Systems and methods for virtual ignition detection
First Claim
1. A system configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle without a connection to the ignition line of the vehicle, comprising:
- a processor;
a motion detector configured to detect vehicle motion and to enable the processor to obtain motion data;
a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location and to enable the processor to obtain at least speed data;
a radio transceiver configured to communicate with the processor;
a power supply configured to connect to a power line; and
a voltage detector configured to enable the processor to obtain voltage data, wherein the voltage data is indicative of voltage measurements at the power supply;
wherein the processor is configured to;
determine initial power supply voltage data using the voltage detector;
detect changed voltage data using the voltage data and the voltage detector;
estimate an ignition state of on for the vehicle using the initial power supply voltage data, the changed voltage data, the motion data, and the speed data when the changed voltage data is indicative of an increase in the voltage measurements at the power supply; and
estimate an ignition state of off for the vehicle using the initial power supply voltage data, the changed voltage data, the motion data, and the speed data when the changed voltage data is indicative of a decrease in the voltage measurements at the power supply.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining vehicle ignition state using a device added to the vehicle after the manufacture of the vehicle without a direct connection to the vehicle ignition line are disclosed. In a number of embodiments, a system includes a processor, a motion detector configured to detect vehicle motion and to enable the processor to obtain motion data, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location and to enable the processor to obtain at least speed data, and a radio transceiver configured to communicate with the processor. Additionally, the processor is configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle using at least the motion data and the speed data.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle without a connection to the ignition line of the vehicle, comprising:
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a processor; a motion detector configured to detect vehicle motion and to enable the processor to obtain motion data; a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location and to enable the processor to obtain at least speed data; a radio transceiver configured to communicate with the processor; a power supply configured to connect to a power line; and a voltage detector configured to enable the processor to obtain voltage data, wherein the voltage data is indicative of voltage measurements at the power supply; wherein the processor is configured to; determine initial power supply voltage data using the voltage detector; detect changed voltage data using the voltage data and the voltage detector; estimate an ignition state of on for the vehicle using the initial power supply voltage data, the changed voltage data, the motion data, and the speed data when the changed voltage data is indicative of an increase in the voltage measurements at the power supply; and estimate an ignition state of off for the vehicle using the initial power supply voltage data, the changed voltage data, the motion data, and the speed data when the changed voltage data is indicative of a decrease in the voltage measurements at the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
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10. A method for estimating the ignition state of a vehicle without connecting to the vehicle'"'"'s ignition line, the method comprising:
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detecting vehicle motion using a motion detector; detecting vehicle speed using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; detecting voltage using a voltage detector, wherein the voltage is indicative of voltage measurements at a power supply configured to connect to a power line; estimating the ignition state of a vehicle using a processor based on at least the detected voltage, the detected vehicle speed and vehicle motion, where an increase in the detected voltage is indicative of the ignition state of the vehicle being on and a decrease in the detected voltage is indicative of the ignition state of the vehicle being off; and transmitting the ignition state estimated by the processor to a remote device using a radio transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
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19. A system configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle without a connection to the ignition line of the vehicle, comprising:
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a processor configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle; a motion detector configured to detect vehicle motion and to enable the processor to obtain motion data; wherein the motion detector is an accelerometer; a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location and to enable the processor to obtain at least speed data; wherein the speed data is derived using differences in location over time; wherein the processor is configured to activate the GPS receiver upon detection of vehicle motion; wherein the processor is configured to start a timer when the motion data and the position data are below predetermined thresholds; and wherein the processor is configured to place the GPS receiver in a sleep mode when the motion data and the speed data remain below the predetermined thresholds for the duration of the timer; a radio transceiver configured to communicate with the processor; a power supply configured to connect to a power line; a voltage detector configured to enable the processor to obtain voltage data, wherein the voltage data is indicative of voltage measurements at the power supply; and wherein the processor is configured to; determine initial power supply voltage data using the voltage detector; detect changed voltage data using the voltage data and the voltage detector; estimate an ignition state of on for the vehicle using the initial power supply voltage data, the changed voltage data, the motion data, and the speed data when the changed voltage data is indicative of an increase in the voltage measurements at the power supply; and estimate an ignition state of off for the vehicle using the initial power supply voltage data, the changed voltage data, the motion data, and the speed data when the changed voltage data is indicative of a decrease in the voltage measurements at the power supply.
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Specification