Method and system for securing an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623576-B2
Application number	US-201916565240-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2019
Priority date	Sep 9, 2019
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatus, and computer readable medium for securing an object including the steps of determining, dynamically, a first region on a surface, wherein the first region is at least partially covered by the object, identifying a second region different from the first region, and extending, through the surface, one or more securing devices in the second region to secure the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of securing an object, comprising:
determining, dynamically, a first region on a surface, wherein the first region is at least partially covered by the object;
identifying a second region different from the first region; and
extending, through the surface, one or more securing devices in the second region to secure the object based on one or more of determining the first region and identifying the second region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second region further comprises identifying a neighboring region surrounding the first region.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second region further comprises identifying a lower region such that the object lies on portions of the one or more securing devices extended in the lower region.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first region further comprises optically detecting the object covering the first region.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more securing devices include a pin, a wall, a divider, or a block.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein extending the one or more securing devices further comprises fully extending a first subset of the one or more securing devices and partially extending a second subset of the one or more securing devices.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprises, prior to determining the first region, extending a second set of securing devices near a portion of a circumference of the object; and
wherein, after the object is placed in the first region, extending the one or more securing devices further comprises extending the one or more securing devices near a remaining portion of the circumference of the object.

8. A vehicle, comprising:
a storage compartment including a surface and one or more securing devices configured to extend through the surface;
one or more detectors configured to detect an object on the surface of the storage compartment; and
a controller including:
a memory,
one or more processors operatively connected to the memory, the one or more processors being configured to:
determine, dynamically, a first region on the surface, wherein the first region is at least partially covered by the object;
identify a second region different from the first region; and
cause the one or more securing devices in the second region to extend to secure the object based on one or more of determining the first region and identifying the second region.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein identifying the second region further comprises identifying a neighboring region surrounding the first region.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein identifying the second region further comprises identifying a lower region such that the object lies on portions of the one or more securing devices extended in the lower region.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein determining the first region further comprises optically detecting the object covering the first region via the one or more detectors.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the one or more securing devices include at least a pin, a wall, a divider, or a block.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein causing the one or more securing devices to extend further comprises causing a first subset of the one or more securing devices to fully extend and a second subset of the one or more securing devices to partially extend.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, prior to determining the first region, cause a second set of securing devices near a portion of a circumference of the object to extend; and
wherein, after the object is placed in the first region, causing the one or more securing devices to extend further comprises causing the one or more securing devices to extend near a remaining portion of the circumference of the object.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors of a controller, cause the one or more processors to:
determine, dynamically, a first region on the surface, wherein the first region is at least partially covered by an object;
identify a second region different from the first region; and
cause one or more securing devices in the second region to extend to secure the object based on one or more of determining the first region and identifying the second region.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions for identifying the second region further comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to identify a neighboring region surrounding the first region.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions for identifying the second region further comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to identify a lower region such that the object lies on portions of the one or more securing devices extended in the lower region.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more securing devices include at least a pin, a wall, a divider, or a block.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more securing devices to extend further comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause a first subset of the one or more securing devices to fully extend and a second subset of the one or more securing devices to partially extend.

20. The vehicle of claim 8 , further comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause, prior to determining the first region, a second set of securing devices near a portion of a circumference of the object to extend; and
wherein, after the object is placed in the first region, the instructions for causing the one or more securing devices to extend further comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause the one or more securing devices to extend near a remaining portion of the circumference of the object.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more securing devices is a subset of a plurality of securing devices;
each of the plurality of securing devices has an extended position and a retracted position; and
the plurality of securing devices are in the retracted positions when not securing an object.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein extending the one or more securing devices includes electromechanically extending the one or more securing devices.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hurd Carter Jeffrey

Classifications

• B60R7/08 Primary

  Disposition of racks, clips {, holders, containers} or the like {for supporting specific articles (B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R7/02 Primary

  in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G06F7/00

  Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled (logic circuits H03K19/00) · CPC title

• G06F17/00

  Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) · CPC title