DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for safety of the vehicle occupants in case of an accident or crash. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for deactivating the central lock of a vehicle or facilitating the lowering of the windows of the vehicle on an accident or crash thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for safety of the vehicle occupants in case of an accident or crash by deactivating the central lock or facilitating the lowering of windows during an accident or crash.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The road accidents are increasing day by day with an ever-increasing vehicle population throughout the world. Often, it is observed that the vehicle doors get jammed and do not open after the crash. In such situations, the passengers are stuck inside the vehicle and are unable to get out of the vehicle, which is particularly dangerous in case the vehicle catches fire after the accident or crash. Because, there is risk of burn injuries or even death of the passengers stuck inside and struggling to come out of the car. Although, the technology of the vehicle window getting opened during an accident or crash is known and available in the market, the combination of crash and roll over detection and subsequent safety provisions for the vehicle occupants is not yet available in existing vehicle.

PRIOR ART

US7861460 B1 discloses an emergency window opening system includes a vehicle, a vehicle door attached to the vehicle and a window mounted in the vehicle door. A primary window motor is mechanically coupled to a lift gear mechanically coupled to the window to allow selective raising or lowering of the window. A housing is mounted within the vehicle door. A secondary motor is mounted within the housing. A drive shaft of the secondary motor is mechanically coupled to the lift gear. The secondary motor lowers the window when turned on. An actuator is mounted on the vehicle door and is electrically coupled by a wire to the secondary motor. The secondary motor is turned on when the actuator is actuated. A power supply line extends between and directly electrically couples a battery to the secondary motor. The power supply line extends into the housing.

US6230838 B1 discloses an electronic system for automatically rolling down power windows and unlatching power door locks of a motor vehicle in the event of an accident. The electronic system has a vehicle immersion detecting device for triggering an operation thereof. The vehicle immersion detecting device consists of a diode connected to a circuit board in a reverse biased mode. The diode has a pair of lead wires connected to the circuit board. These lead wires are usable for detecting water there-between and for triggering a vehicle immersion condition.

However, the prior art documents do not disclose any crash/roll over detection and also do not discuss any subsequent provisions necessary for the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Therefore, there is an existing need for devising a device for ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants in the event of an accident or crash, whereby a device is provided for detecting crash and/or roll over, which can deactivate the central lock for quick lowering of the windows in order to help the vehicle occupants to evacuate from the crashed or rolled over vehicle.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for the deactivating central lock for the safety of vehicle occupants in case of an accident or crash.

Another object of the present invention is to provide device for quick lowering vehicle windows for safety of vehicle occupants during an accident or crash.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device to facilitate a quick evacuation therefrom for the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting the crash and/or roll over of the vehicle in case of an accident or crash.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a vehicle occupant safety device automatically operable during a vehicle accident or crash by continuously sensing the vehicle speed/motion after a vehicle crash and deactivating the central locking system thereof for quick evacuation through opened doors/escape passages.

Typically, the device comprises:

• a vehicle crash sensor to detect the vehicle crash and to activate airbags, if any;

• a power window actuation means fitted with vehicle speed sensor/s and motion sensor/s;

• a central lock releasing/unlocking means;

• at least one power window motor and optionally a sunroof actuator;

• at least one communicating and/or alarming means;

• a safety interlocking system to prevent automatic opening of power window and optionally sunroof on detecting the vehicle still toppling after crash;

• a main power supply means;

• a back-up power supply means; and

• at least one hazard indicator;

wherein said crash sensor detects any vehicle crash and opens the airbags, if any and activates said power window actuation means to operate said power window actuation means and said safety interlocking system only on detecting a non-rolling and non-toppling condition of the vehicle after crash/accident.

Typically, the device is configured as an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising a plurality of controllers.

Typically, the vehicle speed sensor continuously detect/s the vehicle speed after the accident or crash.

Typically, the motion sensor/s continuously detect/s the rolling and toppling of the vehicle after the accident or crash.

Typically, the main power supply means normally powers said vehicle speed sensor/s to continuously monitor the vehicle speed after crash/accident for actuating said central lock releasing/unlocking means and for energizing the power window opening/lowering motor/s for opening/lowering the same and optionally for opening the sunroof only on said sensors detecting a non-rolling and non-toppling state of the crashed vehicle.

Typically, the central lock releasing/unlocking means releases/unlocks the central lock to allow opening of the vehicle doors and/or other available escape passages, e.g. sunroof for a quick evacuation of the vehicle occupants from the crashed vehicle.

Typically, the power window opening/lowering motor opens/lowers the power windows and/or other available escape passages, e.g. sunroof.

Typically, the back-up power supply means energizes said central lock releasing/unlocking means and said power window opening/lowering motor/s in case of an interruption of power supply from said main power supply means due to the vehicle crash/accident.

Typically, the hazard indicator is automatically switched on and said communicating and/or alarming means issues audio messages/signals to relevant devices/mobile numbers and/or emergency numbers to inform about the vehicle crash, e.g. nearby hospitals and/or police stations.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method for ensuring the vehicle occupants safety by quick evacuation from a crashed vehicle by the aforesaid vehicle occupant safety device, the method comprises the steps of:

• starting said device on starting the vehicle every time;

• activating said vehicle crash sensor to activate airbags in case of a vehicle crash;

• monitoring the vehicle motion continuously for confirming a non-rolling state thereof by means of said vehicle speed sensor and a non-toppling state thereof by means of a motion sensor;

• releasing/unlocking the central lock on detecting said non-rolling and non-toppling state of the crashed vehicle;

• opening/lowering the power windows, and optionally sunroof if any, on detecting said non-rolling and non-toppling states of the crashed vehicle;

• switching on said hazard indicators of the crashed vehicle automatically; and

• issuing/sending audio messages / signals to relevant devices / emergency numbers to inform about the vehicle crash by means of said communicating and/or alarming means.

Typically, supplying power to said central lock releasing/unlocking means and said power window opening/lowering by means of said back-up power supply means in case of an interruption of power supply from said main power supply means due to the vehicle crash.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the device configured in accordance with the present invention functions by quickly operating the power window /windshield/ sunroof window provided with a central locking system. During an accident or crash, the crash sensor in this safety device triggers the airbag and deploys the airbag (if available) and at the same time gives signal to the safety device ECU.

On receiving the signal from the crash sensor, the power window ECU is quickly activated to be lowered in order to save the vehicle occupants by facilitating their urgent evacuation through lowered windows. This is achieved by monitoring the vehicle speed sensor’s input and on detecting a zero value thereof, the device ascertains that the vehicle is not moving, and the center lock button is deactivated to energize the motors of the available power windows, which automatically bring down the vehicle windows and also opens the sunroof window (if available). This is advantageous, particularly in situations where the vehicle door is jammed during the or crash.

So, this device enables vehicle occupants to quickly escape from the vehicle before any fire occurs.

In addition, the device is also provided with indicator/s which turn on to give hazard signal to the upcoming vehicle during night.

Moreover, a motion sensor is connected to the ECU to recheck whether the vehicle is toppling (rolling over) or not before activating the safety device configured in accordance with the present invention, in order to safeguard the vehicle occupants’ lives by a quick evacuation through the lowered windows.

ECU of the safety device is connected to a DIGI SENSE/TELEMATICS, which immediately sends a crash message to important contacts and the hospital/s in the vicinity of the crash site.

In the absence of the telematics in the vehicle, the ECU asks to pair the passengers phone’/s during initial cranking of vehicle after boarding for every trip and if any accident occurs, it calls/sends SMS to the frequently dialed number/s or to the assigned person/s.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will be briefly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic arrangement of the device for safety of the vehicle occupants during accident or crash configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the working principle of the device depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the detailed circuit diagram of the device of Figure 1.

DETALED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a schematic arrangement of the device for safety of the vehicle occupants during accident or crash and configured in accordance with the present invention. The safety device A receives crash input from the vehicle crash sensor B. The safety device (ECU) A also receives inputs from the vehicle speed sensor C and the toppling sensor D. If the vehicle speed is zero and there is no toppling observed by the sensor D, then EMS ECU is activated and the power window ECU E issues command to release the door latch/lock and power window motor F for facilitating a quick evacuation of the vehicle occupants for ensuring their safety. In case, the main power supply to the safety device A and door latch/lock and power window motors is interrupted due to vehicle crash, there is a provision of a small built-in back-up battery G, which powers these for completing the assigned tasks. The back-up battery G allows the working and driving the motor and ECU of the power window and door lock directly, even when the main power source is disconnected due to the accident. Moreover, the device has safety interlocks, which do not allow automatic lowering of the door/power window, while the vehicle is toppling or moving or skidding during an accident. Furthermore, this device allows pairing of mobiles/telematics therewith. After the accident, it automatically issues messages and calls and issues the pre-stored message to the frequently dialed number/s or assigned person/s or important contacts and hospital/s located in the vicinity of the crash site and also turns on the hazard indication J immediately to alert the upcoming vehicles.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the working principle of the device depicted in Figure 1. The various process steps are enumerated below:

• At point 100, on starting the vehicle, the device starts working.

• During step 105, the vehicle sensor 110 is activated during step 115 to continuously monitor and detect at point 120, if the vehicle has crashed.

• If the vehicle is crashed at point 120, through the step 122, the vehicle occupant safety device 500 is activated at point 130 to commence the opening/lowering of the power windows and to unlock the central lock to facilitate a quick evacuation of the vehicle occupants.

• However, if it is detected at point 120 that the vehicle has not crashed, through step 124, the crash monitoring and detection process is started afresh from the starting point 100.
• Once the safety device 500 is activated at step 130, the vehicle speed sensor 140 is activated and it is checked further via step 135 to determine at point 150, whether the vehicle speed was zero or the vehicle was standstill at the point 120.

• If the activated vehicle speed sensor 140 while passing through step 145 detects at point 150 that the vehicle speed was zero at the time of vehicle crash, the process leads through step 155 to next point 170.

• However, if the activated vehicle speed sensor 140 while passing through step 145 detects at point 150 that the vehicle speed was not zero at the time of vehicle crash, the process traces the path 154 back to repeat the process step 135 leading to point 150.

• Another sensor 160 is activated at point, while passing through step 165, it is checked at point 170, whether the vehicle is toppling.

• If the sensor 160, while passing through step 165 detects that vehicle is toppling, the process traces the path 172 back to repeat the process 155 leading to point 170.

• However, if the sensor 160, while passing through step 165, determines at point 170 that the vehicle is not toppling, then the process leads through a first step 176 to a point 180 to issue a signal for releasing the central lock and through a second step 178 to another point 190 to issue a signal to open/lower the windows and sunroof by bringing them down.

• At point 180, a signal is issued through step 185 to run the central lock motor/ECU 200 through step 205 for releasing the central lock at point 220.
• Once the central lock is released at point 220, an emergency message signal is issued at step 222, or a call is made through the paired/relevant mobiles or telematics to police/emergency number is activated to warn about the incident.

• If the central lock is still not released at point 220, then through step 224, a built-in back-up power unit 240 is activated through step 245 to power the central lock motor/ECU 200.

• At point 190, another signal is issued through step 195 to run the power window motor/ECU 210 through step 215 to lower the power windows at point 230.

• If the power windows are lowered at point 230, a signal is issued through step 232 for issuing an emergency message signal or for making a call through the paired/relevant mobile/s or for activating telematics to police/emergency number to warn about the incident at point 260.

• If the power windows are still not lowered at point 230, another signal is issued through step 234 for activating a built-in back-up power unit 250 to power the power window motor/ECU 210.

• At point 260, after issuing an emergency message signal or for making a call through the paired/relevant mobile/s or for activating telematics to police/emergency number to warn about the incident, through step 265, a hazard indicator 270 and through step 275, the device is switched-off at point 300.

Figure 3 shows the detailed circuit diagram of an embodiment of the device of Figure 1, which is fitted on an automobile having 4 doors in two seat rows, i.e. front seat row for driver and co-driver with one door each on either side thereof and a rear seat row for passengers, also having one door each on either side thereof. Different numerals are shown for various lines in Fig. 3, which are elaborated below:

01 Dotted lines all show the existing circuit,

02 Thick black bold line shows the circuit according to the invention,

03 Thin black bold line shows the ground wire,

04 Thin red bold line shows direct battery supply,
05 Thin yellow bold line shows the feedback from sensors,

06 Thin orange bold line shows the input to sensors from ECU,

07 Thin green bold line shows the ignition switch on input, and

08 Thin blue bold line shows signal from crash sensor to the device according to the present invention.

WORKING OF THE INVENTION

Once the crash input is received by the device 500, ECU gets activated which is powered by a second battery to allow the working and driving of the motor and ECU of the power window and door lock directly, even when the main power source is disconnected due to the accident.

Moreover, the device has safety interlocks, which do not allow automatic lowering of the door/power window, while the vehicle is toppling or moving or skidding during an accident.
Furthermore, this device allows pairing of mobiles/telematics therewith.

During any accident, it automatically issues message and calls and issues the pre-stored message.

After the accident, it immediately turns on the hazard indication to alert the upcoming vehicles.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The device for safety of the vehicle occupants during accident or crash configured in accordance with the present invention has the following technical and economic advantages:

• Operates with the help of built-in back-up battery even on failure of main power supply.

• Ensures safety of vehicle occupants by their immediate evacuation based on inputs received from the vehicle crash sensor, speed sensor and toppling sensor.

• Ensures that vehicle occupants do not evacuate while crashed vehicle is still rolling or toppling, which may be dangerous to their person.

• Provides visual hazard signals as well as SMS alerts to the relevant persons/police etc.

In the previously detailed description, different features have been summarized for improving the conclusiveness of the representation in one or more examples. However, it should be understood that the above description is merely illustrative, but not limiting under any circumstances. It helps in covering all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of the different features and exemplary embodiments.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept. Many other examples are directly and immediately clear to the skilled person because of his/her professional knowledge in view of the above description.

These innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations may be made and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used may be devised to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies according to their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships.

Therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention. The description provided herein is purely by way of example and illustration.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, shall be understood to implies including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps.

In the claims and the description, the terms “containing” and “having” are used as linguistically neutral terminologies for the corresponding terms “comprising”.

The use of the expression “a”, “at least” or “at least one” shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention. Furthermore, the use of the term “one” shall not exclude the plurality of such features and components described.

Also, any reference herein to the terms ‘left’ or ‘right, ‘up’ or ‘down, or ‘top’ or ‘bottom’ are used as a matter of mere convenience and are determined by standing at the rear of the machine facing in its normal direction of travel.

The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher or lower than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.

The various features and advantageous details are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiment/s in the above description in accordance with the present invention.

The descriptions of well-known components and manufacturing and processing techniques are consciously omitted in this specification, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the specification.

Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be widely known or used in the art by persons skilled in the art and each will likewise not therefore be discussed in significant detail. When referring to the figures, like parts are numbered the same in all of the figures. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A vehicle occupant safety device automatically operable during a vehicle accident or crash by continuously sensing the vehicle speed/motion after a vehicle crash and deactivating the central locking system thereof for quick evacuation through opened doors/escape passages.

2. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device comprises:

• a vehicle crash sensor to detect the vehicle crash and to activate airbags, if any;

• a power window actuation means fitted with vehicle speed sensor/s and motion sensor/s;

• a central lock releasing/unlocking means;

• at least one power window motor and optionally a sunroof actuator;

• at least one communicating and/or alarming means;

• a safety interlocking system to prevent automatic opening of power window and optionally sunroof on detecting the vehicle still toppling after crash;

• a main power supply means;

• a back-up power supply means; and

• at least one hazard indicator;

wherein said crash sensor detects any vehicle crash and opens the airbags, if any and activates said power window actuation means to operate said power window actuation means and said safety interlocking system only on detecting a non-rolling and non-toppling condition of the vehicle after crash/accident.

3. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said device is configured as an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising a plurality of controllers.

4. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said vehicle speed sensor continuously detect/s the vehicle speed after the accident or crash.

5. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said motion sensor/s continuously detect/s the rolling and toppling of the vehicle after the accident or crash.

6. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said main power supply means normally powers said vehicle speed sensor/s to continuously monitor the vehicle speed after crash/accident for actuating said central lock releasing/unlocking means and for energizing the power window opening/lowering motor/s for opening/lowering the same and optionally for opening the sunroof only on said sensors detecting a non-rolling and non-toppling state of the crashed vehicle.

7. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said central lock releasing/unlocking means releases/unlocks the central lock to allow opening of the vehicle doors and/or other available escape passages, e.g. sunroof for a quick evacuation of the vehicle occupants from the crashed vehicle.

8. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said power window opening/lowering motor opens/lowers the power windows and/or other available escape passages, e.g. sunroof.

9. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in anyone of the claims 6 to 8, wherein said back-up power supply means energizes said central lock releasing/unlocking means and said power window opening/lowering motor/s in case of an interruption of power supply from said main power supply means due to the vehicle crash/accident.

10. Vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in anyone of the claims 6 to 9, wherein said hazard indicator is automatically switched on and said communicating and/or alarming means issues audio messages/signals to relevant devices/mobile numbers and/or emergency numbers to inform about the vehicle crash, e.g. nearby hospitals and/or police stations.

11. A method for ensuring the vehicle occupants safety by quick evacuation from a crashed vehicle by the vehicle occupant safety device as claimed in claims 1 to 10, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• starting said device on starting the vehicle every time;

• activating said vehicle crash sensor to activate airbags in case of a vehicle crash;

• monitoring the vehicle motion continuously for confirming a non-rolling state thereof by means of said vehicle speed sensor and a non-toppling state thereof by means of a motion sensor;

• releasing/unlocking the central lock on detecting said non-rolling and non-toppling state of the crashed vehicle;

• opening/lowering the power windows, and optionally sunroof if any, on detecting said non-rolling and non-toppling states of the crashed vehicle;

• switching on said hazard indicators of the crashed vehicle automatically; and

• issuing/sending audio messages / signals to relevant devices / emergency numbers to inform about the vehicle crash by means of said communicating and/or alarming means.

12. Method as claimed in claim 10, wherein supplying power to said central lock releasing/unlocking means and said power window opening/lowering by means of said back-up power supply means in case of an interruption of power supply from said main power supply means due to the vehicle crash.

Dated: this 24th day of February 2017. SANJAY KESHARWANI
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT