IP Library Granted Patent US 12682739
Granted Patent B2
US 12682739 · App. 18/371,122 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Vehicle control method and vehicle control device

Inventors: Seul Ki Jeon (Hwaseong-si, KR); Hui Won Shin (Hwaseong-si, KR); Eung Hwan Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
G08B21/02B60Q5/005G06V20/59
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12682739
App. No.
18/371,122
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle control method includes entering an initial warning state based on a door being locked in a pre-warning state to output a first warning alarm for a first time interval after an ignition of a vehicle is turned off, and entering an escalation warning state based on end of the first warning alarm and outputting a second warning alarm for a second time interval, wherein the first and second warning alarms are output based on detection of a passenger in the vehicle.

Claims (75)

1 . A vehicle control method, comprising:

entering an initial warning state based on a door being locked in a pre-warning state to output a first warning alarm for a first time interval after an ignition of a vehicle is turned off; and

entering an escalation warning state based on end of the first warning alarm and outputting a second warning alarm for a second time interval,

wherein the first and second warning alarms are output based on detection of a passenger in the vehicle,

wherein the first time interval includes

a first active interval in which the first warning alarm is repeatedly output a first number of times at first intervals of time; and

a first standby interval for waiting for a second time after the first active interval,

wherein the second time interval includes a plurality of cycles,

wherein each cycle includes:

a second active interval in which the second warning alarm is repeatedly output a second number of times at the first intervals of time; and

a second standby interval for waiting for a third time after the second active interval, and

wherein the second number of times is greater than the first number of times, and the first standby interval is longer than the second standby interval.

2 . The vehicle control method of claim 1 , wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval.

3 . The vehicle control method of claim 1 , further comprising:

entering the escalation warning state after the first standby interval.

4 . The vehicle control method of claim 1 , wherein each of the initial warning state and the escalation warning state includes a detection interval which is a time for detecting presence or absence of the passenger in the vehicle using a sensor provided in the vehicle.

5 . The vehicle control method of claim 4 , further comprising:

transitioning to the initial warning state based on occurrence of a first event in the escalation warning state,

wherein the first event includes at least one of:

a first alarm event according to error release after a sensor error is detected;

a second alarm event according to unlock of the door;

a third alarm event according to opening or closing of a tailgate of the vehicle;

a fourth alarm event according to opening or closing of a trunk or frunk of the vehicle; or a fifth alarm event according to a transition from a User Setting Menu (USM) OFF state to a USM ON state.

6 . The vehicle control method of claim 5 , further comprising:

reentering the initial warning state to re-detect the passenger in the vehicle based on occurrence of a second event in the initial warning state,

wherein the second event includes at least one of:

the first to fifth alarm events;

a sixth alarm event according to remote ignition end; or

a seventh alarm event according to end of an alarm flasher when the door is locked again.

7 . The vehicle control method of claim 6 , further comprising:

reentering the escalation warning state to re-detect the passenger in the vehicle based on occurrence of a third event in the escalation warning state,

wherein the third event includes at least one of:

an alarm event according to remote ignition end;

an alarm event according to upper flasher end; or

an alarm event according to end of an alarm flasher when the door is locked again.

8 . The vehicle control method of claim 1 , further comprising:

counting the plurality of cycles in the escalation warning state and initializing counting for the plurality of cycles based on transition from the escalation warning state to the initial warning state or re-entry into the escalation warning state.

9 . A vehicle control device comprising:

a body domain controller configured to detect operation for a door switch;

a passenger detection controller configured to detect presence or absence of a passenger in a vehicle based on sensing information received from a sensor; and

a warning alarm controller configured to control a level-wise warning alarm when the passenger is detected in the vehicle,

wherein the warning alarm controller is configured to:

enter an initial warning state based on a door being locked in a pre-warning state to output a first warning alarm for a first time interval after a vehicle ignition is turned off; and

enter an escalation warning state based on end of the first warning alarm and output a second warning alarm for a second time interval,

wherein the first and second warning alarms are output based on detection of the passenger in the vehicle,

wherein the first time interval includes:

a first active interval in which the first warning alarm is repeatedly output a first number of times at first intervals of time; and

a first standby interval for waiting for a second time after the first active interval,

wherein the second time interval includes a plurality of cycles,

wherein each cycle includes:

a second active interval in which the second warning alarm is repeatedly output a second number of times at the first intervals of time; and

a second standby interval for waiting for a third time after the second active interval, and

wherein the second number of times is greater than the first number of times, and the first standby interval is longer than the second standby interval.

10 . The vehicle control device of claim 9 , wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval.

11 . The vehicle control device of claim 9 , wherein the warning alarm controller is configured to enter the escalation warning state after the first standby interval.

12 . The vehicle control device of claim 9 , wherein each of the initial warning state and the escalation warning state includes a detection interval which is a time for detecting presence or absence of the passenger in the vehicle using the sensor, and

wherein the sensor includes at least one of a laser sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera sensor, or a pressure sensor.

13 . The vehicle control device of claim 12 , wherein the warning alarm controller is configured to transition to the initial warning state based on occurrence of a first event in the escalation warning state, and

wherein the first event includes at least one of:

a first alarm event according to error release after a sensor error is detected;

a second alarm event according to unlock of the door;

a third alarm event according to opening or closing of a tailgate of the vehicle;

a fourth alarm event according to opening or closing of a trunk or frunk of the vehicle; or

a fifth alarm event according to a transition from a User Setting Menu (USM) OFF state to a USM ON state.

14 . The vehicle control device of claim 13 , wherein the warning alarm controller is configured to reenter the initial warning state to re-detect the passenger in the vehicle based on occurrence of a second event in the initial warning state,

wherein the second event includes at least one of:

the first to fifth alarm events;

a sixth alarm event according to remote ignition end; or

a seventh alarm event related to end of an alarm flasher when the door is locked again.

15 . The vehicle control device of claim 9 , wherein the warning alarm controller is configured to reenter the escalation warning state to allow the passenger detection controller to re-detect the passenger in the vehicle based on occurrence of a third event in the escalation warning state,

wherein the third event includes at least one of

an alarm event according to remote ignition end;

an alarm event according to upper flasher end; or

an alarm event according to end of an alarm flasher when the door is locked again.

16 . The vehicle control device of claim 9 , wherein the warning alarm controller is configured to count the plurality of cycles in the escalation warning state and initialize counting for the plurality of cycles based on transition from the escalation warning state to the initial warning state or re-entry into the escalation warning state.