Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
WO 2018/010016 PCT/CA2017/050825
HANDHELD UNIT CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES
Technical Field
[001] This patent application relates to the field of devices used to
control the use of
handheld units by drivers of vehicles.
Background
[002] In recent years, motor vehicle accident rates in which the use
of handheld wireless
telephones and computing devices have been demonstrated to be higher than for
other
conditions. According to information released by the Canadian Automobile
Association, drivers
engaged in text messaging on a cellular phone are 23 times more likely to be
involved in a crash
or near crash event compared with non-distracted drivers. In the United
States, it is reported that
1 out of every 4 car accidents is caused by texting and driving, and that
texting while driving is
six times more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.
[003] A variety of solutions have been proposed to help drivers avoid the
distraction of a
mobile telephone/smartphone device. Some solutions involve restricting access
to the mobile
device while driving, and others involve disabling the mobile device while
driving. The general
object is to reduce or eliminate the distraction of the mobile device while
driving.
[004] Most solutions require professional installation of equipment into
the vehicle and
are complex in nature.
[005] In US Patent 8,884,750, there is disclosed a holder for a mobile
device that provides
an alert when the mobile device is removed from the holder. In one example,
the holder can
include a mounting to a cigarette lighter socket, and does not require
professional installation.
Summary
[006] Applicant has found that vehicle drivers need a simple and easy to
use tool to help
them respect their intentions to avoid hand held use of handheld wireless
telephones and
computing devices while driving. Most any system can be defeated, while most
drivers have
good intentions to comply with non-use of such devices when getting into their
vehicles.
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[007] In accordance with some embodiments, a handheld device storage unit
for use in a
vehicle has a locking mechanism connected to auxiliary power of the vehicle
that allows a driver
to lock the handheld device when the vehicle is on and to unlock the device
when the vehicle is
off. In this way, the driver can use the locking mechanism to secure the
handheld device while
driving so that the ability to make handheld use of the handheld device is
made difficult or
impossible.
[008] The locking mechanism can be a holder that holds the handheld device
for the driver
to use in a hands-free mode. The locking mechanism can be a small lock box
into which the
handheld device to secured while driving.
[009] In the case that the locking mechanism is a holder that holds the
handheld device for
the driver to use in a hands-free mode, the holder can have a clamping
mechanism for holding
the handheld device. In some examples, the device can only be released when
auxiliary power
is off, namely when the vehicle is off.
[0010] To simplify installation, the connection to auxiliary power can be
taken from a
vehicle interior connector, such as but not limited to, a cigarette lighter
12V DC receptacle or a
USB connector. This avoids needing to connect the device to vehicle auxiliary
power behind
the vehicle dashboard.
[0011] When power is taken from a vehicle interior connector, the
handheld device storage
unit can comprise a mechanism to reduce the temptation to defeat the device
while driving. One
mechanism is to use a connector that can detect its removal from its socket.
The socket can be,
for example, a 12V DC socket or a USB socket, and the connector can have a
switch that is
actuated by the initial removal of the connector preferably before power is
disconnected.
Another mechanism is to use a locking connector, such as a connector with
screws securing the
connector in place, for example a lockable USB connector. A 12V DC cigarette
lighter
.. connector can be fitted with a mechanical lock to lock it into its
receptacle, while providing
power to the handheld device storage unit using a fixed cable or via an
additional power socket,
such as a lockable connector or for use with a connector that can detect its
removal.
[0012] A first broad aspect is directed to a holder for securing a phone,
smartphone or tablet
device while driving in a vehicle. The holder has a frame for supporting the
device with a socket
shaped to receive at least a portion of the.device and a clamping mechanism
configured to secure
the device in the socket. The holder has a lock connected to the clamping
mechanism, and a
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cable connectable to the vehicle to receive a signal from the vehicle
indicative of a state of the
vehicle. The lock is responsive to the signal and is configured, when the
vehicle is in a first
state, to lock the clamping mechanism so that the device is secured and cannot
be removed from
the holder, and when the vehicle is in a second state, to unlock the clamping
mechanism so that
the device is free to be removed from the holder.
[0013] In some embodiments, the holder may have a proximity sensor that
is configured to
detect the device when placed in the frame. In some embodiments, the holder
may have a visual
indicator configured to receive information from the proximity sensor as to
the detection of the
device in the frame, and further configured to receive a signal when the
vehicle is turned on, the
visual indicator providing a visual indication when the vehicle is turned on
and the proximity
sensor does not detect the presence of the device. The visual indicator may
further be configured
to produce an audible alarm in addition to the visual indication when the
vehicle is turned on
and the proximity sensor does not detect the presence of the device.
[0014] In some embodiments, the holder may have computer-readable memory,
and a
controller that can access the memory and that may be configured to receive
information from
the proximity sensor regarding the detection of the device, and/or from the
vehicle regarding
the state of the vehicle transmitted via the cable. The controller may be
further configured to
store the information in the memory. The controller may be further configured
to associate said
log information with temporal information corresponding to the time of the
event corresponding
to said log information and wherein said temporal information is obtained by,
in the
embodiments where the holder has a clock, the clock of the holder, a clock of
the vehicle or a
clock of the device.
[00151 In some embodiments, the holder may have a data output interface,
and wherein the
information is accessible via the data output interface, the data output
interface may be a
wireless data output interface. The data output interface may be a wired data
output interface.
[0016] In some embodiments, the first state may be when the vehicle is
turned on and the
second state may be when the vehicle is turned off. In some embodiments, the
first state may
be when the vehicle is detected as travelling over a designated speed, and the
second state may
be when the vehicle is detected as travelling at or under the designated
speed. The designated
speed may be 0 miles per hour. The first state may be when the vehicle is
detected as going over
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a designated revolutions per minute, and the second state may be when the
vehicle is detected
as going at or under the designated revolutions per minute.
[0017] in some embodiments, the holder may have a mounting to be
connected to the
vehicle.
[0018] The cable may end in a plug connectable to a vehicle power socket
for receiving
power when a vehicle is turned on. The vehicle power socket may be a vehice
computer port of
the vehicle. The vehicle computer port may be an on-board diagnostics port.
The plug may be
a cigarette lighter plug. The vehicle power socket may have a cigarette
lighter socket. The plug
may have a USB socket.
[0019] In some embodiments, the plug may have a connection sensor and the
clamping
mechanism may have a control circuit and power storage, and the control
circuit may be
responsive to the sensor to prevent the lock from unlocking the clamping
mechanism when
power is not present in the cable and when the connection sensor senses
disconnection of the
plug. The plug may have a locking mechanism to prevent easy removal of the
plug from the
vehicle power socket.
[0020] The plug may provide a further plug for a further socket, and the
cable may be solidly
connected to the plug. The cable may be solidly connected to the frame. The
frame may have a
charging port for charging the device using power from the cable. The holder
may be
connectable to the vehicle to obtain information regarding the speed of the
vehicle
[0021] In some embodiments, the holder may have a radio-frequency
identification
mechanism for identifying the device.
[0022] A second broad aspect is a holder for securing a phone, smartphone
or tablet device
while driving in a vehicle. The has a frame for supporting or containing the
device, a cable
terminating in a plug connectable to a vehicle power socket for receiving
power when a vehicle
is turned on, a lock for securing the device in the holder, and an actuator
controlled by power
from the cable for preventing the lock from releasing the device when power is
present in the
cable.
[00231 In some embodiments, the lock may have at least one clamp and at
least one support
for locking the device from sides thereof, where the holder may have a
mounting for connecting
to a vehicle. The plug may have a connection sensor and the lock may have a
control circuit and
power storage, and the control circuit may be responsive to the sensor to
cause the actuator to
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prevent the lock from releasing the device when power is not present in the
cable and when the
connection sensor senses disconnection of the plug. The plug may have a
locking mechanism
to prevent easy removal of the plug from the vehicle power socket. The plug
may be a cigarette
lighter plug. The plug may have a cigarette lighter socket. The plug may have
a USB socket.
The plug may provide a socket for a further plug, and the cable may be solidly
connected to the
plug.
[0024] The cable may be solidly connected to the frame. The frame may
have a charging
port for charging the device using power from the cable.
[0025] A third broad aspect is a method of securing a phone, smartphone
or tablet device
while driving in a vehicle, the method involves connecting a cable to a
vehicle power socket for
receiving power when a vehicle is on and not receiving power when the vehicle
is off. The
method also involves placing the device in a frame with a socket that is
shaped to receive at
least part of the device, the frame having a clamping mechanism for securing
the device in the
socket, the clamping mechanism connected to a lock. The method also includes
putting the
vehicle in a first state, entering the first state results in the lock locking
the clamping mechanism,
wherein the device is secured in the frame and cannot be removed from the
frame when the
clamping mechanism is locked. The method also involves putting the vehicle in
a second state,
entering the second state results in the lock unlocking the locked clamping
mechanism, wherein
the device is removable from the frame when the clamping mechanism is
unlocked. The method
involves removing the device from the frame
[0026] In some embodiments, the method may involve mounting the frame for
supporting
the device on or near a vehicle dash so that a screen of the device is visible
to a driver. In some
embodiments, the connecting a cable may include locking the plug in the
vehicle power socket
using a lock mechanism.
[0027] In some embodiments, the first state may be entered when the vehicle
is turned on
and wherein the second state may be entered when the vehicle is turned off.
The first state may
be entered when the vehicle is detected as travelling above a designated speed
and wherein the
second state may be entered when the vehicle is detected as travelling at or
under the designated
speed. The first state may be entered when the vehicle is detected as going
over a designated
revolutions per minute, and the second state may be entered when the vehicle
is detected as
going at or under the designated revolutions per minute.
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[0028] In some embodiments, the method may involve detecting the presence
of the device
in the frame. The method may involve obtaining log information including the
time at which
the vehicle has entered the first state and at which the vehicle has entered
the second state. The
obtaining log information may include obtaining the time at which the presence
of the device is
detected in the frame. In some embodiments, the method may involve storing the
obtained log
information in memory. In some embodiments, the method may involve retrieving
from the
memory the obtained log information. The method may involve accessing the
obtained log
information via one of a remote computer and the device. The accessing may
involve
transmitting the log information via a transmission device on-board the
vehicle.
[0029] A fourth broad aspect is a method of securing a phone, smartphone or
tablet device
while driving in a vehicle. The method involves connecting a cable terminating
in a plug
connectable to a vehicle power socket for receiving power when a vehicle is
turned on and not
receiving power when the vehicle is off. The method involves placing the
device in a frame
adapted for supporting or containing the device, the frame having a lock for
securing the device
in the holder, the lock being controlled by an actuator controlled by power
from the cable for
preventing the lock from releasing the device when power is present in the
cable. The method
involves locking the device in the holder such that the device cannot be hand
held while the
vehicle is turned on. The method involves turning the vehicle off so as to
permit the actuator to
allow the device to be removed from the frame for supporting or containing the
device in the
holder. The method involves removing the device from the holder.
[0030] In some embodiments, the method may involve mounting the frame for
supporting
the device on or near a vehicle dash so that a screen of the device is visible
to a driver. The
connecting a cable may include locking the plug in the vehicle power socket
using a lock
mechanism.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0031] The invention will be better understood by way of the following
detailed description
of embodiments of the invention with reference to the appended drawings, in
which:
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[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of an exemplary smartphone holder
of the type
having side clamps and a bottom ledge support for retaining the smartphone
while driving, the
holder being mounted to the dashboard or window of the vehicle;
[0033] Figure 2A is a schematic drawing of an exemplary USB type A
connector that
includes a connection detection pin switch;
[0034] Figure 2B is a schematic drawing of an exemplary USB type A
connector that
includes a connection detection sheath switch;
[0035] Figure 3 is a side sectional view of a cigarette lighter type 12V
DC vehicle plug and
socket arrangement that includes a locking mechanism and USB charging port;
[0036] Figure 4 is a front view of the arrangement of Figure 3;
[0037] Figure 5A is a front perspective view of an exemplary smartphone
holder, with a
smartphone, with a clamping mechanism that is positioned on the top of the
holder, and where
the supports form a socket that receives at least part of the smartphone;
[0038] Figure 5B is a front perspective view of an exemplary smartphone
holder with a
clamping mechanism that is positioned on the top of the holder, and where the
supports form a
socket that receives at least part of the smartphone;
[0039] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary log system of an
exemplary smartphone
holder; and
[0040] Figure 7 is a flowchart diagram of an exemplary set of steps of
securing a
smartphone in a vehicle.
Detailed Description
[0041] A smartphone, mobile phone or tablet device holder is described in
the present
application where the holder has a frame with a socket for receiving at least
part of a phone and
a clamping mechanism for securing the phone to the frame. The clamping
mechanism is
connected to a lock The lock may lock the clamping mechanism so that the phone
cannot be
removed from the holder. When the lock unlocks the clamping mechanism, the
phone may be
removed from the holder. The lock responds directly or indirectly to a signal
received from the
vehicle indicative of the vehicle changing states, the response of the lock to
the signal being the
locking or unlocking of the clamping mechanism.
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[0042] By the "state of the vehicle", it is meant, for example, if the
vehicle is turned on or
off, if the vehicle is detected as travelling above, at or below a designated
speed, if the vehicle
is in a certain gear, if the vehicle is above, at or below a given RPM, etc.
[0043] In the present application, the holder may be used to secure a
mobile computing
device, such as a tablet device, mobile phone, smartphone, etc.
[0044] By "vehicle" it is meant a conveyance for transporting people or
goods, such as a
car, jeep, van, truck, four by four, cart, etc., or that are operated or
driven by a person such as
heavy equipment, heavy machinery, cranes, heavy machines, heavy trucks,
construction
equipment, engineering equipment, heavy vehicles, or heavy hydraulics, etc. In
some examples,
.. a vehicle may also be a boat, a motorboat, a plane, etc.
[0045] In the present application, reference is made to a device that can
be secured to the
holder when driving. Such a device may be, for instance, a phone, smartphone
or a tablet device.
In the present description, as an exemplary embodiment, reference is made to a
smartphone.
However, it will be understood that any other device, such as a phone,
smartphone or a tablet
device, may be secured to the holder without departing from the present
teachings.
[0046] Figure 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment in which a
smartphone holder 12
has, as a clamping mechanism, side clamps 14 that conform to vertical sides of
a smartphone.
'file clamps 14 can be mounted on slides 16 with a gear rack and
interconnected by a gear 18
seated in the frame of holder 12. The slides 16 can be biased outwardly using,
for example, a
.. spring 20 or other elastic member connected between holder 12 and a
mounting 22 on slide 16.
[0047] The smartphone may be placed in a frame with a socket for
receiving at least part of
the smartphone. The socket may be defined by supports 24 for supporting the
bottom of the
smartphone, where the supports 24 may be positioned on each side of the bottom
of the holder
12 The smartphone can be secured by clamps 14 while being supported at the
bottom by
supports 24.
[0048] A locking mechanism is provided, for example an actuator 34 that
controls a pawl
36 that engages against a rack 37. Electrical control over the actuator 34 can
be provided by a
control circuit 32 that receives power from the vehicle via a plug 30
connectable to a socket 31
of the vehicle. A power connector or cable 38 can be provided to allow the
power from plug 30
to be used to charge the smartphone in the holder 12.
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[0049] It will be appreciated that a smartphone or tablet holder 12 can
use clamps that move
vertically and/or that hold the device from various corners and/or from
mounting posts or
grooves associated with a frame of the device. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B,
the clamping
mechanism 14 may instead have a clamp 14 that is configured to secure, and may
clamp down,
onto the top portion of the phone. The clamp 14 may also be mounted on slides
16 where it may
be adjusted vertically to different smartphone sizes, and then clamp down onto
the top of the
smartphone. The bottom of the smartphone may be held in the socket, where the
supports 24
form the socket with walls contouring at least a portion of the base of the
smartphone so that
the smartphone may not be removed from the socket once the clamp 14 has
clamped down onto
the smartphone. When the lock locks the clamping mechanism, the smartphone 12
can no longer
be removed from the holder 12 until the clamping mechanism is unlocked,
[0050] The holder 12 includes a mounting (not shown for ease of
understanding in Figure
1) that can be of conventional construction for mounting the holder 12 to the
vehicle. Typically,
these mountings include (without limitation herein) windshield suction cup
mountings,
dashboard top panel mountings that have a portion adhesively connected to the
dashboard top
panel, and air vent clip mountings.
[0051] In Figure 1, the holder 12 is enhanced with control over the
locking mechanism. The
actuator 34 can cause the pawl 36 to be biased against the rack 37 when power
from the vehicle's
auxiliary power is turned on using the vehicle ignition. Closing the clamps 14
locks the device
in place on the holder 12. The objective is to give the driver a voluntary
tool to secure the device
at the beginning of a drive and then to provide a reminder that the device
should not be hand
held while driving by making it more difficult to access for hand held use.
Therefore, the
smartphone is locked into the holder when the vehicle enters a first state,
but the smartphone
may be unlocked from the holder when the vehicle enters a second state. For
instance, the state
of the vehicle may be when the vehicle is turned on or turned off. In some
examples, the state
of the vehicle may depend upon the speed of the vehicle, where detecting that
the vehicle is
travelling above a certain speed may trigger the locking of the holder.
Moreover, detecting that
the vehicle is travelling at or under a certain speed may trigger that the
holder is unlocked. For
example, the state of the vehicle may be set as a function of speed for truck
drivers, where a
truck driver's vehicle may be frequently left in idle. Therefore, it may not
be advantageous to
define the states of the vehicle as a function of the truck being turned on or
off. For example,
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the truck driver may have to use his smartphone when the truck is idle so it
may not be
advantageous to lock the device as soon as the vehicle is running. Instead,
the state may be
defined by if the truck is travelling, for instance, at a speed over 0 miles
per hour.
[0052] In some examples, the speed may be detected as a function of the
readings generated
by the vehicle ((e.g. obtained from the vehicle when connected, for instance,
to the controller
area network (CAN bus) ), or by, for instance, a GPS of the smartphone, the
vehicle or of another
device.
[0053] In the examples where the state of the vehicle relates to the
vehicle being turned on
or off, release of the device from holder 12 may be achieved by turning off
the vehicle that cuts
power to the control circuit While it is possible to use a solenoid controlled
latch that allows
release of the pawl mechanism when power is cut to the solenoid, the
embodiment of Figure 1
illustrates that a power source 40 (for example a battery or a capacitor) can
be used to power
the actuator when power is interrupted. In this way, the actuator 34 need not
consume any
standby power when in use.
[0054] Because the holder 12 has as its primary purpose to help a driver
comply with non
hand-held use of a smartphone while driving, it can suffice to have plug 30
connect into a
vehicle socket 31 without any measure to detect and to respond to power loss
through driver
unplugging of the plug 30. Such unplugging to defeat the lock mechanism of the
holder 12
would be an act going against the voluntary compliance involved, and most
drivers will not
actively defeat the system. However, a number of options are available to make
compliance
more difficult to defeat.
[0055] Figure 2A illustrates one such option, A USB type A connector 30
is modified to
have next to its conventional sheath 42 a pin 44 that is biased outward and
depresses a switch
46 when fully connected into its socket 31. The switch connection is connected
to a connection
conductor that follows the power cable from the plug 30 to the control circuit
32. Since pin 44
can detect removal before the contacts of the connector 30 disconnect from the
corresponding
contacts of socket 31, pin 44 is effective to detect tampering and functions
as a connection
sensor. If the pin 44 senses that the plug 30 is being removed from socket 31,
then the control
circuit will not cause the pawl 36 to release the clamps 14. Optionally,
circuit 32 can cause LED
indicator 39 (or an audio signal indicator) to warn the driver that the plug
30 is disconnected,
and that the holder 12 will remain locked until the plug 30 is reconnected and
vehicle power is
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turned off LED 39 can be a multicolor LED and use different colors to signal
different states.
The release of the clamps 14 can be automatic when vehicle auxiliary power is
off, or release
can require the driver to press a release button (not shown). Plug 30
illustrated in Figure 2A can
be used with any conventional USB socket 31 found in the vehicle whose power
state is
controlled by the vehicle's ignition state.
[0056] An
alternative to pin 44 and switch 46 that detect that the plug 30 is fully
inserted
is shown in Figure 2B. In this embodiment, the spring or biasing member
engages an abutment
of a sheath 44' that fits over the plug 30 with an ability to slide rearwardly
while being biased
to fully cover the plug 30. The power cord is connected to the sheath 44' and
slide contacts or
flexible conductors are used so that the pulling on the sheath 44' (or on its
cord) to remove the
plug 30 will cause a plunger (or the like) to change the state of the switch
46 before removing
the plug 30 from its socket. This allows the control circuit 32 to receive the
connection tamper
signal before losing the power signal from plug 30. This embodiment of the
connection sensor
can be more compatible with a variety of sockets, whether USB, OBD2 or other
type, since
there is no need for a surface against which pin 44 is to engage.
[0057] The
indicator 39 can also be used by control circuit 32 to signal to the driver
when
starting the vehicle that the phone or tablet should be clamped into the
holder 12. For example,
indicator 39 can flash for a period of time when power is initially applied to
circuit 32. If the
holder 12 is equipped with a sensor for the presence of the phone or tablet in
the holder (or that
the clamp mechanism is not open), then the indicator 39 can turn off once the
phone or tablet is
secured in the holder 12. Control circuit 32 can also cause the indicator 39
to signal when vehicle
power is off, and the phone can be removed from the holder 12. This signal can
be a number of
flashes to attract attention briefly, or in the case of an audio indicator, a
short beep or an audible
alarm.
[0058] The holder 12 can also be equipped with a sensor 115 for detecting
that the phone is
present in the holder 12. The sensor 115 can, for example, be a button switch
that is depressed
by the phone when held by the holder, a switch associated with the position of
the slides 16, or
an optical detector (light emitter and detector) that detects the phone when
in the holder 12. The
control circuit 32 can also be arranged to provide using indicator 39 a signal
specifically when
SO the phone is absent from the holder at vehicle start up and/or when the
phone is present in the
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holder at vehicle shut down. The sensor 115 may be a proximity sensor 115 as
is known in the
art.
[0059] In the case that a vehicle does not have an available USB socket
31, a conventional
12V DC cigarette lighter plug to USB socket adapter could be used, however,
the adapter could
.. be removed with the plug 30 as shown in Figure 2A, and the removal
detection pin 44 would
be defeated. To avoid any such problem, the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 can
be used. The
plug 52 fits into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle with pin 54 and tab
56 being connectable
to 12V DC power contacts of the vehicle socket. To make removal of the plug 52
difficult by
the driver, a locking mechanism is included that includes a screw 60 having a
nut 62 that moves
a tab 64 to press against an inside of the vehicle socket to make removal of
the plug 52 very
difficult. An external 12V DC socket 50 is provided that provides
corresponding socket contacts
54' and 56' connected to contacts 54 and 56 respectively. This allows for the
adapter to be
locked into the vehicle's socket, while providing the driver with the external
socket for use with
another plug. A USB type A socket 31 is provided on the socket 50 for use with
holder 12.
While this socket 31 can be used with the connector 30 as illustrated in
Figure 2, it is available
for other purposes as well.
[0060] While reference is made herein to USB type A, it will be
appreciated that the format
of the connector can be varied as desired to be a different type of USB
connector, or a connector
of different kind, such as the Apple Lightning connector, an HDMI type
connector, etc. While
.. power taken from a vehicle socket is described above as being from a
cigarette lighter type
socket or a USB socket, it will be appreciated that a vehicle fuse socket is
also an easy way to
connect into vehicle auxiliary power. In some examples, the connector may be
configured to
connect with a vehicle computer port, such as a computer diagnostics port of
the vehicle (e.g.
an OBD-II port of the vehicle).
[0061] It will be appreciated that instead of using a conventional plug and
socket connection
to bring the power connection to holder 12, a fixed cable can be used. For
example, a plug of
the type shown in Figure 3 can be used to connect to the vehicle socket, while
a fixed cable can
extend from the plug 52 to the holder 12. Such a plug 52 can provide socket 50
or only a socket
31, like a conventional USB adapter for a vehicle. The fixed cable can be a
thin cable if
powering only holder 12 (less than 1 A capacity), or it can be more robust to
carry a higher
current to power port 38.
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[0062] In some examples, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the holder 12 may
also have a
screen or surface 72 that covers at least a portion of the screen of the
smartphone to prevent at
least partial use of the screen or keyboard of the device when the smartphone
is secured within
the holder 12. The screen 72 may also be, in some examples, transparent, in
order to allow the
user to view the display of the smartphone but not to touch the display of the
smartphone
directly. In other examples, the screen 72 may be opaque. The screen 72 may
also assist with
the securing of the smartphone to the holder 12.
[0063] In some examples, the holder, connected to the vehicle as
explained herein, may
detect when the vehicle enters a first state (e.g. ignition key is turned
"on"; the vehicle's RPM
goes over a certain designated threshold). It may then also detect the
presence of the smartphone
in the holder, such as via the sensor of the holder to detect the phone. In
the example where the
first state is when the ignition key is turned to "on", if the ignition key is
turned "on" but the
phone is not detected as being present in the holder, the indicator may
produce a signal to advise
the driver to add the phone to the holder. Once the phone is introduced into
the holder and the
ignition key is turned on (or the vehicle is in the first state), then the
holder, via the lock and the
clamping mechanism, may secure the phone to the frame of the holder. Once the
vehicle enters
the second state (e.g. the ignition key is removed and/or the vehicle is
turned off), the user may
remove the phone. The indicator may also signal the user that the phone may be
removed from
the holder. Moreover, the indicator may also provide an indication in the case
of an accident
that the phone was present in the holder at the time of the accident (e.g. the
vehicle comes to- a
stop, the ignition key is still present, and the phone is in the holder) by,
for instance, producing
a different colour of light (e.g. a different colour of a flashing light) or
by producing a different
audible alarm signal.
[0064] In some embodiments, the holder 12 may have an orientation or tilt
sensor 73, as is
known in the art, in order to detect the orientation or inclination of the
phone in the holder 12,
(e.g if the phone is positioned vertically or horizontally). In some
embodiments, where the
holder 12 has a screen or surface to obstruct at least a portion of the
display of the phone
corresponding to the keyboard of the phone, the tilt sensor 73 may detect when
a driver tilts the
phone, or the phone is positioned in a horizontal position, while driving, in
order to, for example,
2,0 attempt to text. Upon detection of the titling of the phone by the tilt
sensor 73, the holder may
provide a signal to the driver indicative of the driver's non-compliance by
tilting the phone (e.g.
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an audible alarm; a visual indication such as a flashing light). In some
examples, a logging
system 100, as described herein, may be in communication with the tilt sensor
73 in order to
create log events for when the phone is titled.
[0065] Reference is now made to Figure 6, illustrating an exemplary
logging system 100
for a smartphone holder 12. The logging system 100 may receive log information
(i.e.
information to be logged) from the vehicle, from different components of the
holder 12 or from
the smartphone, and the log system 100 may create log events from the log
information received.
The log information may be associated with timestamps (temporal information)
indicative of
when the event correlated to the log information took place. The log
information may relate, for
instance, to information related to events such as when the smartphone is
detected as being
present or present from the holder 12, and/or when the vehicle is in a first
state and a second
state, etc. These entries may, in some embodiments, be stored in memory (e.g.
the memory of
the holder, or an external memory). The log may be transmitted following its
creation, stored,
and/or consulted at a later time, for instance, after an accident, to verify
if the smartphone was
properly secured in the holder 12 during the time of the accident, when the
vehicle was in use.
The log information may also provide compliance information to a manager of a
fleet of trucks
regarding a particular driver and the driver's use of the holder while
driving, or to an employer
monitoring compliance of its employee(s) to lock the phone away in the holder
when driving
the vehicle. Therefore, the log may also store time entries regarding when the
vehicle enters a
defined state (e.g. goes over, at or under a certain speed, is turned on or
turned off, detects a
gear shift to "drive", to "park", etc.). In some examples, the log system may
be in
communication with a transmission device (e.g. a telemetry device) that sends
and/or stores
vehicle parameters that are accessible by a remote user, such as an employer,
manager and/or
owner of vehicles.
[0066] The log system 100 has a general-purpose processor 112. The log
system 100 may
have a computer readable-memory 113. The log system 100 may have a clock 111
and a data
output interface 116. The log system 100 may also interact with the indicator
39 of the holder
12, an RFID reader 117 of the holder 12 and/or a detection sensor 115 of the
holder. The log
system 100 may also have an input interface 114 for receiving information on
the vehicle via a
.. cable connected to vehicle computer port 140 or power socket of the
vehicle.
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[0067] The processor 112 may be a general-purpose programmable processor
112 such as
a micro-processor.
[0068] The memory 113 stores program instructions and data used by the
processor 112.
The memory 113 may store the logs, including the time entries associated with
the logs. The
.. memory 113 may have a recycling architecture, where older files may be
deleted when the
memory is full or nearly full, or have been stored for a certain period. The
processor 112 may
be connected to the memory 113 via a BUS. The memory 113 may be part of the
holder 12, or
may be or also include an external memory, such as that of a transmission
device as described
herein. The memory may also be that of a remote computer, where the
information is sent
directly or indirectly to the remote computer and stored thereon.
[0069] The clock 111 is capable of providing temporal information, such
as the time and
date. The temporal information is then stored by the processor 112 with each
log or event (e.g.
detection of smartphone, change of state of vehicle) in memory 113. In some
examples, the log
holder 12 may have its own clock 111. In other examples, the clock 111 may be
that of the
.. vehicle, where the information is communicated to the processor 112 via the
connection with
the vehicle, such as the information received by the input interface 114
receiving information
via the cable connected to the vehicle computer port 140. In other examples,
the clock 111 may
be that of the smartphone, where, for instance, the temporal information may
be sent to the
holder 12 via a connection with the phone (e.g. the charging port of the
holder of the smartphone
through which the smartphone is connected).
[0070] The sensor 115 is to detect the presence of the smartphone (or the
absence thereof)
in the holder 12. The RED reader 117 is to identify a specific smartphone 12,
where the
smartphone 12 may have a RFID chip. The RFID reader 117 may be one as is known
in the art.
In some examples, where the RFID reader 117 is placed on or near the holder
12, the RFID
reader 117 may also act as the proximity sensor 115, where the RFID reader 117
may require
that the smartphone be in proximity in order to detect the smartphone.
Therefore, in this
example, the RFID reader 117 identifies the smartphone when the smartphone is
in proximity
to the RFID reader 117, where a positive detection may also act as an
indication that the
smartphone 12 is in proximity of the holder 12. Even though reference is made
to an RFID
.. reader, any other suitable mechanism to identify the smartphone may be used
in accordance
with the present teachings.
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[0071] In some examples, the holder 12 may have a wireless interface for
establishing a
wireless connection (e g. a Bluetooth connection) with the smartphone to be
placed in the holder
12. The holder 12 may detect the establishment of a wireless connection with
the smartphone.
The wireless connection may indicate that the smartphone is in proximity to
the holder 12, and
therefore also to the vehicle. If the vehicle transitions to a first state
(e.g. is turned on, has an
RPM over a certain amount, travels at a certain speed), and the smartphone is
detected to not be
present in the holder (e.g. such as by using, for instance, sensor 115), then
the holder 12 may
provide an indication (e.g. a light signal, an alarm) to signal that the
smartphone is not present
in the holder when the vehicle enters the first state. It will be understood
that other mechanisms
.. and/or combinations to identify whether the smartphone is in proximity to
the vehicle and/or to
the holder may be used without departing from the present teachings. Moreover,
in some
embodiments, the log system as described herein may also be in communication
with the
wireless interface to provide an entry in memory of when the smartphone has
established a
wireless connection with the holder, and/or when this connection is lost.
[0072] The processor 112 receives information from the sensor 115 as to the
sensor 115
detecting the presence of an object (or absence thereof). The processor 112
may then store in
memory an entry relating to the detection of the object corresponding to the
detection of the
smartphone 12, where the entry may be stored with the temporal information as
obtained from
the clock Ill.
[0073] Moreover, the processor 112 may also be connected to the input
interface 114 for
receiving information via a connection established with the vehicle computer,
through the
vehicle computer port 140. The processor 112 may receive information regarding
the state of
the vehicle and/or vehicle parameters. This state information may then be
stored in memory 113
as log entries and/or additional vehicle information. These log entries may be
stored with the
temporal information as obtained from the clock 111.
[0074] In other examples, the log system 100 may be part of the control
circuit 32, where
the processor 112 may trigger the turning on and off of the indicator 39 as
described herein.
[0075] The log system 100 may have a data output interface 116. The data
output interface
116 may be to establish a wired or wireless connection (e.g. Bluetooth
connection, WiFi
connection) with a user, device, server or computer in order to provide access
to or transmit the
log information that has been created (or, in some cases, stored in memory
113). For instance,
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the data output interface 116 may establish a wireless connection with an
external computer
through which the log entry information may be accessed and/or transmitted
(e.g. the log entry
information may be accessed through an application program running on the
external computer,
or through a website running on the external computer). By external computer,
it is also meant
a computer or device that is present on-board or in proximity to the vehicle.
For instance, the
data output interface may establish a connection, wired or wireless (e.g. a
Bluetooth
connection), with the smart.phone that is in the holder. The data output
interface may also be
wired to a remote computer to similarly access and/or transmit the log entry
information. In
some examples, the log entry information may be viewed on a display attached
or accessible
via the holder 12.
[0076] In some embodiments, the data output interface 116 may be in
communication with
a transmission device that is present on-board the vehicle A transmission
device may be, for
instance, one that is present on trucks, such as one of a fleet management
system, to
communicate with a remote or computer (e.g. an employer, a manager of a fleet,
etc.). The
transmission device may be, for instance, a telemetry device or vehicle
information collection
device that records parameters of the vehicle (such as, e.g., the ISAAC
InMetrics' Telemetry
System or the ORCATm fleet management device of GeothenticTM, or another
telemetry or
vehicle information collection device) and/or that transmits information on
the truck to a remote
party to assess, for instance performance, compliance, productivity, etc The
data output
interface 116 may establish a wireless connection or a low bandwidth wireless
connection with
the transmission device (e.g. a Bluetooth connection), and transmit the log
information to the
transmission device. In turn, the transmission device may store the log
information in its
memory (e.g. where, in some examples, the memory of the transmission device
may be the
memory 113 of the log system 100), and/or the transmission device may transmit
the
information to a remote user, remote server or remote computer via, for
instance, a wireless
connection (e.g. WiFi connection). The transmission device may also retrieve
information, such
as the log information, stored in the memory 113 of the holder 12 at certain
times, and then
transmit the retrieved information remotely to a remote device and/or user. In
some examples,
the connection between the data output interface 116 and the transmission
device may be wired.
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[0077] In some embodiments, the holder may have an input interface (e.g.
the input
interface 114, USB port, wireless connection) so that it may receive program
instructions to
reprogram or update the programming of the architecture of the holder system.
[0078] Reference is now made to Figure 7, illustrating an exemplary
method 200 of securing
a smartphone (or another device) while driving.
[0079] The holder may be first mounted to the vehicle, such as the
dashboard of the vehicle
at step 201. The holder may be mounted to the vehicle in a location near the
driver so that the
driver may still view the display of the smartphone while driving, helpful for
instance when
using a navigation function offered by an application program running on the
smartphone.
[0080] The holder may then be connected to the vehicle (e.g. the vehicle's
computer, vehicle
wiring) by connecting a cable to the vehicle at step 202. The cable may be
connected to a power
socket of the vehicle, such as the cigarette lighter of the vehicle or a
vehicle computer port such
as an on-board diagnostics port (e.g.OBD-II port). In some examples, the
holder may be
connected to the controller area network (CAN Bus) of the vehicle in order to,
for instance,
obtain information on the vehicle's parameters, such as its speed, RPM, etc.
[0081] The smartphone is then placed in the frame of the holder at step
203. The smartphone
may be placed in the socket of the frame. The clamping mechanism may then
secure the phone.
In some examples, the clamping mechanism may be handled to allow for insertion
of the phone,
such as using its sliding mechanism to provide additional room for the
smartphone to be inserted
into the socket The clamping mechanism may be slid back so that it clamps down
onto the
phone, coming into contact with the smartphone and holding it in place.
[0082] Optionally, when the holder has a sensor 115, the holder 12 may
detect the presence
of the smartphone at step 204. This detection of the smartphone may lead to
the creation of a
log entry that may be stored in the memory of the holder with temporal
information as described
herein.
[0083] The vehicle may then enter a first state at step 205, such as
turning on of the vehicle,
shifting the vehicle into a designated gear, or passing a designated speed or
RPM. The entering
of the first state may result in the lock of the holder locking the clamping
mechanism so that the
smartphone cannot be removed from the holder once the clamping mechanism is
locked. When
the vehicle is turned on, power may be transmitted to the holder to power the
holder, including,
in some examples, the lock, via the cable connected to the vehicle.
Optionally, the entering of a
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first state may lead to the creation of a log entry that may be stored into
the memory of the
holder with temporal information as described herein.
[0084] The vehicle may then be put into a second state at step 206 (e.g.
turning off the
vehicle, the vehicle speed falling to or below a designated speed or RPM,
putting the vehicle in
a different gear). The entering of the second state causes the lock of the
holder to unlock the
clamping mechanism. Once unlocked, the clamping mechanism allows for the
smartphone to
be removed from the holder. Optionally, the entering of a second state may be
logged into the
memory of the holder with temporal information as described herein.
[0085] The smartphone may then be removed from the holder at step 207.
Optionally, the
detection of the removal of the smartphone by the sensor 115 may create a log
entry that may
be logged into the memory of the holder with temporal information as described
herein.
[0086] While the embodiments described above illustrate a holder 12 that
holds a phone or
tablet for non-hand-held use while driving, in other embodiments, the holder
can be a container,
such as a box or a bag with a lockable closure controlled by actuator 34. Such
a container can
be opaque or transparent as desired, and can be designed to allow partial use
of the phone or to
impair use, for example by attenuating or blocking radio functions. A phone
storage box with a
lockable cover can be stored in a glove compartment or in a storage console of
a door or between
seats while connected to vehicle power via a cable.
[0087] The present description has been presented for purposes of
illustration but is not
intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many
modifications and
variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
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