IP Library Patent Application 18110712
Patent Application
App. No. 18/110,712

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MAPPING AND CONTROL

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/110,712
Abstract

Examples of the disclosure relate to example devices and methods for generating a map of a vehicle’s passenger compartment and controlling features of the vehicle based on the map. An example vehicle with a passenger compartment mapping system includes one or more sensors to capture sensor data, which includes depth data for a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The system also includes one or more processors to generate a passenger compartment map from the sensor data, and control one or more subsystems of the vehicle based on the passenger compartment map.

Claims (33)

1 . A vehicle with a passenger compartment mapping system, comprising:

one or more sensors to capture sensor data comprising depth data for a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

one or more processors to:

generate a passenger compartment map from the sensor data; and

control one or more subsystems of the vehicle based on the passenger compartment map.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are to execute a machine learning algorithm to detect objects within sensor data and add the detected objects to the passenger compartment map.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein to generate the passenger compartment map comprises to detect passenger positions and orientations from the sensor data.

4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to disable an airbag based on a passenger position and orientation indicated by the passenger compartment map.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to disable door locks or rear windows based on an estimate age of a passenger indicated by the passenger compartment map.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to adjust audio based on a position of a passenger’s head indicated by the passenger compartment map.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to adjust a climate control air vent based on positions and orientations of passengers indicated by the passenger compartment map.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

to generate the passenger compartment map comprises to detect a hand gesture from the sensor data; and

to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to control a rear-seat entertainment subsystem based on the detected hand gesture.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one forward-facing sensor configured to capture images of a rear seating area.

10 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to generate an alert indicating a presence of a child in a rear-facing child seat as indicated by the passenger compartment map.

11 . A method of operating a vehicle, comprising:

capturing sensor data from one or more sensors disposed in a vehicle, wherein the sensor data comprises depth data for a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

generating a passenger compartment map from the sensor data, wherein the passenger compartment map comprises the depth data, and detected passenger positions and orientations; and

controlling one or more subsystems of the vehicle based on the passenger compartment map.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises disabling an airbag based on detecting that a passenger position or orientation indicated by the passenger compartment map could result in unsafe deployment of the airbag.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the passenger compartment map comprises detecting a hand gesture from the sensor data.

14 . The method of claim 11 , controlling the one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises controlling a rear-seat entertainment subsystem based on the passenger compartment map.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one forward-facing sensor configured to capture images of a rear seating area, and controlling one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises generating an alert indicating a presence of a child in a rear-facing child seat as indicated by a portion of the passenger compartment map captured by the forward-facing sensor.

16 . A system for mapping a passenger compartment mapping of a vehicle, comprising:

one or more sensors to capture sensor data comprising depth data for a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

one or more processors to:

generate a passenger compartment map from the sensor data; and

control one or more subsystems of the vehicle based on the passenger compartment map.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are to execute a pattern recognition algorithm to detect passengers within sensor data and add a position and orientation of each of the passengers to the passenger compartment map.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one sensor for each row of seating, at least one forward-facing sensor, and at least one rear-facing sensor.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to disable an airbag based on a passenger position and orientation indicated by the passenger compartment map.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle comprises to generate an alert indicating a presence of a child in a rear-facing child seat as indicated by the passenger compartment map.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 72222 FRAME 267. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC.
Reel/Frame 072930/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 072222/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2023
From: HANSEN, NICHOLAS BRIAN
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF AMERICA, DIVISION OF PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
Reel/Frame 062724/0533 →