Apparatus and method for determining presence of objects in a vehicle

• US 8,054,203 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Chekhovoy, Oleksandr, Zakharenkov, Kyrylo, Breed, David S., Johnson, Wendell C., DuVall, Wilbur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/039,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.26, 340/436, 340/565, 340/545.3, 340/552, 340438-439, 701/36, 280/735, 280/736, 180/268, 180/272, 367/93
• US Class Current: 340/931
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• 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 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0252 with relations between different adjustments, e.g. height of headrest following longitudinal position of seat
• 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 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• 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 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• 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 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 2022/288 : with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 : with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 : for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 : including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• 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 21/0152 : using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 : using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 : using electric or capacitive field 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 21/01546 : using belt buckle sensors
• 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 21/203 : in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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 22/201 : with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06
• 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 15/431 : specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/433 : using reflection from the obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 : Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 : Windows
• 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 15/42 : Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S15/46
• 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 17/04 : Systems determining the presence of a target
• 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: G06F 18/00 : Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 : Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 : Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 : using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 : Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 : Recognising seat occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 : Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 : with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/248 : EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 : Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 : using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 : due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1282 : Automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3219 : Geometry of the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 : particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 : mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 : Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Vehicle including a first substructure and a second substructure arranged such that an interior space is defined by or between the first and second substructures, and an arrangement for determining whether an object is present in the interior space. The arrangement includes ultrasonic transducers arranged on the second substructure and to transmit ultrasonic waves toward the first substructure and receive any waves reflected by objects in the interior space and a processor coupled to the ultrasonic transducers and arranged to determine whether an object is present in the interior space based on reception of waves by the ultrasonic transducers. If the vehicle is an automobile and the interior space is the passenger compartment therein, the first substructure can be the passenger seat and the second substructure can be the A-pillar, in which case, the processor determines the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a cargo container defining an interior space in which one or more inanimate objects can be situated, said container including a plurality of substantially planar sides that are opposite one another to provide said interior space with an empty state wherein inanimate objects are not present between any of said sides, said sides including two pair of walls that are opposite one another, a ceiling and a floor opposite said ceiling;

an arrangement for determining whether an inanimate object is present anywhere in the interior space, said arrangement comprising;

a plurality of ultrasonic transducers each arranged proximate or on one of said sides and to transmit ultrasonic waves toward an opposite one of said sides and receive any waves reflected by inanimate objects in the interior space; and

a processor coupled to said ultrasonic transducers and arranged to determine whether an inanimate object is present anywhere the interior space based on any reception of waves by said ultrasonic transducers, said processor being arranged to consider, when determining presence of an inanimate object, waves received by said ultrasonic transducers when the interior space is empty or data derived from such waves; and

said ultrasonic transducers being mounted proximate or on said ceiling;

a location information system that obtains information to enable the location of the vehicle to be determined;

a communications system coupled to said location information system and to said processor and that wirelessly transmits information relating to the absence or presence of an inanimate object in the interior space as determined by said processor and the location information obtained by said location information system to a remote site separate and apart from the vehicle, said communications system being configured to wirelessly transmit the information via infrastructure separate and apart from the vehicle;

a determining system that determines at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle, the at least one property including at least one of the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle; and

an ultrasonic transducer control system coupled to said processor and arranged to modify processing of the received ultrasonic waves via said processor based on the at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space determined by said determining system,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to determine at least one parameter for the transmission, reception or processing of ultrasonic waves via said ultrasonic transducers based on the determined at least one of the temperature and humidity,

whereby each of the at least one parameter is designed to compensate for any increased attenuation or change of speed of ultrasonic waves resulting from changes in at least one of the temperature and humidity,

the ultrasonic waves being transmitted via said ultrasonic transducers into the interior space using the at least one determined parameter or any reflected waves being received via said ultrasonic transducers or processed using the at least one determined parameter,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to optionally determine transmission power of the ultrasonic waves or amplification for the reception of the ultrasonic waves.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of said ultrasonic transducers is controlled to associate reception of waves in discrete periods of time with specific timed transmissions of waves, said arrangement further comprising a processing circuit coupled to at least one of said ultrasonic transducers and arranged to remove at least one portion of the waves received by said at least one of said ultrasonic transducers in each time period to thereby form shortened returned waves, said processor being coupled to said processing circuit and arranged to determine whether an object is present in the interior space based on the shortened returned waves formed by said processing circuit.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least two of said ultrasonic transducer have different transmission and reception frequencies.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an event detecting sensor that monitors an event relating to access to the interior space, said arrangement being coupled to said event detecting sensor and arranged to cause transmission of ultrasonic waves by said ultrasonic transducers only after an event is detected by said event detecting sensor.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of said ultrasonic transducers is mounted at or proximate a top of one of said walls such that waves are transmitted in a downward direction toward the opposite one of said walls.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic transducers comprise horns for controlling the shape or direction of the emitted ultrasonic waves.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a pattern recognition system that applies pattern recognition to the waves received by said ultrasonic transducers in order to determine whether an object is present anywhere in the interior space.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said pattern recognition system comprises a neural network trained in a training stage in which ultrasonic waves received by said ultrasonic transducers in the absence of objects in the interior space and ultrasonic waves received by said ultrasonic transducers with objects present in the interior space are collected and used to derive the neural network, said neural network operatively processing the waves received by said ultrasonic transducers to provide an indication of the presence or absence of objects in the interior space.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said pattern recognition system comprises an algorithm that applies preprocessing wherein received waves acquired at one time period are subtracted from the received waves acquired at a different time period.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic transducer control system is coupled to said ultrasonic transducers and further arranged to modify transmission of the ultrasonic waves via said ultrasound transducers based on the at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle determined by said determining system.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic transducers are arranged in positions in which they have an overlapping transmission and reception field, said processor being arranged to determine whether an object is present in the overlapping transmission and reception field based on any reception of waves by said ultrasonic transducers.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a door monitoring sensor that monitors the open or closed state of an access door to the interior space, said arrangement being coupled to said door monitoring sensor and arranged to cause transmission of ultrasonic waves by said ultrasonic transducers only after said door is changed from an open state to a closed state.

13. A vehicle, comprising:

a cargo container defining an interior space in which one or more inanimate objects can be situated, said container including a plurality of planar sides that are opposite one another to provide said interior space with an empty state wherein inanimate objects are not present between any of said sides, said sides including two pair of walls that are opposite one another, a ceiling and a floor opposite said ceiling;

an arrangement for determining whether an inanimate object is present anywhere in the interior space, said arrangement comprising;

a transmitting system arranged proximate or on a first one of said sides to transmit ultrasonic waves at different times toward an opposite, second one of said sides;

a receiving system arranged proximate or on said first side to receive any waves reflected from inanimate objects in the interior space during a period of time after each transmission; and

a processor coupled to said transmitting system and said receiving system to determine whether an inanimate object is present in the interior space based on any waves received by said receiving system, said processor being arranged to consider, when determining presence of an inanimate object, waves received by said receiving system when the interior space is empty or data derived from such waves;

said ultrasonic transducers being mounted proximate or on said ceiling;

a location information system that obtains information to enable the location of the vehicle to be determined;

a communications system coupled to said processor and said location information system and arranged to wirelessly transmit information relating to the absence or presence of an inanimate object in the interior space as determined by said processor and the location information obtained by said location information system to a remote site separate and apart from the vehicle, said communications system being configured to wirelessly transmit the information via infrastructure separate and apart from the vehicle;

a determining system that determines at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle, the at least one property including at least one of the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle; and

an ultrasonic transducer control system coupled to said processor and arranged to modify processing of the received ultrasonic waves via said processor based on the at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle determined by said determining system,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to determine at least one parameter for the transmission, reception or processing of ultrasonic waves via said ultrasonic transducers based on the determined at least one of the temperature and humidity,

whereby each of the at least one parameter is designed to compensate for any increased attenuation or change of speed of ultrasonic waves resulting from changes in at least one of the temperature and humidity,

the ultrasonic waves being transmitted via said ultrasonic transducers into the interior space using the at least one determined parameter or any reflected waves being received via said ultrasonic transducers or processed using the at least one determined parameter,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to optionally determine transmission power of the ultrasonic waves or amplification for the reception of the ultrasonic waves.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said receiving system is arranged to associate reception of waves in discrete periods of time with specific timed transmissions of waves, said arrangement further comprising a processing circuit coupled to said receiving system and arranged to remove plurality of portion of the waves received by said receiving system in each time period to thereby form shortened returned waves, said processor being coupled to said processing circuit and arranged to determine whether an object is present in the interior space based on the shortened returned waves formed by said processing circuit.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said transmitting system and said receiving system comprise a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged proximate or on said second side in positions in which they have different transmission and reception fields.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said transmitting system comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, said ultrasonic transducers comprising horns for controlling the shape or direction of the emitted ultrasonic waves.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said processor comprises a pattern recognition system that applies pattern recognition to the waves received by said ultrasonic transducers in order to determine whether an object is present anywhere in the interior space.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein said pattern recognition system comprises a neural network trained in a training stage in which ultrasonic waves received by said receiving system in the absence of objects in the interior space and ultrasonic waves received by said receiving system with objects present in the interior space are collected and used to derive the neural network, said neural network operatively processing the waves received by said receiving system to provide an indication of the presence or absence of objects in the interior space.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein said pattern recognition system is configured to preprocess the receive waves wherein received waves acquired at one time period are subtracted from the received waves acquired at a different time period.

20. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said transmitting system and said receiving system comprise a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged proximate or on said second sides in positions in which they have an overlapping transmission and reception field, said processor being arranged to determine whether an object is present in the overlapping transmission and reception field based on any reception of waves by said ultrasonic transducers.

21. A vehicle, comprising:

a cargo container defining an interior space in which one or more inanimate objects can be situated, said container including a plurality of planar sides that are opposite one another to provide said interior space with an empty state wherein inanimate objects are not present between any of said sides, said sides including two pair of walls that are opposite one another, a ceiling and a floor opposite said ceiling;

an arrangement for determining whether an inanimate object is present anywhere in the interior space, said arrangement comprising;

a transmitting system arranged proximate or on a first one of said sides to transmit more than one frequency of ultrasonic waves at different times toward a second, opposite one of said sides;

a receiving system arranged proximate or on said first side to receive any waves reflected from inanimate objects in the interior space during a period of time after each transmission, said receiving system being arranged to associate reception of waves in discrete periods of time with specific timed transmissions of waves; and

a processor coupled to said transmitting system and said receiving system to determine whether an inanimate object is present in the interior space based on any waves received by said receiving system, said processor being arranged to consider, when determining presence of an inanimate object, waves received by said receiving system when the interior space is empty or data derived from such waves; and

a processing circuit coupled to said receiving system and arranged to determine whether an inanimate object is present in the interior space based on waves of more than one frequency received by said receiving system;

a location information system that obtains information to enable the location of the vehicle to be determined;

a communications system coupled to said processor and said location information system and arranged to wirelessly transmit information relating to the absence or presence of an object in the interior space as determined by said processor and the location information obtained by said location information system to a remote site separate and apart from the vehicle, said communications system being configured to wirelessly transmit the information via infrastructure separate and apart from the vehicle;

a determining system that determines at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle, the at least one property including at least one of the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle; and

an ultrasonic transducer control system coupled to said processor and arranged to modify processing of the received ultrasonic waves via said processor based on the at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle determined by said determining system,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to determine at least one parameter for the transmission, reception or processing of ultrasonic waves via said ultrasonic transducers based on the determined at least one property,

whereby each of the at least one parameter is designed to compensate for any increased attenuation or change of speed of ultrasonic waves resulting from changes in at least one of the temperature and humidity,

the ultrasonic waves being transmitted via said ultrasonic transducers into the interior space using the at least one determined parameter or any reflected waves being received via said ultrasonic transducers or processed using the at least one determined parameter,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to optionally determine transmission power of the ultrasonic waves or amplification for the reception of the ultrasonic waves.

22. A vehicle, comprising:

a cargo container defining an interior space in which one or more inanimate objects can be situated, said container including a plurality of planar sides that are opposite one another to provide said interior space with an empty state wherein inanimate objects are not present between any of said sides, said sides including two pair of walls that are opposite one another, a ceiling and a floor opposite said ceiling;

an arrangement for determining whether an inanimate object is present anywhere in the interior space, said arrangement comprising;

a plurality of ultrasonic transducer arranged proximate or on a first one of said sides and to transmit ultrasonic waves toward a second one of said sides and receive any waves reflected by inanimate objects in the interior space;

a processor coupled to said ultrasonic transducers and arranged to determine whether an inanimate object is present in the interior space based on any reception of waves by said ultrasonic transducers, said processor being arranged to consider, when determining presence of an inanimate object, waves received by said ultrasonic transducers when the interior space is empty or data derived from such waves;

a temperature or humidity determining system that determines the temperature or humidity of the atmosphere in the interior space; and

a modification system coupled to said ultrasonic transducers for modifying transmission of the ultrasonic waves or processing of the received ultrasonic waves based on the determined temperature or humidity, said modification system being arranged to determine the size of a portion of waves to be removed from a larger set of waves received during each discrete period of time based on the determined temperature or humidity such that the analyzed waves emanate from the same distance or distance range from said ultrasonic transducers;

a location information system that obtains information to enable the location of the vehicle to be determined;

a communications system coupled to said processor and said location information system and arranged to transmit information relating to the absence or presence of an inanimate object in the interior space as determined by said processor and the location information obtained by said location information system to a remote site separate and apart from the vehicle, said communications system being configured to wirelessly transmit the information via infrastructure separate and apart from the vehicle;

a determining system that determines at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle, the at least one property including at least one of the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle; and

an ultrasonic transducer control system coupled to said processor and arranged to modify processing of the received ultrasonic waves via said processor based on the at least one property of the atmosphere in the interior space of the vehicle determined by said determining system,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to determine at least one parameter for the transmission, reception or processing of ultrasonic waves via said ultrasonic transducers based on the determined at least one of the temperature and humidity,

whereby each of the at least one parameter is designed to compensate for any increased attenuation or change of speed of ultrasonic waves resulting from changes in at least one of the temperature and humidity,

the ultrasonic waves being transmitted via said ultrasonic transducers into the interior space using the at least one determined parameter or any reflected waves being received via said ultrasonic transducers or processed using the at least one determined parameter,

said ultrasonic transducer control system being further arranged to optionally determine transmission power of the ultrasonic waves or amplification for the reception of the ultrasonic waves.