Systems and methods for detecting water events in vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12374210-B1
Application number	US-202418738766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2024
Priority date	Jan 24, 2019
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present disclosure include a vehicle water detection system that includes a housing configured to be disposed within a vehicle. The vehicle water detection system also includes a water-activated battery disposed within the housing and configured to produce an electrical voltage upon contact with water. The vehicle water detection system further includes an electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and configured to detect a water event occurring in the vehicle based at least in part on the electrical voltage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle water detection system, comprising:
a water-activated battery configured to produce an electrical voltage upon contact with water;
one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters relating to a vehicle; and
circuitry configured to at least partially power the circuitry and the one or more sensors using the electrical voltage produced by the water-activated battery, to receive data relating to the one or more parameters from the one or more sensors, to detect a water event occurring in the vehicle based at least in part on the data relating to the one or more parameters, and to transmit one or more instructions to the vehicle to actuate one or more components of the vehicle upon detection of the water event.

2. The vehicle water detection system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the one or more instructions to the vehicle to release one or more seat belts of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle water detection system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the one or more instructions to the vehicle to unlock one or more doors of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle water detection system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the one or more instructions to the vehicle to roll down one or more windows of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle water detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more parameters relating to operation of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle water detection system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more parameters relating to the operation of the vehicle comprise a speed of the vehicle, an acceleration of the vehicle, a detection of brakes of the vehicle being engaged, a detection of interaction with a steering wheel of the vehicle, or some combination thereof.

7. The vehicle water detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more vehicle condition parameters relating to one or more conditions within the vehicle.

8. The vehicle water detection system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more vehicle condition parameters relating to the one or more conditions within the vehicle comprise a salt water content within the vehicle, a water quality content within the vehicle, a mold content within the vehicle, a humidity within the vehicle, one or more images of the vehicle, or some combination thereof.

9. The vehicle water detection system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit an alert that the water event has occurred to one or more devices external to the vehicle upon detection of the water event.

10. The vehicle water detection system of claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
determine additional information relating to the water event, wherein the additional information relating to the water event comprises a time when the water event started, a time period during which the water event occurred, a depth of water in the vehicle, or some combination thereof, and
transmit the additional information relating to the water event to one or more devices external to the vehicle.

11. The vehicle water detection system of claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the alert that the water event has occurred to one or more first responders.

12. A method, comprising:
receiving, via circuitry associated with a vehicle, an electrical voltage produced by a water-activated battery located within the vehicle;
at least partially powering the circuitry and one or more sensors associated with the vehicle using the electrical voltage;
detecting, via the one or more sensors, one or more parameters relating to the vehicle;
detecting, via the circuitry, a water event occurring in the vehicle based at least in part on data relating to the one or more parameters; and
transmitting, via the circuitry, one or more instructions to the vehicle to actuate one or more components of the vehicle upon detection of the water event.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising transmitting, via the circuitry, the one or more instructions to the vehicle to release one or more seat belts of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 , comprising transmitting, via the circuitry, the one or more instructions to the vehicle to unlock one or more doors of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12 , comprising transmitting, via the circuitry, the one or more instructions to the vehicle to roll down one or more windows of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more parameters relating to operation of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more parameters relating to the operation of the vehicle comprise a speed of the vehicle, an acceleration of the vehicle, a detection of brakes of the vehicle being engaged, a detection of interaction with a steering wheel of the vehicle, or some combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more vehicle condition parameters relating to one or more conditions within the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more vehicle condition parameters relating to the one or more conditions within the vehicle comprise a salt water content within the vehicle, a water quality content within the vehicle, a mold content within the vehicle, a humidity within the vehicle, one or more images of the vehicle, or some combination thereof.

20. A vehicle water detection system, comprising:
a water-activated battery configured to produce an electrical voltage upon contact with water;
one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters relating to a vehicle; and
circuitry configured to at least partially power the circuitry and the one or more sensors using the electrical voltage produced by the water-activated battery, to receive data relating to the one or more parameters from the one or more sensors, to detect a water event occurring in the vehicle based at least in part on the data relating to the one or more parameters, to transmit one or more instructions to the vehicle to actuate one or more components of the vehicle upon detection of the water event, and to transmit an alert that the water event has occurred to one or more devices external to the vehicle upon detection of the water event.

Assignees

• Usaa

Inventors

• Acosta Stefanie Jean
• Chavez Carlos Jp
• Dziuk Janelle Denice
• Gaeta Michael Joseph
• Huggar Stacy Callaway
• Krebs Emily Kathleen
• Pollack Jeffrey Neal
• Ruiz Mitzi

Classifications

• G01F23/185

  for discrete levels · CPC title

• B60R21/00

  Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks (safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19) · CPC title

• B60R2021/0016

  Fall in water · CPC title

• G08B21/20 Primary

  responsive to moisture · CPC title

• B60R16/02

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title