System for Obtaining Information about Vehicular Components

• US 20080157510A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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.
• Application Number:
  US12/031,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157510A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• 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 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• 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 2/28 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 2/853 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 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• 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 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01315 monitoring occupant displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 : characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 : comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 : by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 : for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 : responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• 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 21/0153 : using field detection presence 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 21/01548 : 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 21/01556 : Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 : Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• 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 22/20 : adjustable in position, e.g. in height
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 : Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 : operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 : Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 : a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• 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: B60R 25/305 : using a camera
• 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 2900/55 : Windows
• 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 15/87 : 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 17/88 : 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: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 : Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1282 : Automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3219 : Geometry of the configuration

Abstract

Method and arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash in which it is determined whether a small child is to be protected by deployment of the side airbag, and when it is determined that a small child is to be protected by the side airbag, it is determined the whether the small child has his or her head against the airbag module. When it is determined that a small child is to be protected by the side airbag and has his or her head against the airbag module, deployment of the airbag is suppressed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising:

determining whether a small child is to be protected by deployment of the side airbag;

when it is determined that a small child is to be protected by the side airbag, determining whether the small child has his or her head against the airbag module; and

when it is determined that a small child is to be protected by the side airbag and has his or her head against the airbag module, suppressing deployment of the airbag.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the airbag module in a side door of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether a small child is to be protected by the deployment of the side airbag comprises determining a morphological characteristic of the occupant and assigning different morphological characteristics to different types of occupants, one of the type of occupants being a small child.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of determining whether a small child is to be protected by deployment of the side airbag and determining whether the small child has his or her head against the airbag module comprise receiving waves from an area in which an occupying item of the vehicle is expected to be seated and analyzing the received waves.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether a small child is to be protected by the deployment of the side airbag comprises training a pattern recognition algorithm to recognize different occupying items of which a small child is one occupying item.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether an occupying item of the vehicle is a human occupant or an inanimate object and suppressing deployment of the airbag when the occupying item is an inanimate object.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the airbag module in a side door of the vehicle, the step of determining whether the small child has his or her head against the airbag module comprising locating an ultrasonic sensor in the side door to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves and analyzing received waves to determine the distance between the side door and the object from which waves are being reflected.

8. A method for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising:

determining whether the occupant to be protected by deployment of the side airbag is a small child or other occupant;

determining the position of the small child or occupant, the step of determining the position of the small child or occupant comprising, when the occupant is a small child, determining whether the small child has his or her head against the airbag module; and

controlling deployment of the airbag based on the determination of whether the occupant is a small child or other occupant and the determination of the position of the small child or occupant, the step of controlling deployment of the airbag comprising suppressing deployment of the side airbag when the occupant is a small child and has his or her head against the airbag module.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising locating the airbag module in a side door of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether the occupant to be protected by deployment of the side airbag is a small child or other occupant comprises determining a morphological characteristic of the occupant and assigning different morphological characteristics to different types of occupants, one of the type of occupants being a small child.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of determining whether the occupant to be protected by deployment of the side airbag is a small child or other occupant and determining the position of the small child or occupant comprise receiving waves from an area in which an occupant of the vehicle is expected to be seated and analyzing the received waves.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether the occupant to be protected by deployment of the side airbag is a small child or other occupant comprises training a pattern recognition algorithm to recognize different occupants of which a small child is one occupant.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether there is a human occupant or an inanimate object in the area of the deploying airbag, the step of controlling deployment of the airbag further comprising suppressing deployment of the airbag when there is an inanimate object.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising locating the airbag module in a side door of the vehicle, the step of determining whether the small child has his or her head against the airbag module comprising locating an ultrasonic sensor in the side door to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves and analyzing received waves to determine the distance between the side door and the occupant from which waves are being reflected.

15. An arrangement for controlling deployment of a side airbag from an airbag module to protect an occupant in a seat of a vehicle in a crash, comprising:

first determining means for determining that the occupant is a small child;

second determining means for determining, when a small child is present in the seat, whether the small child has his or her head against the airbag module; and

a control circuit coupled to said first and second determining means for controlling deployment of the side airbag, said control circuit being arranged to suppress deployment of the side airbag when the occupant is determined to be a small child by said first determining means and determined to have his or head against the airbag module by said second determining means.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said first determining means comprise at least one wave receiver arranged to receive waves generated, modified or reflected by the occupant and analyze the received waves.

17. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the airbag module is arranged in a door of the vehicle, said second determining means comprising a wave transmitter/receiver arranged in the door to transmit and receive waves to determining a distance between the object reflecting the waves and the door.

18. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said second determining means are arranged to determine the position of one of the features of the occupant'"'"'s head.

19. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said first determining means are arranged to apply a trained pattern recognition algorithm to determine a type of the occupant, with a small child being one type of occupant.

20. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said first determining means comprise at least one wave transmitter/receiver arranged in the door to transmit and receive waves and a processor to analyze the received waves.