Method, apparatus, and system for detecting an automobile crash and transmitting an emergency communication

• US 9,301,116 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amber Tomer, Clint Tomer
• Original Assignee: Amber Tomer, Clint Tomer
• Inventors: Tomer, Rex Franklin
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peaches, Randy
• Application Number:
  US13/787,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 701/433, 701/533, 701/410, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A device configured to be removably coupled to a vehicle is described. The device includes at least one sensor configured to detect an impact on the vehicle and a wireless communication device configured to transmit an impact indication signal upon said at least one sensor detecting an impact on the vehicle. Additionally, a method for automatically initiating a cellular phone emergency function in response to an impact on a vehicle is provided. Additionally, an emergency notification system for a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A device configured to be removably coupled to a vehicle, said device comprising:

a body configured to couple to a vehicle accessory receptacle, said body includes at least one trigger switch and a positive charge post;

at least one sensor configured to detect an impact on the vehicle when both of said at least one trigger switch and said positive charge post are activated; and

a wireless communication device configured to transmit an impact indication signal to a cellular phone upon said at least one sensor detecting an impact on the vehicle.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one of a memory chip device, a global positioning system (GPS) device, and a security clip configured to secure the device to the vehicle.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle accessory receptacle provides power to said device.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, further comprising at least one battery coupled to said body, said battery configured to power said device when power to the vehicle is interrupted.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle accessory receptacle comprises one of a cigarette lighter receptacle, an auxiliary port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a vehicle diagnostics port, and a duplicated vehicle diagnostics port.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle accessory receptacle is positioned one of under a vehicle dashboard, inside a vehicle glove box, under an engine hood, and inside a vehicle arm rest console.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to transmit the impact indication signal to a cellular network.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to transmit the impact indication signal to the cellular phone to cause the cellular phone to call an emergency service.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor transmits an emergency indication signal to said wireless communication device upon detection of an impact greater than a predetermined threshold.

10. A method for automatically initiating a cellular phone emergency function in response to an impact on a vehicle, said method comprising:

coupling a device to the vehicle, the device being configured to be removably coupled to the vehicle, the device including a body configured to couple to a vehicle accessory receptacle, the body including at least one trigger switch and a positive charge post, the device additionally including at least one sensor configured to detect an impact on the vehicle when both of the at least one trigger switch and the positive charge post are activated and a wireless communication device communicatively coupled to a cellular phone;

receiving, from the at least one sensor, an emergency indication signal at the wireless communication device, upon the at least one sensor detecting an impact on the vehicle;

transmitting an impact indication signal from the wireless communication device to the cellular phone; and

initiating at least one preprogrammed cellular phone emergency function in response to the impact indication signal.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising monitoring vehicle operation and generating the emergency indication signal upon a measured indication of at least one of a predefined impact to the vehicle and an environmental change to the vehicle.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein initiating at least one preprogrammed cellular phone emergency function comprises at least one of initiating a cellular phone call to an emergency service provider by accessing a stored phone number associated with the emergency service provider, initiating a cellular phone call to an emergency contact by accessing a stored phone number associated with the emergency contact, and recording at least one of audio, video, and still images using at least one of the cellular phone and the device.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising providing a location of the cellular phone to at least one of the emergency service provider and the emergency contact.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the device further includes a status light and the cellular phone further includes a screen, said method further comprising:

illuminating the status light when the device is powered on and in operation; and

displaying a status of the device through the screen of the cellular phone.

15. An emergency notification system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a device configured to be removably coupled to the vehicle, said device comprising;

a body configured to couple to a vehicle accessory receptacle, said body includes at least one trigger switch and a positive charge post;

at least one sensor configured to detect an impact on the vehicle when both of said at least one trigger switch and said positive charge post are activated; and

a wireless communication device configured to transmit an impact indication signal upon said at least one sensor detecting an impact on the vehicle; and

a cellular phone configured to initiate at least one preprogrammed cellular phone emergency function in response to said impact indication signal received from said wireless communication device.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said at least one sensor is further configured to:

generate an emergency indication signal upon a measured indication of at least one of a predefined impact to the vehicle and an environmental change to the vehicle; and

transmit the emergency indication signal to the wireless communication device.

17. A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said vehicle accessory receptacle comprises one of a cigarette lighter receptacle, an auxiliary port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a vehicle diagnostics port, and a duplicated vehicle diagnostics port;

at least one sensor configured to detect an impact on the vehicle when both of said at least one trigger switch and said positive charge post are activated; and

a wireless communication device configured to transmit an impact indication signal to a cellular phone upon said at least one sensor detecting an impact on the vehicle.