Vehicular occupant characteristic determination system and method

• US 7,467,809 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US10/058,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,521 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 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 21/015 : including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• 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 15/523 : for presence detection burglar, theft or intruder alarms G08B13/00, e.g. G08B13/16
• 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

System and method for sensing one or more occupant characteristics of a vehicle occupant in which an electromagnetic energy signal is transmitted toward an occupant location within a vehicle and absorption of the energy signal by a vehicle occupant is detected, if such absorption occurs. An absorption signal indicative of the absorbed energy signal is detected and processed to determine the occupant characteristic(s). Occupant characteristics include the presence or absence of an occupant, size, location, biometric features such as a voice print, a hand print, a finger print, an iris scan and a facial feature, and type, e.g., a child seat. The occupant characteristic may be used to control a vehicular component such as an occupant protection device.

Claims

1. A sensor system for obtaining information about a vehicle occupant, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting an energy signal toward an occupant location or a location of a part of an occupant within a vehicle;

detecting means for detecting whether reflection of the energy signal by a vehicle occupant or a part of an vehicle occupant occurs and for providing a reflection signal indicative thereof; and

processing means coupled to said detecting means for processing the reflection signal to identify at least one occupant biometric feature.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting means are arranged to transmit an electromagnetic energy signal toward the occupant location, and said detecting means are arranged to detect reflection of the energy signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means are arranged to determine if a vehicle occupant is present based on the identification of the at least one biometric feature.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means are arranged to determine a size of a vehicle occupant as the biometric feature.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means are arranged to determine a location of a vehicle occupant with respect to the vehicle based on the location of the identified at least one biometric feature.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one biometric feature is selected from a group consisting of a hand print, a finger print, an iris pattern and a facial feature.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means are arranged to determine a type of a vehicle occupant based on the identification of the at least one biometric feature.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said processing means are arranged to determine whether the type of a vehicle occupant is a child in a child seat.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting means and said detecting means are arranged on a common side of the vehicle occupant location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting means comprise a plurality of transmitting systems, each for transmitting an energy signal toward the occupant location, said detecting means being arranged to detect whether reflection of each energy signal by a vehicle occupant occurs and for providing signals indicative thereof.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein one of said plurality of transmitting systems is mounted within a headliner of the vehicle, and another of said plurality of transmitting systems is mounted elsewhere within the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said detecting means comprise a plurality of detectors, one of said plurality of detectors being mounted within a door of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting means are mounted within a portion of the vehicle other than a headliner, and said detecting means are mounted within a portion of the vehicle other than a seat of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means are arranged to provide a signal indicative of the at least one occupant biometric feature for use within an occupant protection system.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the identity of the occupant is determined based on the identification of the at least one biometric feature of the occupant.

15. A method for obtaining information about a vehicle occupant, comprising

transmitting an energy signal toward an occupant location within a vehicle;

detecting whether reflection of the energy signal by a vehicle occupant occurs;

providing a reflection signal indicative of the occurrence of energy reflection; and

processing the reflection signal to identify at least one occupant biometric feature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of transmitting includes transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal toward the occupant location, and said step of detecting includes detecting reflection of the energy signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of processing includes determining if a vehicle occupant is present based on the identification of the at least one biometric feature.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of processing includes determining a size of the vehicle occupant based on the identification of at least one biometric feature.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of processing includes determining a location of the vehicle occupant with respect to the vehicle based on the location and identification of the at least one biometric feature.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of processing includes determining a type of the vehicle occupant based on the identification of the at least one biometric feature.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of processing includes determining whether the type of vehicle occupant is a child in a child seat.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one biometric feature is selected from a group consisting of a hand print, a finger print, an iris pattern and a facial feature.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of processing includes determining the identity of the vehicle occupant based on the identification of the at least one biometric feature.

25. A sensor system for obtaining information about a vehicle occupant, comprising:

receiving means for receiving an energy signal from an occupant location or a location of a part of an occupant within a vehicle;

detecting means coupled to said receiving means for detecting that a received energy signal has been generated by a vehicle occupant or a part of an vehicle occupant and for providing a signal indicative thereof; and

processing means for processing the detected energy signal to identify at least one occupant biometric feature.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one biometric feature is a voice print.

27. A sensor system for obtaining information about a vehicle occupant, comprising:

generating means for generating an energy signal in a space including an occupant location or a location of a part of an occupant within a vehicle;

detecting means for detecting whether modification of the generated energy signal by a vehicle occupant or a part of an vehicle occupant occurs and for providing a signal indicative of the occurrence of the modification; and

processing means for processing the signal to identify at least one occupant biometric feature.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said generating means and said detecting means comprise a capacitance sensor system.

29. A sensor system for sensing at least one occupant characteristic of a vehicle occupant, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting an energy signal toward an occupant location or a location of a part of an occupant within a vehicle;

detecting means for detecting whether absorption of the energy signal by a vehicle occupant or a part of an vehicle occupant occurs and for providing an absorption signal indicative thereof; and

processing means coupled to said detecting means for processing the absorption signal to identify at least one occupant characteristic,

said processing means being arranged to determine at least one biometric feature of the vehicle occupant as the occupant characteristic, said determining means being arranged to receive energy signals modified by or reflected from the occupant and process the received energy signals, the at least one biometric feature being selected from a group consisting of a voice print, a hand print, a finger print, an iris pattern and a facial feature.

30. A method for sensing at least one occupant characteristic of a vehicle occupant, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an energy signal toward an occupant location within a vehicle;

detecting whether absorption of the energy signal by a vehicle occupant occurs;

providing an absorption signal indicative of the occurrence of energy absorption; and

processing the absorption signal to determine identify at least one occupant characteristic biometric feature,

said step of processing including determining at least one biometric feature of the vehicle occupant as the occupant characteristic by receiving energy signals modified by or reflected from the occupant and processing the received energy signals, the at least one biometric feature being selected from a group consisting of a voice print, a hand print, a finger print, an iris pattern and a facial feature.