Carrying cargo reminder and method of reminding about transportation of external cargo

• US 7,391,311 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama (University of Alabama System), University of Alabama (University of Alabama System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama (University of Alabama System)
• Inventors: Haskew, Tim A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/062,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 340/467, 340/440, 340/457, 340/459, 340/669
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• 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

Abstract

A cargo reminder for a driver of a vehicle includes an accelerometer, a controller to detect an acceleration change in the vehicle based on output signals from the accelerometer, and an alarm connected to the controller. Different types of alarm may be used, including a visual alarm, an audio alarm, a plug-in vibrator clip, or a combination of these alarms. In use, the alarm is triggered by the controller when the acceleration change is larger than a preset acceleration threshold. The cargo reminder may also include an acceleration threshold input to allow the driver to input the preset acceleration threshold, a delay setting input to allow the driver to input a time delay between first and second alarm triggers, and an inclinometer. A method for reminding the driver of a vehicle of an external cargo being transported is also within the scope of the instant invention.

Claims

1. A cargo reminder for a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

an accelerometer;

a controller adapted to output a reminder signal upon receiving an input signal indicative of the presence of a cargo and an output signal from the accelerometer larger than a preset acceleration threshold;

an alarm connected to the controller, the alarm being triggered by the reminder signal; and

an acceleration threshold input connected to the controller and configured to allow the driver to input the preset acceleration threshold.

2. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the alarm is at least one of a visual alarm, an audio alarm, or a plug-in vibrator clip alarm.

3. The cargo reminder of claim 1, further comprising:

a cargo indicator input connected to the controller to generate the input signal indicative of the presence of the cargo to allow the driver to enable or disable the cargo reminder.

4. The cargo reminder of claim 1, further comprising:

a delay setting input connected to the controller to allow the driver to input a time delay between first and second alarm triggers.

5. The cargo reminder of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm mute input connected to the controller to allow the driver to mute the alarm after the alarm is triggered.

6. The cargo reminder of claim 1, further comprising:

an output display connected to the controller configured to display an inclination of a road traveled by the vehicle, the inclination being calculated by the controller based on the output signals from the accelerometer.

7. The cargo reminder of claim 6, further comprising:

a level offset adjustment connected to the controller to allow the driver to calibrate the cargo reminder when the cargo reminder is placed on an inclined surface inside the vehicle.

8. The cargo reminder of claim 6, wherein the inclination is displayed as an angular inclination, a percent grade, or a combination thereof.

9. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the cargo reminder is wired to an electric circuit of the vehicle such that, when the vehicle is started, the cargo reminder turns on.

10. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the cargo reminder is plugged in to a power outlet in the vehicle.

11. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the cargo reminder is battery powered.

12. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the cargo reminder is portable.

13. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is at least one of a two-axis accelerometer, a spring-loaded sliding accelerometer, a pendulum accelerometer, or flexible-coil-around-a-center-post accelerometer.

14. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the controller is a microprocessor.

15. The cargo reminder of claim 1, wherein the controller is analog.

16. A cargo reminder for a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

an accelerometer;

a controller adapted to output a reminder signal upon receiving an input signal indicative of a presence of a cargo and an output signal from the accelerometer larger than a preset acceleration threshold;

an alarm connected to the controller, the alarm being triggered by the reminder signal from the controller;

an acceleration threshold input connected to the controller and configured to allow the driver to input the preset acceleration threshold; and

a delay setting input connected to the controller to allow the driver to input a time delay between first and second alarm triggers, wherein the alarm is at least one of a visual alarm, an audio alarm, or a plug-in vibrator clip alarm.

17. The cargo reminder of claim 16, further comprising:

an alarm mute input connected to the controller to allow the driver to mute the alarm after the alarm is triggered.

18. The cargo reminder of claim 16, further comprising:

a cargo indicator input connected to the controller to generate the input signal indicative of the presence of the cargo.

19. The cargo reminder of claim 16, further comprising:

an output display connected to the controller configured to display an inclination of a road traveled by the vehicle, the inclination being calculated by the controller based on output signals from the accelerometer.

20. The cargo reminder of claim 16, further comprising:

a level offset adjustment connected to the controller to allow the driver to calibrate the cargo reminder when the cargo reminder is placed on an inclined surface inside the vehicle.

21. The cargo reminder of claim 19, wherein the inclination is displayed as an angular inclination, a percent grade, or a combination thereof.

22. The cargo reminder of claim 16, wherein the cargo reminder is wired to an electric circuit of the vehicle such that, when the vehicle is started, the cargo reminder turns on.

23. The cargo reminder of claim 16, wherein the cargo reminder is plugged in to a power outlet in the vehicle.

24. A method for reminding a driver of a vehicle of an external cargo being transported, comprising:

measuring an acceleration change of the vehicle with an accelerometer;

generating a reminder signal by a controller adapted to generate the reminder signal upon receiving an input signal indicative of a presence of a cargo and an output signal from the accelerometer larger than a preset acceleration threshold;

triggering an alarm connected to the controller by the reminder signal from the controller; and

inputting the acceleration threshold into the controller via an acceleration threshold input connected thereto.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the triggering comprises triggering at least one of a visual alarm, an audio alarm, or plug-in vibrator clip alarm.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

inputting the input signal indicative of the presence of the cargo via a cargo indicator input connected to the controller.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

inputting a time delay into the controller via a time delay input connected thereto; and

delaying a second triggering from a first triggering by an elapsed time equal to or greater than the time delay.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying an inclination of a road traveled by the vehicle, the inclination being calculated by the controller based on output signals from the accelerometer.

29. A cargo reminder for a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

an accelerometer;

means for generating a reminder to the driver that an external cargo is being transported based on a change in vehicle acceleration detected by the accelerometer; and

means for inputting the acceleration threshold into a controller of the cargo reminder via an acceleration threshold input connected thereto.

30. The cargo reminder of claim 29, further comprising:

delay setting input means for allowing the driver to input a time delay between first and second alarm triggers of an alarm,

wherein the alarm is at least one of a visual alarm, an audio alarm, or a plug-in vibrator clip alarm.