Noxious gas alert and remediation system

• US 10,217,344 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael T. Gage, Robert H. Frantz
• Original Assignee: Michael T. Gage, Robert H. Frantz
• Inventors: Gage, Michael T., Frantz, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T
• Application Number:
  US15/634,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20180370430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence

Abstract

One or more noxious gas detectors disposed within a cabin of a vehicle are used by an analyzer to determine that a rate of increase of measured noxious gas exceeds a first threshold, or that a level of measured noxious exceeds a second threshold, or both; and to generate an alert output responsive to the determination. Optionally, the analyzer may take remediation actions by emitting or transmitting commands to the vehicle'"'"'s control computer to stop or start the engine, start the air conditioning or heater, roll down windows, unlock doors, activate horns and lights, and even transmit alert messages to one or more recipients.

Claims

1. A safety device for a vehicle comprising:

one or more noxious gas detectors disposed within a cabin of a vehicle;

an analyzer which receives a plurality of electronic samples over time from the one or more noxious gas detectors, and which determines from the electronic samples that a rate of increase of noxious gas in the cabin meets a first threshold, wherein the first threshold indicates an impending dangerous condition for an occupant of the vehicle; and

an alert which is generated responsive to the determination by the analyzer of the impending dangerous condition within the cabin of the vehicle.

2. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the noxious gas detectors comprise one or more detectors selected from the group consisting of a carbon dioxide detector, a carbon monoxide detector, a benzene detector, a methane detector, an ethylene detector, an ethane detector, a propylene detector, a hydrogen fluoride detector, and a nitrogen detector.

3. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more noxious gas detectors are disposed near one or more vehicle seats.

4. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the analyzer performs an averaging of a number of samples over a window period of time, and wherein the rate of increase is determined by calculating one or more differences between one or more averages over one or more window periods.

5. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the analyzer further receives one or more vehicle state signals, and uses the one or more vehicle state signals to further qualify the determination.

6. The safety device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the vehicle state signals comprise one or more signals selected from the group consisting of a door open signal, a door closed signal, a heater on signal, a heater off signal, an air conditioning system on signal, an air conditioning off signal, a cabin fan on signal, a cabin fan off signal, a recirculation mode engaged signal, a recirculation mode off signal, an cabin temperature signal, an engine running signal, an engine off signal, a window up open, a window closed signal, a seat occupied signal, and a safety belt status signal.

7. The safety device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the analyzer further determines the vehicle is likely occupied according to one or more of the vehicle state signals, and wherein, responsive to the vehicle state being determined to be occupied, the alert output comprises a drowsy driving condition alert output.

8. The safety device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the alert output comprises an abandoned occupant alert output, wherein at least one of the noxious gas detectors comprises a carbon monoxide detector, and wherein the analyzer further determines the vehicle is likely placed by an operator into an unoccupied state according to one or more of the vehicle state signals.

9. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the alert output comprises one or more alerts selected from the group consisting of an audible alert, a horn, a buzzer, a chime, a visual alert on a display, an interior light-flashing control, and exterior light-flashing control, an unlock door control, an open window control, an engine start control, an engine stop control, an environmental systems engage control, a recirculation disengage control, a short message service (SMS) message transmission, a global position system location indication transmission, a social media post transmission, and a cellular telephone call.

10. The safety device as set forth in claim 9 wherein the alert output comprises a transmission of a wireless command signal which emulates a vehicle key fob transmitter paired to or compatible with the vehicle to perform one or more of the actions selected from the group.

11. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the noxious gas detectors comprises a carbon dioxide detector, and wherein the first threshold for comparison to the rate of increase in measured carbon dioxide comprises 30 parts per million per minute.

12. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the noxious gas detectors comprises a carbon dioxide detector, and wherein a second threshold comprises 900 parts per million, and wherein the determination further comprises comparison of a current level of carbon dioxide to the second threshold.

13. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the alert output comprises an abandoned occupant alert output.

14. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the analyzer is adapted to communicate via one or more communications interfaces selected from the group consisting of a wireless interface, an infrared (IR) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a local area network (LAN) interface, and a controller area network (CAN) bus.

15. The safety device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the analyzer is physically configured as one or more components selected from the group consisting of a portion of a vehicle on-board diagnostic system, a vehicle control computer, an diagnostic port accessory device, an after-market accessory, and a child-seat attachment.

16. A method for enhancing safety for occupants of a vehicle comprising:

receiving, by an analyzer device, a plurality of electronic samples over time from one or more noxious gas detectors, wherein at least one of the noxious gas detectors is disposed within a cabin of a vehicle;

determining, by the analyzer device, according to the received electronic samples, that a rate of increase of noxious gas in the cabin meets a first threshold, wherein the first threshold indicates an impending dangerous condition for an occupant of the vehicle; and

responsive to the determination of the impending dangerous condition within the cabin of the vehicle, creating, by the analyzer device, an alert output.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the received plurality of electronic samples comprise one or more samples selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide level samples, carbon monoxide level samples, benzene level samples, methane level samples, ethylene level samples, ethane level samples, propylene level samples, hydrogen fluoride level samples, and nitrogen level samples.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising performing, by the analyzer device, an averaging of a number of samples over a window period of time, and wherein the rate of increase is determined by calculating one or more differences between one or more averages over one or more window periods.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:

receiving, by the analyzer device, one or more vehicle state signals; and

using, by the analyzer, the one or more state signals to further qualify the determination.

20. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the alert comprises one or more alerts selected from the group consisting of an abandoned occupant alert, a drowsy-driving alert, an audible alert, a horn, a buzzer, a chime, a visual alert on a display, an interior light-flashing control, and exterior light-flashing control, an unlock door control, an open window control, an engine start control, an engine stop control, an environmental systems engage control, a recirculation disengage control, a short message service (SMS) message transmission, a global position system location indication transmission, a social media post transmission, and a cellular telephone call.