IP Library Granted Patent US 12,420,741
Granted Patent B2
US 12,420,741 · App. 18/501,100 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Vehicle, security control method for vehicle, and storage medium storing program used for security control for vehicle

Inventor: Tomonari Sawada (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60R25/104B60R25/305B60R25/31B60R2025/1013
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,420,741
App. No.
18/501,100
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A security system includes a camera, an illuminator, and a controller. The controller determines whether a first condition is met. The first condition includes a requirement that a moving object has been detected within a first range while a vehicle is parked. The controller determines whether a second condition is met. The second condition includes a requirement that the moving object has been detected within a second range, which is narrower than the first range, while a vehicle is parked. The controller is configured to change one or more controls selected from a control of determining whether to perform recording with the camera, a control of turning on or off the illuminator, and a control of an illuminance of the illuminator, between a state in which the first condition is met but the second is not, and a state in which both the first and second conditions are met.

Claims (44)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an object within a specified range from the vehicle;

a camera configured to capture images of outside of the vehicle;

an illuminating unit configured to illuminate the outside of the vehicle; and

processing circuitry configured to execute various processes of the vehicle,

wherein the processing circuitry includes:

a determining unit configured to determine, when the vehicle is in a stopped state, whether the object has been detected within a first range in the specified range by the sensor and whether the object has been detected within a second range by the sensor, the second range being different from the first range; and

a control unit configured to control the camera or the illuminating unit based on whether the object has been detected within the first range or the second range;

wherein

the control unit is configured to intermittently illuminate surroundings of the vehicle by controlling ON/OFF of the illuminating unit when the object has been continuously detected within the second range for a specified time or longer, and

the control unit is configured to continuously illuminate the surroundings of the vehicle by turning on the illuminating unit when the object is detected within the second range but has not been continuously detected for the specified time or longer.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to perform, based on whether the object has been detected within the first range or the second range, one or more of a control of determining whether to perform recording with the camera, a control of turning on or off the illuminating unit, and a control of an illuminance of the illuminating unit.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the control unit is configured to turn on the illuminating unit and to control the camera not to perform recording when the object has been detected within the first range and has not been detected within the second range, and

the control unit is configured to turn on the illuminating unit and to control the camera to perform recording when the object has been detected both within the first range and the second range.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control, when the object has been detected both within the first range and the second range, the illuminating unit such that the illuminance of the illuminating unit is higher than when the object is detected within the first range and is not detected within the second range.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle includes a battery that is chargeable by an external power supply,

the camera and the illuminating unit operate based on power supply from the battery, and

the control unit is configured to determine whether the object has been detected within the first range or the second range on condition that the battery has been charged by the external power supply.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to

determine whether a predetermined specific person is detected within the second range based on a video captured by the camera, and

control at least one of the camera and the illuminating unit based on whether it is determined that the specific person is detected within the second range.

7. A security control method for a vehicle, wherein

the vehicle includes:

a sensor configured to detect an object within a specified range from the vehicle;

a camera configured to capture images of outside of the vehicle; and

an illuminating unit configured to illuminate the outside of the vehicle,

the security control method comprises:

determining, when the vehicle is in a stopped state, whether the object has been detected within a first range in the specified range by the sensor or whether the object has been detected within a second range by the sensor, the second range being different from the first range;

controlling at least one of the camera and the illuminating unit based on whether the object has been detected within the first range or the second range;

intermittently illuminating surroundings of the vehicle by controlling ON/OFF of the illuminating unit when the object has been continuously detected within the second range for a specified time or longer, and

continuously illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle by turning on the illuminating unit when the object is detected within the second range but has not been continuously detected for the specified time or longer.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program used for a security control for a vehicle, wherein

the vehicle includes:

a sensor configured to detect an object within a specified range from the vehicle;

a camera configured to capture images of outside of the vehicle;

an illuminating unit configured to illuminate the outside of the vehicle; and

processing circuitry configured to execute various processes of the vehicle, and

the program is configured to cause the processing circuitry to

determine, when the vehicle is in a stopped state, whether the object has been detected within a first range in the specified range by the sensor or whether the object has been detected within a second range by the sensor, the second range being different from the first range,

control at least one of the camera and the illuminating unit based on whether the object has been detected within the first range or the second range;

intermittently illuminate surroundings of the vehicle by controlling ON/OFF of the illuminating unit when the object has been continuously detected within the second range for a specified time or longer, and

continuously illuminate the surroundings of the vehicle by turning on the illuminating unit when the object is detected within the second range but has not been continuously detected for the specified time or longer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2023
From: SAWADA, TOMONARI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 065496/0022 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-178931 · Nov 8, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240149827A1 · May 9, 2024
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