Method for determining a body parameter of a person

• US 9,798,935 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Sandahl, Andreas, Val, David De, Kaamark, Birgit Klinton, Baeckelie, Magnus, Rothoff, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): CESE, KENNY A
• Application Number:
  US13/913,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 382104
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• 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 40/165 using facial parts and geometric relationships

Abstract

A method is described for determining a body parameter of a person outside a vehicle. The method may include capturing a first set of data of the person by a first data capturing device of the vehicle, the captured first set of data representative of a first body posture of the person, capturing a second set of data of the person by a second data capturing device of the vehicle, the captured second set of data representative of a second body posture of the person different from the first body posture, and using the first and second sets of data as input for estimation of the body parameter of the person. Use of a data capturing device of a vehicle is also described, and optionally a distance measurement system of the vehicle, for determining a body parameter of a person according to the method.

Claims

1. A method for determining an eye position of a person located outside a vehicle, the method comprising:

a) capturing a first set of data of said person when outside the vehicle by a first camera of said vehicle, said captured first set of data being representative of a first body posture of said person when outside the vehicle;

b) capturing a second set of data of said person when outside the vehicle by a second camera of said vehicle, said captured second set of data being representative of a second body posture of said person when outside the vehicle, said second body posture being different from said first body posture;

c) using said first and second sets of data as input for estimation of body parameters of said person when outside the vehicle, said body parameters comprising a leg length, a body height, a half head height and a torso length, said estimation comprising estimation of a position of a movement node of said person, the movement node comprising a joint of said person;

c2) using said first and second sets of data as input for estimation of said eye position of said person, wherein said estimation of said eye position comprises assumption of at least one of the following rules;

half head height<

eye position,

body height<

(leg length+torso length+(2*eye position)),

body height>

(leg length+torso length+eye position); and

d) adjusting automatically an adjustable component of the vehicle according to the estimated body parameter of the person, the adjustable component to be used by the person after entering the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said body parameters further comprise an arm length.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed as an iteration process by repeating (b) and optionally (c) and (c2).

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

b2) determining a distance (D) between said vehicle and said person by a distance measurement system, such as a radar system, a lidar system, an ultra-sound system or a stereo camera;

wherein (b2) is performed before (c), and (c) comprises using said determined distance (D) as input for said estimation of said body parameter of said person.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable component of said vehicle comprises one or more of seat cushion position, seat cushion length, neck rest position, seat belt position, back rest angle including optional side supports, back rest angle upper part, power lumbar support, pedal position, steering wheel position, interior mirror position, exterior mirror position, gear shifter position, position of head-up display projection on windscreen, position of other displays, positions of controls for media, climate, navigation, position of control located on steering wheel, position of arm support, position of cup holder, direction of AC output, sunblind, settings of a deployable airbag and opening angle of tailgate.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed before said person enters said vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said method is performed before said person enters said vehicle for the first time.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is initiatable from the outside of said vehicle by activation of a control, such as a key fob or smart phone, and/or from the inside of said vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 4 further comprising:

e) said vehicle signaling visibly and/or audibly that (a)-(c2), and optionally (b2) and/or (d), have been performed.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions recorded thereon for determining an eye position of a person located outside a vehicle, said computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

capturing a first set of data of said person by a first camera of said vehicle, said captured first set of data being representative of a first body posture of said person when outside the vehicle;

capturing a second set of data of said person by a second camera of said vehicle, said captured second set of data being representative of a second body posture of said person when outside the vehicle, said second body posture being different from said first body posture; and

using said first and second sets of data as input for estimation of body parameters of said person when outside the vehicle, said body parameters comprising a leg length, a body height, a half head height and a torso length, said estimation comprising estimation of a position of a movement node of said person, the movement node comprising a joint of said person;

using said first and second sets of data as input for estimation of said eye position of said person, wherein said estimation of said eye position comprises assumption of at least one of the following rules;

half head height<

eye position,

body height<

(leg length+torso length+(2*eye position)),

body height>

(leg length+torso length+eye position); and

adjusting automatically an adjustable component of said vehicle according to the estimated body parameter of the person, the adjustable component to be used by the person after entering the vehicle.

11. A system for determining an eye position of a person located outside a vehicle, said system being adapted for use in a vehicle and comprising:

a first camera for capturing a first set of data of said person, said first set of data being representative of a first body posture of said person when outside the vehicle;

a second camera for capturing a second set of data of said person, said second set of data being representative of a second body posture of said person when outside the vehicle, said second body posture being different from said first body posture; and

a processor adapted for using said first and second sets of data as input for estimation of body parameters of said person when outside the vehicle, said body parameters comprising a leg length, a body height, a half head height and a torso length, said estimation comprising estimation of a position of a movement node of said person, the movement node comprising a joint of said person, the processor further adapted to use said first and second sets of data as input for estimation of said eye position of said person, wherein said estimation of said eye position comprises assumption of at least one of the following rules;

half head height<

eye position;

body height<

(leg length+torso length+(2*eye position));

body height>

(leg length+torso length+eye position), the processor further adapted to generate a signal for adjusting automatically an adjustable component of the vehicle according to the estimated body parameter of the person, the adjustable component to be used by the person after entering the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said second camera and said first camera comprise a single camera.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said body parameters further comprise an arm length.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a distance measuring system, such as a radar system, a lidar system, an ultra-sound system or a stereo camera, for determining a distance (D) between said vehicle and said person, the distance (D) for use as input for said estimation of said body parameter of said person.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said estimation of said body parameter of said person is initiatable from the outside of said vehicle by activation of a control, such as a key fob or smart phone, and/or from the inside of said vehicle.