WO2018046995A1

WO2018046995A1 - Electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system

Info

Publication number: WO2018046995A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/001077
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raffaele PALLADINO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-09-12
Filing date: 2017-09-05
Publication date: 2018-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-12
Also published as: EP3510575A1; IT201600091571A1

Abstract

Electronic control circuit for an alarm system comprising a transmitter unit (4) and a receiving unit (5) operating in wireless mode, wherein the receiving unit (5) emits an alarm signal when the distance between said units (4, 5) exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the transmitter unit (4) is controlled by means of a mechanical switch (S) whose state determines the activation or deactivation of the alarm system, wherein said transmitting unit ( 4) is associated to the harness of a vehicle or car seat for children, and said mechanical switch (S) is arranged in the state of activation of the alarm system when the harness is closed while it is placed in the deactivation state of the alarm system when the harness is open, such that the alarm function is automatically activated when the harness is closed and turns off automatically with the opening of the latter. The circuit comprises a microprocessor (2) programmed to monitor the status of the switch (S), that is, to monitor if the harness is open or closed, and to monitor the interior temperature of the vehicle in the vicinity of the seat by means of a temperature sensor (3) connected to the same circuit, the microprocessor (2) being also programmed to send an activation signal to a receiving unit (5) provided with a programmable section which in function of said activation signal determines: a) the continuous signaling of the temperature detected by the sensor (3) through the receiving unit (5); b) the generation of an alarm signal through the same receiver unit (5) when the switch (S) is in the state of activated alarm system and said temperature has a value outside a range of predetermined values.

Description

TITLE

Electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system.

More specifically, an electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system in accordance with the present invention is intended to control the emission of an alarm signal directed to the driver when the latter moves away from the car forgetting a child in the car fastened to a safety seat.

It's well known that leaving children in the car forgetting of their presence on board can have tragic effects, taking into account that the temperature inside a vehicle exposed to solar radiation reaches intolerable values in a very short time and can lead to death by

hyperthermia. The phenomenon of the deaths and damage to health caused by hyperthermia in children forgotten in cars is unfortunately frequent. Equally fatal consequences can result from forgetting children in cars in the winter due to hypothermia, which can occur in a relatively short time especially in the colder periods of the year.

US8058983B1 describes an alarm system employing a sensor capable of detecting the tension of the harness straps to determine if a child seat is occupied or not.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system that will alert the parent who has forgotten the child in a car attached to the safety seat.

This result is achieved, according to the present invention, by adopting the idea of realizing an alarm system having the characteristics indicated in claim 1. Other features of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

An electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system in accordance with the present invention is simple from both the construction and operational point of views, and is safe and not expensive to be made. Moreover, since the alarm function is activated automatically when the belts which form the harness of the seat are fastened, the driver must not take any further action, what constitutes a further advantage in terms of operational safety.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention will be best understood by anyone skilled in the art thanks to the following description and to the attached drawings, given by way of example but not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system in accordance with the present invention;

Fig.2 is a circuit diagram relating to a possible embodiment of an electronic circuit for controlling an alarm system in accordance with the present invention;

Figs. 3-5 show a known mechanical device in which is insertable the electronic circuit in accordance with the present invention: Fig. 3 is a perspective front view of the device in operating configuration; Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of the device of Fig.3 in not operating configuration; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of Fig.4.

Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the accompanying drawings, a control circuit in accordance with the present invention is particularly intended for controlling an alarm system comprising a battery-powered wireless transmitter and a corresponding receiver provided with means to send notifications in the form of sounds, text or voice messages, images and / or vibrations, also powered by battery. An alarm system equipped with a mechanical activation / deactivation device in which, for example, a control circuit can be inserted in accordance with the present invention is described in EP2774130. In such an alarm system the activation and deactivation of the alarm functions are determined by the closure and respectively by the opening of the harness of a child car seat. More particularly, with reference to Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, when the plug (L) is inserted into the buckle body (F) during the closing of the harness, a switch (S) inserted into the power supply of the control circuit (1) is placed in the permitted supply position of the same circuit which is thus activated. When the plug (L) is unlocked by the buckle body (F) by opening the release button (P) on the opening of the harness, the switch (S) is automatically placed in the unplugged position of the circuit (1) whose functions are therefore deactivated. The switch (S) is attached to a movable body (CM) held to an elastic member which is compressed when the plug (L) is inserted into the buckle (F) and pushes the movable body upward when the plug is deactivated, thus determining the positioning of the switch (S) in the two activation and deactivation modes of the alarm functions controlled by the circuit (1). In other words, the circuit-controlled alarm function (1) is automatically activated by inserting the plug (L) into the buckle (F) and automatically deactivates by pulling the plug (L) from the buckle (F) thanks to the effect of the positioning of the switch (S) in two corresponding triggering and disarming functions of the alarm functions controlled by the circuit (1). The switch (S), in practice, is a device for detecting if the harness is closed or not. Further details on the realization of an alarm system of the type described above are provided in EP2774130.

In accordance with the present invention, the control circuit (1) comprises a microprocessor (2) programmed to monitor the state of the device (S), i.e. to monitor whether the harness is closed, i.e. if the plug (L) is inserted or not in the buckle (F), and to monitor the temperature of the passenger compartment near the child seat by means of a respective temperature sensor (3). The temperature sensor (3) is placed, for example, on a plate that also supports the microprocessor (2) and is associated (for example, by gluing) with the buckle body (F). It is understood that, without prejudice to the positioning of the switch (S) in the buckle, the control circuit as such can be located at a different point, for example in a compartment of the seat frame. The circuit (1) further comprises a Bluetooth module (4) by which the microprocessor (2) exchanges data with a smartphone (5) which, in turn, has a Bluetooth module for exchanging data with the microprocessor (2) in wireless mode. In addition, in accordance with the example shown in the accompanying drawings, the microprocessor (2) is coupled with an acoustic alarm (6) to signal coded alarms or malfunctions of the system as further described below. Circuit (1) is provided with a power supply battery (7) whose charge level is monitored by the microprocessor (2). In a programmable section of the smartphone (5) is installed a software application (app) that controls the operation of the smartphone as described below.

The app shows on the display of the smartphone (5) the temperature values detected by the sensor (3) and the battery charge level (7) transmitted by the microprocessor (2) to the smartphone (5) via the Bluetooth module (4).

When the harness is closed, the microprocessor (2) activates the app using the Bluetooth module (4), that is it checks the smartphone as further described below. The same app is also able to detect the charge level of the smartphone (5) and to communicate the charge value detected to the microprocessor (2) via the module (4).

The microprocessor (2) is programmed to monitor continuously, or at predefined time intervals (eg. every 10 seconds), various parameters to activate the acoustic warning device (6) when the monitored parameters do not conform to the preset values. For example, the microprocessor (2) activates the acoustic warning device (6) in the following cases:

- the battery charge level (7) is less than a preset value;

- the battery charge level of the smartphone (5) is less than a preset value;

- the Bluetooth connection with smartphone (5) is missing;

- there is no Bluetooth data exchange between the microprocessor (2) and the smartphone (5);

- the Bluetooth connection between the microprocessor (2) and the smartphone (5) is interrupted;

- closing / opening of the harness.

The microprocessor (2) can also activate the acoustic warning device (6) to signal the successful Bluetooth connection with the smartphone (5).

In addition, the microprocessor (2) can be programmed to check whether the control circuit or the app are counterfeit. For example, it is possible that the app will only work if a connection with a control circuit provided with a Bluetooth module with a pre-selected MAC address is established. Regarding to this feature, a MAC address is a unique identification identifier that each hardware vendor assigns to each wireless connection card that is placed on the market. The MAC address is 48 bits long (6 bytes) and the first three octets identify the company that created the communication interface. The-MAC address can be considered as a parameter that generally identifies a device uniquely. Since the 48 bit MAC address that can be assigned is more than 281 ,400 billion, the IEEE counts to run out around 2100.

Therefore, during the scan that is performed when the module (4) is coupled with the smartphone (5) or with the additional smartphones that the vehicle owner authorizes, the app checks the MAC address of the module (4) attempting to connect via Bluetooth to the smartphone in use: the Bluetooth connection is established only if the MAC address of the module is in the MAC address list of systems that are authorized to access to the network. Furthermore, it is possible to perform a further check: once the connection is established, the module (4) will send an encrypted verification password together with the packet data; the app will check whether the password is correct or not, and in the case of a negative one, it will interrupt the connection.

In the "home" screen of the app an authentication check button can be provided: each user can request whether the connection is made with the original device and a written message and / or a audio signal response will confirm whether or not this event is true. It is understood that different procedures for verifying the authenticity of the circuit or app can also be adopted. This procedure also indirectly verifies the origin of the child seat.

When, depending on the position of the switch (S), the microprocessor (2) detects that the harness is closed and if the temperature sensed by the sensor (3) is outside a predetermined range of values (i.e., lower than a first predetermined value or higher than a second predetermined value), the app is activated on the smartphone (5), that is to command the smartphone that generates visual, textual and / or vocal alert signals by alerting the owner of the smartphone. The same appl may simultaneously trigger the sending of similar warning signals to a predetermined amount of additional smartphones (8a, 8b, 8n) of family members, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances of the smartphone (5) owner. When the alarm system is activated (as microprocessor 2 detects that the harness is closed) and the smartphone (5) is out of range from the Bluetooth connection, the smartphone's internal app controls the generation of visual, sound, text and / or voice alarm signals alerting the owner of the smartphone, since it is assumed that this event corresponds to a danger of leaving the child unattended on the child seat in the car. At the same time, the same application can command the generation of visual, sound, textual and / or vocal alarm signals for other connected smartphone (8a, 8b, 8n), also by notifying the GPS coordinates of the point in which the event occurred. The aforementioned app is also capable of controlling the smartphone to send alarm signals in the form of e-mail messages and making calls to pre-set phone numbers.

Of course the smartphone (5) is a smartphone used by the owner or in any case by the vehicle user in which the child seat with the alarm system is installed. The smartphone (5) is geo-localizable. The app runs in the background and starts automatically when the smartphone is turned on (5). Additionally, the app may send the temperature values detected by the sensor (3) and the battery charge level (7) to the associated smartphones (8a, 8b, 8n), as well as information about the closing or opening state of the harness, even in the absence of an alarm condition.

A control circuit according to the invention is energy-efficient. In fact, as can be seen in particular in the diagram of Fig. 2, when the system is inactive, i.e. when the harness is disengaged, the circuit is disconnected from the battery (7). The inventor has estimated that only one low-cost D-type primary cell provides for an average use (30 minutes a day for 365 days a year) for more than two years.

In the diagram of Fig. 2, the symbols have the following meanings: 7 battery; Q2, Q3, R3, R4, Rl 3, R5 electronic switch unit driven by switch (S) and microcontroller (2); R8, Rl 1 , C7 ADC input voltage control microcontroller for battery charge level; 6 acoustic warning device; 2 microprocessor; C6, C4, LI, U2, Rl, R6 dc / dc converter; 3 temperature sensor; 4 Bluetooth module. In this scheme, the switch (S) is a diverter.

The electronic switch unit driven by switch and microcontroller is actuated by the switch and then kept in 'on' state by the microcontroller. When the harness is loosened, the microcontroller before disconnecting the battery warns the app to terminate the monitoring and waits to receive a received string.

In practice the details of execution may vary in any equivalent way as for what concerns their size, their conformation and the arrangement of the individual elements described and illustrated without thereby departing from the scope of the adopted solution and thus remaining within the limits of the protection granted by the present patent .

Claims

1) Electronic control circuit for an alarm system comprising a transmitter unit (4) and a receiving unit (5) operating in wireless mode, wherein the receiving unit (2) emits an alarm signal when the distance between said units (4, 2) exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the transmitter unit (4) is controlled by means of a mechanical switch (S) whose state determines the activation or deactivation of the alarm system, wherein said transmitting unit ( 4) is associated to the harness of a vehicle or car seat for children, and said mechanical switch (S) is arranged in the state of activation of the alarm system when the harness is closed while it is placed in the deactivation state of the alarm system when the harness is open, such that the alarm function is automatically activated when the harness is closed and turns off automatically with the opening of the latter, circuit characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor (2) programmed to monitor the status of the switch (S), that is, to monitor if the harness is open or closed, and to monitor the interior temperature of the vehicle in the vicinity of the seat by means of a temperature sensor (3) connected to the same circuit, the microprocessor (2) being also programmed to send an activation signal to a receiving unit (5) provided with a programmable section which in function of said activation signal determines: a) the continuous signaling of the temperature detected by the sensor (3) through the receiving unit (5); b) the generation of an alarm signal through the same receiver unit (5) when the switch (S) is in the state of activated alarm system and said temperature , has a value outside a range of predetermined values.

2. Control circuit according to claim 1 characterized in that said switch (S) it is actuated by a tongue (L) of the harness when said tongue is inserted in, respectively extracted from, a corresponding buckle (F) of the same harness.

3. Control circuit according to claim 1 characterized in that it is mounted in part on a support integral to a buckle (F) of the harness and in part in a position outside the buckle (F).

4. Control circuit according to claim 1 characterized in that the receiving unit (5) is a smartphone.

5. Control circuit according to claim 1 characterized in that said microprocessor (2) monitors the charge level of a respective battery (7); and/or the charge level of a battery of the receiving unit (5); and/or the wireless connection with the receiving unit (5).

6. Control circuit according to claim 1 characterized in that the microprocessor (2) is programmed to activate said programmable section of the receiving unit regardless of the temperature detected by the sensor (3) for generating an alarm signal though the receiving unit (5) when it does not detect the wireless connection with the receiving unit (5) and the switch (S) is in the activated alarm system state.

7. Control circuit according to claim 6 characterized in that, simultaneously, said programmable section of the receiving unit generates an alarm signal that is sent, by means of the receiving unit (5), to one or more receiving devices (8a, 8b, .. ., 8n) connected to the receiver unit (5) by means of a telephone network and/or a data network.

8. Control circuit according to claims 6 or 7 characterized in that said alarm signals includes a geolocation data of the receiving unit (5) corresponding to a geographical point where the wireless connection between the microprocessor (2) and the receiving unit (5) has been lost.

9. Control circuit according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said alarm signals are sound and/or visual and/or voice and/or text signals.

10. Control circuit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microprocessor (2) is programmed to disconnect the power supply (7) of the circuit when the switch (S) is in the state o the alarm system deactivated.

11) Control circuit according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises means for verifying the authenticity of the control circuit itself and/or the authenticity of said software application.