Occupant restraint device control system and method

• US 6,942,248 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• 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:
  US10/114,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20020140214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 180/272, 701/45, 701/49
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• 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 2021/01315 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 21/0136 : responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• 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 21/0154 : in combination with seat heating
• 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: B60R 25/252 : Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 : Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 : Voice recognition
• 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 2400/664 : by radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 : Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/20 : by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 : Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 : containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• 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 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1282 : Automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3219 : Geometry of the configuration

Abstract

Control system for controlling an occupant restraint device effective for protection of an occupant of the seat including a receiving device arranged in the vehicle for obtaining information about contents of the seat and generating a signal based on any contents of the seat, a different signal being generated for different contents of the seat when such contents are present on the seat, an analysis unit such as a microprocessor coupled to the receiving device for analyzing the signal in order to determine whether the contents of the seat include a child seat, whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a particular orientation and/or whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a particular position, and a deployment unit coupled to the analysis unit for controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the determination by the analysis unit. The analysis unit can be programmed to determine whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a rear-facing position, in a forward-facing position, a rear-facing child seat in an improper orientation, a forward-facing child seat in an improper orientation, and the position of the child seat relative to one or more of the occupant restraint devices.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle having an interior passenger compartment including a seat on which a child seat may be placed, a control system for controlling an occupant restraint device effective for protection of an occupant of the seat, comprising:

receiving means arranged in the vehicle for obtaining information about contents of the seat and generating a signal based on any contents of the seat, said receiving means being structured and arranged to generate a different signal for different contents of the seat when such contents are present on the seat;

analyzing means coupled to said receiving means for analyzing the signal in order to determine at least one of whether the contents of the seat include a child seat, whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a particular orientation and whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a particular position; and

deployment means coupled to said analyzing means for controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the determination by said analyzing means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said analyzing means are structured and arranged to determine whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a rear-facing position.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said analyzing means are structured and arranged to determine the position of the child seat relative to the occupant restraint device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiving means comprise wave transmitting means for transmitting waves toward the seat, wave receiving means arranged relative to said wave transmitting means for receiving waves reflected from the seat and a processor coupled to said wave receiver means for generating the different signal for the different contents of the seat based on the received waves reflected from the seat.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said wave receiving means comprise two wave receivers spaced apart from one another, said processor is structured and arranged to process the reflected waves from each of said receivers in order to create respective signals characteristic of the contents of the seat based on the reflected waves.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said analyzing means comprise categorization means coupled to said processor for categorizing said signals, said categorization means comprising pattern recognition means for recognizing and thus identifying the contents of the seat by processing said signals based on the reflected waves from the contents of the seat into a categorization of said signals characteristic of the contents of the seat.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said pattern recognition means comprise a trained neural network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupant restraint device is a side airbag.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the child seat is provided with signal generating means for generating a reactive signal upon receipt of a transmitted signal, said receiving means being arranged to receive the reactive signal generated by said signal generating means.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said signal generating means comprise a resonator or reflector.

11. In a motor vehicle having an interior passenger compartment including a seat on which a child seat may be placed, a method for detecting the presence of a child seat on the seat, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information about contents of the seat;

generating a signal based on the information about the contents of the seat, a different signal being generated for different contents of the seat when such contents are present on the seat;

analyzing the signal in order to determine at least one of whether the contents of the seat include a child seat, whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a particular orientation and whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a particular position; and

controlling deployment of the occupant restraint device based on the analysis of the signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of analyzing the signal comprises the step of analyzing the signal to determine whether the contents of the seat include a child seat in a rear-facing position.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of determining the position of the child seat, when present, relative to the occupant restraint device, deployment of the occupant restraint device being controlled based on the determination of whether the contents of the seat include a child seat and the position of the child seat.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of obtaining information about the contents of the seat comprises the steps of transmitting waves toward the seat and receiving waves reflected from the seat, the step of generating a signal based on the information about the contents of the seat comprising the step of processing the received, reflected waves in order to generate a different signal for different received, reflected waves.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of processing the reflected waves comprises the step of categorizing said signal to thereby obtain an identification of the contents of the seat.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the occupant restraint device is a side airbag.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of obtaining information about the seat comprises the steps of providing the child seat with signal generating means for generating a reactive signal upon receipt of a transmitted signal and processing the reactive signal generated by the signal generating means.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal generating means comprise a resonator or reflector.

19. A vehicle including a system for obtaining information about an object in the vehicle, comprising:

at least one resonator arranged in association with the object, said at least one resonator being arranged to emit an energy signal upon receipt of a signal at an excitation frequency;

transmitter means for transmitting signals at least at the excitation frequency of each of said at least one resonator,

energy signal detector means for detecting the energy signal emitted by said at least one resonator upon receipt of the signal at the excitation frequency;

a processor coupled to said detector means for obtaining information about the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means;

an occupant restraint system for protecting the object, said occupant restraint system including a side airbag arranged to deploy along a right or left side of the vehicle; and

deployment means coupled to said processor for controlling deployment of said occupant restraint system based on the information obtained about the object.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the information obtained about the object is a distance between each of said at least one resonator and said detector means.

21. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the object is a seat whereby the information obtained about the seat is an indication of the position of the seat.

22. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said at least one resonator comprises a plurality of resonators, each of said resonators being arranged to emit an energy signal upon receipt of a signal at a different excitation frequency.

23. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the object is a seatbelt whereby the information obtained about the seatbelt is at least one of an indication of whether the seatbelt is in use and an indication of the position of the seatbelt.

24. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the object is a child seat whereby the information obtained about the child seat is at least one of an indication of the orientation of the child seat and an indication of the position of the child seat.

25. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the object is a window of the vehicle whereby the information obtained about the window is an indication of whether the window is open or closed.

26. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the object is a door, said at least one resonator being arranged in a surface facing the door such that closure of the door prevents emission of the energy signal from said at least one resonator, whereby the information obtained about the door is an indication of whether the door is open or closed.

27. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said at least one resonator comprises a tuned resonator including an acoustic cavity or a vibrating mechanical element.

28. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said processor is arranged to determine the position of the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means.

29. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said at least one resonator comprises a plurality of resonators, all arranged in association with the same object.

30. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said at least one resonator comprises a dual frequency resonator.

31. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said deployment means are arranged to adjust at least one of the rate of inflation of said side airbag, the time of inflation of said side airbag, the rate of deflation of said side airbag and the time of deflation of said side airbag.

32. A vehicle including a system for obtaining information about an object in the vehicle, comprising:

at least one reflector arranged in association with the object, said at least one reflector being arranged to reflect an energy signal;

transmitter means for transmitting energy signals in a direction of each of said at least one reflector;

energy signal detector means for detecting energy signals reflected by said at least one reflector;

a processor coupled to said detector means for obtaining information about the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means;

an occupant restraint system for protecting the object, said occupant restraint system including a side airbag arranged to deploy along a right or left side of the vehicle; and

deployment means coupled to said processor for controlling deployment of said occupant restraint system based on the information obtained about the object.

33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said at least one reflector comprises a parabolic-shaped reflector.

34. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the information obtained about the object is a distance between each of said at least one reflector and said detector means.

35. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the object is a seat whereby the information obtained about the seat is an indication of the position of the seat.

36. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the object is a seatbelt whereby the information obtained about the seatbelt is at least one of an indication of whether the seatbelt is in use and an indication of the position of the seatbelt.

37. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the object is a child seat whereby the information obtained about the child seat is at least one of an indication of the orientation of the child seat and an indication of the position of the child seat.

38. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the object is a window of the vehicle whereby the information obtained about the window is an indication of whether the window is open or closed.

39. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the object is a door, said at least one reflector being arranged in a surface facing the door such that closure of the door prevents reflection of an energy signal by said at least one reflector, whereby the information obtained about the door is an indication of whether the door is open or closed.

40. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said transmitter means comprise an infrared laser system and said at least one reflector comprises an optical mirror.

41. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said processor is arranged to determine the position of the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means.

42. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said at least one reflector comprises a plurality of reflectors, all arranged in association with the same object.

43. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein said deployment means are arranged to adjust at least one of the rate of inflation of said side airbag, the time of inflation of said side airbag, the rate of deflation of said side airbag and the time of deflation of said side airbag.

44. A vehicle including a system for obtaining information about an object in the vehicle, comprising:

at least one resonator arranged in association with the object, said at least one resonator being arranged to emit an energy signal upon receipt of a signal at an excitation frequency;

transmitter means for transmitting signals at least at the excitation frequency of each of said at least one resonator;

energy signal detector means for detecting the energy signal emitted by said at least one resonator upon receipt of the signal at the excitation frequency;

a processor coupled to said detector means for obtaining information about the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means;

an occupant restraint system for protecting the object and including at least one airbag; and

deployment means coupled to said processor for adjusting deployment of said occupant restraint system based on the information obtained about the object, said deployment means being arranged to adjust at least one of the rate of inflation of said at least one airbag, the time of inflation of said at least one airbag, the rate of deflation of said at least one airbag and the time of deflation of said at least one airbag.

45. The vehicle of claim 44, wherein said processor is arranged to determine the position of the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means.

46. A vehicle including a system for obtaining information about an object in the vehicle, comprising:

at least one reflector arranged in association with the object, said at least one reflector being arranged to reflect an energy signal;

transmitter means for transmitting energy signals in a direction of each of said at least one reflector;

energy signal detector means for detecting energy signals reflected by said at least one reflector;

a processor coupled to said detector means for obtaining information about the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means;

an occupant restraint system for protecting the object and including at least one airbag; and

deployment means coupled to said processor for adjusting deployment of said occupant restraint system based on the information obtained about the object, said deployment means being arranged to adjust at least one of the rate of inflation of said at least one airbag, the time of inflation of said at least one airbag, the rate of deflation of said at least one airbag and the time of deflation of said at least one airbag.

47. The vehicle of claim 46, wherein said processor is arranged to determine the position of the object upon analysis of the energy signal detected by said detector means.