Unexpected thermal event assist

• US 9,555,814 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Neubecker, Cynthia M., Hazebrouck, Laura Viviana, Ignaczak, Brad Alan, Bennie, Brian, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRUSHABER, FREDERICK M
• Application Number:
  US14/500,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20160090105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/26 Dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle system may include a thermal sensor; and a vehicle connectivity module in communication with the thermal sensor and a plurality of vehicle systems configured to receive an indication, from the thermal sensor, indicative of detection of a thermal event external to the vehicle, and responsive to the detection, utilize at least one of the plurality vehicle systems to perform at least one assistance feature to provide notification of the thermal event. A computer-implemented method may include activating a vehicle connectivity module responsive to detection of a thermal event external to the vehicle by a vehicle thermal sensor, confirming, by the vehicle connectivity module, the detection of the thermal event by utilizing other thermal sensor inputs of the vehicle, and responsive to the confirmation, commanding a vehicle system to perform at least one assistance feature to provide notification of the thermal event to a user.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a thermal sensor; and

a vehicle connectivity module in communication with the thermal sensor and a plurality of vehicle systems and configured to

capture a current vehicle location at vehicle key-off,

retrieve assistance features settings related to the current vehicle location from a vehicle storage device,

perform assistance features in accordance with the assistance features settings,

provide a prompt in a user interface to receive assistance features settings for the current vehicle location when the assistance features setting are not set for the current vehicle location,

receive an indication, from the thermal sensor, indicative of detection of a thermal event external to the vehicle, and

responsive to the detection, utilize at least one of the plurality vehicle systems to perform at least one assistance feature specified by the assistance features settings to provide notification of the thermal event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle connectivity module is further configured to access assistance feature settings associated with the vehicle connectivity module to identify the assistance feature to perform.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal sensor is wired between the vehicle connectivity module and a vehicle battery, such that when the thermal sensor detects the thermal event, the thermal sensor closes a circuit between the vehicle connectivity module and the vehicle battery.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle connectivity module is further configured to confirm the detection of the thermal event by utilizing other thermal sensor inputs of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the other thermal sensor inputs of the vehicle include ambient temperature, cabin temperature, or sun load temperature sensor inputs from a climate control management module, and engine temperature, oil temperature, or coolant temperature sensor inputs from a powertrain control module.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one assistance feature includes at least one of:

(i) utilizing an in-vehicle modem to call an emergency phone number or a predefined emergency contact, (ii) invoking a vehicle alarm, (iii) sending an alert message to a two-way key fob, (iv) sending the alert message to the predefined emergency contact, or (v) sending the alert message to a second vehicle to request the second vehicle to aid in providing of at least one assistance feature.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one assistance feature further includes an assistance feature to mitigate the thermal event.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the assistance feature to mitigate the thermal event includes at least one of:

(i) opening a door to a structure in which the vehicle is located, and (ii) autonomously moving the vehicle out of the structure away from the thermal event.

9. A vehicle comprising

a user interface;

and

a processor configured to

capture a current vehicle location at vehicle key-off,

retrieve assistance features settings related to the current vehicle location from a vehicle storage device,

perform assistance features in accordance with the assistance features settings,

provide a prompt in the user interface to receive assistance features settings for the current vehicle location when the assistance features setting are not set for the current vehicle location,

receive an indication, from a thermal sensor of the vehicle, indicative of detection of a thermal event external to the vehicle and within a structure in which the vehicle is located, and

responsive to the detection, performing assistance features including autonomously moving the vehicle out of the structure away from the thermal event.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to open a door to the structure in which the vehicle is located to autonomously move the vehicle out of the structure.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to activate a vehicle alarm function responsive to the detection.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to confirm the detection of the thermal event by utilizing other thermal sensor inputs of the vehicle before performing the assistance features.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to

confirm that the assistance features are enabled for the current location before performing the assistance features.

14. A method comprising:

capturing a current vehicle location;

retrieving assistance features settings related to the current vehicle location from a vehicle storage device;

performing at least one assistance feature in accordance with the assistance features settings responsive to an external thermal event;

activating a vehicle connectivity module responsive to detection of the thermal event by a vehicle thermal sensor;

confirming, by the vehicle connectivity module, the detection of the thermal event by utilizing other thermal sensor inputs of the vehicle;

responsive to the confirmation, commanding a vehicle system to perform the at least one assistance feature to provide notification of the thermal event to a user; and

providing a prompt in a vehicle user interface configured to receive assistance features settings for the current vehicle location when the assistance features settings are not set for the current vehicle location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one assistance feature includes at least one of:

(i) utilizing an in-vehicle modem to call an emergency phone number or a predefined emergency contact, (ii) invoking a vehicle alarm, (iii) sending an alert message to a two-way key fob, (iv) sending the alert message to the predefined emergency contact, or (v) sending the alert message to a second vehicle to request the second vehicle to aid in providing of the at least one assistance feature.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one assistance feature includes at least one of:

(i) opening a door to a structure in which the vehicle is located, or (ii) autonomously moving the vehicle out of the structure away from the thermal event.

17. A method comprising:

responsive to detecting an external thermal event by a vehicle thermal sensor and confirming the event via other thermal inputs of the vehicle, commanding a vehicle system to perform assistance features using settings retrieved from vehicle storage for a captured current vehicle location to provide notification of the thermal event to a user; and

receiving the settings via a vehicle user interface prompt when no settings are set for the location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one assistance feature includes at least one of:

(i) utilizing an in-vehicle modem to call an emergency phone number or a predefined emergency contact, (ii) invoking a vehicle alarm, (iii) sending an alert message to a two-way key fob, (iv) sending the alert message to the predefined emergency contact, or (v) sending the alert message to a second vehicle to request the second vehicle to aid in providing of the at least one assistance feature.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one assistance feature includes opening a door to a structure in which the vehicle is located.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one assistance feature includes autonomously moving the vehicle out of the structure away from the thermal event.