification detection unit and an control unit. A second electric power supply line system is provided that causes the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the radio-communication unit. The second electric power supply line system is provided independently of the first electric power supply line system. A first capacitor coupled with the first electric power supply line system is capable of being configured to have a small capacitance.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle emergency call apparatus comprising:

an emergency notification detection unit configured to

determine whether a condition for transmitting an emergency call signal from a radio communication unit to a service center is satisfied within a predetermined period from a time when the emergency notification detection unit received a detection signal indicating the existence of an emergency situation, and

output a power supply switch signal and an emergency notification detection signal when the condition for transmitting the emergency call signal is determined to be satisfied;

a power supply switch unit configured to switch an operating power supply unit from a main battery to an auxiliary battery when the power supply switch signal is input from the emergency notification detection unit to the power supply switch unit;

a control unit configured to cause the radio-communication unit to transmit the emergency call signal to the service center when the emergency notification detection signal is inputted from the emergency notification detection unit to the control unit and when an electric power condition that the electric power is supplied to the radio communication unit is satisfied;

an electric power supply unit electrically connected with the main battery and the auxiliary battery via the power supply switch unit, and configured to supply the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit, the control unit and the radio-communication unit selectively from one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery;

a first electric power supply line system including a first wiring that electrically connects the electric power supply unit to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit, and that allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit selectively from the one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery; and

a second electric power supply line system including a second wiring that is provided independently of the first wiring such that;

the second wiring electrically connects the electric power supply unit to the radio communication unit; and

the second wiring allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the radio communication unit selectively from the one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery.

2. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first electric power supply line system includes a first charging-discharging element; and

the second electric power supply line system includes a second charging-discharging element the second electric power supply line system.

3. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the first charging-discharging element includes a first capacitor that functions as a back-up capacitor for backing up the electric power supply to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit, the first capacitor having a first capacitance; and

the second charging-discharging element includes a second capacitor that functions as a back-up capacitor for backing up the electric power supply to the radio-communication unit having a second capacitance larger than the first capacitance.

4. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the first electric power supply line system includes a first capacitor, the first electric power supply line system causing the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit from the first capacitor;

the second electric power supply line system including a second capacitor, the second electric power supply line system causing the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the radio-communication unit from the second capacitor independently of the first electric power supply line system.

5. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first charging-discharging element connected with the first wiring to backup supply of the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit; and

a second charging-discharging element connected with the second wiring to backup supply of the electric power to the radio communication unit;

wherein;

the first and second charging-discharging elements are configured such that when the electric power from the main battery is interrupted, the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit operate on the electric power originating from a stored voltage in the first charging-discharging element and the radio-communication unit operates on the electric power originating from a stored voltage in the second charging-discharging element until the electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery to the emergency notification detection unit, the control unit, and the radio communication unit.

6. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electric power supply line system allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to only the radio communication unit.

7. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first electric power supply line system allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to only the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit.

8. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electric power supply line systems are in communication with the main battery and the auxiliary battery through the electric power supply unit.

9. An in-vehicle emergency call apparatus coupled with an emergency notification electronic control unit (ECU) capable of outputting a detection signal, a radio-communication unit capable of transmitting an emergency call signal to a service center, and an operating power supply unit having a main battery and an auxiliary battery, the operating power supply unit capable of providing operating power for making the emergency call, the apparatus comprising:

an emergency notification detection unit configured to

determine whether a condition for transmitting the emergency call signal is satisfied within a predetermined period from a time when the detection signal is input to the emergency notification detection unit, and

output a power supply switch signal and an emergency notification detection signal when the condition for transmitting the emergency call signal is determined to be satisfied;

a power supply switch unit configured to switch the operating power supply unit from the main battery to the auxiliary battery when the power supply switch unit receives the power supply switch signal from the emergency notification detection unit;

a control unit configured to cause the radio-communication unit to transmit the emergency call signal to the service center when the emergency notification detection signal is inputted from the emergency notification detection unit to the control unit and when an electric power condition that electric power is supplied to the radio communication unit is satisfied;

an electric power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the emergency notification detection unit, the control unit and the radio-communication unit selectively from one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery;

a first electric power supply line system that causes the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit;

a second electric power supply line system that causes the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the radio-communication unit, the second electric power supply line system being provided independently of the first electric power supply line system;

a first charging-discharging element that is coupled with the first electric power supply line system; and

a second charging-discharging element that is coupled with the second electric power supply line system.

10. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

the first power supply line system is a first wiring that electrically connects the electric power supply unit to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit, and that allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit;

the second power supply line system is a second wiring that is provided independently of the first wiring such that the second wiring electrically connects the electric power supply unit supply to the radio communication unit, and the second wiring allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the radio communication unit; and

the first and second charging-discharging elements are configured such that when the electric power from the main battery is interrupted, the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit operate on the electric power originating from a stored voltage in the first charging-discharging element and the radio-communication unit operates on the electric power originating from a stored voltage in the second charging-discharging element until the electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery to the emergency notification detection unit, the control unit, and the radio communication unit.

11. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second electric power supply line system allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to only the radio communication unit.

12. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first electric power supply line system allows the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to only the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit.

13. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and second electric power supply line systems are in communication with the main battery and the auxiliary battery through the electric power supply unit.

14. An in-vehicle emergency call apparatus comprising:

an emergency notification detection unit configured to

determine whether a condition for transmitting an emergency call signal from a radio communication unit to a service center is satisfied within a predetermined period from a time when a detection signal indicating the existence of an emergency situation is received, and

output a power supply switch signal and an emergency notification detection signal when the condition for transmitting the emergency call signal is determined to be satisfied;

an electric power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the radio-communication unit selectively from one of a main battery and an auxiliary battery;

a control unit supplied electric power by the electric power supply unit selectively from the one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery, the control unit configured to cause the radio-communication unit to transmit the emergency call signal to the service center when the emergency notification detection signal is received and when an electric power condition that the electric power is supplied from the electric power supply unit to the radio-communication unit selectively from the one is satisfied;

a power supply switch unit configured to switch the operating power supply unit from the main battery to the auxiliary battery when the power supply switch signal is input to the power supply switch unit;

a first electric power supply line system electrically connecting the electric power supply unit to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit, the first electric power supply line system supplying the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit; and

a second electric power supply line system provided independently of the first electric power supply line system electrically connecting the electric power supply unit to the radio-communication unit, the second electric power supply line system supplying the electric power to the radio-communication unit independently of the first electric power supply line system.

15. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

the first electric power supply line system includes a first charging-discharging element; and

the second electric power supply line system includes a second charging-discharging element the second electric power supply line system.

16. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

the first charging-discharging element includes a first capacitor that functions as a back-up capacitor for backing up the electric power supply to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit, the first capacitor having a first capacitance; and

the second charging-discharging element includes a second capacitor that functions as a back-up capacitor for backing up the electric power supply to the radio-communication unit having a second capacitance larger than the first capacitance.

17. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

the first electric power supply line system includes a first capacitor, the first electric power supply line system supplying the electric power to the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit from the first capacitor;

the second electric power supply line system including a second capacitor, the second electric power supply line system supplying the electric power to the radio-communication unit from the second capacitor independently of the first electric power supply line system.

18. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second electric power supply line system supplies the electric power to only the radio communication unit.

19. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first electric power supply line system supplies the electric power to only the emergency notification detection unit and the control unit.

20. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first and second electric power supply line systems are in communication with the main battery and the auxiliary battery through the electric power supply unit.