Method for controlling interior vehicle temperature to protect occupants from extreme heat
First Claim
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1. A method of protecting occupants in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) equipping the vehicle with a central microprocessor which monitors the status of and controls the operations of multiple vehicle systems, including an engine, power train, one or more batteries, a climate control system, multiple windows, multiple doors, one or more sound-producing devices, and one or more emergency lights;
(b) equipping the vehicle with one or more carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors distributed within the passenger compartment, which are controlled by the central microprocessor and which generate representative data on CO2 concentration within the passenger compartment;
(c) equipping the vehicle with a wireless communication module, which is controlled by the central microprocessor and which sends and receives wireless messages;
(d) providing one or more interfaces between the central microprocessor, the CO2 sensors and the wireless communication module, wherein the interfaces transmit the representative data on CO2 concentration to the central microprocessor and allow the central microprocessor to communicate with the wireless communication module;
(e) determining and storing in the central microprocessor an activation CO2 concentration level, which is indicative of a presence of one or more occupants in the passenger compartment;
(f) establishing and storing in the central microprocessor a progressive series of emergency response CO2 concentration setpoints, comprising a first CO2 concentration setpoint, a maximum CO2 setpoint and one or more intermediate CO2 concentration setpoints between the first CO2 concentration setpoint and the maximum CO2 concentration setpoint;
(g) formulating and storing in the central microprocessor a progressive series of emergency response actions that correspond to each of the emergency response CO2 concentration setpoints, wherein one or more first emergency response actions correspond to the first CO2 concentration setpoint, one or more final emergency response actions correspond to the maximum CO2 concentration setpoint, and one or more interim emergency response actions correspond to each of the intermediate CO2 concentration setpoints;
(h) activating the CO2 sensors, independent of temperature and other variables, once the central microprocessor determines, based on the status of the engine, the power train, and the climate control system, that the vehicle is parked and that the climate control system is not operating;
(i) generating representative data on CO2 concentration levels and comparing the representative data with the activation CO2 concentration level stored in the central microprocessor to determine the presence of one or more occupants within the passenger compartment;
(j) when the representative data on CO2 concentration levels equals or exceeds the activation CO2 concentration level, determining at least one occupant is present in the passenger compartment and using the central microprocessor to compare CO2 concentration levels generated by the CO2 sensors with the emergency response CO2 concentration setpoints;
(k) initiating the first emergency response actions when the CO2 concentration levels equal or exceed the first CO2 concentration setpoint, independent of other variables;
(l) initiating the interim emergency response actions when the CO2 concentration levels equal or exceed one of the intermediate CO2 concentration setpoints, independent of other variables; and
(m) initiating the final emergency response actions when the CO2 concentration levels equal or exceed the maximum CO2 concentration setpoint, independent of other variables.
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Abstract
A method for protecting occupants in the passenger compartment of a parked motor vehicle from exposure to dangerously elevated temperatures and CO2 concentration levels is based on control of vehicle systems by a central microprocessor in communication with CO2 and temperature sensors and a wireless communication module. The method implements a graduated, progressive series of warnings and responses as the cabin temperature and/or CO2 concentration levels reach certain designated setpoints, so that security-compromising steps, such as opening windows, can be deferred until less extreme measures have been exhausted.
9 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of protecting occupants in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) equipping the vehicle with a central microprocessor which monitors the status of and controls the operations of multiple vehicle systems, including an engine, power train, one or more batteries, a climate control system, multiple windows, multiple doors, one or more sound-producing devices, and one or more emergency lights; (b) equipping the vehicle with one or more carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors distributed within the passenger compartment, which are controlled by the central microprocessor and which generate representative data on CO2 concentration within the passenger compartment; (c) equipping the vehicle with a wireless communication module, which is controlled by the central microprocessor and which sends and receives wireless messages; (d) providing one or more interfaces between the central microprocessor, the CO2 sensors and the wireless communication module, wherein the interfaces transmit the representative data on CO2 concentration to the central microprocessor and allow the central microprocessor to communicate with the wireless communication module; (e) determining and storing in the central microprocessor an activation CO2 concentration level, which is indicative of a presence of one or more occupants in the passenger compartment; (f) establishing and storing in the central microprocessor a progressive series of emergency response CO2 concentration setpoints, comprising a first CO2 concentration setpoint, a maximum CO2 setpoint and one or more intermediate CO2 concentration setpoints between the first CO2 concentration setpoint and the maximum CO2 concentration setpoint; (g) formulating and storing in the central microprocessor a progressive series of emergency response actions that correspond to each of the emergency response CO2 concentration setpoints, wherein one or more first emergency response actions correspond to the first CO2 concentration setpoint, one or more final emergency response actions correspond to the maximum CO2 concentration setpoint, and one or more interim emergency response actions correspond to each of the intermediate CO2 concentration setpoints; (h) activating the CO2 sensors, independent of temperature and other variables, once the central microprocessor determines, based on the status of the engine, the power train, and the climate control system, that the vehicle is parked and that the climate control system is not operating; (i) generating representative data on CO2 concentration levels and comparing the representative data with the activation CO2 concentration level stored in the central microprocessor to determine the presence of one or more occupants within the passenger compartment; (j) when the representative data on CO2 concentration levels equals or exceeds the activation CO2 concentration level, determining at least one occupant is present in the passenger compartment and using the central microprocessor to compare CO2 concentration levels generated by the CO2 sensors with the emergency response CO2 concentration setpoints; (k) initiating the first emergency response actions when the CO2 concentration levels equal or exceed the first CO2 concentration setpoint, independent of other variables; (l) initiating the interim emergency response actions when the CO2 concentration levels equal or exceed one of the intermediate CO2 concentration setpoints, independent of other variables; and (m) initiating the final emergency response actions when the CO2 concentration levels equal or exceed the maximum CO2 concentration setpoint, independent of other variables. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification