Vehicle occupant detecting system

• US 20070289799A1
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Aoki, Hiroshi, Yokoo, Masato, Hakomori, Yuu
• Application Number:
  US11/812,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289799A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• 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: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition

Abstract

The disclosed vehicle occupant detecting system may comprise a three-dimensional surface profile detector, a digitizer, a storage device, a position detector, and a processor. The three-dimensional surface profile detector is may detect a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant from a single view point. The digitizer may digitize the three-dimensional surface profile into a numerical coordinate system. The storage device may have previously stored information of features on a stored three-dimensional surface profile of a plurality of regions of a human body. The position detector detects information about one or more positions of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of the features. The processor computes a distance between predetermined regions and derives a physique of the vehicle occupant, determines whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant detecting system comprising:

a three-dimensional surface profile detector configured to face a vehicle seat for detecting a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat from a single view point;

a digitizer for digitizing the detected three-dimensional surface profile into a numerical coordinate system;

a storage device for previously storing information of features on a stored three-dimensional surface profile of a plurality of regions of a human body;

a position detector for detecting information about positions of a plurality of predetermined regions of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of the features; and

a processor for computing a distance between the predetermined regions using the information detected by the position detector and for deriving a physique of the vehicle occupant based on the computed distance between the predetermined regions.

2. A vehicle occupant detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compute a shoulder width of the vehicle occupant as the computed distance between the predetermined regions and to derive the physique of the vehicle occupant based on the computed shoulder width.

3. A vehicle occupant detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional surface profile detector comprises a camera.

4. A vehicle occupant detecting system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the camera is of a C-MOS or CCD type.

5. A vehicle occupant detecting system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the camera comprises an optical lens and a distance measuring image chip.

6. A vehicle occupant detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position detector is configured to detect information about a specific position of a specific region of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of features;

and

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state based on the detected information about the specific position of the specific region of the vehicle occupant.

7. A vehicle occupant detecting system comprising:

a three-dimensional surface profile detector configured to face a vehicle seat for detecting a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat from a single view point;

a digitizer for digitizing the detected three-dimensional surface profile into a numerical coordinate system;

a storage device for previously storing information of features on a stored three-dimensional surface profile of a predetermined region of a human body;

a position detector for detecting information about a position of a predetermined region of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of features; and

a processor for determining whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state based on the information detected by the position detector.

8. An operation device controlling system comprising:

a vehicle occupant detecting system, wherein the vehicle occupant detecting system comprises;

a three-dimensional surface profile detector configured to face a vehicle seat for detecting a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat from a single view point;

a digitizer for digitizing the detected three-dimensional surface profile into a numerical coordinate system;

a storage device for previously storing information of features on a stored three-dimensional surface profile of a plurality of regions of a human body;

a position detector for detecting information about positions of a plurality of predetermined regions of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of the features; and

a processor for computing a distance between the predetermined regions using the information detected by the position detector and for deriving a physique of the vehicle occupant based on the computed distance between the predetermined regions;

an operation device which is actuated based on the physique of the vehicle occupant; and

an actuation controller for controlling the actuation of the operation device.

9. The operation device controlling system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the position detector is configured to detect information about a specific position of a specific region of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of features;

and

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state based on the detected information about the specific position of the specific region of the vehicle occupant.

10. The operation device controlling system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operation device is configured to actuate based on whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state.

11. The operation device controlling system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the operation device is an occupant restraining device.

12. The operation device controlling system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the operation device is an air bag, a seat belt, or a combination thereof.

13. A vehicle comprising:

an engine/running system;

an electrical system;

an actuation control device for conducting actuation control of the engine/running system and the electrical system; and

a vehicle occupant detecting system, wherein the vehicle occupant detecting system comprises;

a three-dimensional surface profile detector disposed to face a vehicle seat for detecting a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat from a single view point;

a digitizer for digitizing the detected three-dimensional surface profile into a numerical coordinate system;

a storage device for previously storing information of features on a stored three-dimensional surface profile of a plurality of regions of a human body;

a position detector for detecting information about positions of a plurality of predetermined regions of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of the features; and

a processor for computing a distance between the predetermined regions using the information detected by the position detector and for deriving a physique of the vehicle occupant based on the computed distance between the predetermined regions.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the position detector is configured to detect information about a specific position of a specific region of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of features;

and

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state based on the detected information about the specific position of the specific region of the vehicle occupant.

15. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the three-dimensional surface profile detector is installed in one of an instrument panel, a pillar, a door, a windshield and another vehicle seat.

16. An operation device controlling system comprising:

a vehicle occupant detecting system, wherein the vehicle occupant detecting system comprises;

a three-dimensional surface profile detector configured to face a vehicle seat for detecting a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant on the vehicle seat from a single view point;

a digitizer for digitizing the detected three-dimensional surface profile into a numerical coordinate system;

a storage device for previously storing information of features on a stored three-dimensional surface profile of a predetermined region of a human body;

a position detector for detecting information about a position of a predetermined region of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of features; and

a processor for determining whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state based on the information detected by the position detector;

an operation device which is actuated based on the determination obtained by the processor of the vehicle occupant detecting system; and

an actuation controller for controlling the actuation of the operation device.

17. The operation device controlling system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the operation device is an occupant restraining device.

18. The operation device controlling system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the operation device is an air bag, a seat belt, or a combination thereof.