Occupant detection and imaging system

• US 8,260,502 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yonak, Serdar H., Schmalenberg, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US12/427,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/47, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image. The electronic control unit can also provide an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and transmit the occupant safety parameter or an instruction related to the occupant safety parameter to an occupant safety system and/or an occupant warning system.

Claims

1. A process for operating an active safety system of a motor vehicle, the process comprising:

providing a motor vehicle with an ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a three-dimensional (3D) imaging system, an electronic control unit and an occupant safety system. energizing the ultrasonic array such that a plurality of sound waves are propagated and a plurality of echo waves are received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the plurality of echo waves transformed into a plurality of electrical pulses by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

providing an occupant warning system operable to transmit an occupant warning signal to an occupant of the motor vehicle;

generating a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses with the 3D imaging system;

determining a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image relative to the motor vehicle with the electronic control unit;

providing an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image;

transmitting of the occupant safety parameter to the occupant warning system by the electronic control unit;

receiving of the occupant safety parameter by the occupant warning system;

determining whether or not to transmit the occupant warning signal to the occupant of the motor vehicle as a function of the occupant safety parameter, wherein the occupant warning system provides a warning to sit facing forward based on the occupant safety parameter; and

determining whether or not to deploy an occupant safety device as a function of the occupant safety parameter.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic array is attached to a headliner of the motor vehicle.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the occupant safety parameter is selected from the group consisting of seat unoccupied, seat occupied by adult occupant, seat occupant by child occupant, seatbelt is fastened about adult occupant, seatbelt is fastened about child occupant, seat occupied by non-occupant object, occupant facing forward, and combinations thereof.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the occupant safety system is a smart airbag system.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the smart airbag system determines whether or not to deploy an airbag for a predefined low-level impact to the motor vehicle based on the occupant safety parameter.

6. The process of claim 4, wherein the smart airbag system determines whether or not to deploy an airbag for a predefined high-level impact based on the occupant safety parameter.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the occupant warning system provides a warning to buckle a seatbelt based on the occupant safety parameter.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the 3D imaging system recognizes a non-occupant object located on a seat.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the smart airbag system does not deploy an airbag during a predefined level of impact to the motor vehicle when the non-occupant object is recognized on the seat.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein the occupant warning system does not provide a warning to sit facing forward when the non-occupant object is recognized on the seat.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein the occupant warning system does not provide a warning to buckle a seatbelt when the non-occupant object is recognized on the seat.