Vehicular restraint system control system and method using multiple optical imagers

• US 7,164,117 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

Abstract

System and method for obtaining information about occupancy of a compartment in a movable object in which at least first and second optical imagers obtain images of a common area of the compartment and spaced apart from one another. Processing circuitry derives information from the images obtained by the imagers. A light source may illuminate the common area of the compartment and be interposed between the imagers. The processing circuitry can include a microprocessor with at least one pattern recognition algorithm and be arranged to determine the distance between the imagers and an object in the common area by locating a specific feature in the common area by first locating the feature in only the image obtained by one imager, then determining the location of the same feature in the image obtained by another imager, and determining the distance of the feature from the imagers by triangulation.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a compartment;

a crash sensor system arranged to detect a crash involving the vehicle;

a restraint system having a variable actuation in the event of a crash involving the vehicle;

an occupant monitoring system for obtaining information about occupancy of said compartment and controlling said restraint system based on the obtained information, said occupant monitoring system comprising;

at least first and second optical imagers for obtaining images of a common area of said compartment, said first and second imagers being spaced apart from one another; and

processing circuitry coupled to said crash sensor system, said restraint system and said first and second imagers and arranged to derive information from images obtained by said first and second imagers and control the actuation of said restraint system based on the derived information and on detection of a crash by said crash sensor system,

said processing circuitry being arranged to identify the occupant such that the presence of different types of occupants is determinable and said restraint system is controllable to provide different actuations depending on the type of the occupant.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said occupant monitoring system further comprises a light source for illuminating the common area of the compartment.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said light source is interposed between said first and second imagers.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said light source is arranged to project structured light into the common area.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein said light source is approximately midway between said first and second imagers.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry comprises a microprocessor with at least one pattern recognition algorithm.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is arranged to determine the distance between said first and second imagers and an object in the common area by locating a specific feature in the common area by first locating the feature in only the image obtained by said first imager, then determining the location of the same feature in the image obtained by said second imager, and determining the distance of the feature from said first and second imagers by triangulation.

18. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an instrument panel, said first and second imagers being arranged above said instrument panel.

19. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first and second imagers are vertically spaced apart from one another.

20. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a driver'"'"'s seat and at least one additional seat, said first and second imagers being arranged such that the common area is defined above said at least one additional seat.

21. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein said at least one pattern recognition algorithm comprises a trained pattern recognition algorithm trained in a training stage to identify different occupants by obtaining images from said first and second imagers when each of a plurality of different occupants is present in the common area of said compartment and associating a derivation of the images with an identification of the occupant.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a compartment;

a crash sensor system arranged to detect a crash involving the vehicle;

a restraint system having a variable actuation in the event of a crash involving the vehicle;

an arrangement for adjusting or controlling said restraint system based on information about occupancy of said compartment, said arrangement comprising;

at least first and second optical imagers for obtaining images of a common area of said compartment, said first and second imagers being spaced apart from one another;

processing circuitry coupled to said crash sensor system and said first and second imagers and arranged to derive information from images obtained by said first and second images and determine the manner in which said restraint system is to be actuated based on the derived information and on detection of a crash by said crash sensor system; and

an adjustment or control system coupled to said processing circuitry for adjusting or controlling said restraint system to provide for the determined manner of actuation of said restraint system as determined by said processing circuitry,

said processing circuitry deriving a model of an occupying item in said compartment based on at least one initial set of images from said first and second imagers and subsequently deriving information about movement of the occupying item based on variations between the model and subsequently obtained images from said first and second imagers.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said arrangement further comprises a light source for illuminating the common area of said compartment.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said light source is interposed between said first and second imagers.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said light source is arranged to project structured light into the common area.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said light source is approximately midway between said first and second imagers.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said processing circuitry comprises a microprocessor with at least one pattern recognition algorithm.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said processing circuitry is arranged to determine the distance between said first and second imagers and an object in the common area by locating a specific feature in the common area by first locating the feature in only the image obtained by said first imager, then determining the location of the same feature in the image obtained by said second imager, and determining the distance of the feature from said first and second imagers by triangulation.

15. A method for controlling actuation of a restraint system in a vehicle based on occupancy of a compartment in the vehicle, comprising:

arranging a crash sensor system on the vehicle to detect a crash involving the vehicle;

arranging a restraint system on the vehicle which has a variable actuation in the event of a crash involving the vehicle;

arranging at least first and second optical imagers on or in connection with a wall defining the compartment, the first and second imagers being spaced apart from one another;

obtaining images of a common area of the compartment via the first and second imagers;

deriving information from the images obtained by the first and second imagers, said step of deriving information comprising identifying an occupant in the compartment such that the presence of different types of occupants is determinable; and

controlling actuation of the restraint system based on the derived information and on detection of a crash by the crash sensor system, the restraint system being controlled to provide different actuations depending on the type of the identified occupant.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising illuminating the common area of the compartment via a light source interposed between the first and second imagers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the light source is arranged to project structured light into the common area and is approximately midway between the first and second imagers.

22. A method for controlling actuation of a restraint system in a vehicle based on occupancy of a compartment in the vehicle, comprising:

arranging a crash sensor system on the vehicle to detect a crash involving the vehicle;

arranging a restraint system on the vehicle which has a variable actuation in the event of a crash involving the vehicle;

arranging at least first and second optical imagers on or in connection with a wall defining the compartment, the first and second imagers being spaced apart from one another;

adjusting or controlling the restraint system based on information about occupancy of the compartment, said adjusting or controlling step comprising

arranging at least first and second optical imagers spaced apart from one another on the vehicle;

obtaining images of a common area of the compartment via the first and second imagers;

deriving information from images obtained by the first and second imagers;

determining the manner in which the restraint system is to be actuated based on the derived information and on detection of a crash by the crash sensor system, the restraint system being adjusted or controlled to provide for the determined manner of actuation of the restraint system;

deriving a model of an occupying item in the compartment based on at least one initial set of images from the first and second imagers; and

subsequently deriving information about movement of the occupying item based on variations between the model and subsequently obtained images from the first and second imagers.

23. A vehicle comprising:

a compartment;

a crash sensor system arranged to detect a crash involving the vehicle;

a restraint system having a variable actuation in the event of a crash involving the vehicle;

an occupant monitoring system for obtaining information about occupancy of said compartment and controlling said restraint system based on the obtained information, said occupant monitoring system comprising;

at least first and second optical imagers for obtaining images of a common area of said compartment, said first and second imagers being spaced apart from one another; and

processing circuitry coupled to said crash sensor system, said restraint system and said first and second imagers and arranged to derive information from images obtained by said first and second imagers and control the actuation of said restraint system based on the derived information and on detection of a crash by said crash sensor system,

said processing circuitry comprising a microprocessor with at least one pattern recognition algorithm, said at least one pattern recognition algorithm comprising a trained pattern recognition algorithm trained in a training stage to identify different occupants by obtaining images from said first and second imagers when each of a plurality of different occupants is present in the common area of said compartment and associating a derivation of the images with an identification of the occupant.