Occupant position sensor and method and arrangement for controlling a vehicular component based on an occupant's position

• US 6,422,595 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Wendell, Breed, David S., Duvall, Wilbur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US09/639,299
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/272, 701/45
• 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 2/0276 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 2/829 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 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• 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 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• 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 21/21656 : 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 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 : Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 : 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 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

Arrangement and method in a vehicle for identifying an occupying item in which information or data about the occupying item is obtained and a pattern recognition system analyzes this information or data with respect to size, position., shape and/or motion to determine what the occupying item is whereby a distinction can be made as to whether the occupying item is human or an inanimate object. The information or data may be obtained by one or more receiver arrays which converts electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of one or more electrical signals representative of an image of the occupying item. The same information or data may be used in arrangements and methods for controlling a vehicular component which also include a pattern recognition system for receiving and analyzing the information or data and a control unit for controlling the vehicular component based on the analysis of the information or data about the occupying item with respect to the size, position, shape and/or motion by the pattern recognition system.

Claims

1. A vehicle including an arrangement for identifying an occupying item, the arrangement comprising

means for obtaining information or data about the occupying item, and

a pattern recognition system for receiving the information or data about the occupying item and analyzing the information or data about the occupying item with respect to at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of size, position, shape and motion to determine what the occupying item is whereby a distinction can be made as to whether the occupying item is human or an inanimate object.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is size.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is position.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is shape.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is motion.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means for obtaining information or data comprise at least one receiver array which converts electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of one or more electrical signals representative of an image of the occupying item.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein said at least one receiver array comprises a pair of receiver arrays., said receiver arrays being mounted one on each side of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means for obtaining information or data comprise a single axis phase array antenna such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of an electrical signal representative of an image of the occupying item.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a scanning radar beam.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising an array of light beams.

11. A vehicle including an arrangement for identifying an occupying item, the arrangement comprising

means for obtaining information or data about the position of the occupying item, and

a pattern recognition system for receiving the information or data about the positions of the occupying item and analyzing the information or data about the positions of the occupying item to determine what the occupying item is whereby a distinction can be made as to whether the occupying item is an occupant or an inanimate object based on its position.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said means for obtaining information or data comprise at least one receiver array which converts electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of an electrical signal representative of an image of the occupying item.

13. A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling a vehicular component, the arrangement comprising:

means for obtaining information or data about an occupying item of a seat,

a pattern recognition system for receiving the information or data about the occupying item and analyzing the information or data about the occupying item with respect to at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of size, position, shape, and motion, and

control means for controlling the vehicular component based on the analysis of the information or data about the occupying item with respect to the at least one characteristic by said pattern recognition system.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said pattern recognition means are further arranged to analyze the information or data about the occupying item with respect to the at least one characteristic to determine what the occupying item is whereby a distinction can be made as to whether the occupying item is human or an inanimate object.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic is size.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic is position.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic is shape.

18. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic is a motion.

19. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said means for obtaining information or data comprise at least one receiver array which converts electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of one or more electrical signals representative of an image of the occupying item.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said at least one receiver array comprises a pair of receiver arrays, said receiver arrays being mounted one on each side of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

21. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said means for obtaining information or data comprise a single axis phase array antenna such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of an electrical signal representative of an image of the occupying item.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, further comprising a scanning radar beam.

23. The vehicle of claim 21, further comprising an array of light beams.

24. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the vehicular component is an airbag.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein said control means are arranged to enable suppression of deployment of the airbag.

26. A vehicle including an arrangement for controlling a vehicular component, the arrangement comprising:

means for obtaining information or data about the position of an occupying item of a seat,

a pattern recognition system for receiving the information or data about the position of the occupying item and analyzing the information or data about the position of the occupying item, and

control means for controlling the vehicular component based on the analysis of the information or data about the position of the occupying item by said pattern recognition system.

27. The vehicle of claim 26, wherein said means for obtaining information or data comprise at least one receiver array which converts electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of one or more electrical signals representative of an image of the occupying item.

28. A method for identifying an occupying item of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information or data about the occupying item,

providing the information or data about the occupying item to a pattern recognition system, and

determining what the occupying item is by analyzing the information or data about the occupying item with respect to at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of size, position, shape and motion in the pattern recognition system whereby the pattern recognition system differentiates a human occupant from inanimate objects.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is size.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is position.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is shape.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is motion.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of obtaining information or data comprises the step of arranging at least one receiver array which converts electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals in the vehicle such that the information or data about the occupying item is in the form of one or more electrical signals representative of an image of the occupying item.

34. A method for identifying an occupying item of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information or data about the position of the occupying item,

providing the information or data about the position of the occupying item to a pattern recognition system, and

determining what the occupying item is by analyzing the information or data about the position of the occupying item in the pattern recognition system whereby the pattern recognition system differentiates a human occupant from inanimate objects based on its position.

35. A method for controlling a vehicular component, comprising the steps of

obtaining information or data about an occupying item of a seat of the vehicle,

providing the information or data about the occupying item to a pattern recognition system,

analyzing the information or data about the occupying item with respect to at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of size, position, shape and motion in the pattern recognition system, and

controlling the vehicular component based on the analysis of the information or data about the occupying item with respect to the at least one characteristic by the pattern recognition system.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one characteristic is size.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one characteristic is position.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one characteristic is shape.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one characteristic is motion.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the vehicular component is an airbag.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of controlling the airbag comprises the step of enabling suppression of deployment of the airbag.

42. A method for controlling a vehicular component, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information or data about the position of an occupying item of a seat of the vehicle,

providing the information or data about the position of the occupying item to a pattern recognition system,

analyzing the information or data about the position of the occupying item in the pattern recognition system, and

controlling the vehicular component based on the analysis of the information or data about the position of the occupying item by the pattern recognition system.