Method for controlling at least one safety function for a motor vehicle

• US 20160236678A1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Upadhyay, Sushil Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 10,137,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• 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: B60N 2/26 for children B60N2/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/025 related to comfort of drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A method for controlling at least one safety function for a motor vehicle includes: a step of determining seat occupancy information, which indicates whether a seat of the vehicle is occupied by a child or not, based on sensor signals originating from a seat belt buckle sensor of the seat and from a weight sensor in the seat; and a step of applying a control signal, which includes child safety settings, depending on the seat occupancy information, to an interface for at least one vehicle safety device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling at least one safety function for a motor vehicle, comprising:

determining seat occupancy information which indicates whether a selected seat of the vehicle is occupied by a child or not, based on sensor signals originating from a seat belt buckle sensor of the seat and from a weight sensor in the seat; and

applying, depending on the seat occupancy information, a control signal which includes child safety settings to at least one vehicle safety device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is applied to one of a rear-window display device or a controller for a rear-window display device, and wherein the control signal causes the rear-window display device to display one of a child-onboard or baby-on-board message for following traffic.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is applied to a vehicle speed controller, and wherein the control signal causes the vehicle speed controller to limit vehicle speed to a predefined child-safe level.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is applied to one of a feedback output device or a controller for a feedback output device, and wherein the control signal causes the feedback output device to issue at least one of an acoustic, optical and haptic warning signal regarding at least one child-safe driving parameter.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is applied to a vehicle systems controller, and wherein the control signal causes the vehicle systems controller to block disabling of at least one of a vehicle safety system or a vehicle safety function.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is applied to at least one of a door lock actuator, a controller for the door lock actuator, a window lock actuator, and a controller for the window lock actuator, and wherein the control signal causes at least one of (i) the door lock actuator to lock at least one vehicle door and (ii) the window lock actuator to lock a window adjacent to the selected seat when the vehicle is moving.

7. A vehicle safety system, comprising:

a control unit including a processor configured to;

determine seat occupancy information which indicates whether a selected seat of the vehicle is occupied by a child or not, based on sensor signals originating from a seat belt buckle sensor of the seat and from an in-seat weight sensor in the seat; and

apply, depending on the seat occupancy information, a control signal which includes child safety settings to at least one vehicle safety device.

8. The vehicle safety system as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

at least one vehicle safety device;

the seat belt buckle sensor; and

the in-seat weight sensor;

wherein the control unit is communicatively connected to the least one vehicle safety device, to the seat belt buckle sensor and to the in-seat weight sensor.

9. A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium storing a computer program having program codes which, when executed on a computer, perform a method for controlling at least one safety function for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

determining seat occupancy information which indicates whether a selected seat of the vehicle is occupied by a child or not, based on sensor signals originating from a seat belt buckle sensor of the seat and from a weight sensor in the seat; and

applying, depending on the seat occupancy information, a control signal which includes child safety settings to at least one vehicle safety device.