Vehicular occupant motion detection system using radar

• US 20010042977A1
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S., Johnson, Wendell C., DuVall, Wilbur E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,736,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

System and method for determining occupancy of a vehicle in which a radar system emits radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects might be situated and receives radio waves and a processor coupled to the radar system determines the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant. Repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant may be a heart beat or breathing as reflected by movement of the chest. The processor may be programmed to analyze the frequency of the repetitive motions based on the received radio waves whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

Claims

1. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects might be situated and receiving radio waves; and

a processor coupled to said radar system for determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant.

2. The vehicle of

claim 1

, wherein said processor is structured and arranged to analyze the frequency of the repetitive motions based on the radio waves received by said radar system whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

3. The vehicle of

claim 1

, wherein said processor is structured and arranged to analyze motion only at particular locations in the vehicle in which a chest of any occupants would be located whereby motion at the particular locations is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

4. The vehicle of

claim 1

, further comprising location determining means for determining locations of the chest of any occupants, said radar system being coupled to said location determining means and being adjusted based on the determined location of the chest of any occupants.

5. The vehicle of

claim 1

, wherein said radar system is a micropower impulse radar system which monitors motion at a set distance from said radar system.

6. The vehicle of

claim 1

, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of

claim 1

, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves toward a seat of the vehicle such that said processor determines whether the seats are occupied by living beings.

8. The vehicle of

claim 1

, further comprising a reactive system coupled to said processor for reacting to the determination by said processor of the presence of any repetitive motions.

9. The vehicle of

claim 8

, wherein said reactive system is an air connection device for providing or enabling air flow between the interior of the vehicle and the surrounding environment.

10. The vehicle of

claim 8

, wherein said reactive system is a security system for providing a warning.

11. The vehicle of

claim 8

, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves into a trunk of the vehicle and said reactive system is a trunk release for opening the trunk.

12. The vehicle of

claim 8

, wherein said reactive system is an airbag system, said airbag system being controlled based on the determined presence of repetitive motions in the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of

claim 8

, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle and said reactive system is a window opening system for opening a window associated with the passenger compartment.

14. A method for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects might be situated;

receiving radio waves after interaction with any objects; and

determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant.

15. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the step of determining the presence of any repetitive motions comprises the step of analyzing the frequency of the repetitive motions based on the received radio waves whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

16. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the step of determining the presence of any repetitive motions comprises the step of analyzing motion only at particular locations in the vehicle in which a chest of any occupants would be located whereby motion at the particular locations is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

17. The method of

claim 14

, further comprising the steps of:

determining locations of the chest of any occupants; and

adjusting the emission of radio waves based on the determined location of the chest of any occupants.

18. The method of

claim 14

, further comprising the step of arranging a radio wave emitter and receiver to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

19. The method of

claim 14

, further comprising the step of providing or enabling air flow between the interior of the vehicle and the surrounding environment upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the vehicle.

20. The method of

claim 14

, further comprising the step of providing a warning upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the vehicle.

21. The method of

claim 14

, further comprising the steps of:

arranging a radio wave emitter and receiver to emit radio waves into a trunk of the vehicle; and

opening the trunk upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the trunk.

22. The method of

claim 14

, further comprising the steps of:

arranging a radio wave emitter and receiver to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

opening a window associated with the passenger compartment upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the passenger compartment.