OCCUPANT DETECTION AND IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20100274449A1
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yonak, Serdar H., Schmalenberg, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image. The electronic control unit can also provide an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and transmit the occupant safety parameter or an instruction related to the occupant safety parameter to an occupant safety system and/or an occupant warning system.

Claims

1. A process for operating an active safety system of a machine, the process comprising:

providing a machine;

providing an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers operable to propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves, transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses, the active ultrasonic array operable to transmit the plurality of electrical pulses;

providing a three-dimensional (3D) imaging circuit operable to receive the plurality of electrical pulses and generate a 3D image;

providing an electronic control unit operable to determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and provide an occupant safety parameter as a function thereof;

providing an occupant safety system operable to deploy an occupant safety device as a function of the occupant safety parameter;

energizing the active ultrasonic array;

propagating of the plurality of sound waves by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

receiving of the plurality of echo waves by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

transforming of the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

transmitting of the plurality of electrical pulses by the ultrasonic array to the 3D imaging circuit;

receiving of the plurality of electrical pulses by the 3D imaging circuit from the active ultrasonic array;

generating of the 3D image by the 3D imaging circuit;

determining of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image relative to the machine by the electronic control unit;

providing of the occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image by the electronic control unit;

transmitting of the occupant safety parameter to the occupant safety system by the electronic control unit;

receiving of the occupant safety parameter by the occupant safety system; and

determining whether or not to deploy the occupant safety device as a function of the occupant safety parameter.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the machine is a motor vehicle.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the active ultrasonic array is attached to a headliner of the motor vehicle.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein the occupant safety parameter is selected from the group consisting of seat unoccupied, seat occupied by adult occupant, seat occupant by child occupant, seatbelt is fastened about adult occupant, seatbelt is fastened about child occupant, seat occupied by non-occupant object, occupant facing forward, and combinations thereof.

5. The process of claim 2, wherein the occupant safety system is a smart airbag system.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the smart airbag system determines whether or not to deploy an airbag for a predefined low-level impact to the motor vehicle based on the occupant safety parameter.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein the smart airbag system determines whether or not to deploy an airbag for a predefined high-level impact based on the occupant safety parameter.

8. The process of claim 2, further including:

providing an occupant warning system operable to transmit an occupant warning signal to the occupant of the machine;

transmitting of the occupant safety parameter to the occupant warning system by the electronic control unit;

receiving of the occupant safety parameter by the occupant warning system; and

determining whether or not to transmit an occupant warning signal to the occupant of the machine as a function of the occupant safety parameter.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the occupant warning system provides a warning to sit facing forward based on the occupant safety parameter.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein the occupant warning system provides a warning to buckle a seatbelt based on the occupant safety parameter.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein the 3D imaging circuit recognizes a non-occupant object located on a seat.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the smart airbag system does not deploy an airbag during a predefined level of impact to the motor vehicle when a non-occupant object is recognized on the seat.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein the occupant warning system does not provide a warning to sit facing forward when a non-occupant object is recognized on the seat.

14. The process of claim 11, wherein the occupant warning system does not provide a warning to buckle a seatbelt when a non-occupant object is recognized on the seat.

15. A process for operating an active safety system of a motor vehicle, the process comprising:

providing a motor vehicle;

providing an active ultrasonic array attached to the motor vehicle and having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers operable to propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves, transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses, the active ultrasonic array operable to transmit the plurality of electrical pulses;

providing a three-dimensional (3D) imaging circuit operable to receive the plurality of electrical pulses and generate a 3D image;

providing an electronic control unit operable to determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image relative to an interior of the motor vehicle and provide an occupant safety parameter as function thereof;

providing an occupant safety system operable to deploy an occupant safety device as a function of the occupant safety parameter;

providing an occupant warning system operable to transmit an occupant warning signal to the occupant of the motor vehicle;

energizing the active ultrasonic array;

propagating of the plurality of sound waves by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

receiving of the plurality of echo waves by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

transforming of the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

transmitting of the plurality of electrical pulses by the ultrasonic array to the 3D imaging circuit;

receiving of the plurality of electrical pulses by the 3D imaging circuit from the active ultrasonic array;

generating of the 3D image by the 3D imaging circuit;

determining of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image relative to the motor vehicle by the electronic control unit;

providing of the occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image by the electronic control unit;

transmitting of the occupant safety parameter to the occupant safety system and the occupant warning system by the electronic control unit;

receiving of the occupant safety parameter by the occupant safety system and the occupant warning system;

determining whether or not to deploy the occupant safety device as a function of the occupant safety parameter; and

determining whether or not to transmit an occupant warning signal as a function of the occupant safety parameter.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the active ultrasonic array is attached to a headliner of the motor vehicle.

17. The process of claim 15, wherein the occupant safety parameter is selected from the group consisting of seat unoccupied, seat occupied by adult occupant, seat occupant by child occupant, seatbelt is fastened about adult occupant, seatbelt is fastened about child occupant, seat occupied by non-occupant object, occupant facing forward, and combinations thereof.

18. The process of claim 15, wherein the occupant safety system is a smart airbag system.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the smart airbag system determines whether or not to deploy an airbag for a predefined level of impact to the motor vehicle based on the occupant safety parameter.

20. The process of claim 15, wherein the occupant warning signal is selected from the group consisting of sit facing forward, buckle a seatbelt and combinations thereof.