Device and method for seat supervision in motor vehicles

• US 6,678,598 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Hillebrand, Matthias, Teuner, Andreas, Conde, José Santos, Hosticka, Bedrich, Stevanovic, Nenad
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/019,147
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/46, 701/47, 180/268, 180/271, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/586 from multiple light sources, e.g. photometric stereo
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy

Abstract

A device for seat supervision in motor vehicles has a pulsed monochromatic light source for the short-time illumination of a supervised space. An image sensor array (ISA) is also provided for recording an image of the supervised space. The ISA is provided with a global electronic shutter unit which permits the illumination time of the ISA to be adjusted independently of a readout clock of the ISA. A synchronization unit for synchronizing the operation of the pulsed laser source and the ISA is provided. Also provided is a control unit for controlling the light source and the ISA so as to create a first image of the supervised space during illumination of the same at a first time and to create a second image of the supervised space without illumination of the same at a second time. Finally, a unit for creating a difference image from the first and second images is also provided.

Claims

1. A device for seat supervision in motor vehicles comprising:

a pulsed monochromatic light source for the short-time illumination of a supervised space;

an image sensor array for recording an image of the supervised space which has a global electronic shutter which enables the illumination time of the image sensor array to be adjusted independently of a readout clock of the image sensor array;

a synchronizer for synchronizing the operation of the pulsed light source and the image sensor array;

a controller for controlling the light source and the image sensor array so as to create a first image of the supervised space during illumination of the supervised space at a first time and to create a second image of the supervised space without illumination of the supervised space a second time; and

a difference image former for creating a difference image from the first and the second image.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination time of the light source lies in the microsecond or nanosecond range and wherein the first and the second times are at most 10 ms apart.

3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an interference light filter, a pass frequency of which is tuned to a wavelength of the illumination light of the light source, in front of the image sensor array.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser diode or light emitting diode which emits light in an invisible near-infrared range and which is provided with cylindrical optics or a diffraction grating for forming a fan of light.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein an evaluator for evaluating the difference image or a plurality of difference images is also provided so as to control the activation state of an airbag on the basis of the evaluation.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the evaluator evaluates the difference image or difference images using a triangulation method.

7. A method for seat supervision in motor vehicles, comprising the following steps:

a) illuminating a supervised space using a pulsed monochromatic light source employing an illumination time in the microsecond or nanosecond range;

b) recording a first image of the supervised space during the illumination in step a) using an image sensor array;

c) recording a second image of the supervised space, without illuminating the supervised space with the light source, a maximum of 10 ms before or after the first image; and

d) creating a difference image from the first and the second image.

8. A method according to claim 7, which also includes the step of controlling an activation state of one or more airbags on the basis of one or more difference images.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein a triangulation method is performed on the basis of one or more difference images so as to control the activation state of one or more airbags on the basis of the results of the triangulation method.