Gesture-Based Control of Vehicular Components

• US 20080065291A1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David
• Application Number:
  US11/936,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20080065291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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: G06F 18/259 Fusion by voting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/82 using neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/597 Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1618 using ultrasonic detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19613 Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/26 by proximity of an intruder causing variation in capacitance or inductance of a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

System and method for controlling a component in a vehicle includes an image receiving system for receiving images including an occupant of the vehicle and which is arranged to recognize gestures in the received images, e.g., hand gestures, and a control system coupled to the image receiving system for controlling the component based on the recognized gestures. The component may be any component in the vehicle for which occupant-directed control is desired, for example, a vehicle heating and air-conditioning system. The gesture may thus be indicative of the occupant'"'"'s desire to adjust the heating and air-conditioning system. The image receiving system may include at least one optical camera oriented in a direction of the occupant.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a component in a vehicle, comprising:

image receiving means for receiving images including an occupant of the vehicle, said image receiving means being arranged to recognize gestures in the received images; and

control means coupled to said image receiving means for controlling the component based on the recognized gestures.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the component is a vehicle heating and air-conditioning system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the gesture is indicative of the occupant'"'"'s desire to adjust the heating and air-conditioning system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said image receiving means are arranged to recognize hand gestures.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said image receiving means comprise at least one optical camera oriented in a direction of the occupant.

6. A method for controlling a component in a vehicle, comprising:

receiving images including an occupant of the vehicle;

analyzing the images to recognize gestures therein; and

controlling the component based on the recognized gestures.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the component is a vehicle heating and air-conditioning system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the gesture is indicative of the occupant'"'"'s desire to adjust the heating and air-conditioning system.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the images are analyzed to recognize hand gestures.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the images are received by at least one optical camera oriented in a direction of the occupant.