IP Library Granted Patent US 10,043,326
Granted Patent B2
US 10,043,326 · App. 15/080,132 · Granted Aug 7, 2018

Driver indentification using vehicle approach vectors

Inventors: Nunzio DeCia (Northville, MI); Stephen Jay Orris, Jr. (New Boston, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
G07C9/00031B60N2/002B60N2/0248G01S1/76G07C9/00309G07C2009/00333G07C2009/00801G07C2209/63
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,043,326
App. No.
15/080,132
Granted
Aug 7, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for driver identification using vehicle approach vectors are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a plurality of beacons configured to connect to a first mobile device and a second mobile device. The example vehicle also includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors. The example vehicle includes a driver identifier configured to predict trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors, and determine which one of the mobile devices is associated with a driver based on the predicted trajectories.

Claims (40)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of beacons configured to connect to a first mobile device and a second mobile device;

a plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

a driver identifier configured to:

predict trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

determine which one of the mobile devices is associated with a driver based on the predicted trajectories.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , including a key scanner configured to activate the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors in response to detecting a key fob authorized to access the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein information received from each of the plurality of beacons includes at least one of a received signal strength indication or a received transmission strength value; and wherein the information received from each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors includes whether an object is within a zone monitored by the ultrasonic sensor.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the driver identifier is configured to:

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a first time, calculate a first location of the first mobile device and a second location of the second mobile device; and

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a second time after the first time, calculate a third location of the first mobile device and a fourth location of the second mobile device at a second time after the first time.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the driver identifier is configured to correct at least one of the first location, the second location, the third location, or the fourth location based on the information received from the plurality of ultrasonic sensors.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the driver identifier is configured to:

calculate a first approach vector for the first mobile device based on the first location and the third location; and

calculate a second approach vector for the second mobile device based on the second location and the fourth location.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the trajectories for the first and second mobile devices predicted by the driver identifier are based on the first approach vector and the second approach vector respectively.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the predicted trajectories define paths from the first and second mobile devices to doors of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , including a seat control module to adjust a position of a driver seat based on a profile associated with the driver.

10. A method to identify a driver, the method comprising:

connecting, via a plurality of beacons, to a first mobile device and a second mobile device;

monitoring, via a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, a plurality of zones around a vehicle;

predicting, via a processor, trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

determining, via the processor, which one of the mobile devices is associated with the driver based on the predicted trajectories.

11. The method of claim 10 , including activating the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors in response to a key scanner detecting a key fob authorized to access the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein information received from each of the plurality of beacons includes at least one of a received signal strength indication or a received transmission strength value; and wherein the information received from each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors includes whether an object is within the zone monitored by the ultrasonic sensor.

13. The method of claim 12 , including:

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a first time, calculating a first location of the first mobile device and a second location of the second mobile device; and

based on the information received from each of the plurality of beacons at a second time after the first time, calculating a third location of the first mobile device and a fourth location of the second mobile device at a second time after the first time.

14. The method of claim 13 , including correcting at least one of the first location, the second location, the third location, or the fourth location based on the information received from the plurality of ultrasonic sensors.

15. The method of claim 13 , including:

calculating a first approach vector for the first mobile device based on the first location and the third location; and

calculating a second approach vector for the second mobile device based on the second location and the fourth location.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the trajectories for the first and second mobile devices predicted by the driver identifier are based on the first approach vector and the second approach vector respectively.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predicted trajectories define paths from the first and second mobile devices to doors of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 10 , including adjusting, via a seat control module, a position of a driver seat based on a profile associated with the driver.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle to:

connect, via a plurality of beacons, to a first mobile device and a second mobile device;

monitor, via a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, a plurality of zones around the vehicle; and

predict trajectories for the first and second mobile devices based on information received from the plurality of beacons and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors; and

determine which one of the mobile devices is associated with the driver based on the predicted trajectories.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2016
From: DECIA, NUNZIO; ORRIS, STEPHEN JAY, JR
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 038614/0034 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170278326A1 · Sep 28, 2017