Human scanning for interior preferences setup

• US 9,707,912 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pena Casimiro, Jesus Alejandro, Barrios Albert, Jorge Guillermo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lang, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/077,580
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• 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 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/10 Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification

Abstract

Systems and methods for human scanning for interior preference setup are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a target lamp on a side view mirror of the vehicle. The example vehicle also includes a scanning module. Additionally, the example vehicle includes an active scanning system configured to instruct the target lamp to project a position indicator a known distance from the vehicle, determine a joint structure based on an image of a person standing at the position indicator received from the scanning module, and adjust interior preference settings based on the detected joint structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a target lamp on a side view mirror; and

an active scanning control unit configured to, via a processor;

instruct the target lamp to project a position indicator a known distance from the vehicle;

determine a joint structure based on an image of a person at the position indicator; and

adjust at least one of a seat position, a steering column position, and a pedal position based on the detected joint structure.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the active scanning control unit is configured to:

detect, via a scanning module, the person standing at the position indicator; and

in response to detecting the person, instructing the target lamp to provide feedback.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein to provide feedback, the target lamp changes a color of the position indicator.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the active scanning control unit is configured to instruct the target lamp to change a color of the position indicator in response to the active scanning control unit determining the joint structure.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the active scanning control unit is configured to compare the joint structure to profiles in a profile database.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the active scanning control unit is configured to adjust at least one of the seat position, the steering column position, and the pedal position based on one of the profiles in the profile database that matches the joint structure.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the active scanning control unit is configured to prevent the vehicle from unlocking when none of the profiles in the profile database that match the joint structure.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a target lamp positioned on a side view mirror of the vehicle;

a processor;

a program in memory configured to;

instruct a target lamp to project a position indicator a known distance from the vehicle;

determine a joint structure based on an image of a person standing at the position indicator received from a scanning module; and

adjust least one of a seat position, a steering column position, and a pedal position of the vehicle based on the detected joint structure.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the program in the memory is configured to:

detect, via the scanning module, the person standing at the position indicator; and

in response to detecting the person, instructing the target lamp to provide feedback.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein to provide feedback, the target lamp changes a color of the position indicator.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the program in the memory is configured to instruct the target lamp to change a color of the position indicator in response to the active scanning system determining the joint structure.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the program in the memory is configured to compare the joint structure to profiles in a profile database.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the program in the memory is configured to adjust at least one of the seat position, the steering column position, and the pedal position based on one of the profiles in the profile database that matches the joint structure.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the program in the memory is configured to prevent the vehicle from unlocking when none of the profiles in the profile database that match the joint structure.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed cause a vehicle to:

instruct a target lamp to project a position indicator a known distance from the vehicle, the target lamp positioned on a side view mirror of the vehicle;

determine a joint structure based on an image of a person standing at the position indicator received from a scanning module positioned on a center pillar of the vehicle; and

adjust interior preference settings of the vehicle based on the detected joint structure, the interior preferences include at least one of a seat position, a steering column position, and a pedal position.