System and method for detecting the seat occupancy in a vehicle

• US 7,090,247 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hofbeck, Klaus, Rösel, Birgit
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/842,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 701/45, 342/72, 342/42, 342/51, 340/825.49, 340/10.32
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles

Abstract

A system for detecting the seat occupancy in a vehicle includes a microwave transmitter (10) and a plurality of small-area reflectors (12) which are arranged in the vehicle. By activating or deactivating the different reflectors (12) during different time intervals, the reflectors (12) can be identified via the unequivocal assignment between the time intervals and the reflectors. This makes it possible to use narrow-band microwave radiation, since it is then not absolutely necessary to identify the reflectors (12) with the aid of different frequencies. It is also possible to arrange receivers in the seat (20) instead of reflectors (12).

Claims

1. A system for detecting the seat occupancy in a vehicle, comprising

at least one microwave transmitter,

reflectors which are arranged in the vehicle, and

at least one microwave receiver,

wherein

the at least one microwave transmitter and the reflectors are arranged so that the reflected intensity depends on the seat occupancy in the vehicle,

the reflectors can be selectively activated or deactivated during defined time intervals,

the reflectors can be distinguished from one another via an assignment of the reflectors to the time intervals, and

the reflectors are modulating back-scatter devices.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reflectors are arranged in at least one vehicle seat and/or one head restraint.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the back-scatter devices can be modulated at the same frequency.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the back-scatter devices can be modulated at the different frequencies.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein reflectors are arranged one below the other in a rest or support in the vehicle seat.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the back-scatter device is produced as an active back-scatter device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the seat occupancy affects the received intensity by virtue of the diffraction of the microwaves and

the received intensity provides information on the seat occupancy.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more microwave transmitters and the one or more microwave receivers are produced as one or more microwave transmitting and receiving devices with transmitting and receiving antennae.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein a control unit which triggers, disables or enables functions in the vehicle depending on the radiation received is provided.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein evaluation of the signals received by the microwave receiver is supported or carried out in ways which are used in the context of an access control and start-up system installed in the vehicle.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation path is a straight line.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein radiation from the microwave transmitter is guided with the aid of conducting materials built into the vehicle.

13. A method for detecting a seat occupancy in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

arranging one or more microwave transmitters and one or more reflectors for transmitting and reflecting microwave radiation in such a way that a received intensity depends on the seat occupancy in the vehicle,

transmitting microwave radiation,

reflecting the microwave radiation through the reflectors which are arranged in the vehicle

selectively activating or deactivating the reflectors during defined time intervals and

distinguishing the reflectors from one another via an assignment of the reflectors to the time intervals, wherein the reflection takes place by means of a back-scatter process.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the reflectors are arranged in at least one vehicle seat and/or one head restraint.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the back-scatter processes which take place on the different reflectors use the same modulation frequency.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the back-scatter processes which take place on the different reflectors use different modulation frequencies.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein reflectors are arranged one below the other in a rest or support in the vehicle seat.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the back-scatter process is produced by an active back-scatter device.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein

the seat occupancy affects the received intensity by virtue of the diffraction of the microwaves, and

the received intensity provides information on the seat occupancy.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein functions in the vehicle are triggered, disabled or enabled depending on the radiation received.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein evaluation of the signals received is supported or carried out in ways which are used in the context of an access control and start-up system installed in the vehicle.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the radiation path is a straight line.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein radiation from the microwave transmitter is guided with the aid of conducting materials built into the vehicle.