Monitoring a vehicle cabin

• US 10,252,688 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2017
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Szawarski, Hubert, Le, Jialiang, Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen H
• Application Number:
  US15/466,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20180272977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 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 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/04 the whole seat being movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/143 taking a position opposite to the original one
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0032 Position of passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01245 selection of seat for bag expansion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

A computer that includes memory that stores instructions executable by a processor. The computer may be programmed to: receive image data that includes a vehicle seat and an occupant within a vehicle cabin; determine, using the received data, an orientation of the seat and an orientation of the occupant; and perform a vehicle function based on the determination.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising a processor and memory storing instructions to perform steps executable by the processor, the steps comprising:

receiving image data that includes a vehicle seat and an occupant within a vehicle cabin;

determining, using the received image data, an orientation of the vehicle seat and an orientation of the occupant; and

based on the determination, performing a vehicle function that includes translating, reclining, or rotating the vehicle seat, or a combination thereof.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the image data is received from a sensor mounted within the vehicle cabin.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the image data is received from at least one light detection and ranging device.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise:

using the received image data, determine a position of the vehicle seat, and then perform the function at least partially based on the position of the vehicle seat.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the function includes inhibiting deployment of an airbag from a vehicle restraint module.

6. The computer of claim 5, wherein inhibiting deployment is based on the orientation of the occupant relative to the vehicle seat.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the function includes aligning an axis of the vehicle seat with a primary direction of force (PDOF) of a predicted collision event.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the function includes controlling a directionality of an air vent or an audio speaker in the vehicle cabin.

9. A computer, comprising a processor and memory storing instructions to perform steps executable by the processor, the steps comprising:

determining, using image data, an orientation of a vehicle occupant relative to a vehicle seat;

determining an imminent collision event; and

controlling movement of the vehicle seat based on the determinations.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein the data is received from at least one light detection and ranging device located within a vehicle cabin.

11. The computer of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

based on the determinations, inhibiting deployment of an airbag from a vehicle restraint module in response to the imminent collision event.

12. The computer of claim 9, wherein the movement includes translating, reclining, or rotating the vehicle seat, or a combination thereof.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving image data that includes a vehicle seat and an occupant within a vehicle cabin;

determining, using the received image data, an orientation of the vehicle seat and an orientation of the occupant; and

based on the determination, performing a vehicle function that includes translating, reclining, or rotating the vehicle seat, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the image data is received from a sensor mounted within the vehicle cabin, wherein the image data is received from at least one light detection and ranging device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

using the received image data, determining a position of the vehicle seat, and then performing the function at least partially based on the position of the vehicle seat.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein, in response to a collision event, the function includes inhibiting deployment of a vehicle restraint module that includes an airbag.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein inhibiting deployment is based on the orientation of the occupant relative to the vehicle seat.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the function includes aligning an axis of the vehicle seat with a primary direction of force (PDOF) of a predicted collision event.