Device for classifying persons or objects

• US 20040032115A1
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mack, Frank, Meyer, Michael, Marchthaler, Reiner, Lich, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,859,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

A device for classifying persons or objects, in particular for occupant classification in a motor vehicle, includes an arrangement for acquiring characteristic data on the person to be classified or the object to the classified; at least one algorithm for extracting features from the instantaneously acquired characteristic data; at least one filter for determining the classification of the person or the object from the instantaneously extracted features, taking into account the time progression of the features extracted for the person to be classified or the object to be classified; and a first counter for initiating the resetting of the filter when the algorithm, during the first time interval specified by the first counter, has exclusively provided features for the non-presence of a person or an object, so that the resetting behavior of the algorithm, or the filter downstream from the algorithm, may be decoupled from the output of the determined classification in a simple manner. A holding member is connected downstream from the filter to forward the classification determined by the filter, and a second counter is provided to initiate the resetting of the holding member if the algorithm, even after the second time interval specified by the second counter has elapsed, has provided only features for the non-presence of a person or an object.

Claims

1. A device for classifying persons or objects, in particular for occupant classification in a motor vehicle, comprising

means for acquiring characteristic data on the person to be classified or the object to the classified;

at least one algorithm (1) extracting features from the instantaneously acquired characteristic data;

at least one filter (2) determining the classification of the person or the object from the instantaneously extracted features, taking into account the time progression of the features extracted for the person to be classified or the object to be classified; and

a first counter (3) via which the resetting of the filter (2) is initiated when the algorithm, during the first time interval specified by the first counter (3), has provided exclusively features for the non-presence of a person or an object,

wherein a holding member (5) for the classification determined by the filter (2) is connected downstream from the filter (2), and a second counter (6) is provided via which the resetting of the holding member (5) is initiated if the algorithm (1), even after the second time interval specified by the second counter (6) has elapsed, provides only features for the non-presence of a person or an object.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for acquiring characteristic data on the person to be classified or the object to be classified include means for video sensing, ultrasound sensing or radar sensing.

3. The device as recited in one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the means for acquiring characteristic data on the person to be classified or the object to be classified include foil strain gauges for determining the absolute weight, or a pressure-sensor system for determining the pressure distribution in the contact surface.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the person or the object is classified with respect to its weight.

5. The device for occupant classification in a motor vehicle as recited in one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the first counter (3) initiates the resetting of the filter (2) if the algorithm (1), for at least 3 s, has provided exclusively features for the non-presence of a person or an object.

6. The device for occupant classification in a motor vehicle as recited in one of claims 1 through 5, wherein the second counter (6) initiates the resetting of the holding member (5) if the algorithm (1), for at least 20 s, has exclusively provided only features for the non-presence of a person or an object.