Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
File number 12454-003
Date June 7,2017
Title of the Invention
Vehicle Management System
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of devices and systems that
aid in
stopping a vehicle, more specifically managing the behavior of the vehicle in
case of
emergencies or hazardous driving conditions.
Background of the Invention
[0002] More and more vehicle accidents involve youths and/or impaired drivers
driving
over the speed limit or in a reckless manner. In many of these accidents,
there are
passengers who are helpless and at the mercy of the driver. The passengers
could use
their mobile phone to contact help but most often are unable to do so in the
moment
under the emotions and are left without any means to resolve a potentially
hazardous
situation. There is thus a need for a vehicle management system capable of
giving the
passenger some power in controlling the behavior of the vehicle in such
hazardous
conditions.
[0003] As a preliminary note, it should be stated that there is an ample
amount of prior
art that deals with emergency stop systems for a vehicle. Some of them will be
discussed
herein below.
[0004] The Hildebrecht Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,540) discloses a vehicle
brake and
engine interlock system, wherein when the parking brake is activated, the
system
overrides the operator's control to limit fuel input to the engine.
[0005] The Talkes Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,854,868) discloses a device for
automatically
stopping the motor of an automobile. However, this device works with the
ignition switch
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to turn on/off the engine as opposed to turning on/off the fuel pump, which
essentially
starves the engine of fuel.
[0006] The Lineberger Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,413) discloses an engine
idle shit-
down controller for a vehicle that includes a parking brake activated switch.
However, the
switch does not open a circuit that stops electrical current from entering the
fuel pump of
an engine, and ultimately stalling the engine.
10007] The Mann et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,801) discloses an anti-
theft system for
vehicles that interrupt the fuel supply when activating the vehicle's parking
brake system.
[0008] The Ueda et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,937) discloses an automatic
engine
stop and start apparatus. The apparatus requires a plurality of inputs to
appear before
issuing an alarm, and does not simply stop the electrical current to a fuel
pump.
[0009] While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and
particular objects
and requirements, they do not describe a system for stopping a vehicle in case
of
emergency or hazardous solution that is controlled by the passenger, nor do
they describe
a vehicle management system for altering the vehicle behavior in case of an
hazardous
condition.
[0010] Accordingly, there is a need for a system that provides passengers of a
vehicle
with the ability to act to mitigate the hazardous conditions in which they are
in.
Summary of the Invention
[0011] The shortcomings of the prior art are generally mitigated by providing
a vehicle
management system that gives a vehicle passengers some control on the vehicle
behavior
in cases of hazardous or reckless driving.
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[0012] It is an aim of the present disclosure to provide a passenger
actionable emergency
vehicle management system for altering the behavior of the vehicle, the system
comprising a vehicle overriding mechanism operatively connected to the vehicle
and
capable of overriding driver controlled vehicle systems, a control circuit
operatively
connected to the vehicle control mechanism and an actuator, operatively
connected to the
control circuit and located within reach of the vehicle passenger seat.
[0013] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a vehicle management
system for
altering a behavior of a vehicle by a passenger in case of emergency, the
system
comprises a vehicle overriding mechanism operatively connected to the vehicle
for
overriding at least one driver controlled vehicle systems; an actuator,
operatively
connected to the vehicle overriding mechanism and located in the vehicle
within reach of
a vehicle passenger seat and a communication interface to wirelessly receive
data from a
computing device or a user and to wirelessly transfer an alert signal to a
remote service,
the vehicle management system being initially inoperative and the activation
of the
actuator, upon occurrence of an hazardous condition or reckless driving,
initiates the
activation of the vehicle overriding mechanism.
[0014] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle
management
system with a disabling mechanism having operative and inoperative modes, in
the
operative mode, the disabling mechanism may disable the vehicle power in
response to a
trigger signal resulting in stopping the vehicle, in the inactive mode, the
disabling
mechanism is unable to affect the vehicle systems.
[0015] In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, there is disclosed
a vehicle
management system comprising a communication interface to wirelessly transfer
and/or
receive data to/from a computing device.
[0016] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle
management
system wherein the computing device is a remote database capable of receiving
vehicle
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behavior data for collection. As such, the collected data may be reviewed by
the owner,
the manufacturer, an assurer or law enforcement authorities.
[0017] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle
management
system having a computing device with a speed limit/GPS coordinates database
or
capable of accessing such a database.
[0018] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide vehicle
management system
having a vehicle overriding mechanism operatively connected to a GPS module
for
informing the vehicle overriding mechanism of the vehicle positioning and
associating
the GPS coordinates from the GPS module with a corresponding speed limit entry
from
the speed limit/GPS coordinates database.
[0019] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide vehicle
management system
in which actuating the actuator triggers the control circuit thus enabling the
vehicle
overriding mechanism. As such, the enabled vehicle overriding mechanism may
limit the
speed of the vehicle to the speed limit corresponding to the GPS coordinate of
the GPS
vehicle module, or when required/suitable to the situation, stop the vehicle.
[0020] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle
management
system wherein actuating the actuator triggers the control circuit which then
enable the
vehicle overriding mechanism, and wherein the enabled vehicle overriding
mechanism
generate an alarm signal. In addition, the generated alarm may be sent to
remote services
such as car monitoring services, law enforcement, emergency services, etc. The
alarm
signal may be silent, thus imperceptible by the driver but communicated to a
third party
such as remote services or vehicle owner. According to one embodiment, the
alarm signal
may be a repeated klaxon noise or a loud vehicle alarm system similar to an
alarm that is
triggered from failure to comply with in vehicle breathalyzer.
[0021] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle
management
system configured to communicate an alarm signal to a vehicle owner through
wireless
communications such as SMS. Likewise, the alarm signal may be communicated
through
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manufacturer installed communication systems or through a passenger smartphone
connection.
[0022] In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, there is disclosed
a vehicle
management system wherein the vehicle overriding mechanism communicates an
alarm
signal when the vehicle exceeds the speed limit associated with the GPS
coordinate.
Similarly, there is disclosed a vehicle management system wherein a vehicle
overriding
mechanism communicates vehicle GPS coordinates to emergency services through
wireless communications and wherein the system actuator may be controlled by a
mobile
device application.
[0023] In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, there is disclosed
a vehicle
management system capable of being controlled by a mobile phone application
using
various near communication such as near field communication (NFC) or
Bluethoothrm to
interact with the vehicle management system. Consequently, according to an
embodiment
of the vehicle management, there is disclosed a system that may be
preinstalled on a
vehicle but whereas a user has to purchase a software such as an application,
web service
or subscription service for enabling the vehicle management system within a
vehicle.
Furthermore, there is disclosed a system wherein the payment of the vehicle
management
system may be through remote wireless device such as mobile phone or tablet
interfaces
and/or applications installed thereto.
[0024] According to an embodiment, the vehicle management system may be built-
in
from the various vehicle or be installed by a user/owner/service provider as
an add-on
basis.
[0025] It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a method of
action for
passengers onboard a vehicle wherein the driver controlled vehicle behave
hazardously.
Therefore, the method comprises the step of actuating an emergency vehicle
management
system for altering the behavior of the vehicle, the actuation of a vehicle
actuator and
thus triggering a response from the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the
vehicle
response may be reduction of the vehicle speed to the maximum limit authorized
for the
road according to the vehicle GPS coordinates.
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[0026] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a method for
overriding a driver
vehicle control upon occurrence of an hazardous condition or reckless driving.
The
method comprises the following steps:
a) actuating an actuator located in the vehicle within reach of a vehicle
passenger
seat and operatively connected to a vehicle overriding mechanism;
b) actuating the vehicle overriding mechanism;
c) inhibiting a vehicle control system affecting the behavior of the vehicle;
and
d) actuating a communication interface to wirelessly receive data from a
computing
device or a user and to wirelessly transfer an alert signal to a remote
service.
[0027] These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the
automobile
emergency stop system will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art upon
reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but
nonetheless
illustrative, embodiments of the automobile emergency stop system when taken
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0028] In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the
automobile
emergency stop system in detail, it is to be understood that the automobile
emergency
stop system is not limited in its applications to the details of construction
and
arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or
illustration.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure
may be readily
utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems
for carrying
out the several purposes of the automobile emergency stop system.
[0029] It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such
equivalent
construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
automobile
emergency stop system. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology
employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
[0030] Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
be obvious
upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or
will be
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indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to
herein will occur
to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0031] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention
will
become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being
made to
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0032] Figure 1 is block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the
emergency
immobilization system; and
[0033] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the actuator of Figure 1 positioned
in the interior
of a vehicle;
[0034] Figure 3a-d are exemplary electronic circuits that could be
incorporated to the
vehicle as part of the vehicle management system.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0035] A novel Vehicle Management System will be described hereinafter.
Although
the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it
is to be
understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only
and that
the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
[0036] Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiment of the
present
invention provides vehicle management system for the emergency immobilization
of a
vehicle in cases where a passenger fears its life may be in danger because of
the actions
of the driver of the vehicle.
[0037] Referring to Fig. 1, according to one embodiment, the emergency
immobilization
system 10 comprises an actuator 12 and a control circuit 14. The control
circuit 14 may
interact with a disabling mechanism 22, and, optionally, with other components
such as
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hazard lights 24, the alarm system and/or horn 26 and a remote service 28 such
as, for
example, the OnStar service.
[0038] The actuator 12 may take the form of a button, switch or other such
mechanism
that may be activated by a passenger of a vehicle. In an alternative
embodiment, the
actuator may be a voice recognition system which can recognize commands to
stop the
vehicle or the shouting/cries of a person.
[0039] Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, according to embodiments, the actuator 12
may be
positioned on the inside of a vehicle 30, for example, on a pillar 32 on the
front passenger
side 34. Further actuators may be provided on other pillars (not shown) of the
vehicle in
order to provide access to passengers in the rear seats. In alternative
embodiments, the
actuator 12 may be positioned on the dashboard 36, the headrest of the driver
and/or front
passenger (not shown) for the rear seat passenger(s) to use, the ceiling (not
shown), etc.
Any convenient location may be used, preferably a location that is not subject
to
accidental actuation. In a further alternative embodiment, the actuator 12 may
be
provided with a security feature in order to diminish the risks of an
accidental activation
of the emergency immobilization system 10. For instance, a cover of the
actuator may be
hingely connected adjacent to the actuator. The passenger will have to open
the cover
before being able to activate the actuator. Triggering of the actuator 12 by
the passengers,
according to an embodiment, interrupts a vehicle control circuit thus
effectively
preventing electric signal from the circuit to travel there through and
overrides the driver
control on a desired vehicle system. According to embodiments, the vehicle
management
may comprise a control switch designed for multiple utilisations or for a
single use (Fig.
3d).
[0040] Now referring to Fig. 3, according to embodiments, the control circuit
14, when
activated by the actuator 12, changes the state of the disabling mechanism 22
which then
disables the vehicle by inhibiting the vehicle's ignition or engine management
system. In
an alternative embodiment, the disabling mechanism 22 may optionally limit the
speed of
the vehicle. In a further alternative embodiment, the speed limit may be set
according to
the speed limit of the road the vehicle is traveling on. This may be achieved
by using a
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GPS module (not shown) and a reference table of speed limits associated with
roads
identified by the GPS module.
[0041] Optionally, as previously mentioned, the control circuit 14 may also be
operatively connected to one or more additional components such as hazard
lights 24, the
alarm system and/or horn 26 and a remote service 28 such as, for example, the
OnStar
service. Accordingly, when the control circuit 14 is activated by the actuator
12, it may
light the hazards and/or the alarm/horn in order to warn other drivers that
the vehicle
represents a danger and that it will be slowing down. Optionally still, the
control circuit
14 may initiate communication with a remote service 28 such as the OnStar
service to
warn the authorities of a possible emergency situation and request assistance,
either
automatically or by establishing a hands-free communication with an operator.
[0042] It is to be understood that the emergency immobilization system 10 may
be an
option on a new vehicle or fitted to an existing vehicle as an accessory.
[0043] The present vehicle management system/emergency immobilization system,
according to embodiments, may be configured to override driver controlled
vehicle
systems such as vehicle acceleration and vehicle door locking systems. The
present
vehicle management system may thus assist the driver to mitigate problems
arising from
hazardous or reckless driving conditions. Therefore, the vehicle management
system may
acquire GPS coordinates and communicate with a local or remote server to
obtain
information about authorized speed limit and as a result, upon enabling of the
system,
limit the vehicle speed to the maximum authorized speed limit. Alternatively,
the enabled
vehicle management system may detect the location of the vehicle and assess
the
potential danger of disabling the vehicle power system. Accordingly, once the
enabled
vehicle management system detects a hazardous condition, such as speeding or
passenger
actuated alarm, the vehicle management system may upon assessing the danger
zone of
the vehicle, disable the vehicle ignition or shut down the vehicle.
Understandably,
shutting down the vehicle may not be desired on a highway therefore, a highway
may be
categorized as a danger zone where the vehicle management system would only
limit the
vehicle speed or gradually decrease the speed of the vehicle until a safe zone
is detected,
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at which point the vehicle would motor could be turned off or the vehicle
stopped by
another suitable control system. A safe zone, where limited risk could entail
from
stopping (gradually or not) a vehicle may be a parking lot.
[0044] According to embodiments, the vehicle management system could be
voluntary or
mandated. The system could be voluntarily installed for instance to obtain a
lower
automobile insurance premium whereas the mandatory system may be installed
following
a court order resulting from repeated speeding offences. The vehicle
management system
may also be used as a monitoring system for young driver or new driver. As
such, the
system may be installed by a vehicle owner such as a parent, a vehicle
manufacturer to
increase security, a vehicle service provider to assess employee behaviors and
ensure
passenger safety. Furthermore, a vehicle management system may be installed on
a
vehicle by law enforcement for controlling at-risk drivers. The vehicle
management
system according to embodiments could be used in similar fashion or in
combination with
mandated breathalyzer following DUI (driving under the influence) charges. As
such, the
present system installation may be required to monitor repeated speeder or
road infringer
and used to limit the likelihood of speeding accidents.
[0045] According to some embodiments, the vehicle management system is
configured to
alter a specific vehicle parameter upon detection of a specific event or
detection of
manually actuated actuator. The vehicle management, when enabled, thus acts to
disable
a vehicle ignition or trigger an alarm signal.
[0046] According to one embodiment, the actuator may be triggered by a
passenger or
guest detecting that his friend or driver appears to be under the influence.
In such a case,
the actuated system may prevent vehicle ignition or require the potential
driver to submit
and succeed a breathalyzer test before igniting the vehicle.
[0047] According to another embodiment, the vehicle management system could be
controlled by a mobile application utilized by a vehicle driver and available
to the
driver's friends and guests. The driver may indicate to the
softward/application that he
will be at some friends place through software collected data (i.e. from a web
calendar, a
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social media event list or social media accounts). Upon activation of the
abovementioncd
feature, the driver's friends, potential passengers or guest could obtain
access to the
vehicle management system emergency overriding controls. Therefore, a guest, a
passenger or a friend through a mobile application or other remote wireless
systems may
upon detecting that the potential driver has consumed too much alcohol, enable
the
vehicle management system thus overriding the ignition or vehicle power
system. As
such, the vehicle would be prevented from starting until the driver has
sufficiently
confirmed that he is not under the influence or over the authorized blood
alcohol limit,
through a breathalyser of other suitable detectors. Understandably the present
vehicle
management system may, according to some embodiment, be enable or disabled
beforehand to prevent disabling of the vehicle ignition system.
[0048] Driver controlled vehicle systems are systems that are used to
control/operate the
vehicle and which are controlled by the driver, such systems comprises
ignition, gas
pump (via the gas pedal), steering wheel, cruise control, and the like.
Furthermore, driver
controlled vehicle systems refer to vehicle systems which may affect the
behavior of the
vehicle and which could, if enabled, help a passenger in a hazardous solution
to mitigate
the potential danger facing the vehicle.
[0049] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
vehicle
management system comprises an actuator, preferably seamlessly accessible to a
vehicle
passenger and vehicle overriding mechanism. The actuator is in connection with
the
vehicle control system to enable a vehicle brake and engine interlock system.
Alternatively, when the parking brake is activated, the system overrides the
operator's
.. control to limit fuel input to the engine.
[0050] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
vehicle
management system comprises an actuator, preferably seamlessly accessible to a
vehicle
passenger. The actuator according to this exemplary embodiment is connected to
a device
.. for automatically stopping the motor of an automobile. This device works
with the
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ignition switch to turn on/off the engine as opposed to turning on/off the
fuel pump,
which essentially starves the engine of fuel.
[0051] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
vehicle
.. management system comprises an actuator, preferably seamlessly accessible
to a vehicle
passenger. The actuator is connected to an engine idle shift-down controller
for a vehicle
that includes a parking brake activated switch.
[0052] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
vehicle
.. management system comprises an actuator, preferably seamlessly accessible
to a vehicle
passenger. The actuator according to this exemplary embodiment is in
connection to an
automatic engine stop and start apparatus. The apparatus requires an input
from the
actuator to appear before issuing an alarm, or simply stop the electrical
current to a fuel
pump.
[0053] According to an embodiment, the vehicle management system is a method
for
overriding a driver vehicle control upon occurrence of an hazardous condition
or reckless
driving, the method comprising actuating an actuator located in the vehicle
within reach
of a vehicle passenger seat and operatively connected to a vehicle overriding
mechanism
the vehicle overriding mechanism inhibiting a vehicle control system affecting
the
behavior of the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the method may comprise
the
step of assessing the danger level associated with the vehicle GPS coordinate
and select
the inhibited vehicle control system according to the danger level associated
with a
vehicle localisation. The actuator may be actuated through a mobile
application
controlled by a vehicle passenger.
[0054] Although the present invention has been described by way of particular
embodiments and examples thereof, it should be noted that it will be apparent
to persons
skilled in the art that modifications may be applied to the present particular
embodiment
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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