Optical Monitoring of Vehicle Interiors

• US 20080036580A1
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,290,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• 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 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• 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: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• 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 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 : with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01315 : monitoring occupant displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 : including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 : responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 : responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 : responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 : using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 : using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 : using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 : using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 : using electric or capacitive field sensors
• 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 21/01542 : detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 : detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 : using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 : sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 : detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 : Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 : in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 : Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 : with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 : Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 : Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 : Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 : responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/431 : specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/433 : using reflection from the obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/516 : for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 : Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 : Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/20 : by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 : Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 : containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 : Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 : Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 : Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/42 : Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 : Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 : involving the use of neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 : Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 : Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 : using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 : Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/00 : Scenes; Scene-specific elements control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• 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 20/593 : Recognising seat occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 : with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 : Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 : due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 : mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body

Abstract

Interior monitoring system of a vehicle wherein at least one transducer is arranged on a first side of the structure of the vehicle and transmits waves toward an opposite, second side of the structure so that any objects contained in the interior space of the structure are situated between the first and second sides. Each transducer receives waves reflected from any objects between the first and second sides. A processor is coupled to each transducer and obtains information about any objects from which waves have been reflected and received thereby. Each transducer may be arranged to transmit infrared waves into the interior space, e.g., infrared waves in an eye-safe range.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a structure including a plurality of sides defining an interior space for containing one or more objects; and

at least one transducer arranged on a first one of said sides of said structure and arranged to transmit waves toward an opposite, second side of said structure whereby any objects contained in said interior space of said structure are situated between said first and second sides, said at least one transducer being arranged to receive waves reflected from any objects between said first and second sides; and

a processor coupled to said at least one transducer and arranged to obtain information about any objects from which waves have been reflected and received by said at least one transducer.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said structure is a cargo container.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said container is defined by walls forming said sides of said container, said at least one transducer being mounted to one of said walls.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said at least one transducer is arranged on a ceiling of said container.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a neural network arranged to determine whether an object is present after being trained in a training stage in which waves received by said at least one transducer in the absence of objects in said interior space and waves received by said at least one transducer with objects present in said interior space are collected and used to derive the neural network.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one transducer is arranged to transmit infrared waves into said interior space.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a wakeup sensor which initiates said at least one transducer to transmit waves into said interior space.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a communications unit coupled to said processor and arranged to transmit the information obtained by said processor to a remote location.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said wakeup sensor is activated upon a predetermined time interval or upon detection of motion in said interior space.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a location determining system arranged on said structure, coupled to said processor and arranged to monitor the location of said structure; and

a communication system arranged on said structure and coupled to said processor and said location determining system, said communication system being arranged to transmits information obtained by means of said at least one transducer and the location of said structure obtained by said location determining system to a remote location.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an automobile, said interior space is a passenger compartment in the automobile, the vehicle including a front seat and said processor is arranged to determine the presence or absence of a human occupant in said front seat.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an automobile, said interior space is a passenger compartment in the automobile, the vehicle including multiple seating locations and said processor is arranged to determine the presence or absence of a human occupant in each of said seating locations to thereby enable a determination of the number of human occupants in the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is arranged to generate a signal characteristic of the object based on the received waves, and categorize the signal to thereby identify the object.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said processor comprises pattern recognition means for recognizing and thus identifying a class of the object by processing the signal into a categorization of the signal based on data relating to waves received by said at least one transducer stored within said pattern recognition means and associated with possible classes of objects.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is arranged to apply a pattern recognition algorithm generated from waves received from said interior space with different objects therein in order to obtain information about the objects.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a reactive system coupled to said processor and being controlled by said processor based on the determination by said processor as to whether an object is present in said interior space and the information about the object when present in said interior space.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the information about the object determined by said processor when an object is present in said interior space is one or more of a position of the object, a type of the object and a size of the object.

18. A method for monitoring an interior space of a vehicle, comprising:

mounting at least one transducer on a structure including a plurality of sides defining the interior space for containing one or more objects, the at least one transducer being mounted on a first one of the sides of the structure and oriented to transmit waves toward an opposite, second side of the structure;

transmitting waves from the at least one transducer such that the transmitted waves reflect from objects present in the interior space between the first and second sides;

receiving waves at the at least one transducer during use of the vehicle; and

when waves are received, determining whether any objects are present in the interior space based on analysis of the waves and when one or more objects are determined to be present, obtaining information about the object or objects based on analysis of the received waves.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising distinguishing between different objects or different arrangements of objects when one or more objects are determined to be present in the interior space of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining whether any objects are present and obtaining information about the object or objects when present comprises training a pattern recognition algorithm in a training stage to provide such output, and in the training stage, collecting waves received by the at least one transducer in the absence of objects in the interior space and with objects present in the interior space.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is an automobile and the interior space is a passenger compartment in the automobile, the step of determining whether objects are present in the interior space comprising determining whether human occupants are present in the passenger compartment.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising controlling a reactive system based on the determination as to whether any objects are present in the interior space and the information about the object or objects when present in the interior space.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the structure is a cargo container defined by walls forming the sides of the container, the at least one transducer being mounted to one of the walls or a ceiling of the container at the first side of the container.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one transducer is arranged to transmit infrared waves into the interior space.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

monitoring the location of the structure; and

transmitting information about the object or objects and the location of the structure to a remote location.