IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,648,556
Granted Patent B2
US 12,648,556 · App. 18/610,331 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Vehicle security

Inventors: Keith Weston (Canton, MI); John Robert Van Wiemeersch (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
A01M29/10A01M29/12B60W50/14G07C9/00174B60W2050/143B60W2554/40B60W2554/80B60W2556/45
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,648,556
App. No.
18/610,331
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle may detect an entity within a specified distance of a vehicle, determine that the entity has breached an interior of the vehicle, and based on a status of a vehicle component, actuate the vehicle component in response to detecting the breach of the interior of the vehicle.

Claims (26)

1 . A system, comprising a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

detect an animal within a specified distance of a vehicle;

determine that an animal has breached from an exterior of the vehicle to an interior of the vehicle; and

based on a status of a vehicle component, actuate the vehicle component in response to detecting the breach from the exterior of the vehicle to of the interior of the vehicle.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the breach from the exterior to of the interior of the vehicle includes an open door, an open window, or a broken window.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes unlocking, opening, or preventing latching of a door.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes at least one of outputting audio, actuating a light, and starting an engine.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising, based on actuating the vehicle component, actuating a second vehicle component.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes sending a message to a remote device.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising actuating a second vehicle component based on detecting the animal within the specified distance of the vehicle.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein actuating the second vehicle component includes sending a message to a remote device, outputting audio, or locking a door.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes outputting a scent.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the scent is selected based on a determination of a species of the animal.

11 . A method comprising:

detecting an animal within a specified distance of a vehicle;

determining that an animal has breached from an exterior of the vehicle to an interior of the vehicle; and

based on a status of a vehicle component, actuating the vehicle component in response to detecting the breach from the exterior to of the interior of the vehicle.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the breach from the exterior to of the interior of the vehicle includes an open door, an open window, or a broken window.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes unlocking, opening, or preventing latching of a door.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes at least one of outputting audio, actuating a light, and starting an engine.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising, based on actuating the vehicle component, actuating a second vehicle component.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes sending a message to a remote device.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating a second vehicle component based on detecting the animal within the specified distance of the vehicle.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the second vehicle component includes sending a message to a remote device, outputting audio, or locking a door.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating the vehicle component includes outputting a scent.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the scent is selected based on a determination of a species of the animal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: WESTON, KEITH; VAN WIEMEERSCH, JOHN ROBERT
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066833/0896 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250295105A1 · Sep 25, 2025
References Cited (23)
US 9452732B1 · Hermann et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 11040593B1 · Chen · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11653642B2 · Salter · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20060208169A1 · Breed · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20090051511A1 · Tanaka · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20120111285A1 · Pearce · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130109342A1 · Welch · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140306799A1 · Ricci · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150033614A1 · Allbright, Jr. · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150286882A1 · Nicol · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20180172825A1 · Hsu · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180209210A1 · Arndt · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190156150A1 · Krishnan · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200130702A1 · Ferreira · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200406860A1 · Mai · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220104457A1 · Narita · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230054457A1 · Rogan · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230077868A1 · Burns et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230083504A1 · Burns et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230219527A1 · Amadi · 2023 [cited by examiner]
JP 2023028049A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
KR 20230090400A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
Krisher, “Ford's product guru, veteran of tech heavyweights, riffs on Blue Oval's electrified future”, Associated Press, Published Jul. 3, 2023, The Detroit News. [cited by applicant]