Vehicle Occupant Protection System

• US 20090010502A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Linssen, Manfred, Struck, Matthias, Hackbarth, Thomas, Ruedebusch, Clark, Lanzerath, Martin
• Application Number:
  US12/088,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20090010502A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field

Abstract

An occupant protection system or comfort system for a vehicle having a plurality of adaptive protection system or comfort system components which are assigned to one respective vehicle seat. The system components and which can be adjusted by a stored safety and/or comfort profile relating to a person when the person is identified by a person identifying device for detecting biometric identification features of parts of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s body. The person identifying device has a biometric sensor for identifying the vehicle occupant, as well as an arrangement for unambiguously assigning the vehicle occupant to a vehicle seat.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. An occupant protection system or comfort system for a vehicle having a plurality of adaptive protection system or comfort system components which are assigned to a respective vehicle seat and which can be adjusted by means of a stored safety or comfort profile relating to a person when the person is identified by a person identifying device for detecting biometric identification features of parts of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s body, wherein:

the person identifying device has a biometric sensor for identifying the vehicle occupant; and

a device is provided which unambiguously assigns the vehicle occupant to a vehicle seat.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the biometric sensor is a fingerprint reader which can detect a fingerprint with variable finger orientation on a sensor panel of the fingerprint reader; and

the vehicle seat which is occupied by the vehicle occupant is determined based on the sensed finger orientation.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor panel of the fingerprint reader is divided into sectors for determining the finger orientation.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the fingerprint reader also senses tilting of the finger about a longitudinal axis of the finger.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor panel of the fingerprint reader has a round configuration.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the biometric sensor is arranged in a center console between the two front vehicle seats.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the biometric sensor is a fingerprint reader;

the device which unambiguously assigns the vehicle occupant to a vehicle seat comprises an electrically conductive electrode structure in the region of the fingerprint reader and a further electrically conductive electrode structure in the region of the vehicle seat;

occupation of the vehicle seat is determined by the vehicle occupant from an electrical measurement between the two electrode structures.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the electrical measurement comprises measuring one of an electric current, a capacitance and an inductance.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the electrode structure is arranged in proximity to at least one of the vehicle seat, a seat surface, a seat backrest, a footwell, a steering wheel, a door area, and an inner roof lining of the vehicle.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the biometric sensor detects the geometry of at least one of hands and fingers.

22. The system according to claim 12, further comprising at least one additional biometric sensor which is arranged in vehicle seats in a rear area of the vehicle.

23. A vehicle system comprising:

a plurality of adaptive protection system or comfort system components that are assigned to a respective vehicle seat, and which can be adjusted in response to a stored profile relating to a person who occupies the vehicle seat;

a person identifying device which includes a biometric sensor, which identifies a vehicle occupant, by detecting biometric identification features of parts of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s body; and

a device which unambiguously assigns the vehicle occupant to a vehicle seat.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein:

the biometric sensor is a fingerprint reader which can detect a fingerprint with variable finger orientation on a sensor panel of the fingerprint reader; and

the vehicle seat which is occupied by the vehicle occupant is determined based on the sensed finger orientation.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the sensor panel of the fingerprint reader is divided into sectors for determining the finger orientation.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the fingerprint reader also senses tilting of the finger about a longitudinal axis of the finger.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein:

the biometric sensor is a fingerprint reader;

the device which unambiguously assigns the vehicle occupant to a vehicle seat comprises an electrically conductive electrode structure in the region of the fingerprint reader and a further electrically conductive electrode structure in the region of the vehicle seat;

occupation of the vehicle seat is determined by the vehicle occupant from an electrical measurement between the two electrode structures.

28. The system according to claim 23, wherein the biometric sensor detects the geometry of at least one of hands and fingers.