Garage door alert employing a global positioning system

• US 8,115,616 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gonzaga, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US12/429,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/5.71, 340/3.1, 340/3.71, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/932.2, 49/25, 318/16
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/354 End positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/51 of position, of back drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/814 Sound emitters, e.g. loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for alerting a vehicle driver that an automatic garage door has been left open. The system includes an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door; a GPS receiver; an alert device; and an onboard processor. The onboard processor is coupled to the onboard transmitter, the GPS receiver, and to the alert device. The onboard processor is configured to monitor a distance between the vehicle and the predetermined location. The onboard processor activates the alert device if the distance exceeds a predetermined distance.

Claims

1. A system for alerting a driver of a vehicle that an automatic garage door at a predetermined location has not been signaled to close, the system comprising:

an ignition system for starting an engine of the vehicle;

an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door;

a GPS receiver for determining a current location of the vehicle responsive to the starting of the engine;

a processor coupled to the GPS receiver for comparing the current location with the predetermined location and determining whether the vehicle is approximately at the predetermined location when the engine was started;

an alert device; and

an onboard processor coupled to the onboard transmitter, the GPS receiver, and to the alert device, the onboard processor configured to monitor a distance between the vehicle and the predetermined location when the engine was started approximately at the predetermined location, and to activate the alert device if the distance reaches a predetermined distance from the predetermined location and the onboard transmitter has not been activated to close the automatic garage door.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the onboard processor activates the alert device for a time period or until the onboard transmitter has been activated to close the automatic garage door.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the onboard processor discontinues monitoring the distance between the vehicle and the predetermined location after the onboard transmitter has been activated.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the alert device is configured to produce one or more of:

an audible alarm;

an audible voice prompt;

a visual alert;

or a tactile stimulation alert.

5. A system for alerting a driver of a vehicle that an automatic garage door at a predetermined location has not been signaled to close;

the system comprising;

an ignition system for starting an engine of the vehicle;

an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door;

a GPS receiver for determining a current location of the vehicle responsive to the starting of the engine;

a comparator coupled to the GPS receiver for comparing the current location with the predetermined location and determining whether the vehicle is approximately at the predetermined location; and

an alert device coupled to the comparator and to the onboard transmitter for generating an alert when the engine was started at approximately the predetermined location and the the vehicle has traveled at least a predetermined distance from the predetermined location and the onboard transmitter has not initiated the closing of the automatic garage door.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein:

the alert device is configured to generate the alert for a time period when the current location is at least the predetermined distance or until the onboard transmitter has been activated .

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the alert device is configured to produce an audible alarm.

8. A system according to claim 5 wherein the alert device is configured to produce an audible voice prompt.

9. A system according to claim 5 wherein the alert device is configured to produce a visual alert.

10. A system according to claim 5 wherein the alert device is configured to produce a tactile stimulation alert.

11. A system according to claim 5 wherein the onboard transmitter is configured to transmit to the automatic garage door within a transmission range, and wherein the transmission range is greater than the predetermined distance.

12. A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle that an automatic garage door on a garage has not been signaled to close using an onboard transmitter for activating the automatic garage door, the method comprising:

detecting activation an ignition system of the vehicle;

determining a current location of the vehicle;

comparing the current location of the vehicle to a stored garage location and determining whether the vehicle is starting approximately at the stored garage location; and

when it is determined that the vehicle is starting approximately at the stored garage location;

determining a distance of the vehicle from the garage;

comparing the distance of the vehicle from the garage with a predetermined distance; and

activating an alert device when the distance of the vehicle from the garage is at least the predetermined distance and the onboard transmitter has not signaled the closing of the automatic garage door.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

activating the alert device for a time period or until the closing of the automatic garage door has been initiated.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein comparing the distance of the vehicle from the garage further comprises comparing the distance of the vehicle from the garage until the onboard transmitter has signaled the closing of the automatic garage door.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS receiver, and wherein determining the distance from the garage further comprises receiving a current vehicle location from the GPS receiver.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein activating the alert device comprises activating an audible alarm.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein activating the alert device comprises activating an audible voice prompt.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein activating the alert device comprises activating a visual alert.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein activating the alert device comprises activating a tactile stimulation alert.