Vehicular Occupant Sensing and Component Control Techniques
Method and system for obtaining information about a category of an occupying item in a volume of a passenger compartment of a vehicle in which the occupying item is situated during use of the vehicle and controlling one or more vehicular components. A time-varying signal is directed into the volume from at least one location. A modification of the directed signal arising from a property of any occupying items in the volume is detected, different occupying items causing different modifications of the same directed signal. A distinction is made between different occupying items of the volume or between parts of an occupying item based on the detected modification to the directed signal and each component, e.g., an inflatable airbag, is controlled based on the distinction between the occupying items or parts thereof.
1 . A method for obtaining information about a category of an occupying item in a volume of a passenger compartment of a vehicle in which the occupying item is situated during use of the vehicle, comprising:
directing a time-varying signal into the volume from at least one location;
detecting a modification of the directed signal arising from a property of any occupying items in the volume, different occupying items causing different modifications of the same directed signal;
distinguishing between different occupying items of the volume or between parts of an occupying item based on the detected modification to the directed signal; and
controlling at least one component of the vehicle based on the distinction between the occupying items or parts thereof.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising arranging an electromagnetic field generating device in the vehicle, the time-varying signal being generated by and directed into the volume by the electromagnetic field generating device.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising arranging an electric field generating device in the vehicle, the time-varying signal being generated by and directed into the volume by the electric field generating device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising arranging a system to generate the time-varying signal and detect the modifications of the directed signal in a seat of the vehicle.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the occupying item is a human occupant, further comprising:
arranging a system to generate the time-varying signal and detect the modifications of the directed signal;
determining locations on a frame of the vehicle defining the volume which have an unimpeded view of a head and/or chest of the occupant; and
arranging the system at one of the determined locations.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the system directs the time-varying signal and detects the modifications of the directed signal from a common location.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the system directs the time-varying signal and detects the modifications of the directed signal from spaced apart locations.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising arranging a system to generate the time-varying signal and detect the modifications of the directed signal in front of a seat of the vehicle and above an instrument panel in front of the seat.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is a signal in the ultrasonic range and the modification of the directed signal is a reflection of the ultrasonic signal by the occupying item arising from the presence of the occupying item in a path of the ultrasonic signal.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the occupying item is a human occupant, further comprising analyzing the detected modification to the directed signal in order to differentiate between the occupant and his or her extremities, whereby the occupant is categorized based on detected modifications arising from a property of the occupant and not arising from a property of his or her extremities.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component is an airbag arranged to inflate into the volume.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the signal is directed from a plurality of locations in front of the occupying item and each signal is a signal in the ultrasonic range, the modification of the directed ultrasonic signals being a reflection of the ultrasonic signal by the occupying item arising from the presence of the occupying item in a path of the ultrasonic signal, further comprising:
determining a distance between the airbag and a front face of the occupying item; and
controlling deployment of the airbag based on the determined distance.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of distinguishing between different occupying items of the volume based on the detected modification to the directed signal comprising creating a pattern recognition system which receives as input the detected modification to the directed signal arising from the property of the occupying item and outputs a type of the occupying item.
14 . A method for obtaining information about a category of a human occupant in a volume of a passenger compartment of a vehicle in which the occupant is situated during use of the vehicle, comprising:
directing a time-varying signal into the volume from at least one location;
detecting a modification of the directed signal arising from a property of any occupants in the volume, different occupants causing different modifications of the same directed signal;
distinguishing between different occupants of the volume based on the detected modification to the directed signal; and
controlling inflation or deployment of an airbag arranged to inflate into the volume based on the distinction between the occupants,
the step of distinguishing between different occupants of the volume based on the detected modification to the directed signal comprising creating a pattern recognition system which receives as input the detected modification to the directed signal arising from the property of the occupant and outputs a type of the occupant.
15 . A system for controlling at least one vehicular component based on information about a category of an occupying item in a volume of a passenger compartment of a vehicle in which the occupying item is situated during use of the vehicle, comprising:
a signal-generating system arranged to generate and direct a time-varying signal into the volume from at least one location and detect a modification of the directed signal arising from a property of any occupying items in the volume, different occupying items causing different modifications of the same directed signal; and
a processor coupled to said signal-generating system and arranged to distinguish between different occupying items of the volume or between parts of an occupying item based on the detected modification to the directed signal, said processor being arranged to control the at least one component of the vehicle based on the distinction between the occupying items or parts thereof.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein said signal-generating system is arranged to generate an electromagnetic field.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein said signal-generating system is arranged to generate an electric field.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein said signal-generating system is arranged in front of a seat of the vehicle and above an instrument panel in front of the seat.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the occupying item is a human occupant, said processor being arranged to analyze the detected modification to the directed signal in order to differentiate between the occupant and his or her extremities, whereby the occupant is categorized based on detected modifications arising from a property of the occupant and not arising from a property of his or her extremities.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one component is an airbag arranged to inflate into the volume.