Methods for controlling deployment of an occupant restraint in a vehicle and determining whether the occupant is a child seat

• US 6,452,870 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S., Duvall, Wilbur E., Varga, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US09/639,304
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 367/96, 367/99, 280/735, 701/45
• US Class Current: 367/99
• 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 21/01532 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 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence 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 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

Methods for controlling deployment of an occupant restraint device in a vehicle and determining whether an object is a child seat in which one ultrasonic transducer is arranged on a ceiling of the vehicle and another ultrasonic transducer is arranged at a different location in the vehicle, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from each transducer into the passenger compartment and received thereby, and the distance from each transducer to the object is calculated based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the transducer and the reflected waves when received at the transducer. Deployment of the occupant restraint device is controlled based on the calculated distances and/or a determination is made whether the object is a child seat based on the calculated distances.

Claims

1. A method for controlling deployment of an occupant restraint device in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

arranging a first ultrasonic transducer on a ceiling of the vehicle and a second ultrasonic transducer at a different location in the vehicle such that a first axis connecting the first and second transducers is substantially parallel to a second axis traversing a volume in a passenger compartment of the vehicle above a seat in which an object is situated,

transmitting ultrasonic waves from the first transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the first transducer;

calculating a first distance from the first transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the first transducer and the reflected waves when received at the first transducer;

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from the second transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the second transducer;

calculating a second distance from the second transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the second transducer and the reflected waves when received at the second transducer; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the first distance and the second distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device comprises the step of suppressing deployment of the occupant restraint device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the occupant restraint device is a front airbag or a side airbag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the occupant restraint device is an airbag, the step of controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device comprises the step of controlling a rate of generation of a gas used to inflate the airbag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the occupant restraint device is an airbag, the step of controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device comprises the step of controlling an amount of gas generated for inflating the airbag.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

positioning the second transducer on a dashboard of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from a third ultrasonic transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the third transducer;

calculating a third distance from the third transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the third transducer and the reflected waves when received at the third transducer; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the first distance, the second distance and the third distance.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

positioning the second transducer on a dashboard of the vehicle, and

positioning the third transducer on or adjacent an interior side surface of the passenger compartment.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from a fourth ultrasonic transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the fourth transducer;

calculating a fourth distance from the fourth transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the fourth transducer and the reflected waves when received at the fourth transducer; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the first distance, the second distance, the third distance and the fourth distance.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

positioning the second transducer on a dashboard of the vehicle,

positioning the third transducer on an interior side surface of the passenger compartment, and

positioning the fourth transducer on or adjacent an interior side surface of the passenger compartment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second distance calculation steps each comprise the step of using waves reflected from multiple locations on the object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first and second distance calculation steps each further comprises the step of employing pattern recognition techniques based on the time distribution of the echo pattern of the reflected waves.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of employing pattern recognition techniques comprises the step of generating an algorithm by means of a neural network computer program.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a first volume within the passenger compartment adjacent the airbag where occupancy by a human at the time of airbag deployment would place the human in danger;

identifying a second volume within the passenger compartment where occupancy by a human requires deployment of an airbag in a sufficiently severe vehicle crash; and

defining the second axis as the axis connecting the centers of the first and second volumes.

15. A method for determining whether an object in a vehicle is a child seat, comprising the steps of:

arranging a first ultrasonic transducer on a ceiling of the vehicle and a second ultrasonic transducer at a different location in the vehicle,

transmitting ultrasonic waves from the first transducer into a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the first transducer;

calculating a first distance from the first transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the first transducer and the reflected waves when received at the first transducer;

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from the second transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the second transducer;

calculating a second distance from the second transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the second transducer and reflected waves when received at the second transducer; and

determining whether the object is a child seat based on the first distance and the second distance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether the object is a child seat comprises the step of determining whether the object is a forward facing child seat or a rearward facing child seat.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

controlling deployment of an occupant restraint device based on the determination of whether the object is a forward facing child seat or a rearward facing child seat.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

positioning the second transducer on a dashboard of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from a third ultrasonic transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the third transducer;

calculating a third distance from the third transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the third transducer and the reflected waves when received at the third transducer; and

determining whether the object is a facing child seat based on the first distance, the second distance and the third distance.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

positioning the second transducer on a dashboard of the vehicle, and

positioning the third transducer on or adjacent an interior side surface of the passenger compartment.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from a fourth ultrasonic transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving ultrasonic waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the fourth transducer;

calculating a fourth distance from the fourth transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the fourth transducer and the reflected waves when received at the fourth transducer; and

determining whether the object is a child seat based on the first distance, the second distance, the third distance and the fourth distance.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

positioning the second transducer on a dashboard of the vehicle,

positioning the third transducer on an interior side surface of the passenger compartment, and

positioning the fourth transducer on or adjacent an interior side surface of the passenger compartment.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said first and second distance calculation steps each comprise the step of using waves reflected from multiple locations on the object.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said first and second distance calculation steps each further comprises the step of employing pattern recognition techniques based on the time distribution of the echo pattern of the reflected waves.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of employing pattern recognition techniques comprises the step of generating an algorithm by means of a neural network computer program.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a first volume within the passenger compartment adjacent the airbag where occupancy by a human at the time of airbag deployment would place the human in danger;

identifying a second volume within the passenger compartment where occupancy by a human requires deployment of an airbag in a sufficiently severe vehicle crash; and

defining the second axis as the axis connecting the centers of the first and second volumes.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second transducers are arranged such that a first axis connecting the first and second transducers is substantially parallel to a second axis traversing a volume in the passenger compartment above a seat in which the object is situated.

28. A method for controlling deployment of an occupant restraint device in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

arranging a first receiver on a ceiling of the vehicle and a second receiver at a different location in the vehicle such that a first axis connecting the first and second receivers is substantially parallel to a second axis traversing a volume in a passenger compartment of the vehicle above a seat in which an object is situated;

mounting a third receiver at a different location in the passenger compartment than the first and second receivers, each receiver comprising distance measurement means;

calculating a first distance from the first receiver to the object based on the output of the first receiver;

calculating a second distance from the second receiver to the object based on the output of the second receiver;

calculating a third distance from the third receiver to the object based on the output of the third receiver; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the first distance, the second distance and the third distance.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the receivers are arranged to receive ultrasonic radiation.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the receivers are arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

mounting a fourth receiver at a different location in the passenger compartment, the fourth receiver comprising distance measurement means,

calculating a fourth distance from the fourth receiver to the object based on the output of the fourth receiver, and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the first distance, the second distance, the third distance and the fourth distance.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the first, second and third receivers are of the same type.

33. A method for determining whether an object in a vehicle is a child seat, comprising the steps of:

arranging a first receiver on a ceiling of the vehicle and a second receiver at a different location in the vehicle such that a first axis connecting the first and second receivers is substantially parallel to a second axis traversing a volume in a passenger compartment of the vehicle above a seat in which the object is situated;

mounting a third receiver at a different location in the passenger compartment than the first and second receivers, each receiver comprising distance measurement means;

calculating a first distance from the first receiver to the object based on the output of the first receiver;

calculating a second distance from the second receiver to the object based on the output of the second receiver;

calculating a third distance from the third receiver to the object based on the output of the third receiver; and

determining whether the object is a child seat based on the first distance, the second distance and the third distance.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of determining whether the object is a child seat comprises the step of determining whether the object is a forward facing child seat or a rearward facing child seat.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the receivers are arranged to receive ultrasonic radiation.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the receivers are arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

mounting a fourth receiver at a different location in the passenger compartment, the fourth receiver comprising distance measurement means,

calculating a fourth distance from the fourth receiver to the object based on the output of the fourth receiver, and

determining whether an object in a vehicle is a forward facing child seat or a rearward facing child seat based on the first distance, the second distance, the third distance and the fourth distance.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the first, second and third receivers are of the same type.

39. A method for controlling deployment of an occupant restraint device in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

transmitting ultrasonic waves from a first transducer into a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

receiving waves reflected off an object in the passenger compartment at the first transducer;

calculating a first distance from the first transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted from the first transducer and the reflected waves when received by the first transducer;

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from a second transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the second transducer;

calculating a second distance from the second transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted by the second transducer and the reflected waves when received by the second transducer; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the first distance and the second distance;

said first and second distance calculation steps comprising the step of applying an algorithm generated by means of a pattern recognition algorithm generating program based on the time distribution of the echo pattern of the reflected waves in order to determine the distance from the respective transducer to the object.

40. A method for determining whether an object in a vehicle is a child seat, comprising the steps of:

transmitting ultrasonic waves from a first transducer into a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

receiving waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the first transducer;

calculating a first distance from the first transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted by the first transducer and the reflected waves when received by the first transducer;

transmitting different ultrasonic waves from a second transducer into the passenger compartment;

receiving waves reflected off the object in the passenger compartment at the second transducer;

calculating a second distance from the second transducer to the object based on the time difference between the transmitted waves when transmitted by the second transducer and the reflected waves when received by the second transducer; and

determining whether the object is a child seat based on the first distance and the second distance;

said first and second distance calculation steps comprising the step of applying an algorithm generated by means of a pattern recognition algorithm generating program based on the time distribution of the echo pattern of the reflected waves in order to determine the distance from the respective transducer to the object.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of determining whether the object is a child seat comprises the step of determining whether the object is a forward facing child seat or a rearward facing child seat.