Initiating an alert based on a mobile device being left behind

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9805580-B2
Application number	US-201514604172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Jan 23, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A system and method for indicating an alert associated with a mobile device are provided. The system includes a device detector to detect whether the mobile device is in a state of wireless charging; an exit signal receiver to detect an event associated with an exit; a device determiner to determine, after the event is detected, whether the mobile device is in an area associated with the wireless charging; and a vehicle notifier to transmit an alert based the determination by the device determiner. Also provided is a method for augmenting a wireless charging system with a notification system.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for indicating an alert associated with a mobile device, comprising:
a device detector to detect whether the mobile device is in a state of wireless charging or in an area for wireless charging;
an exit signal receiver to detect an event associated with an exit;
a device determiner to determine, after the event is detected, whether the mobile device is in an area associated with the wireless charging; and
a vehicle notifier to transmit an alert based the determination by the device determiner,
the device detector further being configured to store an indication that the mobile device has commenced wireless charging, the indication only being resettable when the mobile device is physically removed from the area associated with wireless charging, and
the device determiner is further configured to make the determination by monitoring the indication, and in response to the indication not being reset, determining that the mobile device is in the area associated with the wireless charging.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the event is the disengagement of a vehicle operation.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the event is generated in response to a vehicle door opening.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the event is generated in response to a video capturing device detecting the exit of a person.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the alert is a sound generated from the vehicle or the mobile device.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the alert is a light generated from the vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the alert is communicated wirelessly or wired to a secondary device.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the secondary device is a key fob.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the indication is triggered by the mobile device receiving wireless charging from the wireless charging device.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the indication is triggered by a weight sensor incorporated with the wireless charging area.

Assignees

• Schroeder Jeffrey Mark
• Madau Dinu Petre
• Zack Gary Edward
• Visteon Global Tech Inc

Inventors

• Schroeder Jeffrey Mark
• Madau Dinu Petre
• Zack Gary Edward

Classifications

• G08B21/24 Primary

  Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms · CPC title

• B60L1/00

  Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00) · CPC title

• H02J50/90

  involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment · CPC title

• Y02T90/12

  Electric charging stations · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title