Systems and methods for promoting cleanliness of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040432-B2
Application number	US-201715414417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2016
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for automatically maintaining cleanliness of an vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle; determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of automatically maintaining a level of cleanliness a vehicle, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle;
determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and
selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulates include at least one of dirt and garbage on a surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulates include moisture on a surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulates include at least one of an allergen and an odor in the air or on a surface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is at least one of an air vent system, a vacuum system, an odor neutralizing system, an antimicrobial cleaning system, a sweeper system, a package system, a sorting system, a reverse static polarization system, a blower system, and a directional wave vibration system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element includes a trash receptacle having at least one segmentable liner, and that is associated with a primary trash reservoir.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is a vacuum system that is integrated with a floor mat.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the notification message to another vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the notification message to a remote transportation system.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the notification message to a user of the vehicle through a personal device.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the route of the vehicle to include a maintenance location.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising scheduling at least one of a ride drop-off location, a ride-pickup location, and a route of the vehicle based on the notification message.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising scheduling at least one of a ride drop-off location, a ride-pickup location, and a route of an other vehicle based on the notification message.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selectively generating the at least one of the control signal and the message is based on an occupancy of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the selectively generating the at least one of the control signal and the message is based on a location of an occupant of the vehicle.

16. A system for maintaining cleanliness of a vehicle, comprising:
at least one cleaning element; and
a control system communicatively coupled to the cleaning element and configured to determine a level of cleanliness of an interior of the vehicle, and selectively actuate the at least one cleaning element based on the level of cleanliness.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the determining the level of cleanliness is based on a detection of at least one of odor particulates, dirt particulates, moisture particulates, allergen particulates, microbial particulates, and trash particulates in the interior of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one cleaning element includes at least one of an air vent system, a vacuum system, an odor neutralizing system, a sweeper system, a package system, a sorting system, a reverse static polarization system, a blower system, an antimicrobial cleaning system, and a directional wave vibration system.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control system is further configured to communicate data associated with the level of cleanliness to at least one of a remote transportation system and a personal device.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one of the personal device and the remote transportation system is configure to schedule scheduling at least one of a ride drop-off location, a ride-pickup location, and a route of an other vehicle based on the data associated with the level of cleanliness.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Stauffer Louise E
• Chamberlain Spencer W
• Neighbors Joseph
• Decaluwe Mary E
• Rainbolt Jim K
• Goings Janet S
• Ochalek William J
• Szczerba Joseph F
• Mathieu Roy
• Alexander Paul W
• Sala Dorel
• Fischer David R
• Bilderbeck Joseph M
• Duffy Ann K
• Thomson Sandra N

Classifications

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• B08B5/04

  Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action · CPC title

• B60N2/58

  Seat coverings · CPC title

• B60S1/64 Primary

  for cleaning vehicle interiors, e.g. built-in vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• B60N3/103

  detachable · CPC title