Passive control of vehicle interior features based upon occupant classification

• US 7,970,517 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Desai, Tejas, Drescher, Susan, Kachouh, Patricia
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim T
• Application Number:
  US11/355,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/49, 701/36, 180272-273, 180/280
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits

Abstract

The present invention includes a method of monitoring and controlling interior functions of a vehicle, for example, a memory seat position, a vehicle pedal position, a steering column position, a vehicle interior temperature, and/or whether the vehicle is occupied or unoccupied at certain times and under certain conditions. The interior functions are controlled by passively monitoring a characteristic of an occupant, determining an identity of the occupant based on the monitored characteristic, and regulating the interior function based upon the identity of the occupant. The monitored characteristic, for example, may be representative of a weight classification or biomass associated with the occupant, or a signal or input generated based upon a user identification device, for example, a key fob or other personal electronic device carried by the occupant.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an interior function of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

measuring a biomass associated with at least one occupant with a sensor disposed within an interior of a vehicle;

correlating an identity of the at least one occupant with the biomass that is unique to the at least one occupant with a microcontroller mounted within the vehicle;

selecting a desired position of at least one interior function of the vehicle by at least one occupant from a plurality of positions stored within the microcontroller;

associating the identity of the at least one occupant with the selected position of the at least one interior function of the vehicle from the positions stored within the microcontroller;

determining an identity associated with the at least one occupant based upon the at least one measured characteristic; and

adjusting the at least one interior function with a command from the microcontroller to the selected position responsive to the measured characteristic correlating to the identity of the at least one occupant.

2. The method of control as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

correlating the identity of the at least one occupant to a corresponding memory setting; and

adjusting a current condition of the at least one interior function to the corresponding memory setting.

3. The method of control as recited in claim 2, wherein the memory setting is associated with a vehicle seat position.

4. The method of control as recited in claim 2, wherein the memory setting is associated with a vehicle pedal position.

5. The method of control as recited in claim 2, wherein the memory setting is associated with a steering column position.

6. The method of control as recited in claim 1, wherein the identity of the at least one occupant is determined based upon a measured weight of the at least one occupant.

7. The method of control as recited in claim 1, wherein the identity associated with the at least one occupant is determined based upon a user identification device.

8. The method of control as recited in claim 7, wherein the user identification device is a key fob.

9. The method of control as recited in claim 7, wherein the user identification device is a user entry code.

10. The method of control as recited in claim 7, wherein the user identification device is a personal electronic device.

11. The method of control as recited in claim 1, further including the step of:

selectively overriding the at least one interior function based upon the identity associated with the at least one occupant.

12. The method of control as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one interior function is at least one vehicle latch.

13. The method of control as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one interior function is at least one window regulator.

14. The method of control as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of:

determining a location associated with the at least one occupant; and

restricting operation of the at least one interior function based upon the identity and the location associated with the at least one occupant.

15. The method of control as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one interior function is a power-folding seat.