Occupant detection and imaging system
First Claim
1. A process for operating an active safety system of a motor vehicle, the process comprising:
- providing a motor vehicle with an ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a three-dimensional (3D) imaging system, an electronic control unit and an occupant safety system. energizing the ultrasonic array such that a plurality of sound waves are propagated and a plurality of echo waves are received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the plurality of echo waves transformed into a plurality of electrical pulses by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;
providing an occupant warning system operable to transmit an occupant warning signal to an occupant of the motor vehicle;
generating a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses with the 3D imaging system;
determining a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image relative to the motor vehicle with the electronic control unit;
providing an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image;
transmitting of the occupant safety parameter to the occupant warning system by the electronic control unit;
receiving of the occupant safety parameter by the occupant warning system;
determining whether or not to transmit the occupant warning signal to the occupant of the motor vehicle as a function of the occupant safety parameter, wherein the occupant warning system provides a warning to sit facing forward based on the occupant safety parameter; and
determining whether or not to deploy an occupant safety device as a function of the occupant safety parameter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image. The electronic control unit can also provide an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and transmit the occupant safety parameter or an instruction related to the occupant safety parameter to an occupant safety system and/or an occupant warning system.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A process for operating an active safety system of a motor vehicle, the process comprising:
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providing a motor vehicle with an ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a three-dimensional (3D) imaging system, an electronic control unit and an occupant safety system. energizing the ultrasonic array such that a plurality of sound waves are propagated and a plurality of echo waves are received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the plurality of echo waves transformed into a plurality of electrical pulses by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; providing an occupant warning system operable to transmit an occupant warning signal to an occupant of the motor vehicle; generating a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses with the 3D imaging system; determining a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image relative to the motor vehicle with the electronic control unit; providing an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image; transmitting of the occupant safety parameter to the occupant warning system by the electronic control unit; receiving of the occupant safety parameter by the occupant warning system; determining whether or not to transmit the occupant warning signal to the occupant of the motor vehicle as a function of the occupant safety parameter, wherein the occupant warning system provides a warning to sit facing forward based on the occupant safety parameter; and determining whether or not to deploy an occupant safety device as a function of the occupant safety parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification