Vehicular occupant motion detection system using radar

• US 6,736,231 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/891,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 342/72, 180/272, 180/273
• US Class Current: 180/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• 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 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 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

System and method for determining occupancy of a vehicle in which a radar system emits radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects might be situated and receives radio waves and a processor coupled to the radar system determines the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant. Repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant may be a heart beat or breathing as reflected by movement of the chest. The processor may be programmed to analyze the frequency of the repetitive motions based on the received radio waves whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

Claims

1. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated and receiving radio waves; and

a processor coupled to said radar system and structured and arranged to determine the presence of a plurality of substantially the same motion which only in combination is indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of the plurality of substantially the same motion indicative of a living occupant.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is structured and arranged to analyze the frequency of the motion based on the radio waves received by said radar system whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is structured and arranged to analyze motion only at particular locations in the vehicle in which a chest of any occupants would be located whereby motion at the particular locations is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an occupant position and location sensor system for determining locations of the chest of any occupants, said radar system being coupled to said occupant position and location sensor system and being adjusted based on the determined location of the chest of any occupants.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said radar system is a micropower impulse radar system which monitors motion at a set distance from said radar system.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves toward a seat of the vehicle such that said processor determines whether the seats are occupied by living beings.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a reactive system coupled to said processor for reacting to the determination by said processor of the presence of the plurality of substantially the same motion.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said reactive system is an air connection device for providing or enabling air flow between the interior of the vehicle and the surrounding environment.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said reactive system is an alarm system for providing a warning.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves into a trunk of the vehicle and said reactive system is a trunk release for opening the trunk.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said reactive system is an airbag system, said airbag system being controlled based on the determined presence of the plurality of substantially the same motion in the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said radar system is arranged to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle and said reactive system is a window opening system for opening a window associated with the passenger compartment.

14. A method for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated;

receiving radio waves after interaction with any objects; and

determining the presence of a plurality of substantially the same motion which only in combination is indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of the plurality of substantially the same motion indicative of a living occupant.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the presence of the plurality of substantially the same motion comprises the step of analyzing the frequency of the motion based on the received radio waves whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the presence of the plurality of substantially the same motion comprises the step of analyzing motion only at particular locations in the vehicle in which a chest of any occupants would be located whereby motion at the particular locations is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

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

determining locations of the chest of any occupants; and

adjusting the emission of radio waves based on the determined location of the chest of any occupants.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of arranging a radio wave emitter and receiver to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing or enabling air flow between the interior of the vehicle and the surrounding environment upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a warning upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the vehicle.

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

arranging a radio wave emitter and receiver to emit radio waves into a trunk of the vehicle; and

opening the trunk upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the trunk.

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

arranging a radio wave emitter and receiver to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

opening a window associated with the passenger compartment upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the passenger compartment.

23. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated and receiving radio waves; and

a processor coupled to said radar system for determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant,

said processor being structured and arranged to analyze the frequency of the repetitive motions based on the radio waves received by said radar system whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

24. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated and receiving radio waves; and

a processor coupled to said radar system for determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant,

said processor being structured and arranged to analyze motion only at particular locations in the vehicle in which a chest of any occupants would be located whereby motion at the particular locations is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

25. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated and receiving radio waves;

a processor coupled to said radar system for determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant; and

a reactive system coupled to said processor for reacting to the determination by said processor of the presence of any repetitive motions,

said reactive system being an air connection device for providing or enabling air flow between the interior of the vehicle and the surrounding environment.

26. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated and receiving radio waves;

a processor coupled to said radar system for determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant; and

a reactive system coupled to said processor for reacting to the determination by said processor of the presence of any repetitive motions,

said radar system being arranged to emit radio waves into a trunk of the vehicle and said reactive system being a trunk release for opening the trunk.

27. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated and receiving radio waves;

a processor coupled to said radar system for determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant; and

a reactive system coupled to said processor for reacting to the determination by said processor of the presence of any repetitive motions,

said radar system being arranged to emit radio waves into a passenger compartment of the vehicle and said reactive system being a system for causing a change in the temperature in the passenger compartment.

28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein said system for causing a change in the temperature in the passenger compartment is a window opening system for opening a window associated with the passenger compartment.

29. A method for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated;

receiving radio waves after interaction with any objects; and

determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant,

the step of determining the presence of any repetitive motions comprising the step of analyzing the frequency of the repetitive motions based on the received radio waves whereby a frequency in a predetermined range is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

30. A method for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated;

receiving radio waves after interaction with any objects; and

determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant,

the step of determining the presence of any repetitive motions comprising the step of analyzing motion only at particular locations in the vehicle in which a chest of any occupants would be located whereby motion at the particular locations is indicative of a heartbeat or breathing.

31. A method for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting radio waves into an interior of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated;

receiving radio waves after interaction with any objects;

determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the vehicle based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the vehicle is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant; and

providing or enabling air flow between the interior of the vehicle and a surrounding environment having a different temperature upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the vehicle to thereby cause a change in the temperature of the interior of the vehicle.

32. A method for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting radio waves from a radio wave emitter and receiver into a closeable compartment in or attached to the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated;

receiving radio waves after interaction with any objects;

determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the compartment based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the compartment is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant; and

opening the compartment upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the compartment or providing a warning to a driver of the driver about the presence of any occupants in the compartment.

33. A method for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

emitting radio waves from a radio wave emitter and receiver into a passenger compartment of the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated;

receiving radio waves after interaction with any objects;

determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the passenger compartment based on the received radio waves such that the presence of living occupants in the passenger compartment is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant; and

providing or enabling air flow between the interior of the vehicle and a surrounding environment having a different temperature upon a determination of the presence of any occupants in the passenger compartment to thereby cause a change in the temperature of the passenger compartment.

34. A vehicle including a system for determining occupancy of the vehicle, comprising:

a radar system for emitting radio waves into a closeable compartment in or attached to the vehicle in which objects would likely be situated and receiving radio waves;

a processor coupled to said radar system for determining the presence of any repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant in the compartment based on the radio waves received by said radar system such that the presence of living occupants in the compartment is ascertainable upon the determination of the presence of repetitive motions indicative of a living occupant; and

a reactive system coupled to said processor for reacting to the determination by said processor of the presence of any repetitive motions,

said reactive system being a release for opening the compartment or a system for providing a warning to a driver of the vehicle of the presence of any repetitive motions in the compartment.