Method for securing an interior of a motor vehicle

• US 9,838,529 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Brutigam, Heribert, Donner, Eckart
• Primary Examiner(s): Nealon, William
• Application Number:
  US15/325,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20170171379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 455418
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

A position of a mobile terminal in the interior of a motor vehicle is sensed by a sensor device. The sensed position is taken as a basis for a control device of the motor vehicle to ascertain whether the mobile terminal adopts a position within a predetermined safety area to be kept clear between a predetermined interior equipment component of the motor vehicle, for example an airbag, and a user of the motor vehicle. When such a position within the safety area is adopted or exists, prevention of use of the mobile terminal within the safety area is brought about by a safety check device. In this case, a restraining device can return or restrain the mobile terminal from the safety area, for example.

Claims

1. A method for securing an interior of a motor vehicle, comprising:

sensing a position of a mobile terminal by a sensor device;

ascertaining, based on the sensed position by a control device of the motor vehicle, when the mobile terminal moves into and/or toward a predetermined safety area between a predetermined interior equipment component of the motor vehicle and an occupant of the motor vehicle; and

preventing, when movement of the mobile terminal into or toward the predetermined safety area has been ascertained, use of the mobile terminal within the predetermined safety area by a safety check device under control of the control device, by returning the mobile terminal to an additional area outside the predetermined safety area by a restraining device, including at least one of an elastic band, a string, a cable and a cord, attached to a retraction mechanism configured to pull the mobile terminal out of the predetermined safety area.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing of the position of the mobile terminal is effected by sensing a change of position of the mobile terminal, the sensor device including at least one of a motion sensor of the motor vehicle, a near field communication device of the motor vehicle, a camera of the motor vehicle and a light barrier of the motor vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the sensing of the position of the mobile terminal is effected by sensing a change of position of the mobile terminal, and

wherein the sensor device includes a sensor device of the mobile terminal, including at least one of an inclination sensor of the mobile terminal and a near field communication device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined interior equipment component of the motor vehicle includes at least one of a steering wheel, pedals and a safety system of the motor vehicle, including an airbag.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said preventing the use of the mobile terminal within the predetermined safety area is effected by changing an operating state of the mobile terminal.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5,

further comprising sensing an activation state of the mobile terminal, and

wherein said preventing includes, if the mobile terminal is activated within the predetermined safety area, deactivating the mobile terminal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said preventing the use of the mobile terminal within the predetermined safety area is effected by the mobile terminal being restrained in an additional area outside the predetermined safety area by at least one of the string, the cord and the elastic band.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said preventing the use of the mobile terminal within the predetermined safety area includes generating a control signal to produce a warning message output by an output device.

9. A control device in a motor vehicle having a restraining device and a sensor device capable of sensing position of a mobile terminal relative to an interior equipment component of the motor vehicle, said control device comprising:

a controller configured to ascertain when the mobile terminal moves into and/or toward a predetermined safety area between the interior equipment component of the motor vehicle and an occupant of the motor vehicle, based on output from the sensor device, and to control the restraining device to return the mobile terminal to an additional area outside the predetermined safety area when movement of the mobile terminal into or toward the predetermined safety area has been ascertained, the restraining device including at least one of an elastic band, a string, a cable and a cord attached to a retraction mechanism configured to pull the mobile terminal out of the predetermined safety area under control of said controller.

10. The control device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control device generates a control signal to produce a warning message output by an output device.

11. An automobile in which an occupant of the automobile is using a mobile terminal, comprising:

an interior equipment component;

a sensor device sensing a position of the mobile terminal;

a restraining device, including a retraction mechanism and at least one of an elastic band, a string, a cable and a cord; and

a control device configured to ascertain when the mobile terminal moves into and/or toward a predetermined safety area between the interior equipment component and the occupant, based on output from the sensor device, and to control the restraining device to return the mobile terminal to an additional area outside the predetermined safety area when movement of the mobile terminal into or toward the predetermined safety area has been ascertained.

12. The automobile as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor device includes at least one of a motion sensor, a camera and a light barrier.

13. The automobile as claimed in claim 11, wherein the interior equipment includes at least one of a steering wheel, pedals and a safety system of the automobile, including an airbag.

14. The automobile as claimed in claim 11,

further comprising an output device, and

wherein said control device generates a control signal to produce a warning message output by the output device.

15. The automobile as claimed in claim 11, wherein the restraining device restrains the mobile terminal in the additional area outside the predetermined safety area or returns the mobile terminal to the additional area outside the predetermined safety area and either a) includes at least one of an elastic band, a string, a cable and a cord, with the retraction mechanism configured to pull the mobile terminal out of the predetermined safety area, or b) includes at least one of the cord, string and cable having a fixed length that prevents the mobile terminal from moving into the predetermined safety area.