Method and device for detecting the position and the posture of a human body

• US 7,029,031 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Longhorn Automotive Group LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Rode, Manfred, Moisel, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/615,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/272, 701/45, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557, 340/573.7, 250/221, 250/DIG.1, 356/614, 356/622
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 250/01 Passive intrusion detectors

Abstract

In a device for detecting the body position of a passenger in a vehicle sitting in a seat a plurality of light transmitters is situated in or on the back rest, staggered by height, and emit light signals in the direction of one or a plurality of light receiver(s) situated in particular above the back rest. A conclusion may be drawn regarding the form of the blockage of the light signals by the passenger based on the light signals received, which in turn makes it possible to draw a conclusion regarding the posture, in particular the head position or the body inclination. The positions of the light transmitters and light receivers may be exchanged in an analogous manner.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the body position of a passenger in a vehicle sitting in a seat, comprising:

emitting light signals using a plurality of light transmitters, wherein the light signals emitted by the light transmitters are light transmitter-individualized;

receiving the light signals using at least one light receiver disposed in an area illuminated by the light transmitters; and

drawing a conclusion regarding a posture of the passenger based on whether a first light signal of the light signals is received by the at least one light receiver or blocked between a first of the plurality of light transmitters and the at least one light receiver.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the posture of the passenger includes at least one of a body inclination and a head position of the passenger.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of light transmitters are disposed at different heights and the drawing the conclusion is performed based on the respective height of the first light transmitter.

4. A device for detecting the body position of a passenger in a vehicle sitting in a seat having a back rest, the device comprising:

a plurality of light transmitters disposed at different heights on or in the back rest and configured to emit light signals;

at least one light receiver disposed in an area illuminated by the light transmitters and configured to receive the light signals; and

an analyzing unit configured to analyze at least one received light signal of the light signals so as to enable a conclusion to be drawn regarding a posture of the passenger based on the type or the intensity of the at least one received light signal;

wherein the light signals emitted by the light transmitters are light transmitter-individualized.

5. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the light signals emitted by the light transmitters are light transmitter-individualized by at least one of a time of light transmission and a light signal characteristic.

6. The device as recited in claim 5 wherein the light signal characteristic includes at least one of a frequency, a modulation and pause length-to-pulse length ratio.

7. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the light transmitters are disposed in at least one row.

8. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the light transmitters are spaced closer in a lower area of the back rest than in an upper area of the back rest.

9. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the at least one light receiver is disposed at least partially in or on a roof liner of the vehicle.

10. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the analyzing unit is disposed on or in the seat.

11. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the analyzing unit is disposed in an area of the at least one light receiver.

12. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the analyzing unit includes a memory for reference values for comparing the at least one received light signal with at least one known light signal so as to determine the body posture.

13. The device as recited in claim 4 further comprising at least one optical element associated with the at least one light receiver.

14. The device as recited in claim 13 wherein the at least one optical element includes at least one of a convex lens, an aperture, and a filter.

15. The device as recited in claim 4 further comprising at least one optical element associated with at least one of the light transmitters for aligning light of the emitted light signals emitted in a direction of the at least one light receiver.

16. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the at least one light receiver is connected to the analyzing unit via at least one optical waveguide.

17. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of the light transmitters is connected to a light source via an optical waveguide.

18. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the analyzing unit is configured to detect at least one of a body length and a back length of the passenger.

19. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the light signals include at least one of visible light and invisible light.

20. The device as recited in claim 19 wherein the light signals include infrared light.

21. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the at least one light receiver is disposed above the light transmitters.

22. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the posture includes at least one of a body inclination and a head position of the passenger.

23. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the device is connected to an air bag deployment apparatus.

24. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the device is disposed in the vehicle.

25. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the analyzing unit is configured to analyze the at least one received light signal so as to enable the conclusion to be drawn regarding the posture of the passenger based on the respective height of the respective light transmitter corresponding to the at least one received light signal.

26. A device for detecting the body position of a passenger in a vehicle sitting in a seat having a back rest, the device comprising:

at least one light receiver disposed in or on the back rest and configured to receive light signals;

an analyzing unit configured to analyze at least one received light signal of the light signals so as to enable a conclusion to be drawn regarding a posture of the passenger based on the type or the intensity of the at least one received light signal; and

a plurality of light transmitters configured to emit the light signals, wherein the light signals emitted by the light transmitters are light transmitter-individualized.

27. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the posture includes at least one of a body inclination and a head position of the passenger.

28. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the plurality of light transmitters is disposed above the at least one light receiver.

29. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the signals emitted by the plurality of light transmitters are light transmitter-individualized by at least one of a time of light transmission and a light signal characteristic.

30. The device as recited in claim 29 wherein the light signal characteristic includes at least one of a frequency, a modulation and pause length-to-pulse length ratio.

31. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the at least one light receiver includes a plurality of light receivers disposed in at least one row at different heights.

32. The device as recited in claim 31 wherein the light receivers are spaced closer in a lower area of the back rest than in an upper area of the back rest.

33. The device as recited in claim 31 wherein the analyzing unit is configured to analyze the at least one received light signal so as to enable the conclusion to be drawn regarding the posture of the passenger based on a height of a first of the plurality of light receivers receiving the at least one received light signal.

34. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the plurality of light transmitters are disposed at least partially in or on a roof liner of the vehicle.

35. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the analyzing unit is disposed on or in the seat.

36. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the analyzing unit is disposed in an area of the at least one light receiver.

37. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the analyzing unit includes a memory for reference values for comparing the at least one received light signal with at least one known light signal so as to determine the body posture.

38. The device as recited in claim 26 further comprising at least one optical element associated with the at least one light receiver.

39. The device as recited in claim 38 wherein the at least one optical element includes at least one of a convex lens, an aperture, and a filter.

40. The device as recited in claim 26 further comprising at least one optical element associated with the plurality of light transmitters for aligning light of the emitted light signals emitted in a direction of the at least one light receiver.

41. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the at least one light receiver is connected to the analyzing unit via at least one optical waveguide.

42. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the plurality of light transmitters is connected to a light source via an optical waveguide.

43. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the analyzing unit is configured to detect at least one of a body length and a back length of the passenger.

44. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the light signals include at least one of visible light and invisible light.

45. The device as recited in claim 44 wherein the light signals include infrared light.

46. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the device is connected to an air bag deployment apparatus.

47. The device as recited in claim 26 wherein the device is disposed in the vehicle.

48. A device for detecting the body position of a passenger in a vehicle sitting in a seat having a back rest, the device comprising:

a plurality of light transmitters disposed at different heights on or in the back rest and configured to emit light signals;

at least one light receiver disposed in an area illuminated by the light transmitters and configured to receive the light signals; and

an analyzing unit configured to analyze at least one received light signal of the light signals so as to enable a conclusion to be drawn regarding a posture of the passenger based on the type or the intensity of the at least one received light signal;

wherein the at least one light receiver is disposed at least partially in or on a head restraint of the seat.

49. A device for detecting the body position of a passenger in a vehicle sitting in a seat having a back rest, the device comprising:

at least one light receiver disposed in or on the back rest and configured to receive light signals;

at least one light transmitter disposed in a transmitting area defined by the at least one light transmitter and configured to emit the light signals; and

an analyzing unit configured to analyze at least one received light signal of the light signals so as to enable a conclusion to be drawn regarding a posture of the passenger based on the type or the intensity of the at least one received light signal;

wherein the at least one light transmitter is disposed at least partially in or on a head restraint of the seat.