Patent US6255939B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6255939B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and device for sensing an object or a person in the interior of a vehicle
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 2000-02-25
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Granted: 2001-07-03
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Expires: 2020-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A sensor for detecting an object or a person in the interior of a vehicle consumes a first average power in a normal operating mode. The power supply for supplying the sensor is monitored. The sensor is operated with a second average power which is reduced in comparison with the first average power if the power supply is considered as no longer being sufficient for the normal operating mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Christoph Roth
- 👤 Alexander Waldmann
- 👤 Reinhard Hamperl
- 👤 Thomas Stierle
- 👤 Reinhard Roesl
- 👤 Gerhard Mader
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:43
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K61/00; A01K61/70; A01K61/73; B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; E; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/04; E02B3/043; E02B3/046; E02B3/12; E02B3/129
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for determining a presence of an object in the interior of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor for detecting an object in an interior of a vehicle; a power supply; a control unit connected to said sensor, said control unit being programmed to selectively operate said sensor: in a normal operating mode, when a sufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a first average power; and in an emergency operating mode, when an insufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a second average power less than the first average power, said sensor being adapted to scan the object with a predefined scanning rate, the scanning rate being lower during the emergency operating mode than the scanning rate during the normal operating mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for determining a presence of an object in the interior of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor for detecting an object in an interior of a vehicle; a power supply; a control unit connected to said sensor, said control unit being programmed to selectively operate said sensor: in a normal operating mode, when a sufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a first average power; and in an emergency operating mode, when an insufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a second average power less than the first average power, said sensor being adapted to scan the object with a predefined scanning rate, the scanning rate being lower during the emergency operating mode than the scanning rate during the normal operating mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is adapted to monitor a supply voltage of said power supply.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 2 , wherein said control unit activates the emergency operating mode as soon as the supply voltage drops below a given threshold value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 2 , wherein said control unit activates the normal operating mode when the supply voltage exceeds a given threshold value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor contains a plurality of sensor elements each monitoring an associated area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 5 , wherein only one sensor element is operated during the emergency operating mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 5 , wherein fewer sensor elements are operated during the emergency operating mode than a total number of sensor elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor includes a transmitter for emitting a signal, wherein said transmitter is operated with a given transmission power in the normal operating mode and with a reduced transmission power, in comparison with the given transmission power, in the emergency operating mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor includes an optical transmitter device and an optical receiver device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for determining a presence of an object in the interior of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor for detecting an object in an interior of a vehicle; a power supply; a control unit connected to said sensor, said control unit being programmed to selectively operate said sensor: in a normal operating mode, when a sufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a first average power; and in an emergency operating mode, when an insufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a second average power less than the first average power, said sensor being adapted to scan the object with a predefined scanning rate, the scanning rate being reduced during the emergency operating mode in comparison with the predefined scanning rate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for determining a presence of an object in the interior of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor for detecting an object in an interior of a vehicle; a power supply; a control unit connected to said sensor, said control unit being programmed to selectively operate said sensor: in a normal operating mode, when a sufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a first average power; and in an emergency operating mode, when an insufficient power supply is detected by said control unit, during which said sensor consumes a second average power less than the first average power, said sensor being adapted to scan the object with a predefined scanning rate, the scanning rate being reduced during the emergency operating mode in comparison with the predefined scanning rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 10 , wherein said control unit is adapted to monitor a supply voltage of said power supply.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 11 , wherein said control unit activates the emergency operating mode as soon as the supply voltage drops below a given threshold value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 11 , wherein said control unit activates the normal operating mode when the supply voltage exceeds a given threshold value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 10 , wherein said sensor contains a plurality of sensor elements each monitoring an associated area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 14 , wherein only one sensor element is operated during the emergency operating mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 14 , wherein fewer sensor elements are operated during the emergency operating mode than a total number of sensor elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device according to claim 10 , wherein said sensor includes a transmitter for emitting a signal, wherein said transmitter is operated with a given transmission power in the normal operating mode and with a reduced transmission power, in comparison with the given transmission power, in the emergency operating mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 10 , wherein said sensor includes an optical transmitter device and an optical receiver device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |