Head position sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A head position sensor for use in a vehicle in conjunction with controls for deployment of safety restrain airbags, comprising:
- an array of thermal intra red detectors, a lens system for imaging a seat occupant and a location of at least one airbag, and a processor for determining the existence of an occupant in a seat and the position of the occupants head relative to at least one airbag from a thermal image of the array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A driver'"'"'s head position sensor is used to control deployment of safety airbags in a vehicle. An array of thermal imaging detectors provides a thermal image of a driver and detects both his head and position of his head relative to the airbags. Movement of the head towards the airbags, for example during manual operation of a radio, is measured and used to control the amount of airbag deployment. The detector array may be a 32 by 32 or 64 by 64 array of detectors such as microbridge resistance bolometer detectors.
46 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A head position sensor for use in a vehicle in conjunction with controls for deployment of safety restrain airbags, comprising:
-
an array of thermal intra red detectors, a lens system for imaging a seat occupant and a location of at least one airbag, and a processor for determining the existence of an occupant in a seat and the position of the occupants head relative to at least one airbag from a thermal image of the array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of providing information to control safety airbags in a vehicle including steps of:
-
providing an array of thermal image detectors and a lens system;
providing a thermal image of a vehicles occupant;
determining from the thermal image the occupants head position relative to parts of the vehicle containing an airbag;
providing an output signal representing the occupants head position whereby the vehicle controls may adjust deployment of at least one of the airbags. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
- 14. (canceled)
-
15. (canceled)
-
17. An intruder detection system comprising:
-
an x, y array of infra red detectors, a lens system for directing infra red radiation from an area of interest onto the array of detectors, and signal processing means for reading the output of each detector to provide a thermal image of the area of interest, and providing an indication of the presence of intruders.
-
Specification