Method and system for unattended child detection
First Claim
1. A method for ascertaining whether a sleeping child is present within an automotive vehicle using a radar sensor system, the radar sensor system comprising a transmitter, at least one sensor, and processing circuitry, the method comprising:
- illuminating, using the transmitter, at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with radiation, the radiation exhibiting at least one frequency;
generating, using at least one sensor, radar sensor signals from radiation reflected as a result of the transmitted radiation; and
carrying out, using the processing circuitry, the following steps;
generating, based on the radar sensor signals, a first indicator value, the first indicator value indicating a degree of motion associated with the occupiable position;
determining whether the first indicator value satisfies a first predetermined criteria;
when the first indicator value satisfies the first predetermined criteria, generating, based on radar sensor signals, a second indicator value indicating a degree of repetitive pattern within the radar sensor signals, wherein the second indicator value is, or is derived from, the product of multiple breathing indices, each breathing index being related to breathing rate; and
determining that the sleeping child is present with respect to the at least one occupiable position within the automotive vehicle if the second indicator value satisfies a second predetermined criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radar sensor system and method for ascertaining whether an unattended child is present within an automotive vehicle. The radar sensor system carries out the method and includes a transmitter, at least one sensor, and processing circuitry. The method includes the steps of: illuminating at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with radiation of multiple frequencies; generating radar sensor signals from reflections of the transmitted radiation, a plurality of the radar sensor signals corresponding to different frequencies; and operating the processing circuitry for generating and determining if a first indicator value indicative of motion in the occupiable position satisfies a first predetermined criteria and, if so, generating and determining a second indicator value indicating a degree of repetitive pattern within the radar sensor signals, and determining presence of an unattended child in the vehicle if the second indicator value satisfies a second predetermined criteria.
22 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for ascertaining whether a sleeping child is present within an automotive vehicle using a radar sensor system, the radar sensor system comprising a transmitter, at least one sensor, and processing circuitry, the method comprising:
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illuminating, using the transmitter, at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with radiation, the radiation exhibiting at least one frequency; generating, using at least one sensor, radar sensor signals from radiation reflected as a result of the transmitted radiation; and carrying out, using the processing circuitry, the following steps; generating, based on the radar sensor signals, a first indicator value, the first indicator value indicating a degree of motion associated with the occupiable position; determining whether the first indicator value satisfies a first predetermined criteria; when the first indicator value satisfies the first predetermined criteria, generating, based on radar sensor signals, a second indicator value indicating a degree of repetitive pattern within the radar sensor signals, wherein the second indicator value is, or is derived from, the product of multiple breathing indices, each breathing index being related to breathing rate; and determining that the sleeping child is present with respect to the at least one occupiable position within the automotive vehicle if the second indicator value satisfies a second predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A radar sensor system for ascertaining whether a sleeping child is present within an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:
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a transmitter, for illuminating at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with radiation, the radiation exhibiting multiple frequencies; at least one sensor for generating radar sensor signals from radiation reflected as a result of the transmitted radiation, a plurality of the radar sensor signals corresponding to different frequencies; processing circuitry, coupled to the at least one sensor (10), the processing circuitry being configured to carry out the steps of; generating, based on the radar sensor signals, a first indicator value, the first indicator value indicating a degree of motion associated with the occupiable position; determining whether the first indicator value satisfies a first predetermined criteria; when the first indicator value satisfies the first predetermined criteria, generating, based on radar sensor signals, a second indicator value indicating a degree of repetitive pattern within the radar sensor signals, wherein the second indicator value is, or is derived from, the product of multiple breathing indices, each breathing index being related to breathing rate; and determining that the sleeping child is present with respect to the at least one occupiable position within the automotive vehicle if the second indicator value satisfies a second predetermined criteria.
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Specification