Remote monitor system for a vehicle cargo carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773645-B2
Application number	US-201916268319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2019
Priority date	Feb 5, 2019
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for monitoring a cargo carrier attached to an exterior of a vehicle. The system includes one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data associated with the cargo carrier. The system also includes a processor communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The processor is configured to receive the sensor data from the one or more sensors. The processor is also configured to detect an adverse event based on the sensor data. The system also includes a display screen communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to display alert information when the adverse event is detected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring a cargo carrier attached to an exterior of a vehicle, the system comprising:
one or more connectors of the cargo carrier configured to engage a roof rack of the vehicle;
a plurality of locks including one or more connector locks and one or more storage compartment locks;
one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data associated with the cargo carrier, the one or more sensors including at least one of a lock sensor configured to detect a state of each lock of the plurality of locks or an opening sensor configured to detect whether the cargo carrier is open or closed;
a processor communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to:
receive the sensor data from the one or more sensors,
detect an adverse event based on the sensor data, and
instruct an image sensor to detect image data in response to the adverse event being detected; and

a display screen communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to display alert information when the adverse event is detected.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is a processor of the cargo carrier and is further configured to render a graphical user interface including the alert information, the display screen further configured to display the graphical user interface.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle and is further configured to render a graphical user interface including the alert information, the display screen further configured to display the graphical user interface.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display screen is a display screen of a mobile device associated with a driver or user or occupant of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display screen is a display screen of an infotainment unit of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display screen is a display screen of an instrument panel or heads up display of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors further include at least one of a weight sensor configured to detect weight data of cargo stored inside the cargo carrier, a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature data associated with an interior cavity of the cargo carrier, or a moisture sensor configured to detect moisture data associated with the interior cavity of the cargo carrier.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is located in an interior cavity of the cargo carrier and configured to detect image data of the interior cavity of the cargo carrier, and
wherein the display screen is further configured to display a view of the interior cavity of the cargo carrier based on the image data.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a lighting device configured to provide illumination, the lighting device being activated when the image sensor detects image data and/or when the processor detects an adverse event based on the sensor data.

10. A vehicle being attached to a cargo carrier, the vehicle comprising:
a roof rack configured to be engaged by one or more connectors having corresponding connector locks of the cargo carrier;
a transceiver configured to receive, from the cargo carrier, sensor data detected by one or more sensors of the cargo carrier, the sensor data including a state of each lock of a plurality of locks of the cargo carrier or whether the cargo carrier is open or closed, the plurality of locks including one or more connector locks and one or more storage compartment locks;
an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the transceiver and configured to:
detect an adverse event based on the sensor data,
render a graphical user interface including alert information based on the sensor data when the adverse event is detected, and
instruct an image sensor to detect image data in response to the adverse event being detected; and

a display screen connected to the ECU and configured to display the alert information.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit a warning communication to a mobile device associated with a driver or user or occupant of the vehicle when the adverse event is detected.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the display screen is a display screen of an infotainment unit.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the display screen is a display screen of an instrument panel or heads up display.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the sensor data further includes at least one of weight data of cargo stored inside the cargo carrier, temperature data associated with an interior cavity of the cargo carrier, or moisture data associated with the interior cavity of the cargo carrier.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising an alarm unit connected to the ECU and configured to be activated to call attention to the cargo carrier when the adverse event is detected.

16. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the image data is of an interior cavity of the cargo carrier, and
wherein the display screen is further configured to display a view of the interior cavity of the cargo carrier based on the image data.

17. A method of monitoring a cargo carrier having one or more connectors with corresponding connector locks, configured to engage a roof rack or a vehicle, the method comprising:
detecting, by one or more sensors of the cargo carrier, sensor data associated with the cargo carrier, the sensor data including a state of each lock of a plurality of locks of the cargo carrier or whether the cargo carrier is open or closed, the plurality of locks including one or more connector locks and one or more storage compartment locks;
detecting, by a processor, an adverse event based on the sensor data;
rendering, by the processor, a graphical user interface including alert information when the adverse event is detected;
detecting, by an image sensor, image data in response to the adverse event being detected; and
displaying, by a display screen, the alert information.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the processor detects the adverse event by determining whether the sensor data exceeds a threshold value.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sensor data further includes at least one of weight data of cargo stored inside the cargo carrier, temperature data associated with an interior cavity of the cargo carrier, or moisture data associated with the interior cavity of the cargo carrier.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising activating an alarm unit of the vehicle when the adverse event is detected.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Helm Sean L

Classifications

• B60R9/065

  Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks · CPC title

• G06F9/451

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title

• B60Q3/30

  for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments · CPC title

• B60R11/04 Primary

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R9/055

  Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. containers, boxes (B60R9/048 takes precedence) · CPC title