Device for the detection of an object on a vehicle seat

• US 7,379,195 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Bauer, Michael, Weidhaas, Stefan, Yoon, Jason Jeong-Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tu T
• Application Number:
  US11/713,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 356/625
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/586 from multiple light sources, e.g. photometric stereo
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

A device for the detection of an object on a vehicle seat, including a camera and a processing unit for the generation of a two-dimensional representation of the object is provided. The device also includes at least two illumination sources, which are positioned in such a manner that the object can be illuminated from different directions, and the processing unit is suitable to generate a three-dimensional representation of the object from two dimensional representations, each generated under different illumination conditions.

Claims

1. A device that detects an object on a vehicle seat, comprising:

a camera and a processing unit for the generation of a two-dimensional representation of the object;

at least two illumination sources, which are positioned to illuminate the object from different directions,

wherein the processing unit generates a three-dimensional representation of the object from two two-dimensional representations, each generated under different illumination conditions.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit generates a three-dimensional representation of the object from two two-dimensional representations, each generated under different illumination conditions, whereby the different illumination conditions are caused by a different number of active illumination sources.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit assigns the detected object to one out of at least two object classes, where the at least two object classes are selected from a plurality of object classes comprising the three following object classes:

a child-seat arranged in forward driving direction,

a child-seat arranged in backward driving direction,

an adult.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit signals the object class to which the device on the vehicle seat has been assigned to a task which is either executed by the processing unit itself or by another device, whereby the fact and/or manner of the execution of this task depends on the object class to which the device on the vehicle seat has been assigned.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit assigns the detected object to one out of at least two object classes, where the at least two object classes are selected from a plurality of object classes comprising the three following object classes:

a child-seat arranged in forward driving direction,

a child-seat arranged in backward driving direction,

an adult.

6. A method for detecting an object on a vehicle seat, the method comprising the acts of:

illuminating the object by a first illumination device from a first direction;

illuminating the object by a second illumination device from a second direction;

generating a first two-dimensional representation of the object under a first illumination condition;

generating a second two-dimensional representation of the object under a second illumination condition; and

generating a three-dimensional representation of the object from the first and second two-dimensional representation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second illumination conditions are caused by a different number of active illumination sources.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the act of:

assigning the detected object to one out of at least two object classes, wherein the at least two object classes are selected from a plurality of object classes comprising the three following object classes;

a child-seat arranged in forward driving direction,

a child-seat arranged in backward driving direction,

an adult.