System for obtaining information about vehicular components

• US 7,511,833 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• 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): Lauchman; L. G
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRYANT, REBECCA CAROLE
• Application Number:
  US11/551,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 356/614, 356/615
• US Class Current: 356/614
• 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 2/0268 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: 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 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• 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 21/01542 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 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 15/70 : with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 : Interior lids
• 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 13/74 : Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 : involving the use of neural networks
• 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

System and method for obtaining information about components in a vehicle in which reflective devices are arranged in association with each component, a detector detects waves reflected by the reflective device(s), and a processor obtains information about the components from the detected waves. Reflection of waves from each reflective device is transformed into information about the reflective device, such as deriving the distance between the reflective device and the detector from the reflected waves and transforming this distance determination into a determination of the position of the component. In addition to or instead of the position of the component, the orientation of the component can be determined, or the presence of the component. Information derived from the reflective device(s) can be used to control any number and variety of vehicular systems, such as an occupant protection system.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame defining a passenger compartment;

a vehicular component arranged in or defining part of said passenger compartment and having a plurality of positions relative to said frame; and

a system arranged to obtain information about said component, said system comprising

at least one reflective device arranged in association with said component;

a detector arranged to detect waves reflected by said at least one reflective device; and

a processor coupled to said detector and arranged to obtain information about said component from the detected waves.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one reflective device comprises a plurality of reflectors.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one reflective device is arranged to reflect electromagnetic waves and said detector is arranged to detect electromagnetic waves.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the information obtained about said component is a distance between said at least one reflective device and said detector.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said component is a seat comprising a seat bottom portion attached to said frame and a back portion arranged at an adjustable angle to said bottom portion, each of said at least one reflective device being arranged in association with said bottom portion or in association with said back portion.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said at least one reflective device comprises three reflectors, a first one of said reflectors being arranged at a front of said bottom portion, a second one of said reflectors being arranged at a back of said bottom portion, and a third one of said reflectors being arranged at a top of said back portion.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the information obtained about said seat is an indication of the position of said seat.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one reflective device is selected from a group consisting of a parabolic-shaped reflector, a corner cube reflector, a cube array reflector, and an antenna reflector.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said component is a seatbelt.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said component is a door.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said component is a window and the information obtained about said window from the detected waves is its position.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said component is a child seat and the information obtained about said child seat from the detected waves is its orientation.

20. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said component is adjustable by or based on an occupant of the vehicle.

13. A method for obtaining information about a vehicular component arranged in or defining part of a passenger compartment of a vehicle and having a plurality of positions, comprising:

arranging at least one reflective device in association with the component;

detecting waves reflected by the at least one reflective device; and

processing the detected waves in order to obtain information about the component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of arranging at least one reflective device comprises a plurality of reflective devices.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising constructing the at least one reflective device to reflect electromagnetic waves.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the detected waves are processed to obtain a distance between the at least one reflective device and a location at which the waves are detected.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the component is a seat comprising a seat bottom portion and a back portion arranged at an adjustable angle to the bottom portion, each of the at least one reflective device being arranged in the bottom portion or in the back portion.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information obtained about the seat is an indication of the position of the seat.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising arranging the component to be adjustable by or based on an occupant of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame defining a passenger compartment;

a seat arranged in said passenger compartment and having a plurality of positions relative to said frame;

a seatbelt associated with said seat for use by an occupant when situated in said seat; and

a system arranged to determine whether a seatbelt is being used, said system comprising

at least one reflective device arranged on said seatbelt;

a detector arranged to detect waves reflected by said at least one reflective device; and

a processor coupled to said detector and arranged to process the detected waves into an indication of the location of said seatbelt, whereby the location of said seatbelt is correlated to use or non-use of said seatbelt.