Driver indentification using vehicle approach vectors

• US 10,043,326 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: DeCia, Nunzio, Orris, Jr., Stephen Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldman, Richard A
• Application Number:
  US15/080,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20170278326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 701 49, 701 36, 701527, 701 28, 701 2, 340 52, 340 103, 340 1033, 3404255, 340465, 340 58, 702158
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/76 Systems for determining direction or position line
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/01 adapted for specific applications or environments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02585 at least one of the measurements being a non-radio measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00333 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00801 by acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder

Abstract

Systems and methods for driver identification using vehicle approach vectors are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a plurality of beacons configured to connect to a first mobile device and a second mobile device. The example vehicle also includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors. The example vehicle includes a driver identifier configured to predict trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors, and determine which one of the mobile devices is associated with a driver based on the predicted trajectories.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of beacons configured to connect to a first mobile device and a second mobile device;

a plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

a driver identifier configured to;

predict trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

determine which one of the mobile devices is associated with a driver based on the predicted trajectories.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, including a key scanner configured to activate the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors in response to detecting a key fob authorized to access the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein information received from each of the plurality of beacons includes at least one of a received signal strength indication or a received transmission strength value;

and wherein the information received from each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors includes whether an object is within a zone monitored by the ultrasonic sensor.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the driver identifier is configured to:

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a first time, calculate a first location of the first mobile device and a second location of the second mobile device; and

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a second time after the first time, calculate a third location of the first mobile device and a fourth location of the second mobile device at a second time after the first time.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the driver identifier is configured to correct at least one of the first location, the second location, the third location, or the fourth location based on the information received from the plurality of ultrasonic sensors.

6. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the driver identifier is configured to:

calculate a first approach vector for the first mobile device based on the first location and the third location; and

calculate a second approach vector for the second mobile device based on the second location and the fourth location.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the trajectories for the first and second mobile devices predicted by the driver identifier are based on the first approach vector and the second approach vector respectively.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the predicted trajectories define paths from the first and second mobile devices to doors of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, including a seat control module to adjust a position of a driver seat based on a profile associated with the driver.

10. A method to identify a driver, the method comprising:

connecting, via a plurality of beacons, to a first mobile device and a second mobile device;

monitoring, via a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, a plurality of zones around a vehicle;

predicting, via a processor, trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

determining, via the processor, which one of the mobile devices is associated with the driver based on the predicted trajectories.

11. The method of claim 10, including activating the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors in response to a key scanner detecting a key fob authorized to access the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein information received from each of the plurality of beacons includes at least one of a received signal strength indication or a received transmission strength value;

and wherein the information received from each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors includes whether an object is within the zone monitored by the ultrasonic sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, including:

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a first time, calculating a first location of the first mobile device and a second location of the second mobile device; and

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a second time after the first time, calculating a third location of the first mobile device and a fourth location of the second mobile device at a second time after the first time.

14. The method of claim 13, including correcting at least one of the first location, the second location, the third location, or the fourth location based on the information received from the plurality of ultrasonic sensors.

15. The method of claim 13, including:

calculating a first approach vector for the first mobile device based on the first location and the third location; and

calculating a second approach vector for the second mobile device based on the second location and the fourth location.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the trajectories for the first and second mobile devices predicted by the driver identifier are based on the first approach vector and the second approach vector respectively.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the predicted trajectories define paths from the first and second mobile devices to doors of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 10, including adjusting, via a seat control module, a position of a driver seat based on a profile associated with the driver.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle to:

connect, via a plurality of beacons, to a first mobile device and a second mobile device;

monitor, via a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, a plurality of zones around the vehicle; and

predict trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

determine which one of the mobile devices is associated with the driver based on the predicted trajectories.