Occupant type and position detection system
First Claim
1. A method for determining position of an object located in a vehicle relative to a fixed structure within the vehicle comprising the steps of:
- a. generating two-dimensional image data representative of any objects located within a front seating area of the vehicle; and
b. detecting the location of the object relative to a narrow depth of focus reference plane using a de-blurring filter, wherein said narrow depth of focus lens has an optic axis and said de-blurring filter cooperates with said narrow depth of focus lens to provide a measure of distance along said optic axis to said object within the field of view relative to the fixed structure of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system (10) for detecting vehicle occupant type and position utilizes a single camera unit (12) positioned, for example at the driver or passenger side A-pillar, to generate image data of the front seating area of the vehicle. The present invention distinguishes between objects, forwardly or rearwardly facing child seats, and occupants, by periodically mapping the image taken of the interior of the vehicle into an image profile (104), and utilizing image profile matching with stored profile data (110) to determine the occupant or object type. The system and method of the present invention track occupant type and position in both parallel and perpendicular directions relative to a fixed structure such as the vehicle instrument panel to optimize both the efficiency and safety in controlling deployment of a occupant safety device, such as an air bag (28).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for determining position of an object located in a vehicle relative to a fixed structure within the vehicle comprising the steps of:
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a. generating two-dimensional image data representative of any objects located within a front seating area of the vehicle; and
b. detecting the location of the object relative to a narrow depth of focus reference plane using a de-blurring filter, wherein said narrow depth of focus lens has an optic axis and said de-blurring filter cooperates with said narrow depth of focus lens to provide a measure of distance along said optic axis to said object within the field of view relative to the fixed structure of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for determining position of an object located in a vehicle relative to a fixed structure within the vehicle comprising:
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a. a camera mounted within the vehicle interior and having a field of view so that a front driver side seat and a front passenger side seat are both simultaneously viewable by said imaging means but not simultaneously in focus, wherein said camera generates an output signal representative of an instantaneous position of any object located within the field of view;
b. a narrow depth of focus lens operatively coupled to said camera, wherein said narrow depth of focus lens has an optic axis; and
c. a de-blurring filter, wherein said de-blurring filter cooperates with said narrow depth of focus lens to provide a measure of distance along said optic axis to said object within the field of view relative to the fixed structure of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification