Communicating animal proximity to a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10410522-B2
Application number	US-201515761705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2015
Priority date	Oct 28, 2015
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

Example systems and methods for communicating animal proximity to a vehicle are described. In one implementation, a device implanted in an animal is activated when the device is within a predetermined distance of a vehicle. The vehicle receives a signal from the device and determines an approximate distance between the device and the vehicle. A symbol is flashed to a driver of the vehicle at a frequency that corresponds to the approximate distance between the device and the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
activating a device implanted in an animal when the device is within a predetermined distance of a vehicle;
receiving, by the vehicle, a signal from the device;
determining, using one or more processors, an approximate distance between the device and the vehicle;
flashing a symbol to a driver of the vehicle at a frequency that corresponds to the approximate distance between the device and the vehicle;
determining an identification code associated with the received signal;
determining a user associated with the identification code; and
communicating a message to the user notifying the user of the approximate location of the animal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deactivating the device when the device is beyond the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a status of the device to an energy-saving mode when the device is beyond the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recharging a battery in the device by converting kinetic energy from the animal into electrical energy.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, within the vehicle, an audible notification that an animal is proximate the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
periodically updating the approximate distance between the device and the vehicle; and
updating the flashing frequency based on the updated distance between the device and the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein multiple vehicles within the predetermined distance of the device receive a signal from the device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received signal is a Bluetooth signal and the identification code is a Bluetooth address.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an approximate location of the vehicle based on a GPS (global positioning system) contained in the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the flashing symbol increases as the approximate distance between the device and the vehicle decreases.

11. A method comprising:
activating a device implanted in an animal when the device is within a predetermined distance of a vehicle;
receiving, by the vehicle, a signal from the device;
determining, using one or more processors, an approximate distance between the device and the vehicle;
calculating, using the one or more processors, a flashing frequency based on the approximate distance between the device and the vehicle;
flashing a symbol to a driver of the vehicle at the flashing frequency, wherein the symbol indicates the presence of the animal proximate the vehicle;
determining an identification code associated with the received signal;
determining a user associated with the identification code; and
communicating a message to the user notifying the user of the approximate location of the animal.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising deactivating the device when the device is beyond the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flashing frequency increases as the approximate distance between the device and the vehicle decreases.

14. A vehicle comprising:
a communication module configured to receive an activation signal from a device implanted in an animal, wherein the activation signal is received when the device is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle;
a proximity determination module configured to determine an approximate distance between the device and the vehicle;
a processor configured to calculate a flashing frequency based on the approximate distance between the device and the vehicle;
a user interface manager configured to flash a symbol to a driver of the vehicle at the flashing frequency, wherein the symbol indicates the presence of the animal proximate the vehicle; and
a pet identification manager configured to:
determine an identification code associated with the activation signal;
determine a user associated with the identification code; and
communicate a message to the user notifying the user of an approximate location of the animal.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the user interface manager is further configured to generate an audible notification that the animal is proximate the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the communication module is further configured to send and receive Bluetooth signals, and wherein the activation signal is a Bluetooth signal.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising a GPS (global positioning system) manager configured to determine the approximate geographic location of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Sivashankar Nithika
• Myers Scott Vincent
• Reiff Brielle
• Schrier Madeline Jane

Classifications

• G08G1/168

  Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space · CPC title

• G08G1/166 Primary

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• G08G1/165

  for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees · CPC title

• G08G1/164

  Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles · CPC title

• H04W4/40

  for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] · CPC title