Method and emergency call device for triggering an emergency call from a vehicle

• US 20050096007A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lappe, Dirk, Hovestadt, Guido
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

In order to be able to reliably trigger an emergency call from a vehicle with a radio telephone (T), even in the case of a heavy crash or collision, an autonomous emergency call unit (N) is arranged in a position in the vehicle particularly well protected from damage by collision or crash. An emergency call is triggered, for example, by a gyro (K), provided as a crash detector, which activates the emergency call unit (N) in a mechanical manner, which then transmits an emergency call to the radio telephone (T) over a short radio path according to the bluetooth standard for example, which then further transmits the emergency call to an emergency call exchange (Z) over a radio path (F). The autonomous emergency call unit (N) is provided with a bluetooth transceiver unit (BE), a battery (BA), a gyro (K) and a GSM transceiver (GSM) which transmits an emergency call to the emergency call exchange (Z) should the radio telephone (T) be damaged or destroyed.

Claims

1. Method for triggering an emergency call from a vehicle which is equipped with a radio telephone, characterized in that an emergency call unit is provided with an internal battery, a GSM transceiver, and a transceiver to establish a short wireless link to the radio telephone, and that in response to the triggering of an emergency call, the emergency call unit transmits an emergency call through a short wireless link to the radio telephone which then relays the emergency call by radio to an emergency call exchange.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the emergency call unit is located at a site within the vehicle which is as securely protected as possible from damage during accidents, collisions, etc.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the event of damage to or destruction of the radio telephone (T), the GSM transceiver (GSM) of the emergency call unit (N) sends out an emergency call.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the triggering of an airbag in the vehicle triggers the emergency call.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a sensor is provided to detect a collision or crash, which sensor activates the emergency call unit by mechanical means upon detection of a collision or crash.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that a gyro is provided as the sensor.

7. Emergency call device for a vehicle which is equipped with a radio telephone, characterized in that the emergency call unit is equipped with an internal battery, a GSM transceiver, and a transceiver to establish a short wireless link to the radio telephone, and that in response to the triggering of an emergency call by the emergency call unit, an emergency call is transmittable through a short wireless link the radio telephone from which the emergency call is then relayable by radio to an emergency call exchange.

8. Emergency call unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the emergency call unit is located at a site within the vehicle which is as securely protected as possible from damage during accidents, collisions, a crash, or the like.

9. Emergency call device according to claim 7, characterized in that in the event of damage to or destruction of the radio telephone it is possible for an emergency call to be transmitted by the GSM transceiver of the emergency call unit.

10. Emergency call device according to claim 7, characterized in that the emergency call can be triggered by the triggering of an airbag in the vehicle.

11. Emergency call device according to claims 7, characterized in that a sensor is provided to detect a collision or crash, which sensor activates the emergency call unit by mechanical means upon detection of a collision or crash.

12. Emergency call device according to claim 11, characterized in that a gyro is provided as the sensor.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)