Apparatus for detecting the presence of an occupant in a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A stereoscopic object detection system for sensing and categorizing objects present on a seat of a motor vehicle, the stereoscopic object detection system comprising:
- a camera assembly for producing first and second images of the seat in which image features are shifted between the first and second images by an amount corresponding to distances the image features are from the camera assembly;
an image analyzer coupled to the camera assembly and processing the first and second images to determine presence of an object on the seat, and to determine a size of the object in response to a given amount that the object is shifted between the first and second images; and
an output device coupled to the image analyzer and producing a signal in an event that the presence of an object on the seat is detected, wherein the signal indicates the size of the object on the seat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motor vehicle control system includes a pair of cameras for producing first and second images of a passenger area. A distance processor determines distances that a plurality of features in the first and second images are from the cameras based on the amount that each feature is shifted between the first and second images. An analyzer processed the distances and determine a size of an object on the seat. Additional analysis of the distance also may determine movement of the object and the rate of that movement. The distance information also can be used to recognize predefined patterns in the images and thus identify the object. A mechanism utilizes the determined object characteristics in controlling operation of a device, such as deployment of an air bag.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A stereoscopic object detection system for sensing and categorizing objects present on a seat of a motor vehicle, the stereoscopic object detection system comprising:
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a camera assembly for producing first and second images of the seat in which image features are shifted between the first and second images by an amount corresponding to distances the image features are from the camera assembly;
an image analyzer coupled to the camera assembly and processing the first and second images to determine presence of an object on the seat, and to determine a size of the object in response to a given amount that the object is shifted between the first and second images; and
an output device coupled to the image analyzer and producing a signal in an event that the presence of an object on the seat is detected, wherein the signal indicates the size of the object on the seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22)
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13. A stereoscopic object detection system for sensing and categorizing objects present on a seat of a motor vehicle, the stereoscopic object detection system comprising:
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a camera assembly for producing first and second images of the seat and objects thereon, in which image features are shifted between the first and second images by an amount corresponding to distances the image features are disposed from the camera assembly;
a distance processor connected to the camera assembly for determining distances that a plurality of features in the first and second images are from the camera assembly, wherein the distances are determined in response to a given amount that each feature is shifted between the first and second images;
an analyzer coupled to the distance processor to analyze the distances and determine a size of an object on the seat; and
a mechanism for controlling operation of a device of the motor vehicle in response to the analyzer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24)
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19. A method for controlling operation of an air bag in an vehicle, said method comprising step of:
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acquiring an image of a passenger area of the vehicle;
processing the image to determine a size of a person in the passenger area;
processing the image to detect movement of the person in the passenger area; and
controlling operation of the air bag in response to the size of the person in the passenger area and in response to whether movement of the person is detected. - View Dependent Claims (20, 25)
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26. A system for controlling operation of an air bag in a motor vehicle, which system comprises:
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a camera having an imaging device which stereoscopically produces first and second images side-by-side wherein image features are shifted between the first and second images by an amount corresponding to distances the image features are from the camera;
an image analyzer coupled to the camera and processing the first and second images to determine presence of a person in the motor vehicle and to determine a size of the person in response to a given amount that the person is shifted between the first and second images; and
a mechanism for controlling operation of the air bag in response to the size of the person. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification