Vehicle alarm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724643-B2
Application number	US-202117152840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2021
Priority date	Jan 20, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect an object in data received from a rear-facing radar on a vehicle and activate an alarm in response to the object moving through a predesignated region behind the vehicle at a speed below a threshold speed or for a duration above a threshold time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
identify a trailer behind a first vehicle;
upon identifying the trailer, generate a predesignated region behind the first vehicle, wherein the predesignated region is a region between the first vehicle and the trailer;
detect an object in data received from a rear-facing radar on the first vehicle;
activate an alarm in response to the object moving through the predesignated region at a speed below a threshold speed or for a duration above a threshold time; and
prevent the alarm from activating in response to the object being present in the predesignated region while detecting a second vehicle that is rearward from the trailer relative to the first vehicle and that is moving forward relative to the first vehicle.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions include instructions to receive a plurality of inputs from a mobile device, and generate the predesignated region based on the inputs.

3. The computer of claim 2 , wherein the inputs are positions of the mobile device, and the predesignated region is circumscribed by the positions.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the alarm is a first alarm, and the instructions include instructions to activate a second alarm in response to the object being present in the predesignated region while detecting the second vehicle that is rearward from the trailer relative to the first vehicle and that is moving forward relative to the first vehicle.

5. The computer of claim 4 , wherein activating the second alarm is illuminating a brake lamp of the first vehicle.

6. The computer of claim 1 , wherein identifying the trailer includes receiving a message from the trailer via Bluetooth Low Energy.

7. The computer of claim 1 , wherein identifying the trailer includes receiving image data from a camera including the trailer and performing image recognition on the trailer.

8. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the instructions include instructions to determine that the object is a person, recognize the person, and prevent the alarm from activating in response to recognizing the person.

9. The computer of claim 8 , wherein recognizing the person includes receiving image data from a camera including a face of the person and performing image recognition on the face.

10. The computer of claim 8 , wherein recognizing the person includes receiving a message from a mobile device or key fob of the person.

11. A system comprising:
a rear-facing radar on a first vehicle;
an alarm on the first vehicle; and
a computer communicatively coupled to the radar and the alarm;
wherein the computer is programmed to:
identify a trailer behind the first vehicle;
upon identifying the trailer, generate a predesignated region behind the first vehicle, wherein the predesignated region is a region between the first vehicle and the trailer;
detect an object in data received from the radar;
activate the alarm in response to the object moving through the predesignated region at a speed below a threshold speed or for a duration above a threshold time; and
prevent the alarm from activating in response to the object being present in the predesignated region while detecting a second vehicle that is rearward from the trailer relative to the first vehicle and that is moving forward relative to the first vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) housing containing the radar, wherein the radar is arranged in the CHMSL housing so that the field of view of the radar encompasses a storage area of the first vehicle when the CHMSL housing is installed.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a lamp contained in the CHMSL housing and communicatively coupled to the computer;
wherein
the computer is further programmed to:
activate the lamp in response to the object being present in the predesignated region while detecting the second vehicle that is rearward from the trailer relative to the first vehicle and that is moving forward relative to the first vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a camera contained in the CHMSL housing and communicatively coupled to the computer, wherein identifying the trailer includes using image recognition on data received from the camera.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a camera contained in the CHMSL housing and communicatively coupled to the computer, wherein the computer is further programmed to:
determine that the object is a person;
recognize the person by performing image recognition on a face of the person in data received from the camera; and
prevent the alarm from activating in response to recognizing the person.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a camera contained in the CHMSL housing and communicatively coupled to the computer, wherein the computer is further programmed to turn on the camera in response to the object moving through the predesignated region.

17. A method comprising:
identifying a trailer behind a first vehicle;
upon identifying the trailer, generating a predesignated region behind the first vehicle, wherein the predesignated region is a region between the first vehicle and the trailer;
detecting an object in data received from a rear-facing radar on the first vehicle;
activating an alarm in response to the object moving through the predesignated region behind the first vehicle at a speed below a threshold speed or for a duration above a threshold time; and
preventing the alarm from activating in response to the object being present in the predesignated region while detecting a second vehicle that is rearward from the trailer relative to the first vehicle and that is moving forward relative to the first vehicle.

18. A computer comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
detect an object in data received from a rear-facing radar on a vehicle;
activate an alarm in response to the object moving through a predesignated region behind the vehicle at a speed below a threshold speed or for a duration above a threshold time;
receive a plurality of inputs from a mobile device; and
generate the predesignated region based on the inputs;
wherein the inputs are positions of the mobile device; and
the predesignated region is circumscribed by the positions.

19. A computer comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
detect an object in data received from a rear-facing radar on a vehicle;
activate an alarm in response to the object moving through a predesignated region behind the vehicle at a speed below a threshold speed or for a duration above a threshold time;
determine that the object is a person;
recognize the person; and
prevent the alarm from activating in response to recognizing the person.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Bilger Donald Paul
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Glickman David Brian
• Harris Sam
• Safir Tarik

Classifications

• B60Q1/525 Primary

  automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data · CPC title

• B60Q1/307

  mounted on loading platforms · CPC title

• B60Q5/006

  indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians · CPC title

• B60R11/04

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

• B60Q2900/30

  Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions · CPC title