IP Library Granted Patent US 8,935,105
Granted Patent B2
US 8,935,105 · App. 13/330,288 · Granted Jan 13, 2015

Signal processing system

Inventors: Takeshi Bessho (Aichi-ken, JP); Makoto Honda (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
B60R21/015B60N2/002G01L5/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,935,105
App. No.
13/330,288
Granted
Jan 13, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for processing sensor signals is disclosed. The system comprises a sensor array, a multiplexer, a converter, a selection module and a combination module. The sensor array measures a physical parameter in a first dimension on a seat and generates a first set of sensor signals. The sensor array measures the physical parameter in a second dimension on the seat and generates a second set of sensor signals. The multiplexer multiplexes the first set of sensor signals into a first signal stream and the second set of sensor signals into a second signal stream. The converter converts the first signal stream to a first set of digital signals and the second signal stream to a second set of digital signals. The selection module determines a set of first-dimension data and a set of second-dimension data. The combination module forms a set of two-dimensional data.

Claims (72)

1. A method for processing sensor signals, the method comprising:

measuring, by one or more processors, one or more physical parameters in a first dimension on a seat and generating a first set of sensor signals for the first dimension;

measuring, by the one or more processors, the one or more physical parameters in a second dimension on the seat and generating a second set of sensor signals for the second dimension;

multiplexing, by the one or more processors, the first set of sensor signals into a first signal stream and the second set of sensor signals into a second signal stream;

converting, by the one or more processors, the first signal stream to a first set of digital signals and the second signal stream to a second set of digital signals;

determining, by the one or more processors, a set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals and a set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals;

combining, by the one or more processors, the set of first-dimension data and the set of second-dimension data to form a set of two-dimensional data;

generating, by the one or more processors and a counter, a first set of location data associated with the first set of digital signals;

generating, by the one or more processors and the counter, a second set of location data associated with the second set of digital signals;

determining, by the one or more processors, location data associated with the set of first-dimension data from the first set of location data; and

determining, by the one or more processors, location data associated with the set of second-dimension data from the second set of location data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of two-dimensional data includes one or more data points representing one or more measurements for the one or more physical parameters in a two-dimensional domain comprising the first dimension and the second dimension.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of two-dimensional data is formed based at least in part on the set of first-dimension data, the location data associated with the set of first-dimension data, the set of second-dimension data and the location data associated with the set of second-dimension data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

combining, by the one or more processors, the first set of sensor signals and the second set of sensor signals to generate a power signal;

regulating, by the one or more processors, the power signal;

determining, by the one or more processors, whether a voltage of the power signal is above a threshold; and

responsive to a determination that the voltage is above the threshold, charging, by the one or more processors, a battery based at least in part on the power signal.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring, by the one or more processors, a seating position and a loading weight on the seat based at least in part on the set of two-dimensional data;

generating, by the one or more processors, an airbag-triggering signal based at least in part on the loading weight;

detecting, by the one or more processors, a seat occupancy based at least in part on the seating position and the loading weight; and

measuring, by the one or more processors, a degree of seating comfort based at least in part on the seating position.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals and the set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals further comprising:

selecting, by the one or more processors, one or more first digital signals that have amplitudes greater than a threshold as the set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals; and

selecting, by the one or more processors, one or more second digital signals that have amplitudes greater than the threshold as the set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals.

7. A system for processing sensor signals, the system comprising:

a sensor array measuring one or more physical parameters in a first dimension on a seat and generating a first set of sensor signals for the first dimension, the sensor array measuring the one or more physical parameters in a second dimension on the seat and generating a second set of sensor signals for the second dimension;

a multiplexer communicatively coupled to the sensor array, the multiplexer multiplexing the first set of sensor signals into a first signal stream and the second set of sensor signals into a second signal stream;

a converter communicatively coupled to the multiplexer, the converter converting the first signal stream to a first set of digital signals and the second signal stream to a second set of digital signals;

a selection module communicatively coupled to the converter, the selection module determining a set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals and a set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals;

a combination module communicatively coupled to the selection module, the combination module combining the set of first-dimension data and the set of second-dimension data to form a set of two-dimensional data; and

a counter communicatively coupled to the multiplexer, the converter, the selection module and the combination module, the counter generating a first set of location data associated with the first set of digital signals, the counter generating a second set of location data associated with the second set of digital signals,

wherein the selection module is further configured to determine location data associated with the set of first-dimension data from the first set of location data and determine location data associated with the set of second-dimension data from the second set of location data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the set of two-dimensional data includes one or more data points representing one or more measurements for the one or more physical parameters in a two-dimensional domain comprising the first dimension and the second dimension.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the set of two-dimensional data is formed based at least in part on the set of first-dimension data, the location data associated with the set of first-dimension data, the set of second-dimension data and the location data associated with the set of second-dimension data.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a power combiner communicatively coupled to the sensor array, the power combiner combining the first set of sensor signals and the second set of sensor signals to generate a power signal; and

a voltage regulator communicatively coupled to the power combiner, the voltage regulator regulating the power signal, the voltage regulator determining whether a voltage of the power signal is above a threshold, responsive to a determination that the voltage is above the threshold the voltage regulator charging a battery based at least in part on the power signal.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

an application unit communicatively coupled to the combination module, the application unit measuring a seating position and a loading weight on the seat based at least in part on the set of two-dimensional data, the application unit generating an airbag-triggering signal based at least in part on the loading weight, the application unit detecting a seat occupancy based at least in part on the seating position and the loading weight, the application unit measuring a degree of seating comfort based at least in part on the seating position.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the selection module is further configured to:

select one or more first digital signals that have amplitudes greater than a threshold as the set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals; and

select one or more second digital signals that have amplitudes greater than the threshold as the set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium encoding instructions that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

multiplexing a first set of sensor signals into a first signal stream and a second set of sensor signals into a second signal stream, the first set of sensor signals representing one or more measurements for one or more physical parameters in a first dimension on a seat, the second set of sensor signals representing one or more measurements for the one or more physical parameters in a second dimension on the seat;

converting the first signal stream to a first set of digital signals and the second signal stream to a second set of digital signals;

determining a set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals and a set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals;

combining the set of first-dimension data and the set of second-dimension data to form a set of two-dimensional data;

generating, by a counter, a first set of location data associated with the first set of digital signals;

generating, by the counter, a second set of location data associated with the second set of digital signals;

determining location data associated with the set of first-dimension data from the first set of location data; and

determining location data associated with the set of second-dimension data from the second set of location data.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the set of two-dimensional data includes one or more data points representing one or more measurements for the one or more physical parameters in a two-dimensional domain comprising the first dimension and the second dimension.

15. The computing program product of claim 13 , wherein the set of two-dimensional data is formed based at least in part on the set of first-dimension data, the location data associated with the set of first-dimension data, the set of second-dimension data and the location data associated with the set of second-dimension data.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the instructions cause the computing device to perform operations further comprising:

measuring a seating position and a loading weight on the seat based at least in part on the set of two-dimensional data;

generating an airbag-triggering signal based at least in part on the loading weight;

detecting a seat occupancy based at least in part on the seating position and the loading weight; and

measuring a degree of seating comfort based at least in part on the seating position.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein determining the set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals and the set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals further comprising:

selecting one or more first digital signals that have amplitudes greater than a threshold as the set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals; and

selecting one or more second digital signals that have amplitudes greater than the threshold as the set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals.

18. A system for processing sensor signals, the system comprising:

a sensor array measuring one or more physical parameters in a first dimension on a seat and generating a first set of sensor signals for the first dimension, the sensor array measuring the one or more physical parameters in a second dimension on the seat and generating a second set of sensor signals for the second dimension;

a multiplexer communicatively coupled to the sensor array, the multiplexer multiplexing the first set of sensor signals into a first signal stream and the second set of sensor signals into a second signal stream;

a converter communicatively coupled to the multiplexer, the converter converting the first signal stream to a first set of digital signals and the second signal stream to a second set of digital signals;

a selection module communicatively coupled to the converter, the selection module determining a set of first-dimension data from the first set of digital signals and a set of second-dimension data from the second set of digital signals;

a combination module communicatively coupled to the selection module, the combination module combining the set of first-dimension data and the set of second-dimension data to form a set of two-dimensional data; and

a counter communicatively coupled to the multiplexer, the converter, the selection module and the combination module, the counter generating a first set of location data associated with the first set of digital signals, the counter generating a second set of location data associated with the second set of digital signals, wherein

the selection module is further configured to determine location data associated with the set of first-dimension data from the first set of location data and determine location data associated with the set of second-dimension data from the second set of location data, and

the set of two-dimensional data includes one or more data points representing one or more measurements for the one or more physical parameters in a two-dimensional domain comprising the first dimension and the second dimension.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2013
From: TOYOTA INFOTECHNOLOGY CENTER CO., LTD.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 031282/0115 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2011
From: BESSHO, TAKESHI; HONDA, MAKOTO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; TOYOTA INFOTECHNOLOGY CENTER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027459/0507 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130158895A1 · Jun 20, 2013