Method and apparatus for detecting and monitoring a partial space
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a partial space in a motor vehicle to determine occupancy of a seat in the motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- using a first plurality of transmitters of a sensor device, directing ultra sound signals toward a partial space of a motor vehicle to generate a dynamic sound field in the partial space, the dynamic sound field being adaptable based on variable conditions in said partial space;
using a first plurality of receivers of said sensor device, sensing reflected ultra sound signals from the dynamic sound field as return beam signals;
in an evaluation device, recording the return beam signals with respect to at least one of a travel time difference and a signal amplitude contour; and
evaluating the return beam signals with respect to an object contour based on an object contour in the partial space to determine an occupancy of a seat in the partial space of said motor vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method for recording and monitoring of a partial space, specifically for determination of space occupancy in a vehicle and therefrom derivable activation and/or switching of accessory devices provides for the radiation of ultra sound from a sensor (5) with transmitter and receiver in the direction of the partial space. The return beam signal supplied by the receiver is passed to an evaluation unit and analyzed. Dependent thereon, accessory devices can be activated and/or switched. The sensor for the partial space (12) employs several transmitters (6) and several receivers (7). The return signals are recorded with respect to travel time difference, thus with respect to distance and/or with respect to signal contour determined by the amplitudes and evaluated with respect to object contour in the partial space (12).
80 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a partial space in a motor vehicle to determine occupancy of a seat in the motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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using a first plurality of transmitters of a sensor device, directing ultra sound signals toward a partial space of a motor vehicle to generate a dynamic sound field in the partial space, the dynamic sound field being adaptable based on variable conditions in said partial space; using a first plurality of receivers of said sensor device, sensing reflected ultra sound signals from the dynamic sound field as return beam signals; in an evaluation device, recording the return beam signals with respect to at least one of a travel time difference and a signal amplitude contour; and evaluating the return beam signals with respect to an object contour based on an object contour in the partial space to determine an occupancy of a seat in the partial space of said motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 21)
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6. A method of monitoring a partial space in a motor vehicle to determine occupancy of a seat in the motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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using a first plurality of transmitters of a sensor device, radiating ultra sound signals in a pulse-like fashion toward a partial space of a motor vehicle to generate a sound field in the partial space, a repeat frequency of the pulse-like radiated bursts being based on at least one of an object to be observed in said partial space, a position of an object within the partial space, and an event in said partial space; using a first plurality of receivers of said sensor device, sensing reflected ultra sound signals from the sound field as return beam signals; in an evaluation device, recording the return beam signals with respect to at least one of a travel time difference and a signal amplitude contour; and evaluating the return beam signals with respect to an object contour based on an object contour in the partial space to determine an occupancy of a seat in the partial space of said motor vehicle.
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9. An apparatus for monitoring a partial space in a motor vehicle to determine occupancy of a seat in the motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a first plurality of transmitters for developing ultra sound signals in a partial space of a motor vehicle to generate a dynamic sound field adaptable to variable conditions in the partial space; a first plurality of receivers for sensing reflected ultra sound signals from the dynamic sound field as return beam signals; and a return signal evaluation device for recording the return beam signals with respect to at least one of a travel time difference and a signal amplitude contour, the return signal evaluation device evaluating the return beam signals with respect to an object contour based on an object contour in the partial space to determine an occupancy of a seat in the partial space of said motor vehicle to selectively enable and disable accessory units of the motor vehicle based on said occupancy of said seat. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification