Vehicle passenger seat sensor network

• US 20050080533A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Basir, Otman A., Bullock, David
• Application Number:
  US10/953,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080533A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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 2/0022 for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0027 for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0029 for detecting the motion of the occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01068 between different sensors and airbag control unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4808 Sensing means arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A vehicle passenger seat sensor network includes a plurality of vehicle seats, each having a plurality of occupant sensors associated therewith. A seat processor on each seat performs some analysis and processing of the data from the plurality of sensors and sends information based upon the data over a network to a central processor. The central processor receives the information from each of the seats and takes appropriate action based upon this information. For example, the central processor may record and/or transmit the number of passengers, seat belt usage, health of the passengers. The central processor may also determine whether safety restraint systems, such as airbags, associated with that vehicle seat, should be deployed in the event of a collision.

Claims

1. A seat sensor network comprising:

a first vehicle seat having a first plurality of sensors mounted thereon, the first plurality of sensors generating first sensor data;

a data bus for carrying the first sensor data; and

a processor for receiving the first sensor data over the data bus, the processor mounted off the first vehicle seat.

2. The seat sensor network of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of sensors includes at least one of:

a biometric passenger sensor, a vision-based passenger sensor, a seat-belt usage sensor and a passenger presence detection sensor.

3. The seat sensor network of claim 1 further including a second vehicle seat having a second plurality of sensors mounted thereon, the second plurality of sensors generating second sensor data.

4. The seat sensor network of claim 3 wherein the processor receives the second sensor data over the data bus.

5. The seat sensor network of claim 4 wherein the processor is not mounted on the first vehicle seat or on the second vehicle seat.

6. The seat sensor network of claim 1 wherein the processor analyzes the first sensor data to determine the presence of an occupant in the first vehicle seat.

7. A method for collecting data from a plurality of seat sensors including the steps of:

collecting first data from a first sensor at a first vehicle seat;

sending the first data over a network; and

receiving the first data at a location remote from the first vehicle seat via the network.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of:

collecting second data from a second sensor at a second vehicle seat;

sending the second data over the network; and

receiving the second data at the location, which is remote from the second vehicle seat, via the network.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of determining whether a vehicle safety system should be activated based upon the first data.

10. The method of claim 7 further including the step of determining whether a vehicle safety system should be activated based upon the first data.

11. A vehicle seat assembly including:

a vehicle seat having a seating surface;

at least one sensor gathering data regarding the seating surface;

a processor mounted on the vehicle seat, the processor capturing the data from the at least one sensor; and

a network interface sending information from the processor based upon the data.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 11 wherein the processor analyzes the data from the at least one sensor to determine the presence of an occupant on the seating surface.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 11 wherein the processor analyzes the data from the at least one sensor and generates the information based upon the analysis of the data.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 13 wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors and wherein the processor generates the information based upon analysis of data from the plurality of sensors.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 11 wherein the processor analyzes the data from the at least one sensor to determine whether the at least one sensor is malfunctioning.