Method and apparatus for determining an occupant' s head location in an actuatable occupant restraining system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining a location of a person'"'"'s head, said apparatus comprising:
- a vision system for imaging an area of interest and providing an image signal of the area of interest;
an analyzer for analyzing the image signal to identify head candidates in the area of interest and for providing data regarding any identified head candidates; and
a processor for processing the provided data regarding identified head candidates to locate the person'"'"'s head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (20) for determining a location of a person'"'"'s head (90) includes stereo vision system (60) for imaging an area of interest such as the interior of a vehicle (26). The vision system provides an image signal of the area of interest. An analyzer (80) analyzes the image signal to identify head candidates (90′, 210, 212, 214, 216) in the area of interest and provides data regarding any identified head candidates in the area of interest. A processor (80) processes the provided data regarding identified head candidates to locate the person'"'"'s head. In an air bag restraining system (22), a controller (50) monitors the location of the person'"'"'s head and controls an air bag (34) in response to a sensed crash condition (52) and the location of the person'"'"'s head.
65 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining a location of a person'"'"'s head, said apparatus comprising:
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a vision system for imaging an area of interest and providing an image signal of the area of interest;
an analyzer for analyzing the image signal to identify head candidates in the area of interest and for providing data regarding any identified head candidates; and
a processor for processing the provided data regarding identified head candidates to locate the person'"'"'s head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air bag restraining system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash event, said apparatus comprising:
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an air bag restraining device for, when actuated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant;
crash sensor for sensing a vehicle crash event and, when a crash event occurs, providing a crash signal;
air bag controller for monitoring the crash sensor and controlling actuation of the air bag restraining device;
a stereo vision system for imaging an interior area of the vehicle and providing an image signal of the area of interest; and
a vision system controller connected to the air bag controller for analyzing the image signal from the stereo vision system to identify head candidates in the interior of the vehicle, for providing data regarding any identified head candidates, processing the provided data regarding identified head candidates to locate the of the occupant'"'"'s head, and providing a signal indicative of the occupant'"'"'s head location to the air bag controller;
the air bag controller controlling actuation of the air bag restraining device in response to both the crash signal and the signal indicative of the location of the occupant'"'"'s head.
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19. A method for determining a location of a person'"'"'s head, said method comprising the steps of:
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imaging an area of interest and providing an image signal of the area of interest;
analyzing the image signal to identify head candidates in the area of interest and providing data regarding any identified head candidates; and
processing the provided data regarding identified head candidates to locate the person'"'"'s head. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for controlling an air bag restraining system to help protect an occupant of a vehicle upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash event, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an air bag restraining device for, when actuated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant;
sensing a vehicle crash event and providing a crash signal upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash event;
monitoring the crash sensor;
imaging an interior area of the vehicle and providing an image signal of the area of interest;
analyzing the image signal to identify head candidates in the interior of the vehicle;
providing data regarding any identified head candidates;
processing the provided data regarding identified head candidates to locate the occupant'"'"'s head;
providing a signal indicative of the occupant'"'"'s head location;
controlling actuation of the air bag restraining device in response to both the crash signal and the signal indicative of the location of the occupant'"'"'s head.
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Specification