In-vehicle body detection method

• US 20040020314A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Shinojima, Yasushi, Tsuchihashi, Choichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,036,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

A synthetic wave is obtained which represents the synthesis of a transmitted wave radiated from a sensor and a reflected wave returned from a breathing human body, and the presence or absence of a human in the vehicle is detected from the envelope of the synthetic wave. When the presence of a human is detected continuously for a predetermined length of time, it is determined that a human is present in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle, wherein a synthetic wave is obtained which represents the synthesis of a transmitted wave radiated from a sensor and a reflected wave returned from a breathing human body, and the presence or absence of a human in said vehicle is detected from the envelope of said synthetic wave.

2. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency of said transmitted wave is 4.7 GHz or higher.

3. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when the presence of a human is detected continuously for a predetermined length of time, it is determined that a human is present in the vehicle.

4. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when the interior of said vehicle reaches a temperature dangerous to a human, said sensor is activated.

5. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a device for monitoring a temperature gradient inside said vehicle is provided, and said sensor is activated in advance when it is predicted by said device that the interior of said vehicle is likely to reach a dangerous temperature.

6. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a device for monitoring temperature gradient inside said vehicle is provided, and when the rate of change of temperature inside said vehicle is mild, said sensor is operated at a random timing for a predetermined length of time.

7. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein, when the interior of said vehicle reaches a dangerous temperature, and when the presence of a human is detected, an alarm is issued.

8. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said dangerous temperature is a temperature high enough or low enough to present a hazard to a human body.

9. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when the presence of a human has not been detected throughout the duration of a predetermined time, said sensor is deactivated.

10. A method for detecting a human body in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor is operated in a situation where a person is undoubtedly present in said vehicle, and if the presence of the person is detected, it is determined that said sensor is operating normally, but if the presence of the person is not detected, it is determined that said sensor is faulty.