IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,423,996
Granted Patent B2
US 12,423,996 · App. 18/039,084 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Passenger state determination device and passenger state determination method

Inventor: Taro Kumagai (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
G06V20/59B60N2/002G01D21/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,423,996
App. No.
18/039,084
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A passenger state determination device includes: a third determination part finally determining a state of a passenger based on a first determination result as a determination result of the state of the passenger by the first determination part and a second determination result as a determination result of the state of the passenger by the second determination part. The third determination part determines the first determination result to be a final determination result of the state of the passenger in a normal state, and when the first determination result is changed and the third determination part determines that the first determination result after the change is not appropriate, the third determination part determines the second determination result or the first determination result before the change to be a final determination result of the state of the passenger.

Claims (30)

1. A passenger state determination device, comprising:

a first determiner to determine a state of a passenger of a vehicle by a first method;

a second determiner to determine a state of the passenger by a second method different from the first method; and

a third determiner to finally determine a state of the passenger based on a first determination result as a determination result of the state of the passenger by the first determiner and a second determination result as a determination result of the state of the passenger by the second determiner, wherein

the third determiner determines the first determination result to be a final determination result of the state of the passenger in a normal state, and

when the first determination result is changed, the third determiner determines whether or not the first determination result after the change is appropriate based on the second determination result, and when the third determiner determines that the first determination result after the change is not appropriate, the third determiner determines the second determination result or the first determination result before the change to be a final determination result of the state of the passenger.

2. The passenger state determination device according to claim 1 , wherein

in a case where the first determination result is changed, the third determiner determines that the first determination result after the change is appropriate when the first determination result after the change and the second determination result coincide with each other, and determines that the first determination result after the change is not appropriate when the first determination result after the change and the second determination result do not coincide with each other.

3. The passenger state determination device according to claim 1 , wherein

the third determiner enters the normal state again and determines the first determination result to be a final determination result when the first determination result and the second determination result coincide with each other after the third determiner determines that the first determination result after the change is not appropriate.

4. The passenger state determination device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first determiner determines the state of the passenger based on an image of the passenger taken with a camera, and

the second determiner determines the state of the passenger based on information of the passenger detected by a sensor.

5. The passenger state determination device according to claim 4 , wherein

the sensor is a radio-frequency sensor or an ultrasonic sensor disposed on an upper portion of a front seat of the vehicle.

6. The passenger state determination device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first determiner determines the state of the passenger based on information of the passenger detected by a sensor, and

the second determiner determines the state of the passenger based on an image of the passenger taken with a camera.

7. The passenger state determination device according to claim 6 , wherein

the sensor is a radio-frequency sensor or an ultrasonic sensor disposed on an upper portion of a front seat of the vehicle.

8. The passenger state determination device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a log data recorder storing, in a storage device, log data including a final determination result by the third determiner and information whether the final determination result is a first determination result or a second determination result or the final determination result maintains a first determination result before change.

9. The passenger state determination device according to claim 8 , further comprising

a log data transmitter transmitting the log data to a specific server.

10. A passenger state determination method, comprising:

determining a state of a passenger of a vehicle by a first method;

determining a state of the passenger by a second method different from the first method; and

finally determining a state of the passenger based on a first determination result as a determination result of the state of the passenger by the first method and a second determination result as a determination result of the state of the passenger by the second method, wherein

the first determination result is to be a final determination result of the state of the passenger in a normal state, and

when the first determination result is changed, it is determined whether or not the first determination result after the change is appropriate based on the second determination result, and when it is determined that the first determination result after the change is not appropriate, the second determination result or the first determination result before the change is to be a final determination result of the state of the passenger.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2023
From: KUMAGAI, TARO
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063803/0077 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240104942A1 · Mar 28, 2024
References Cited (5)
US 10023199B2 · Boos · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10726576B2 · Noble · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20180197030A1 · Yamataka · 2018 [cited by examiner]
JP 201933911A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
German Office Action for the German Application No. 11 2021 006 203.4, dated Apr. 30, 2024, with a partial translation. [cited by applicant]