IP Library Granted Patent US 12694739
Granted Patent B2
US 12694739 · App. 18/443,974 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Vehicle apparatus, method, and storage medium for human approach detection with user image authentication

Inventors: Mitsunori Nishino (Tokyo, JP); Ryo Morosawa (Tokyo, JP); Seonghun Lee (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
G07C9/37G06V20/58G06V40/103
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12694739
App. No.
18/443,974
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus includes: an approach detection section configured to detect a person around a vehicle by a sensing apparatus mounted on the vehicle; an authentication section configured to authenticate, when the approach detection section detects a person, the person detected by the approach detection section as a user of the vehicle by using an image captured by an image capturing unit mounted on the vehicle; and a function control section configured to stop a function for the sensing apparatus when time for which a state in which authentication is not established continues after the authentication section starts the authentication reaches first threshold time or more.

Claims (47)

1 . A vehicle control apparatus comprising a processor that functions as:

an approach detection section configured to detect a person around a vehicle by a sensing apparatus mounted on the vehicle;

an authentication section configured to authenticate, when the approach detection section detects a person, the person detected by the approach detection section as a user of the vehicle by using an image captured by an image capturing unit mounted on the vehicle; and

a function control section configured to stop a function for the sensing apparatus when time for which a state in which authentication is not established continues after the authentication section starts the authentication reaches first threshold time or more, wherein

the function control section has an upper limit value for an amount of electric power consumed for at least any of the sensing apparatus and the approach detection section within fourth threshold time, and

when the amount of electric power consumed for at least any of the sensing apparatus and the approach detection section reaches the upper limit value or more, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus.

2 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein processing of stopping the function for the sensing apparatus by the function control section includes at least any of processing of stopping the sensing apparatus and processing of stopping supply of electric power to the sensing apparatus.

3 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when a number of times the approach detection section detects a person within second threshold time reaches an upper limit number of times or more, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus.

4 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when a number of persons sensed by the approach detection section within third threshold time reaches an upper limit number of persons or more, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus.

5 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the function control section detects an operation on an openable and closeable object provided on an outer surface of the vehicle in a state in which the function for the sensing apparatus is stopped, the function control section causes the approach detection section to transition to a state in which the function for the sensing apparatus is executable.

6 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the function control section

is capable of controlling a communication apparatus that communicates with a terminal apparatus, and

determines whether or not the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the terminal apparatus after the function for the sensing apparatus is stopped, and causes the approach detection section to transition to a state in which the function for the sensing apparatus is executable when determining that the communication apparatus is capable of communicating with the terminal apparatus.

7 . The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the function control section

causes a communication apparatus to issue a notification to a terminal apparatus after the function for the sensing apparatus is stopped, the communication apparatus communicating with the terminal apparatus, and

causes, when the communication apparatus receives control data transmitted from the terminal apparatus in response to the notification, the approach detection section to transition to a state in which the function for the sensing apparatus is executable in accordance with the control data.

8 . A vehicle control method that is executed by a processor, the vehicle control method comprising the steps of:

detecting a person around a vehicle by a sensing apparatus mounted on the vehicle;

authenticating, when a person around the vehicle is detected, the detected person as a user of the vehicle by using an image captured by an image capturing unit mounted on the vehicle; and

stopping a function for the sensing apparatus when time for which a state in which authentication is not established continues after the authentication is started reaches first threshold time or more;

wherein there is established an upper limit value for an amount of electric power consumed any of the sensing apparatus and the image capturing unit within fourth threshold time, and

when the amount of electric power consumed by any of the sensing apparatus and the image capturing unit reaches the upper limit value or more, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus.

9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that is executable by a processor, the program causing the processor to function as:

an approach detection section configured to detect a person around a vehicle by a sensing apparatus mounted on the vehicle;

an authentication section configured to authenticate, when the approach detection section detects a person, the person detected by the approach detection section as a user of the vehicle by using an image captured by an image capturing unit mounted on the vehicle; and

a function control section configured to stop a function for the sensing apparatus when time for which a state in which authentication is not established continues after the authentication section starts the authentication reaches first threshold time or more;

wherein

the function control section has an upper limit value for an amount of electric power consumed for at least any of the sensing apparatus and the approach detection section within fourth threshold time, and

when the amount of electric power consumed for at least any of the sensing apparatus and the approach detection section reaches the upper limit value or more, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus.

10 . A vehicle control apparatus comprising:

a sensing apparatus configured to sense a person around a vehicle, and

a processor that functions as:

an approach detection section configured to detect the person around the vehicle based on a sensing result of the sensing apparatus;

an authentication section configured to authenticate, when the approach detection section detects a person, as to whether or not the person detected by the approach detection section is a person registered as a user of the vehicle; and

a function control section configured to stop a function of sensing the person in a predetermined sensing range by using the sensing apparatus, wherein

when time for which a state in which authentication is not established continues after the authentication is started reaches first threshold time or more, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus,

when a number of times the approach detection section detects a person within second threshold time reaches an upper limit number of times or more by counting detection events based on the sensing result of the sensing apparatus, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus,

processing of stopping the function for the sensing apparatus by the function control section includes processing of stopping the function for the sensing apparatus by the function control section includes stopping supply of electric power to the sensing apparatus.

11 . A vehicle control apparatus comprising:

a sensing apparatus configured to sense a person around a vehicle, and

a processor that functions as:

an approach detection section configured to detect the person around the vehicle based on a sensing result of the sensing apparatus;

an authentication section configured to authenticate, when the approach detection section detects a person, as to whether or not the person detected by the approach detection section is a person registered as a user of the vehicle; and

a function control section configured to stop a function of sensing the person in a predetermined sensing range by using the sensing apparatus, wherein

when time for which a state in which authentication is not established continues after the authentication is started reaches first threshold time or more, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus,

when a number of persons sensed by the approach detection section within third threshold time reaches an upper limit number of persons or more by counting detection events based on the sensing result of the sensing apparatus, the function control section stops the function for the sensing apparatus,

processing of stopping the function for the sensing apparatus by the function control section includes processing of stopping the function for the sensing apparatus by the function control section includes stopping supply of electric power to the sensing apparatus.