Device, system and method for vehicle safety sensing and alerting by using camera and temperature sensor
First Claim
1. A system for detecting a subject in a vehicle, the vehicle having an ignition switch and at least one seat, the detection system comprising:
- a temperature sensor installed within the vehicle that monitors an internal vehicle temperature of a vehicle passenger area, the temperature sensor coupled to the ignition switch by a relay coupling and being automatically activated by the relay coupling in response to the ignition switch being switched off, wherein the relay coupling is automatically switched by the ignition switch;
a detection module coupled to the temperature sensor, the detection module comprising at least a processor, a memory and a camera, the camera being activated in response to the monitored internal vehicle temperature having reached or exceeded a threshold temperature;
the camera configured to capture a first image of an interior of the vehicle and to subsequently capture a second image of the interior of the vehicle;
the processor being configured to analyze the first image and the second image to detect the subject by at least one of determining that an average change in pixels is above a first predefined threshold and determining that a threshold number of pixels have experienced a change above a second predefined threshold;
the processor is configured to activate one or more alert mechanisms when the subject is detected; and
the processor is further configured to lower at least one vehicle window and unlock at least one vehicle door when the subject is detected;
wherein the threshold temperature cannot be adjusted after the temperature sensor has been installed.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting a subject in a vehicle are provided. A temperature sensor installed in the vehicle is automatically activated when the vehicle ignition switch is switched off. The temperature sensor monitors the internal vehicle temperature and activates a detection module when the monitored internal vehicle temperature reaches a threshold temperature. The detection module includes a camera that is configured to capture a first image of the vehicle interior and to subsequently capture a second image of the vehicle interior, and a monitoring module that is configured to analyze the first image and the second image to detect the subject. A response module is coupled to the detection module and configured to activate one or more alert mechanisms when the subject is detected.
25 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for detecting a subject in a vehicle, the vehicle having an ignition switch and at least one seat, the detection system comprising:
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a temperature sensor installed within the vehicle that monitors an internal vehicle temperature of a vehicle passenger area, the temperature sensor coupled to the ignition switch by a relay coupling and being automatically activated by the relay coupling in response to the ignition switch being switched off, wherein the relay coupling is automatically switched by the ignition switch; a detection module coupled to the temperature sensor, the detection module comprising at least a processor, a memory and a camera, the camera being activated in response to the monitored internal vehicle temperature having reached or exceeded a threshold temperature; the camera configured to capture a first image of an interior of the vehicle and to subsequently capture a second image of the interior of the vehicle; the processor being configured to analyze the first image and the second image to detect the subject by at least one of determining that an average change in pixels is above a first predefined threshold and determining that a threshold number of pixels have experienced a change above a second predefined threshold; the processor is configured to activate one or more alert mechanisms when the subject is detected; and the processor is further configured to lower at least one vehicle window and unlock at least one vehicle door when the subject is detected; wherein the threshold temperature cannot be adjusted after the temperature sensor has been installed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting a subject in a vehicle, the vehicle having an ignition switch, at least one seat and a temperature sensor installed within the vehicle, the method comprising:
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activating the temperature sensor in response to the vehicle ignition switch being switched off using a relay coupling that is automatically switched by the ignition switch; monitoring an internal vehicle temperature of a vehicle passenger area using the temperature sensor; activating a camera when the monitored internal vehicle temperature has reached or exceeded a threshold temperature; capturing a first image of an interior of the vehicle using the camera; subsequently capturing a second image of the interior of the vehicle using the camera; analyzing the first image and the second image to detect the subject in the vehicle by at least one of determining that an average change in pixels is above a first predefined threshold and determining that a threshold number of pixels have experienced a change above a second predefined threshold; activating an alert mechanism when the subject is detected; and lowering at least one vehicle window and unlocking at least one vehicle door when the subject is detected wherein the threshold temperature cannot be adjusted after the temperature sensor has been installed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification