Device for actuating electronic equipment in a motor vehicle

• US 6,177,864 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Berberich, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/195,839
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426-429, 340/937, 340/438
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays

Abstract

A device for actuating electronic equipment in a motor vehicle has a picture-taking sensor unit (21) for monitoring the passenger compartment (1) of the motor vehicle and a evaluation unit (22) for recognizing pictures of the picture-taking sensor unit (21). If the piece of electronic equipment is an airbag (12-15) arranged in front of a vehicle seat (2-4), the triggering of the airbag (12-15) in the event of a crash can be prevented if there is no person (5-7) or no object (8) located on the vehicle seat (2-4).

Claims

1. A device for actuating electronic equipment in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a sensor element for generating electronic signals as a function of positions of persons and/or objects in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle; and

an evaluation unit for evaluating the electronic signals, the evaluating being responsive to the status of the ignition of the motor vehicle to perform plural functions of airbag control and antitheft control with said sensor element;

wherein the sensor element comprises a picture-taking sensor unit, and the evaluation unit is operative to recognize pictures of the picture-taking sensor unit;

wherein the evaluation unit is operative to sense sizes and/or weights of the persons.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is operative to recognize the sitting position of a person on a seat of the vehicle.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is operative to sense sizes and/or weights of the persons.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit comprises an electronic memory for storing data of various sitting positions and various sizes and weights of persons, and means for comparing stored data with the pictures of the picture-taking sensor unit.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is configured for emplacement in a region of a dashboard of the motor vehicle.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is configured for emplacement in a region adjoining an interior mirror.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is configured for emplacement behind a translucent interior mirror of the motor vehicle.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit comprises an arithmetic unit operative to link logically the signals of the picture-taking sensor unit and signals of a crash sensor.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said plural functions include also a control of a cassette recorder, and the evaluation unit comprises an arithmetic unit operative to link logically the signals of the picture-taking sensor unit and signals of a glass breakage sensor and/or of a door sensor.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is operative to generate a succession of pictures separated by time intervals.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is actuatable as a result of the signals of the picture-taking sensor unit.

12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the evaluation unit is operative to recognize the sitting position of a person on a seat of the vehicle.

13. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the evaluation unit comprises an electronic memory for storing data of various sitting positions and various sizes and weights of persons, and means for comparing stored data with the pictures of the picture-taking sensor unit.

14. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is configured for emplacement in a region of a dashboard of the motor vehicle.

15. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is configured for emplacement in a region adjoining an interior mirror.

16. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is configured for emplacement behind a translucent interior mirror of the motor vehicle.

17. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the arithmetic unit is operative to link logically the signals of the picture-taking sensor unit and signals of a crash sensor.

18. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the picture-taking sensor unit is operative to generate a succession of pictures separated by time intervals.

19. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is actuatable as a result of the signals of the picture-taking sensor unit.