System for reminding user to remove smartphone from vehicle when exiting

• US 9,288,785 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Reiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Mehmood B
• Application Number:
  US14/616,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20150257125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A system for detecting a smart device left in vehicle. The system includes a capacitor, a first switch, and a second switch. The capacitor is configured to store energy generated by a voltage source configured to power vehicle accessories. The first switch is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first switch is configured to be in the open position when the voltage source is on, and in the closed position when the voltage source is off. A second switch is movable between an open position and a closed position. The second switch is configured to be in the open position when the smart device is not on a charging pad, and in the closed position when the smart device is on the charging pad. The system generates a notification that the smart device has been left on the charging pad when both the first and the second switches are in the closed position. The notification is powered by the capacitor.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a smart device left in a vehicle comprising:

a capacitor configured to store energy generated by a voltage source configured to power vehicle accessories;

a first switch movable between an open position and a closed position, the first switch is configured to be in the open position when the voltage source is on, the first switch is configured to be in the closed position when the voltage source is off; and

a second switch movable between an open position and a closed position, the second switch configured to be in the open position when the smart device is not on a charging pad, the second switch configured to be in the closed position when the smart device is on the charging pad;

wherein the system generates a notification that the smart device has been left on the charging pad when both the first and the second switches are in the closed position, the notification powered by the capacitor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart device is a smartphone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is a visual notification.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the visual notification is generated by a diode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is an audible notification.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the audible notification includes a buzzer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is both audible and visual.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is solely powered by the capacitor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is not directly powered by the voltage source when the vehicle is off.

10. A method for reminding a user that a smart device has been left in a vehicle:

charging a capacitor of the vehicle using a voltage source of the vehicle configured to power vehicle accessories;

moving a first switch from an open position when the voltage source is on to a closed position when the voltage source is off;

moving a second switch from an open position when the smart device is not seated on a charging pad to a closed position when the smart device is seated on the charging pad; and

generating a notification when both the first and the second switches are in the closed position such that the notification is powered by the capacitor, the notification signaling that the smart device has been left on the charging pad.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the smart device is a smartphone.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a notification includes generating a visual notification.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a notification includes generating an audible notification.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a notification includes generating both an audible notification and a visual notification.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a notification includes generating a visual notification with a diode.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a notification includes generating an audible notification with a buzzer.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the notification is powered directly by the capacitor.