US 12,240,376 B2
Active occupant status and vehicle operational status warning system and methods
Mehrdad Nojoumian, Boca Raton, FL (US)
Assigned to FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, Boca Raton, FL (US)
Filed by Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees, Boca Raton, FL (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/542,807.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/123,100, filed on Dec. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0179432 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/50 (2006.01); B60N 2/00 (2006.01); B60N 2/26 (2006.01); B60N 2/28 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); H04L 67/12 (2022.01)
CPC B60Q 1/5037 (2022.05) [B60N 2/0021 (2023.08); B60N 2/266 (2023.08); B60N 2/267 (2023.08); B60N 2/28 (2013.01); G05D 1/0276 (2013.01); H04L 67/12 (2013.01); B60N 2210/40 (2023.08)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting and reporting occupant and operational status of a first vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting, by an internal sensor of the first vehicle, a presence of at least one first occupant within the first vehicle;
classifying, by the internal sensor, the at least one first occupant in at least one classification;
communicating, by the internal sensor, a signal to an accessory display that is mounted to the first vehicle such that a screen of the accessory display faces in a direction pointing away from the first vehicle, wherein the screen is not visible by the at least one first occupant of the first vehicle and is visible by persons located outside of the first vehicle and or a perception system of another vehicle;
performing the following operations while the first vehicle is driving:
presenting on the screen a first electronic message reporting the at least one classification to at least one of said persons located outside the first vehicle and/or to at least one second occupant of another second vehicle;
detecting, by an external sensor coupled to the first vehicle, at least one condition of an environment surrounding the first vehicle;
selecting, by the external sensor, a standard from a plurality of standards based on at least the classification, wherein the plurality of standards comprise an adjacent vehicle falling below a minimum separation distance from the first vehicle, and or an adjacent vehicle exceeding a specified speed threshold;
determining, by the external sensor, whether the standard is met based on the at least one condition of the environment; and
responsive to the standard being met, performing the following operations:
controlling operations of the first vehicle to change a driving pattern thereof; and
controlling operations of the accessory display to (i) modify a visual feature of the first electronic message being presented on the screen, and/or (ii) add a different second electronic message to the screen whereby the first and second electronic messages are concurrently presented so as to both be visible by persons located outside the first vehicle and or by the perception system of the another second vehicle.