US 12,280,787 B2
Apparatus for detection of driver and vehicle performance, fuel efficiency and presence of humans or mammals in vehicle storage area
Anthony John Molloy, Aldermaston (GB); and Simon Giles, Aldermaston (GB)
Appl. No. 17/773,638
Filed by Anthony John Molloy, Aldermaston (GB); and Simon Giles, Aldermaston (GB)
PCT Filed Oct. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/052747
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 2, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/084267, PCT Pub. Date May 6, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1915744 (GB), filed on Oct. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0379899 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B60W 40/08 (2012.01); B60W 30/00 (2006.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60W 40/08 (2013.01) [B60W 30/00 (2013.01); G07C 5/008 (2013.01); B60W 2530/209 (2020.02)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for the detection of the presence of humans and/or animals in a vehicle having a vehicle storage area, the vehicle also including a cab in which a driver of the vehicle is located during movement of the vehicle; said apparatus comprising:
a communication means to allow transmission of data from one or more detection devices located within the vehicle storage area, said detection devices including,
a housing with vents including:
an infra-red detector, located within the housing, configured to detect an open or closed status of one or more doors into the vehicle storage area,
a carbon dioxide level detector, located in the housing, configured to detect, in normal operation, a level of CO2 within the vehicle storage area and configured to detect a change in carbon dioxide level relative to a reference normal level and if a detected value is above the reference normal level, presence of the humans and/or animals in the vehicle storage area is determined to be unauthorized and, a detector configured to measure air temperature in the vehicle storage area,
a device configured to detect current latitude, longitude and/or altitude of the device and hence the vehicle storage area,
a device configured to determine a vehicle speed and
monitoring means are provided to determine whether the vents in the housing have been blocked to prevent said carbon dioxide level detector or the infra-red detector operating and/or providing data within predefined parameters.