Method and arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a vehicle

• US 6,950,022 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/227,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/541, 340/576, 340/531, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.18, 340/539.19, 340/573.1, 340/521, 340/565, 340/561, 340/667, 340/540, 340/552, 340/562, 340/632, 340/566, 340/426, 701/36, 701/45, 280/735
• US Class Current: 340/552
• 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 2/2806 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 2/888 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 25/255 : 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 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 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• 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

Method and arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle including at least one sensor for obtaining data from the passenger compartment. Information about the occupancy is generated based on the data and transmitted, e.g., through a cellular phone system, to emergency response personnel to enable them to respond accordingly. The information about the occupancy may be generated by a processor applying pattern recognition techniques so that any occupants of the seat may be classified and such classification transmitted to the emergency response personnel. The data may also be used to determine the number of occupants in the vehicle and/or whether the occupants are moving after a crash. The sensors may be a variety of sensors such as an ultrasonic sensor, an electromagnetic wave sensor, an electric field sensor, a chemical sensor, a weight sensor, a motion sensor, a microphone, a heartbeat sensor, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor and a capacitance sensor.

Claims

1. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor for obtaining data on occupying items in the passenger compartment;

generating means coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor;

communications means coupled to said generating means and arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means to be transmitted to the remote facility; and

at least one memory unit coupled to said generating means for storing the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment, said communications means being coupled to said at least one memory unit and interrogating said at least one memory unit upon a crash of the vehicle to thereby obtain the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors each selected from a group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor, an electromagnetic wave sensor, an electric field sensor, a chemical sensor, a weight sensor, a motion sensor, a microphone, a heartbeat sensor, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor and a capacitance sensor.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is capable of receiving waves, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting waves into the passenger compartment such that said at least one sensor receives waves transmitted from said transmitter and modified by passing into and at least partially through the passenger compartment.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor generates a signal representative of the data obtained thereby, said generating means comprising a processor for receiving and analyzing the signal from said at least one sensor in order to generate the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said generating means are structured and arranged such that the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means includes the number of occupants in the passenger compartment.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is a micropower impulse radar sensor adapted to detect motion of an occupant whereby the motion of the occupant or absence of motion of the occupant is indicative of whether the occupant is breathing, the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means being an indication of whether the occupant is breathing.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is a wave-receiving sensor arranged to generate a signal representative of waves received thereby, said generating means being structured and arranged to receive the signal representative of the waves received by said wave-receiving sensor over time and determine whether any occupants in the passenger compartment are moving such that the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means includes the number of moving and non-moving occupants in the passenger compartment.

8. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor for obtaining data on occupying items in the passenger compartment;

generating means coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor;

communications means coupled to said generating means and arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means to be transmitted to the remote facility; and

means for determining the health state of any occupants, said communications means being coupled to said health state determining means and interrogating said health state determining means upon a crash of the vehicle to thereby obtain and transmit the health state of the occupants.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said health state determining means comprise a heartbeat sensor.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said health state determining means comprise means for detecting motion of the occupants.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said means for detecting motion of the occupants comprises a micropower impulse radar sensor.

12. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said means for detecting motion of the occupants comprises an arrangement for detecting changes in the weight distribution of the occupants.

13. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said health state determining means comprise a motion sensor for determining whether the occupants are breathing.

14. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said health state determining means comprise a chemical sensor for analyzing the amount of carbon dioxide in the passenger compartment or around the occupants.

15. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said health state determining means comprise a chemical sensor for detecting the presence of blood in the passenger compartment.

16. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor for obtaining data on occupying items in the passenger compartment, said at least one sensor generating a signal representative of the data obtained thereby;

generating means coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor, said generating means comprising a processor for receiving and analyzing the signal from said at least one sensor in order to generate the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment; and

communications means coupled to said generating means and arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means to be transmitted to the remote facility,

said processor comprising pattern recognition means adapted to classify an occupant of the seat and the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment includes the classification of the occupant obtained by said pattern recognition means.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein said pattern recognition means comprise a trained neural network trained to output the classification of the occupant upon receiving as input the signal from said at least one sensor.

18. A method for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining data about occupying items in the passenger compartment,

generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the obtained data,

establishing a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility,

storing the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment in at least one memory unit, and

interrogating the at least one memory unit upon a crash of the vehicle to thereby obtain the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of obtaining data about occupying items comprises the step of arranging at least one wave-receiving sensor in the vehicle whereby the waves received by the at least one wave-receiving sensor provide data on the occupying items.

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

transmitting waves into the passenger compartment whereby the transmitted waves are modified by passing into and at least partially through the passenger compartment and then received by the at least one wave-receiving sensor.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

generating a signal representative of the obtained data, and

providing a processor for receiving the signal representative of the data and analyzing the signal representative of the data in order to generate the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

determining from the obtained data the number of occupants in the passenger compartment, and

incorporating the number of occupants into the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment.

23. A method for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining data about occupying items in the passenger compartment,

generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the obtained data,

establishing a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility,

generating a signal representative of the obtained data, and

providing a processor for receiving the signal representative of the data and analyzing the signal representative of the data in order to generate the information about the state of health of at least one occupant of the passenger compartment.

24. A method for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining data about occupying items in the passenger compartment,

generating a signal representative of the obtained data,

generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the obtained data by providing a processor for receiving the signal representative of the data and analyzing the signal representative of the data in order to generate the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment, the step of analyzing the signal representative of the data comprising the step of applying a pattern recognition technique to recognize and identify any occupants of the passenger compartment,

incorporating the identification of the occupants of the passenger compartment into the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment, and

establishing a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the pattern recognition technique is a trained neural network trained to output an identification of the occupants upon receiving as input the signal representative of the data.

26. A method for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining data about occupying items in the passenger compartment,

generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the obtained data,

establishing a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility,

determining whether any occupants in the passenger compartment are moving after a crash, and

incorporating an indication of the number of moving and non-moving occupants in the passenger compartment in the information about occupancy of the passenger compartment.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of determining whether any occupants in the passenger compartment are moving after the crash comprises the step of monitoring the weight distribution of the occupants.

28. A method for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining data about occupying items in the passenger compartment,

generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the obtained data,

establishing a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility,

the step of obtaining data comprising the step of arranging at least one wave-receiving sensor to receive waves from a plurality of seat locations in the passenger compartment.

29. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising

at least one sensor for obtaining data from the passenger compartment,

a processor coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor,

a communications unit coupled to said processor arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility, and

at least one memory unit coupled to or incorporated with said processor for storing the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment, said communications unit being coupled to said at least one memory unit and interrogating said at least one memory unit upon a crash of the vehicle to thereby obtain the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment.

30. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors each selected from a group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor, an electromagnetic wave sensor, an electric field sensor, a chemical sensor, a weight sensor, a motion sensor, a microphone, a heartbeat sensor, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor and a capacitance sensor.

31. The arrangement of claim 30, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting waves into the passenger compartment such that said at least one sensor receives waves transmitted from said transmitter and modified by passing into and at least partially through the passenger compartment.

32. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein said at least one sensor generates a signal representative of the data obtained thereby, said processor receiving and analyzing the signal from said at least one sensor in order to generate the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment.

33. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein said processor is structured and arranged such that the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said processor includes the number of occupants in the passenger compartment.

34. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein said at least one sensor is a wave-receiving sensor arranged to generate a signal representative of the waves received thereby, said processor being structured and arranged to receive the signal representative of the waves received by said at least one wave-receiving sensor over time and determine whether any parts of any occupants in the passenger compartment are moving such that the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said processor includes the number of moving and non-moving occupants in the passenger compartment.

35. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising

at least one sensor for obtaining data from the passenger compartment,

a processor coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor, and

a communications unit coupled to said processor arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility,

said at least one sensor being a sensor adapted to receive waves providing information about the health state of the at least one occupant such that said communications unit upon a crash of the vehicle transmits information about the state of health of the at least one occupant.

36. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising

at least one sensor for obtaining data from the passenger compartment, said at least one sensor generating a signal representative of the data obtained thereby,

a processor coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor, said processor receiving and analyzing the signal from said at least one sensor in order to generate the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment, and

a communications unit coupled to said processor arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility,

said processor comprising pattern recognition means adapted to classify any occupants of the seat and the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment includes the classification of the occupants obtained by said pattern recognition means.

37. The arrangement of claim 36, wherein said pattern recognition means comprise a trained neural network trained to output the classification of the occupants upon receiving as input the signal representative of the data obtained by said at least one sensor.

38. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor for obtaining data on occupying items in the passenger compartment;

generating means coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor; and

communications means coupled to said generating means and arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means to be transmitted to the remote facility,

said at least one sensor being a micropower impulse radar sensor adapted to detect motion of an occupant whereby the motion of the occupant or absence of motion of the occupant is indicative of whether the occupant is breathing, the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means being an indication of whether the occupant is breathing.

39. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor for obtaining data on occupying items in the passenger compartment, said at least one sensor is a wave-receiving sensor arranged to generate a signal representative of waves received thereby;

generating means coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor, said generating means being structured and arranged to receive the signal representative of the waves received by said wave-receiving sensor over time and determine whether any occupants in the passenger compartment are moving such that the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means includes the number of moving and non-moving occupants in the passenger compartment; and

communications means coupled to said generating means and arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said generating means to be transmitted to the remote facility.

40. An arrangement for obtaining and conveying information about occupancy of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising

at least one sensor for obtaining data from the passenger compartment, said at least one sensor being a wave-receiving sensor arranged to generate a signal representative of the waves received thereby;

a processor coupled to said at least one sensor for generating information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment based on the data obtained by said at least one sensor, said processor being structured and arranged to receive the signal representative of the waves received by said at least one wave-receiving sensor over time and determine whether any parts of any occupants in the passenger compartment are moving such that the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment generated by said processor includes the number of moving and non-moving occupants in the passenger compartment; and

a communications unit coupled to said processor arranged to establish a communications channel between the vehicle and a remote facility to thereby enable the information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment to be transmitted to the remote facility.