Dynamic safe storage of vehicle content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623651-B2
Application number	US-202217738209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2022
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for dynamically protecting transportable articles in vehicles. A system for dynamically protecting a transportable article in a vehicle may include one or more processors and non-volatile memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to determine at least one of a characteristic or a trait of the transportable article; detect, based on sensed data, an emergency condition; select one or more article protection components based on (i) the at least one of the characteristic or the trait of the transportable article, and (ii) the detected emergency condition; and in response to detecting the emergency condition, deploy the selected one or more article protection components to protect the transportable article.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system for dynamically protecting a transportable article in a vehicle, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
non-volatile memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
determine at least one of a characteristic or a trait of the transportable article;
detect, based on sensed data, an emergency condition;
select one or more article protection components based on (i) the at least one of the characteristic or the trait of the transportable article, and (ii) the detected emergency condition; and
in response to detecting the emergency condition, deploy the selected one or more article protection components to protect the transportable article.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more article protection components include at least one of a latch, locking mechanism, harness, airbag, cushion, pillow, pad, seatbelt, container, strut, temperature control device, humidity control device, or light exposure control component.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more article protection components are configured to counteract at least one of shaking, tipping, sliding, toppling, spilling, cracking, a change in temperature, a change in humidity, a change in light exposure, or a change in chemical exposure.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more actuator components configured to deploy the selected one or more article protection components.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sensed data includes interior vehicle environment data representative of a change in condition of an interior space of the vehicle, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
detect, by processing the interior vehicle environment data, the emergency condition; and
in response to detecting the emergency condition, cause the one or more actuator components to adjust a state of the one or more article protection components in order to protect the transportable article.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sensed data includes driving environment data representative of a driving environment of the vehicle, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
detect, by processing the driving environment data, the emergency condition; and
in response to detecting the emergency condition, cause the one or more actuator components to adjust a state of the one or more article protection components in order to protect the transportable article.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
access vehicle operation data, wherein the vehicle operation data includes, or is indicative of, vehicle control data sent to one or more operational subsystems of the vehicle;
detect, by processing the vehicle operation data, a specific action taken by the vehicle; and
in response to detecting the specific action taken by the vehicle, cause one or more actuator components to adjust a state of the one or more article protection components in order to protect the transportable article.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
in response to determining the characteristic and/or the trait of the transportable article, modify, via a vehicle operation controller, a manner in which the vehicle takes a specific action to protect the transportable article.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the specific action taken by the vehicle includes at least one of accelerating, decelerating, turning, braking, changing lanes, merging, or moving in reverse.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
in response to determining the characteristic and/or the trait of the transportable article, cause a vehicle operation controller to restrict the vehicle from taking a specific action in order to protect the transportable article.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein restricting the vehicle from taking the specific action includes restricting the vehicle from at least one of accelerating more than a threshold amount, decelerating more than a threshold amount, generating more than a threshold amount of G-forces, changing lanes, exceeding a threshold speed, or driving on a specific road.

12. A method for dynamically protecting a transportable article in a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining at least one of a characteristic or a trait of the transportable article;
detecting, using one or more processors based on sensed data, an emergency condition;
selecting, using the one or more processors, one or more article protection components based on (i) at least one of the characteristic or the trait of the transportable article, and (ii) the detected emergency condition; and
in response to detecting the emergency condition, deploying, using the one or more processors, the selected one or more article protection components to protect the transportable article.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more article protection components include at least one of a latch, locking mechanism, harness, airbag, cushion, pillow, pad, seatbelt, container, strut, temperature control device, humidity control device, or light exposure control component.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more article protection components are configured to counteract at least one of shaking, tipping, sliding, toppling, spilling, cracking, a change in temperature, a change in humidity, a change in light exposure, or a change in chemical exposure.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensed data includes interior vehicle environment data representative of a change in condition of an interior space of the vehicle, and the method further comprises:
detecting, by processing the interior vehicle environment data using the one or more processors, the emergency condition; and
causing, by the one or more processors via one or more actuator components, a state of the one or more article protection components to be adjusted in order to protect the transportable article in response to detecting the emergency condition.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensed data includes driving environment data representative of a driving environment of the vehicle, and the method further comprises:
detecting, by processing the driving environment data using the one or more processors, the emergency condition; and
causing, by the one or more processors via one or more actuator components, a state of the one or more article protection components to be adjusted in order to protect the transportable article in response to detecting the emergency condition.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
accessing vehicle operation data generated by a vehicle operation controller to cause the vehicle to take a specific action;
detecting, by processing the vehicle operation data using the one or more processors, the specific action taken by the vehicle; and
causing, by the one or more processors via one or more actuator components, a state of the one or more article protection components to be adjusted in order to protect the transportable article in response to detecting the specific action taken by the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
generating, via a vehicle operation controller, vehicle operation data corresponding to the vehicle taking a specific action in order

Assignees

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co

Inventors

• Christensen Scott T
• Fields Brian M
• Prevatt Stephen R
• Roberson Steve

Classifications

• B60R2021/162

  Means for diverting, destroying or blocking the bag in case of dangerous deployment, e.g. during rescue operations or use of rear-facing children seats · CPC title

• B60R2021/23107

  the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system · CPC title

• B60R21/16

  Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags ({protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; } connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00) · CPC title

• B60R21/20

  Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components · CPC title

• B60W2900/00

  Indexing codes relating to the purpose of, or problem solved of road vehicle drive control systems not otherwise provided for in groups B60W30/00 · CPC title