Detection device for detecting an object in a detection region on an inner panel part of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle, and corresponding method

• US 9,599,747 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Comfort And Driving Assistance
• Original Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Kuntze, Daniel, Schoch, Lars, Simonis, Karl, Wildt, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHNEIDER, PAULA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/441,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/003 Bistatic lidar systems; Multistatic lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A detection device for detecting an object is disclosed. The detection device is located on and/or above an inner panel part of a motor vehicle in the region of an exit opening implemented in the inner panel part, wherein the detection device has a detection region, in which the object is detectable in an acquisition direction of the detection device, wherein the acquisition direction extends at least essentially in parallel to an opening plane of the exit opening.

Claims

1. A detection device for detecting an object, which is located on or above an inner panel part of a motor vehicle in the region of an exit opening implemented in the inner panel part, the detection device comprising:

a detection region, in which the object is detectable in an acquisition direction of the detection device, wherein

the acquisition direction extends at least parallel to an opening plane of the exit opening,

wherein the inner panel part is a dashboard of the motor vehicle,

wherein the detection region is a region between a dashboard and a windshield of the motor vehicle.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection region at least predominantly, overlaps the exit opening.

3. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the exit opening is an opening for beams of a heads-up display and/or an opening for an airbag.

4. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device farther comprises:

a transmitting element for emitting electromagnetic beams into the detection region;

a receiving element for receiving at least a part of the beams and for providing a sensor signal in dependence on the received beams; and

an electronic analysis unit configured to detect the object in the detection region in dependence on the sensor signal.

5. The detection device according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting element is implemented for emitting the beams along a predefined beam path toward the receiving element, and the beams pass through the detection region along the predefined beam path and are incident on the receiving element only when no object is located in the predefined beam path.

6. The detection device according to claim 5, wherein the predefined beam path extends along, in parallel to, a surface of the inner panel part or in parallel to the opening plane of the exit opening.

7. The detection device according claim 4, wherein a transmitting element and a receiving element are arranged opposite to one another in a direct line-of-sight connection and the predefined beam path extends linearly.

8. The detection device according to claim 4, wherein the detection device has a reflection element for deflecting the beams in the direction toward the receiving element.

9. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising an analysis unit which, after detection of the object in the detection region is configured to:

generate a control signal for deactivating at least one component of the motor vehicle selected from a group consisting of;

a projection display unit and/or an airbag, and

output a warning signal by means of an output unit.

10. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising

a plurality of element pairs, each made of an optical transmitting element and an optical receiving element,

wherein a beam path from the transmitting element toward the receiving element is specified in each case between the transmitting element and the receiving element of each element pair, so that the beams pass through the detection region along the respective predefined beam path and are incident on the respective receiving element only when no object is located in the respective beam path.

11. The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the beam paths of the plurality of element pairs lie in a shared plane or in parallel to the opening plane of the exit opening or in parallel to a surface of the inner panel part.

12. The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the beam paths of the plurality of element pairs extend in parallel to one another.

13. The detection device according to claim 10, further comprising an additional transmitting element for emitting electromagnetic beams at an angle greater than 0°

in relation to a plane comprising the plurality of beam paths, and an additional receiving element, configured to receive the beams emitted by the additional transmitting element only when these beams are reflected on the object.

14. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising

two components located opposite to one another and embodied as oblong, and

a plurality of transmitting elements integrated in a first of the two components, wherein a plurality of receiving elements is integrated in one of a second of the two components or in the first component.

15. A motor vehicle having an inner panel part comprising a vehicle dashboard, the vehicle further comprising:

a detection device for detecting an object, which is located on or above an inner panel part of a motor vehicle hi the region of an exit opening implemented in the inner panel part, the detection device comprising;

a detection region, in which the object is detectable in an acquisition direction of the detection device, wherein

the acquisition direction extends at least parallel to an opening plane of the exit opening,

wherein the inner panel part is a dashboard of the motor vehicle,

wherein the detection region is a region between a dashboard and a windshield of the motor vehicle.

16. A method for detecting an object, which is located on or above an inner panel part of a motor vehicle in the region of an exit opening implemented hi the inner panel part, the method comprising:

detecting the object by a detection device having a detection region in which the object is detected in an acquisition direction of the detection device,

wherein the acquisition direction extends at least essentially in parallel to an opening plane of the exit opening,

wherein the inner panel part is a dashboard of the motor vehicle,

wherein the detection region is a region between a dashboard and a windshield of the motor vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising;

emitting electromagnetic beams into the detection region by a transmitting element, at least a part of the beams being received by a receiving element;

providing a sensor signal in dependence on the received beams; and

detecting the object in the detection region in dependence on the sensor signal by an electronic analysis unit,

wherein the transmitting element emits the beams along a predefined beam path, which defines the detection region, toward the receiving element, and the beams pass through the detection region along the predefined beam path and are incident on the receiving element only if no object is located in the detection region.