METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE

• US 20140142816A1
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: MOEBUS, Marco
• Application Number:
  US14/081,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a vehicle. The method comprises determining whether at least one occupant of the vehicle is moving at least one body part based on data collected by at least one ultrasonic sensor arranged in the vehicle. If it is determined that at least one occupant of the vehicle is moving at least one body part, the movement is classified based on the data collected by the at least one ultrasonic sensor and a determination is made as to whether the movement corresponds to a predefined movement type from a plurality of predefined movement types. If it is determined that at the movement corresponds to a predefined movement type from a plurality of predefined movement types, at least one component of the vehicle is adapted automatically depending on the predefined movement type.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:

determining whether an occupant of the vehicle is moving a body part based on data collected by an ultrasonic sensor arranged in the vehicle;

classifying a movement based on the data collected by the ultrasonic sensor and determining whether the movement corresponds to a predefined movement type from a plurality of predefined movement types if it is determined that at least one occupant of the vehicle is moving at least one body part; and

automatically adapting a component of the vehicle depending on the predefined movement type if it is determined that at the movement corresponds to the predefined movement type from the plurality of predefined movement types.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining as to whether the occupant of the vehicle is moving the body part comprises determining whether a driver of the vehicle is moving the body part.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining as to whether the occupant of the vehicle is moving the body part comprises interpreting a movement.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining as to whether the occupant of the vehicle is moving the body part is carried out with pattern recognition in the data collected by the ultrasonic sensor.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining as to whether the occupant of the vehicle is moving the body part comprises analysis of a chronological progression of a distance of the body part from ultrasonic sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatically adapting of the component of the vehicle comprises automatically adapting of a driver assistance system of the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 6,

wherein the driver assistance system is configured to automatically operate an element of the vehicle, and

wherein the automatically adaptating of the driver assistance system comprises modification of a threshold value for an automatic operation of the element in such manner that the automatic operation is effected sooner.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the driver assistance system is an emergency braking system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatically adapting of the component of the vehicle comprises an automatically adapting of a control element and a display element of the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the automatically adapting comprises automatically activating the control element.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the automatically adapting comprises automatically adapting of a luminosity of a lighting device of the control element.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the automatically adapting of a position of the control element and the display element.

13. A vehicle comprising

an ultrasonic sensor is disposed inside the vehicle;

a first analysis device that is configured to determine whether an occupant of the vehicle is moving a body part on a basis of the data collected by the ultrasonic sensor;

a classification device that is configured to classify a movement on a basis of the data collected by the ultrasonic device if it is determined that at least one occupant of the vehicle is moving at least one body part;

a second analysis device that is configured to determine whether the movement corresponds to a predefined movement type from a plurality of predefined movement types; and

an adaptation device that is configured to automatically adapt a component of the vehicle depending on the predefined movement type, if it is determined that the movement corresponds to the predefined movement type from the plurality of predefined movement types.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)