Vehicular Occupant Protection System Control Arrangement and Method Using Multiple Sensor Systems

• US 20070193811A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David, DuVall, Wilbur, Johnson, Wendell
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands

Abstract

Arrangement and method for controlling an occupant protection system in a vehicle which protects an occupant of a vehicular compartment during a crash involving the vehicle includes a first sensor system for obtaining information about the occupant, a second sensor system for determining a position of the occupant or a part thereof which enables a determination of the position of the occupant relative to the occupant protection system, and a processor coupled to the first and second sensor systems for controlling deployment of the occupant protection system based on the information about the occupant obtained by the first sensor system and the position of the occupant determined by the second sensor system. The first sensor system may include one or more optical imaging devices which obtain images of an area of the compartment occupied by the occupant, the information about the occupant being obtained by analysis of the images.

Claims

1. An arrangement for controlling an occupant protection system in a vehicle which protects an occupant of a compartment in the vehicle during a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor system for obtaining information about the occupant;

a second sensor system for determining a position of the occupant or a part thereof which enables a determination of the position of the occupant relative to the occupant protection system; and

a processor coupled to said first and second sensor systems for controlling deployment of the occupant protection system based on the information about the occupant obtained by said first sensor system and the position of the occupant determined by said second sensor system.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first sensor system comprises at least one optical imaging device arranged to obtain images of an area of the compartment occupied by the occupant, the information about the occupant being obtained by analysis of the images.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein analysis of the images involves application of pattern recognition techniques to identify objects in the images.

4. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said first sensor system is arranged to map the location of the occupant and objects in the image in two-dimensions and said second sensor system is arranged to determine the distance between the occupant and the occupant protection system.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the information about the occupant obtained by said first sensor system is whether the occupant is human, said processor being arranged to deploy the occupant protection system only when said first sensor system determines that the occupant is human.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first sensor system is arranged to identify the occupant, said processor being arranged to control deployment of the occupant protection system based on the identification of the occupant.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first sensor system is arranged to determine that the occupant is human and the location of a head or chest of the occupant, said processor being arranged to control deployment of the occupant protection system based on the location of the occupant'"'"'s head or chest.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said second sensor system is arranged to determine the position of the occupant after said first sensor system provides information about the occupant.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said second system includes a wave transmitter which transmits waves into the compartment and a wave-receiver which receives waves reflected from the occupant.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame defining a compartment in which an occupant can be situated;

an occupant protection system mounted on said frame to protect the occupant in said compartment during a crash involving the vehicle; and

a first sensor system mounted on said frame for obtaining information about the occupant;

a second sensor system mounted on said frame for determining a position of the occupant or a part thereof which enables a determination of the position of the occupant relative to said occupant protection system; and

a processor coupled to said first and second sensor systems for controlling deployment of said occupant protection system based on the information about the occupant obtained by said first sensor system and the position of the occupant determined by said second sensor system.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said first sensor system comprises at least one optical imaging device arranged to obtain images of an area of said compartment occupied by the occupant, the information about the occupant being obtained by analysis of the images.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein analysis of the images involves application of pattern recognition techniques to identify objects in the images.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said first sensor system is arranged to map the location of the occupant and objects in the image in two-dimensions and said second sensor system is arranged to determine the distance between the occupant and said occupant protection system.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the information about the occupant obtained by said first sensor system is whether the occupant is human, said processor being arranged to deploy said occupant protection system only when said first sensor system determines that the occupant is human.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said first sensor system is arranged to identify the occupant, said processor being arranged to control deployment of said occupant protection system based on the identification of the occupant.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said first sensor system is arranged to determine that the occupant is human and the location of a head or chest of the occupant, said processor being arranged to control deployment of said occupant protection system based on the location of the occupant'"'"'s head or chest.

17. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said second sensor system is arranged to determine the position of the occupant after said first sensor system provides information about the occupant.

18. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said second system includes a wave transmitter which transmits waves into said compartment and a wave-receiver which receives waves reflected from the occupant.

19. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said occupant protection system is an airbag.

20. A method for controlling an occupant protection system in a vehicle which protects on occupant of a compartment in the vehicle during a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:

mounting a first sensor system on a frame of the vehicle which defines the compartment;

obtaining information about the occupant using the first sensor system;

mounting a second sensor system on the frame of the vehicle which is different than the first sensor system;

determining a position of the occupant or a part thereof using the second sensor system;

determining the position of the occupant relative to the occupant protection device based on the determined position of the occupant or part thereof; and

controlling deployment of the occupant protection system based on the information about the occupant obtained using the first sensor system and the determined position of the occupant.