Description:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

A VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM FOR DETECTION AND REPULSION OF RODENTS

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle safety system for detection and repulsion of rodents present in a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the system, where the system performs three distinct functions viz., detection, notification and repulsion of rodents from an engine compartment of the vehicle thereby preventing the accessories of the vehicle from getting damaged by the rodents.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, a vehicle parked idle for a considerable period of time is very much prone to attack by rodents. These rodents not only find their nests in an engine of the vehicle but also may cause a significant damage to the vehicle as well. These damages may include cutting of wiring harness of the vehicle by the rodents in different areas of the vehicle. Consequently, electronic components for example, sensors, actuators etc., present in the vehicle may get detached from their respective connections thus impacting functionality of the vehicle. Additionally, rodents may chew away the insulated covering of the wires thus causing short circuits in various areas of the vehicle. Further, there may be damages at locations of significant control mechanisms of the vehicle like, in the brake line, coolant line, etc., without the knowledge of the vehicle’s user. All these may result into serious accidents during on road movement of the vehicle.
[0003] More importantly, for vehicle which remains in an idle condition in the parking area for a considerably long interval of time serves as a nest for many rodents unknowingly and are likely to get damaged by such invasion.
[0004] In view of the above mentioned challenges, there are a few existing strategies implemented to mitigate the concern. These techniques normally rely on ultrasonic generators or infrared cameras or different image processing tools. However, the high frequencies used in the operation of ultrasonic generators is not recommendable due to their detrimental effects. The infrared cameras or different image processing tools are also not able to cover an entire domain of the engine compartment of the vehicle, which are very much prone to attack by rodents. Moreover, these tools are costly and thus their application tends to increase overall cost of the vehicle as well. There are also a few invention using battery operated radiator fans to scamper away the rodents, but this approach is detrimental to rodents as the rodents may get killed.
[0005] Towards this direction, it is evident that a robust and easy to implement strategy is required in order to protect the vehicle from invasion of rodents such that the system is not only cost effective but also causes no harm to the rodents as well.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0007] It is an object of the present subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks existing in the prior art systems and methods.
[0008] It is a significant object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle safety system such that the system is able to detect invasion of rodents in the vehicle.
[0009] It is another principal object of the present disclosure to provide the vehicle safety system such that the system is able to notify the vehicle’s user regardless of the presence or absence of the vehicle’s user or any other occupant inside the vehicle.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the vehicle safety system such that the system is able to alert the vehicle’s user for presence of dead rodent inside the vehicle.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide the vehicle safety system such that the system is easy to implement.
[0012] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide the vehicle safety system such that the system is cost effective in nature.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taking into consideration with accompanied drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a vehicle safety system for detection and repulsion of rodents present in a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0015] According to an embodiment of a present disclosure, there is provided a vehicle safety system for detection and repulsion of rodents present in a vehicle. The system comprises a detection device and an alerting device.
[0016] In an aspect, purpose of the detection device is to continuously receive input signals, after a debounce time, from a plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2, PIR-N) disposed within the vehicle for monitoring movement of the one or more rodents, and detecting the presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle based on comparison of the input signals.
[0017] In an aspect, purpose of the alerting device is to generate an alert message based on the detection of presence of the one or more rodents in the engine bay by the detection device, and transmit the alert message to: (i) an instrument panel cluster of a vehicle when a vehicle’s user is detected within a vehicle cabin, or (ii) a mobile device of the vehicle’s user when the vehicle’s user in not detected within the vehicle cabin.
[0018] In an aspect, in the system, the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2, PIR-N) are disposed within an engine bay of the vehicle or any other confined rodent approachable zones in the vehicle.
[0019] In an aspect, in the system, when the vehicle’s user is detected within the vehicle cabin, the alerting device triggers a comprehendible alarming signal to switch on a vehicle engine or blow a siren to repel the one or more rodents.
[0020] In an aspect, in the system, when the vehicle’s user is not detected within the vehicle cabin, the alerting device triggers a telematics control unit of the vehicle to transmit the alert message to the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication network, where the alert message prompts the vehicle’s user to remotely switch on a vehicle engine or siren alert to repel the one or more rodents or dismiss the notification.
[0021] In an aspect, in the system, the alerting device is coupled to one or more sensors mounted in a key fob inside the vehicle, a key inside a key cylinder, a seat belt, a seat cushion, an in-cabin camera, and an in-cabin motion detector, so as to detect presence of the vehicle’s user within the vehicle cabin.
[0022] In an aspect, in the system, the plurality of PIR sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,...,PIR-N) are disposed in a plurality of regions in the vehicle with the plurality of regions comprising underneath surface of a hood, an engine mounting cradle, an inner surface of front left wheel arch, an inner surface of front right wheel arch and an engine room fire wall.
[0023] In an aspect, in the system, the detection device includes an odor sensor to detect foul smell for ascertaining presence of dead rodent inside the engine bay of the vehicle, where the detection device being coupled with a telematics control unit of the vehicle to notify the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication network about presence of the dead rodent inside the engine bay of the vehicle.
[0024] In an aspect, in the system, after a predetermined time from the switching-on of the vehicle engine or blow a siren, the detection device again receives the input signals from the plurality of PIR sensors disposed within the engine bay of the vehicle for detecting the presence of the one or more rodents in the engine bay, and updates the alerting device about the status of the presence of the one or more rodents in the engine bay.
[0025] In an aspect, there is also provided a method for protection of a vehicle from rodents. The method comprises receiving continuous input signals by a detection device (104), after a debounce time, from a plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,.., PIR-N) disposed within a vehicle for monitoring movement of the one or more rodents, detecting presence of the one or more rodents in the engine bay by the detection device, based on comparison of the input signals received from the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,.., PIR-N), generating an alert message by an alerting device based on the detection of presence of the one or more rodents in the engine bay by the detection device, transmitting the alert message by the alerting device to: (i) an instrument panel cluster of a vehicle when a vehicle’s user is detected within a vehicle cabin, or (ii) a mobile device of the vehicle’s user when the vehicle’s user in not detected within the vehicle cabin and receiving input on the alerting device from the user for switching on the vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents.
[0026] In an aspect, the method includes triggering a comprehendible warning signal by the alerting device to switch on a vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents, in addition to the display of the message in the instrument panel cluster of the vehicle, in response to affirmative determination of the vehicle’s user inside the vehicle.
[0027] In an aspect, the method includes triggering a telematics control unit of the vehicle by the alerting device to transmit the alert message to the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication networks in response to negative determination of the vehicle’s user inside the vehicle.
[0028] In an aspect, the method includes prompting the vehicle’s user by the alerting device through the alert message to remotely switch on a vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents and receiving input on the alerting device from the user switching on the vehicle engine or blowing the siren by the vehicle’s user to repel the one or more rodents.
[0029] In an aspect, the method includes ascertaining presence of dead rodent inside the engine bay or any other confined rodent approachable zones in the vehicle by an odor sensor present in the detection device, where the detection device being coupled with a telematics control unit of the vehicle notifies the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication network about the presence of the dead rodent inside the engine bay of the vehicle.
[0030] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0031] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING(S)
[0032] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system for detection and repulsion of rodents present in a vehicle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary components of the system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 3 depicts positioning of a plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors in a vehicle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0036] FIG. 4 (A-D) illustrates an example method for detection and repulsion of rodents present in a vehicle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0039] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0040] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
Exemplary implementations/embodiments
[0041] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle safety system that is configured for detection and repulsion of rodents in a vehicle. Particularly, operation of the proposed system is implemented through three significant steps i.e. to detect rodents, to notify vehicle’s user regarding presence of rodents and finally to prompt the vehicle’s user for taking necessary actions for getting rid of rodents from the vehicle. Additionally, the system also notifies the vehicle’s user if there are any dead rodent inside the vehicle. The structural and operational attributes of the proposed system are discussed in the subsequent sections.
[0042] FIG. 1 represents an exemplary architecture of the vehicle safety system (102) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In an aspect, the system (102) comprises of a detection device (104) and an alarming device (106).
[0043] In an aspect, function of the detection device (104) is to continuously receive input signals from a plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,…,PIR-N) mounted in different regions of the vehicle, preferably in an engine bay (202). The plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,…,PIR-N) are responsible for detection of intrusion of rodents into the vehicle when the vehicle is in idle condition.
[0044] It is well known that every passive infrared (PIR) sensor has a definite range for detection of motion. Therefore, a combination of such passive infrared (PIR) sensors is effective is detecting motion of external living objects throughout the vehicle when the vehicle is in idle condition. This is because, under idle condition, all vibrating components of the vehicle, for example, the engine, transmission, etc., are in static condition and thus there may be no vibration apart from the ones created by intrusion of any external living objects. Consequently, the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,…,PIR-N) are believed to provide a more or less correct detection if in case the vehicle is invaded by the one or more rodents.
[0045] In an aspect, the detection device (104) further sends signals to the alerting device (106) for taking necessary actions after receiving output from the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,…,PIR-N) in case one or more rodents are detected in the vehicle.
[0046] In an aspect, the alerting device (106) generates an alert message based on detection of the one or more rodents in the vehicle as communicated by the detection device (104).
[0047] In an aspect, the alerting device (106) transmit the alert message to an instrument panel cluster of the vehicle when the presence of vehicle’s user is detected within a vehicle cabin (204).
[0048] In an aspect, the proposed system (102) is also equipped with features such that on negative determination of the vehicle’s user inside the vehicle, the alerting device (106) notifies to mobile device of the vehicle’s user over communication networks (110). The corresponding information is stored in a database (112).
[0049] In an aspect, the alerting device (106) triggers a telematics control unit (TCU) (108) of the vehicle to transmit the alert message to the vehicle’s user. Herein, the alert message prompts the vehicle’s user to remotely switch on the vehicle’s engine or blow a siren in order to repel the one or more rodents detected by the detection device (104).
[0050] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary components of the proposed system (102) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. It may be observed from the figure that the detection device (104) and the alarming device (106) are empaneled within an engine control unit (ECU) of the vehicle.
[0051] In an aspect, primary functions of the detection device (104) and the alerting device (106) are detailed in the previous section and are not repeated here for the sake of brevity.
[0052] In an aspect, as already mentioned, the alerting device (106) connects to the vehicle’s user and sends notification signals related to rodent’s invasion to the user’s mobile device through the telematics control unit (TCU) (108).
[0053] In an aspect, the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,…,PIR-N) are disposed in a plurality of regions in the vehicle in order to provide information regarding intrusion of rodents throughout the engine compartment (202). These plurality of regions, however not limited to include underneath surface of a hood, an engine mounting cradle, an inner surface of a front left wheel arch, an inner surface of a front right wheel arch and an engine room fire wall. These regions are also depicted in FIG. 3 for a better understanding.
[0054] In an aspect, the alerting device (106) is coupled to one or more sensors in order to determine whether the vehicle’s user or may be an occupant or a driver is present inside a cabin (204) of the vehicle. The one or more sensors are mounted in a key fob inside the vehicle, a key inside a key cylinder, a seat belt, a seat cushion, an in-cabin camera and an in-cabin motion detector.
[0055] In an aspect, the detection device (104) includes an odor sensor to detect foul smell for ascertaining presence of dead rodents inside the vehicle. The detection device (104) is coupled with a telematics control unit (TCU) (112) of the vehicle and sends notification signals to mobile device of the vehicle’s user via communication networks about the presence of dead rodent inside the vehicle. This enables the vehicle’s user to take necessary actions for removing the dead rodent from the vehicle.
[0056] In an aspect, the engine control unit (ECU) may be equipped with processing devices(s). The processing device(s) may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data based on operational instructions received from the detection device (104) and the alerting device (106) present in the system (102). Among other capabilities, the one or more processor(s) present in the engine control unit (ECU) are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory of the system (102). The memory may store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines, which may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory may include any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like.
[0057] FIG. 4 (A-D) illustrates an example method for detection and repulsion of rodents present in a vehicle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The order in which the method (300-A, 300-B, 300-C, 300-D) is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks may be combined in any order to implement the methods (300-A, 300-B, 300-C, 300-D), or an alternative method. Furthermore, methods (300-A, 300-B, 300-C, 300-D) may be implemented by the engine control unit (ECU) through any suitable hardware, for example the detection device (104) and the alerting device (106), respectively.
[0058] At block (302), the method includes receiving continuous input signals by the detection device (104), after a debounce time, from a plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,.., PIR-N) disposed within an engine bay of the vehicle for monitoring movement of the one or more rodents.
[0059] In operation, the detection device (104) pays no heed to the signals generated from the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,.., PIR-N) for a debounce time, say, ‘?t’ seconds, in order to avoid any false detection. After lapse of ‘?t’ (debounce time), the detection device (104) takes necessary actions in order to create an alert and notify the vehicle’s user or the occupant or the driver, as required.
[0060] At block (304), the method includes detecting presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle, preferably the engine bay (202), by the detection device (104), based on comparison of the input signals received from the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,.., PIR-N).
[0061] At block (306), the method includes generating an alert message by an alerting device (106) based on the detection of presence of the one or more rodents in the engine bay by the detection device (104).
[0062] At block (308), the method includes transmitting the alert message by the alerting device (106) to: (i) an instrument panel cluster of a vehicle when a vehicle’s user is detected within a vehicle cabin, or (ii) a mobile device of the vehicle’s user when the vehicle’s user in not detected within the vehicle cabin. The alerting device (106) reads the status of one or more sensors (discussed in previous section) disposed in the vehicle in order to ascertain whether the vehicle’s user or the driver is present inside or nearby the vehicle.
[0063] At block (310), the method includes receiving input on the alerting device (106) from the user for switching on the vehicle engine or blow a siren to repel the one or more rodents.
[0064] At block (312), the method includes triggering a comprehendible warning signal by the alerting device (106) to switch on a vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents.
[0065] At block (314), the method includes displaying of the message in the instrument panel cluster of the vehicle, by the alerting device (106) in response to affirmative determination of the vehicle’s user inside the vehicle.
[0066] In an aspect, the alerting device (106) blows the siren and displays the warning message thereby alerting the vehicle’s user or the occupant or the driver regarding presence of rodents in the vehicle.
[0067] At block (316), the method includes triggering the telematics control unit (112) of the vehicle by the alerting device (106) to transmit the alert message to the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over communication networks (110) in response to negative determination of the vehicle’s user inside the vehicle.
[0068] At block (318), the method includes prompting the vehicle’s user by the alerting device (106) through the alert message to remotely switch on a vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents.
[0069] In an aspect, the alerting device (106) notifies the vehicle’s user through the telematics control unit (TCU) (108). Thus the vehicle’s user is being informed about presence of rodents in the vehicle and also the alerting device (106) provides an option to the vehicle’s user to remotely start the engine of the vehicle for a predefined calibrated time of say, ‘t1’ seconds, in order to repel the one or more rodents. During this time, the alerting device (106) blows the siren in short pulses and displays the warning message till the time the one or more rodents are present inside the vehicle. The vehicle’s user may also visit the parking area of the vehicle in order to start the engine after getting such notifications.
[0070] At block (320), the method includes ascertaining presence of dead rodent inside the vehicle, preferably the engine bay (202) by an odour sensor present in the detection device (104). Similarly, as discussed before, the detection device (104) takes the signals generated from the odour sensor into record after a lapse of a small interval of time, say, ‘?t’ (debounce time) in order to avoid any false detection.
[0071] At block (322), the method includes coupling of the detection device (104) with the telematics control unit (112) of the vehicle in order to alert the vehicle’s user of the foul smell as sensed by the odour sensor present inside the detection device (104). The detection device (104) prior to such operation, checks in the memory embedded in the engine control unit (ECU), whether there are any records of intrusion of rodents inside the vehicle. If there are any such previous records, the detection device (104) establishes connection with a communicating device, preferably the mobile device of the vehicle’s user. Therefore, the storage of information related to intrusion by rodents in the vehicle is essential in order to avoid false detection by the odour sensor, that may occur due to an external foul smell.
[0072] At block (324), the method includes notifying the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over the communication network (110) about presence of the one or more dead rodents inside the vehicle.
[0073] Therefore, the proposed system (102) is not only helping to detect the intrusion of rodents inside the vehicle, but also is equipped with measures in order to get rid of the rodents either in living or in dead condition. In this context, it is also to be mentioned that the proposed system (102) may also be implemented to detect intrusion of other possible foreign living object like lizards, snakes, etc., inside the vehicle.
[0074] Technical Advantages
All in all, the vehicle safety system (102) described in the present disclosure is having the following advantages:
a) The system (102) provides a failsafe method for detection of rodents inside the vehicle
b) The system (102) is enabled with features that helps the vehicle’s user to get rid of rodents in a remote manner
c) The system (102) is equipped with features for providing information to the vehicle’s user in case one or more rodents are found dead inside the vehicle
d) The system (102) is robust and is easy to implement
e) The proposed system (102) is cost effective to design and therefore do not cause any impact on overall pricing of the vehicle
f) More importantly, the features of the proposed system (102) does not causes any harm to the rodents
Equivalents
[0075] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various systems that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0076] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to package features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/device of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.
[0077] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0078] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.

, Claims:We Claim:
1. A vehicle safety system (102) for detection and repulsion of one or more rodents present in a vehicle, the system (102) comprising:
a detection device (104) to:
continuously receive input signals, after a debounce time, from a plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2, PIR-N) disposed within the vehicle for monitoring movement of the one or more rodents, and
detecting the presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle based on comparison of the input signals; and
an alerting device (106) to:
generate an alert message based on the detection of presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle by the detection device (104), and
transmit the alert message to: (i) an instrument panel cluster of a vehicle when a vehicle’s user is detected within a vehicle cabin (204), or (ii) a mobile device of the vehicle’s user when the vehicle’s user in not detected within the vehicle cabin (204).

2. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2, PIR-N) are disposed within one or more identified zones of rodent entry in the vehicle.

3. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the vehicle’s user is detected within the vehicle cabin (204), the alerting device triggers a comprehendible alarming signal to switch on a vehicle engine or blow a siren to repel the one or more rodents, in addition to the display of the message in the instrument panel cluster.

4. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the vehicle’s user in not detected within the vehicle cabin (204), the alerting device (106) triggers a telematics control unit (112) of the vehicle to transmit the alert message to the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication network (110), wherein the alert message prompts the vehicle’s user to remotely switch on a vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents.

5. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alerting device (106) is coupled to one or more sensors mounted in a key fob inside the vehicle, a key inside a key cylinder, a seat belt, a seat cushion, an in-cabin camera, and an in-cabin motion detector, so as to detect the presence of the vehicle’s user within the vehicle cabin (204).

6. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of PIR sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,...,PIR-N) are disposed in a plurality of regions in the vehicle with the plurality of regions comprising underneath surface of a hood, an engine mounting cradle, an inner surface of front left wheel arch, an inner surface of front right wheel arch and an engine room fire wall.

7. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection device (104) includes an odor sensor to detect foul smell for ascertaining presence of dead rodent inside the engine bay (202) of the vehicle, wherein the detection device (104) being coupled with a telematics control unit (112) of the vehicle to notify the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication network (110) about the presence of the dead rodent inside the vehicle.

8. The system (102) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein after a predetermined time from the switching-on of the vehicle engine or blowing the siren, the detection device (104) again receive the input signals from the plurality of PIR sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,…, PIR-N) disposed within the vehicle for detecting the presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle, and updates the alerting device about the status of the presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle.

9. A method implemented for protection of a vehicle from rodents, the method comprising:
receiving continuous input signals by a detection device (104), after a debounce time, from a plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,.., PIR-N) disposed within the vehicle for monitoring movement of the one or more rodents;
detecting presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle by the detection device (104), based on comparison of the input signals received from the plurality of passive infrared (PIR) sensors (PIR-1, PIR-2,.., PIR-N);
generating an alert message by an alerting device (106) based on the detection of presence of the one or more rodents in the vehicle by the detection device (104);
transmitting the alert message by the alerting device (106) to: (i) an instrument panel cluster of a vehicle when a vehicle’s user is detected within a vehicle cabin (204), or (ii) a mobile device of the vehicle’s user when the vehicle’s user in not detected within the vehicle cabin (204); and
receiving input on the alerting device from the user for switching on the engine or blow a siren of the vehicle to repel the one or more rodents.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method includes triggering a comprehendible warning signal by the alerting device (106) to switch on a vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents, in addition to the display of the alert message in the instrument panel cluster of the vehicle, in response to affirmative determination of the vehicle’s user inside the vehicle.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method includes triggering a telematics control unit (112) of the vehicle by the alerting device (106) to transmit the alert message to the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication networks (110) in response to negative determination of the vehicle’s user inside the vehicle.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method includes prompting the vehicle’s user by the alerting device (106) through the alert message to remotely switch on a vehicle engine or blow the siren to repel the one or more rodents and receiving input on the alerting device (106) from the user switching on the vehicle engine or blowing the siren by the vehicle’s user to repel the one or more rodents.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 to 12, wherein the method includes ascertaining presence of dead rodent inside the vehicle by an odor sensor present in the detection device (104), wherein the detection device (104) being coupled with a telematics control unit (112) of the vehicle notifies the mobile device of the vehicle’s user over a communication network (110) about the presence of the dead rodent inside the vehicle.

Dated this 30th day of June, 2022

AMIT JAIN
PATENT AGENT
IN/PA – 2189
OF L. S. DAVAR & CO.,
APPLICANT’S AGENT