System, method, vehicle and computer program product for occupant neck protection

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of vehicles, in particular to a system for neck protection of an occupant, the system comprising: a first sensor device configured and adapted to detect data of a neck muscle state of the occupant; a second sensor device configured and adapted to detect data related to an emergency state of a vehicle; at least one first execution device configured and adapted to tense the neck muscles of the occupant; and a control device configured and adapted to receive signals from the first sensor device and the second sensor device and to control the first execution device based on the data to tense the neck muscles of the occupant. The present application also relates to a corresponding method, a vehicle and a computer program product. By the present application, the muscles of the occupant can be tensed in the case of an emergency state, thereby effectively reducing the risk of neck injury of the occupant, improving the occupant protection capability of the vehicle and the acceptance of the vehicle by the user.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of vehicles, in particular to a system for neck protection of an occupant. Furthermore, the present application also relates to a method for neck protection of an occupant, a vehicle having such a system and a computer program product. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the widespread use of active safety systems, autonomous driving technology is further developed. During the driving of a vehicle, an emergency braking or a collision accident can occur, and when the neck of an occupant is in a relaxed state, for example, the occupant is dozing off or distracted, the head of the occupant can be excessively tilted forward, tilted backward or tilted sideways, etc., which can cause neck injury. For example, in the case of a front collision of a vehicle, the head is tilted forward relative to the body under the action of the collision force. And in the case of a rear-end collision of a vehicle, the head is tilted backward relative to the body under the action of inertia. This will cause the neck to be suddenly stretched. This process can injure the neck muscles and even the cervical spine.

[0003] Studies have shown that pre-tensioning of the neck muscles can improve the stability of the neck to some extent. Therefore, when the vehicle is in an emergency braking or collision, the head center of mass has a smaller acceleration in the state of muscle pre-tensioning than in the relaxed state. At the same time, the head center of mass relative to the thoracic vertebrae angular displacement and the peak value of the relative displacement of the head center of mass relative to the thoracic vertebrae are also smaller. From the perspective of biomechanics, the pre-tensioned neck muscles enable the maximum Mises stress of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs to be reduced.

[0004] Therefore, there is a further need for neck protection of an occupant, especially in an emergency. SUMMARY

[0005] Based on this, the present application proposes an efficient solution which not only overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art solutions, but also protects the vehicle occupants in a particularly simple manner without significantly increasing the complexity of the system. Therefore, the occupant safety and the acceptance of the product can be further improved in a cost-advantageous manner.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, a system for neck protection of an occupant is proposed, the system comprising:

[0007] a first sensor device configured and adapted to detect data of a neck muscle state of the occupant;

[0008] a second sensor device configured and adapted to detect data related to an emergency state of a vehicle;

[0009] at least one first actuating device configured and adapted to tension the neck muscles of the occupant; and

[0010] a control device configured to receive data from the first sensor device and the second sensor device and to control the first execution device based on the data to tense the neck muscles of the occupant.

[0011] The basic idea of the present application is to effectively tense the muscles of the occupant in advance of an emergency situation by detecting the state of the neck muscles of the occupant in real time, so that in the case of, for example, emergency braking or a collision, the neck muscles of the occupant are effectively activated to protect the neck of the occupant and to further reduce or even avoid the risk of injury to the occupant in cooperation with corresponding vehicle active safety measures. Thereby, the overall safety and user experience of the system are improved and thus the user acceptance is improved.

[0012] In the present application, "muscle tension" is understood as a state of the muscles and is understood in contrast to "muscle relaxation". This "muscle tension" does not cause mental / emotional stress of the occupant or a negative stimulus or even damage to the muscles of the occupant.

[0013] Advantageous configurations of the individual aspects of the present application can be obtained from the following alternative embodiments.

[0014] According to one alternative embodiment of the system according to the present application, the first execution device comprises a gas jet arranged at the headrest of the occupant seat, in particular integrated in the headrest, the gas jet being configured to be controlled by the control device to jet gas in the direction of the neck of the occupant. In the normal arrangement, this first execution device does not come into direct contact with the neck of the occupant. With this embodiment, a particularly effective tensioning effect on the neck muscles of the occupant (muscles enter a state of tension) can be achieved without influencing or even damaging the neck. Furthermore, the principle and structure of such a first execution device is simple and cost-advantageous.

[0015] According to one alternative embodiment of the system according to the present application, the first execution device comprises a seat belt, the seat belt being configured to be controlled by the control device to perform an alternating extension and contraction movement and to alternately change the slack / tight state of the seat belt. This embodiment can be implemented using existing devices in the vehicle. By controlling the direction of rotation of the motor shaft of, for example, an electric motor, an alternating change of the slack / tight state of the seat belt can be achieved, thereby causing the neck muscles of the occupant to tense.

[0016] According to one alternative embodiment of the system according to the present application, the first sensor device is arranged at the headrest of the occupant seat, in particular integrated in the headrest. With this embodiment, a particularly effective detection of the muscle state can be achieved by simple retrofitting without occupying too much space. Furthermore, such a sensor device is cost-advantageous and easy to integrate into different structures.

[0017] According to an optional embodiment of the system of the present application, the system further comprises a third sensor device communicatively connected to the control device and configured to detect a biological feature of the occupant, and the first execution device is controlled by the control device to adjust the operating parameter of the first execution device based on the biological feature of the occupant. This embodiment can adaptively adjust the operating parameter of the first execution device according to the biological feature of the occupant, thereby further refining the process of tensioning the neck muscles of the occupant and further improving the protection of the neck of the occupant while tensioning the neck muscles of the occupant and thus improving the user's acceptance.

[0018] According to an optional embodiment of the system of the present application, the biological feature of the occupant comprises height and / or weight and / or age and / or gender. This embodiment can adaptively adjust the operation of the first execution device according to different biological features, thereby improving the adaptability and adjustability of the system.

[0019] According to an optional embodiment of the system of the present application, the operating parameter comprises gas injection frequency, gas injection flow rate and / or gas injection time. This embodiment can provide different operating parameters in the case of a gas injector. Through the combination of different operating parameters, a rich muscle tension function related to the emergency state and the biological information of the occupant can be provided.

[0020] According to an optional embodiment of the system of the present application, the operating parameter comprises the alternating frequency and / or the tensioning degree of the telescopic movement of the safety belt. This embodiment provides different operating parameters in the case of a safety belt. Through the combination of different operating parameters, a rich muscle tension function related to the emergency state and the biological information of the occupant can be provided.

[0021] According to an optional embodiment of the system of the present application, the injected gas is compressed gas. Thereby the gas storage amount is greatly increased in the case of a gas injector, and the frequency of replacing the gas is reduced.

[0022] According to an alternative embodiment of the system according to the application, the system further comprises a vibration device, which is communicatively connected to the control device and is configured to output a vibration signal to the occupant, and / or an optical device, which is communicatively connected to the control device and is configured to output an optical signal to the occupant, and / or an acoustic device, which is communicatively connected to the control device and is configured to output an acoustic signal to the occupant. By extending the components of the system, this embodiment enables the first execution device according to the application to be supplemented and enhanced by additional devices, so that the occupant can be prompted in a haptic and / or visual and / or acoustic manner in addition to the operation of the first execution device, so that the occupant's neck muscles can be tensed more reliably and more effectively and also other parts of the occupant's body, such as the thighs, arms, etc., can be tensed and the sitting position can be adjusted accordingly, so that the occupant's safety in the event of an emergency is further improved.

[0023] According to an alternative embodiment of the system according to the application, the vibration device comprises a seatbelt vibrator and / or a seat vibrator and / or a steering wheel vibrator, which are controlled by the control device to adapt the vibration intensity and / or the vibration frequency based on the occupant's biometric features and / or the degree of the emergency situation. By providing different types of vibration devices in the vehicle in the existing structures (seat, steering wheel and / or seatbelt, etc.), more comprehensive protection of the occupant's neck can be ensured.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment of the system according to the application, the seatbelt vibrator is integrated in the seatbelt and is made of flexible piezoelectric ceramic. This embodiment achieves a particularly simple structure and a particularly reliable vibration function.

[0025] According to an alternative embodiment of the system according to the application, the first sensor device is configured as an infrared sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor. This embodiment is simple in structure and can detect the muscle state particularly reliably.

[0026] According to an alternative embodiment of the system according to the application, the second sensor device is configured as a pre-crash sensor and / or an acceleration sensor. This embodiment enables functional expansion using sensors in existing vehicles without increasing hardware costs.

[0027] According to an alternative embodiment of the system according to the application, the third sensor device is configured as an in-vehicle camera. This embodiment enables functional expansion using sensors in existing vehicles without increasing hardware costs.

[0028] According to the second aspect of the application, a method for occupant neck protection is provided, the method comprising the following steps:

[0029] S1 detecting data of the neck muscle state of the occupant by a first sensor device;

[0030] S2 detecting data related to an emergency state of the vehicle by a second sensor device; and

[0031] S3 controlling a first actuating device based on the data of the first and second sensor devices to tension the neck muscles of the occupant.

[0032] According to an optional embodiment of the method of the present application, a vibration signal and / or an optical signal and / or an acoustic signal is output to the occupant in parallel to step S3 to additionally tension the neck muscles of the occupant.

[0033] According to a third aspect of the present application, a vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, is provided, the vehicle comprising a system according to one of the above embodiments.

[0034] According to a fourth aspect of the present application, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising computer instructions for, when executed by a control device, at least assisting in implementing a method according to one of the above embodiments.

[0035] Further features of the present application will become apparent from the claims, the drawings and the following description. The features and feature combinations mentioned in the above description and in the claims, and those not specifically mentioned but obvious to a person skilled in the art from the description and the claims, are not to be excluded from the present application. The features mentioned in the above description and in the claims may, both individually or in any combination, be further developed into further embodiments of the present application, which are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims. The features mentioned in the above description and in the claims may, both individually or in any combination, be further developed into further embodiments of the present application, which are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims. The above description and the claims may include generic features relating to different aspects of the application and specific features relating to particular embodiments of the application. A combination of a generic feature and a specific feature may form an embodiment of the application that is not specifically disclosed in the above description, but which is intended to be encompassed by the appended claims. The above description and the claims may include generic features relating to different aspects of the application and specific features relating to particular embodiments of the application. A combination of a generic feature and a specific feature may form an embodiment of the application that is not specifically disclosed in the above description, but which is intended to be encompassed by the appended claims. The above description and the claims may include generic features relating to different aspects of the application and specific features relating to particular embodiments of the application. A combination of a generic feature and a specific feature may form an embodiment of the application that is not specifically disclosed in the above description, but which is intended to be encompassed by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0036] The present application will be described in more detail by referring to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0037] Figure 1 a schematic view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0038] Figure 2 a view into a vehicle Figure 1 with an occupant in

[0039] Figure 3 a view into a vehicle Figure 1one exemplary operating scenario of a vehicle in a city;

[0040] Figure 4 another exemplary operating scenario of a vehicle in a city is shown; Figure 1

[0041] Figure 5 a flowchart of a method according to one embodiment of the application is shown;

[0042] Figure 6 a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment of the application is shown; and

[0043] Figure 7 a flowchart of a method according to yet another embodiment of the application is shown.

[0044] In the drawings, the size, the thickness, or the region of each constituent element shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity in some cases. Thus, the size, the thickness, or the region of each constituent element shown in the drawings should not be considered to be necessarily in proportion to the actual size, the actual thickness, or the actual region. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] For the technical problems to be solved by the present application, the technical solutions and the beneficial technical effects to be achieved, the present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and a plurality of exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely intended to explain the present application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0046] In the present specification, the words "middle", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like indicating the orientation or positional relationship of the constituent elements are used to describe the positional relationship of the constituent elements with reference to the drawings, merely for the convenience of the present specification and to simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to has a particular orientation, is constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present disclosure. The positional relationship of the constituent elements is appropriately changed according to the direction of each constituent element. Therefore, it is not limited to the words described in the specification, and can be appropriately changed according to the situation.

[0047] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0048] Figure 1 A schematic view of a vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the application is shown. According to this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is configured as a passenger car and is an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle 1 has an autonomous driving system ADS and is capable of taking over the control of the driver in an autonomous driving mode, thereby automatically controlling the driving operation of the vehicle 1.

[0049] As shown and described in connection with Figure 1 Figure 2 ​​, the vehicle 1 comprises a system 10 for neck protection of an occupant 20. According to this embodiment, the system 10 comprises a first sensor device 30 and a second sensor device 40. The first sensor device 30 comprises an infrared sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor and is capable of detecting data of the neck muscle state of the occupant 20. The second sensor device 40 comprises a pre-crash sensor and an acceleration sensor and is capable of detecting data related to an emergency state of the vehicle 1. The system 10 further comprises at least one first execution device 50 and a control device 60. The first execution device 50 is configured to be adapted to tension the neck muscle of the occupant 20 by contact or non-contact. The control device 60 is capable of receiving data from the first sensor device 30 and the second sensor device 40 and controlling the first execution device based on these data to tension the neck muscle of the occupant 20.

[0050] In this embodiment, the control device 60 can be a central controller or a sub-controller or a domain controller of the vehicle 1.

[0051] In this embodiment, the pre-crash sensor is installed at the front and rear of the vehicle 1 and detects the distance and relative speed of the object located in front of / rear of the vehicle 1 and outputs data related to the emergency state, such as the data of the risk of collision, based on the distance data and the relative speed data. The acceleration sensor detects the acceleration data of the vehicle 1 itself, especially the deceleration data and outputs the deceleration data in the case of braking, especially emergency braking.

[0052] As shown in Figure 1 , the system 10 further comprises a third sensor device 70 which is communicatively connected with the control device 60 and is configured to be adapted to detect the biometric features of the occupant 20. In this embodiment, the third sensor device 70 is a camera inside the vehicle 1 and takes image data of the occupant 20 in real time and transmits the image data to the control device 60. The control device 60 can analyze and process these image data and generate biometric feature data corresponding to the occupant 20, such as the height and / or weight and / or age and / or gender of the occupant, which is achieved by existing image recognition technology, such as by deep neural network algorithm, object classification method, etc. In addition, the control device 60 can also analyze the fatigue state of the occupant 20 based on these image data, such as dozing off, etc. Based on the above-mentioned biometric feature data, the control device 60 can adjust the operating parameters of the first execution device 50 accordingly.

[0053] In addition, the system 10 further comprises a vibration device 91 which is communicatively connected with the control device 60 and is configured to be adapted to output a vibration signal to the occupant 20; an optical device 92 which is communicatively connected with the control device 60 and is configured to be adapted to output an optical signal to the occupant 20; and an acoustic device 93 which is communicatively connected with the control device 60 and is configured to be adapted to output an acoustic signal to the occupant 20.

[0054] Figure 2 A view with an occupant 20 in the vehicle 1 is shown in Figure 1 Figure 2 The occupant 20 is schematically shown in

[0055] In connection with Figure 1 As shown in Figure 2 the driver is located in the vehicle 1 and seated on a seat 80. In the headrest of the seat 80 a first sensor device 30 is integrated, which is arranged in the direction of the neck of the driver and detects the neck muscle state of the driver in real time. As already mentioned, the first sensor device 30 is an infrared sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0056] In the present application, a plurality of first sensor devices 30 and execution devices 50 can be provided, which are arranged on one occupant seat 80, respectively.

[0057] According to this embodiment, the first execution device 50 comprises a gas injector 51, which is integrated in the headrest of the seat 80 (here the driver's seat) and comprises two gas openings 511, which are arranged in the direction of the neck of the driver and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the neck of the driver in the case of the driver sitting. In the gas injector 51 an appropriate amount of compressed gas is stored. The gas injector 51 can be controlled by the control device 60 to inject gas in the direction of the neck of the occupant 20. The gas has a temperature matching the temperature in the vehicle, for example a temperature of 22 degrees, and thus does not cause harm to the neck of the occupant 20 when injected in the direction of the neck of the occupant 20.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, according to another embodiment, the first execution device 50 comprises a safety belt 52. In the normal use state, the driver wears the safety belt 52, the retractor automatically tightens and fits on the body of the driver, achieving the necessary tension state.

[0059] According to this other embodiment, the retractor of the safety belt 52 can be controlled by the control device 60 to perform an alternating extension and contraction movement and to alternately change the loose / tight state.

[0060] In one not shown embodiment, the execution device 50 can also comprise a neck fixation device, which is configured as a neck tensioning band, for example.

[0061] As shown in Figure 2 ​As shown, the system 10 further comprises a third sensor device 70 configured as a camera, which is arranged towards the interior of the vehicle and detects image data of the occupant 20 in the interior of the vehicle, which can include biometric features of the occupant, such as age, gender, weight, height, etc.

[0062] In yet another embodiment, the vibration device 91 comprises a seat belt vibrator, a seat vibrator and a steering wheel vibrator (not shown in detail). The seat belt vibrator is integrated in the inner side of the seat belt 52 and made of flexible piezoceramics. The seat vibrator is integrated in the seat cushion and / or the seat back and multiple vibrators can be provided at different locations on the seat cushion and / or the seat back.

[0063] In this embodiment, the optical device 92 comprises for example light devices and / or a center console screen and / or an instrument panel in the vehicle 1, which are capable of outputting optical signals, such as light signals and / or optical symbols in the center console screen and / or optical symbols in the instrument panel, to the occupant 20. The acoustic device 93 comprises for example loudspeakers in the vehicle 1, which are capable of outputting audio signals to the occupant 20.

[0064] The vibration device 91, the optical device 92 and / or the acoustic device 93 described above can additionally be controlled by the control device 60 to adapt the outputted signals based on the biometric features of the occupant 20 and / or the degree of the emergency state. For example, when the biometric features characterize the occupant as a male adult driver and the degree of the emergency state is "very urgent", the vibration device 60 is controlled to output vibrations with a vibration frequency of 20 Hz / s and a "high" vibration intensity (depending on the system settings). When the biometric features characterize the occupant as a rear seat occupant and a 6-year-old girl and the degree of the emergency state is "not urgent", the vibration device 60 outputs vibrations with a vibration frequency of 8 Hz / s and a "low" vibration intensity.

[0065] In the following, the application scenarios of the present application are described in detail with reference to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0066] Figure 3 The application scenarios are shown in Figure 1one exemplary operating scenario of the vehicle 1. In this operating scenario, the vehicle 1 is an autonomous vehicle and is in autonomous driving mode, as previously described. Currently, the vehicle 1 is on a road and is driving at a speed of 80 km / h. In the same road, a vehicle 2 is in front of the vehicle 1 and is driving in the same direction at a speed of 60 km / h. According to this embodiment, the first sensor device 30 integrated in the headrest of the passenger seat 80 detects the neck muscle state of the occupant 20 in the vehicle 1 (in this embodiment, the neck muscle state of the driver) in real time. Since the vehicle 1 is in autonomous driving mode, the driver does not need to manipulate the vehicle 1 and is in a relaxed state or the driver is not paying attention to the driving event. Thus, the first sensor device 30 detects that the neck muscle state of the driver is "relaxed" and transmits the data relating to the neck muscle state to the control device 60 in real time. At the same time, the second sensor device 40 comprising a pre-crash sensor and an acceleration sensor is arranged at the front of the vehicle 1 and detects the distance, the relative speed of the vehicle 1 to the vehicle 2 and the acceleration (deceleration) of the vehicle 1 in real time. The second sensor device 40 transmits the detection data in real time to the control device 60.

[0067] Due to the relative speed of the vehicle 1 to the vehicle 2, the vehicle 1 gradually approaches the vehicle 2. At this time, the autonomous driving system of the vehicle 1, for example, performs deceleration, and the acceleration sensor transmits the deceleration data to the control device 60, which controls the first execution device 50 based on the pre-crash sensor data of the second sensor device 40 and the deceleration data of the acceleration sensor and the driver muscle state data of the first sensor device 30 to tense the neck muscles of the driver.

[0068] In this embodiment, the first execution device 50 comprises a gas jet 51. The gas jet 51 is controlled by the control device 60 to spray compressed gas towards the neck of the driver, so that the neck muscles of the driver are sprayed by the gas from the muscle relaxed state to the muscle tense state and thus the driver pays attention to the driving event. Here, the jet frequency of the gas jet 51 is between 5 Hz and 10 Hz, the jet flow (jet intensity) of the gas is between 1 L / min and 2 L / min and the jet time is between 5 seconds and 2 minutes.

[0069] In an alternative or additional embodiment, the first execution device 50 comprises a seat belt 52, which is controlled by the control device 60 to perform an alternating extension and contraction movement and to alternately change its slack / tight state. The driver can thus go from a relaxed neck state to a tense neck state and thus pay attention to the driving event.

[0070] Furthermore, according to another embodiment, vehicle 1 also includes a third sensor device 70, which detects the driver's biometric data and transmits it to the control device 60. Here, the biometric data includes the driver's gender, age, weight, height, and other data.

[0071] According to yet another embodiment, the control device 60 further adjusts the operating parameters of the first actuator 50 accordingly based on the biometric data from the third sensor device 70. In this yet another embodiment, when the biometric data indicates that the driver is an obese adult male, the gas injector 51 is controlled to inject gas at a injection frequency of 10 Hz and a gas injection flow rate of 2 L / min, or to alternately change the tightness / looseness of the seat belt 52 at a frequency of 10 Hz. In other embodiments, for example, when the occupant is located in the rear seat and the biometric data indicates that the occupant is a light-weight child, the gas injector 51 is controlled to inject gas at a injection frequency of 5 Hz and a gas injection flow rate of 1 L / min, or to alternately change the tightness / looseness of the seat belt 52 at a frequency of 5 Hz.

[0072] In another embodiment, as previously described, system 10 further includes a vibration device 91 communicatively connected to control device 60 and configured to output vibration signals to occupant 20 (e.g., driver); an optical device 92 communicatively connected to control device 60 and configured to output optical signals to occupant 20; and an acoustic device 93 communicatively connected to control device 60 and configured to output acoustic signals to occupant 20.

[0073] Figure 4 It shows the relationship with Figure 3 In another different scenario, vehicle 1 and vehicle 2 are traveling on the same road, with vehicle 2 behind vehicle 1. Vehicle 2 approaches vehicle 1 at a speed greater than that of vehicle 1, and vehicle 1 may be at risk of being rear-ended by vehicle 2.

[0074] According to this embodiment, the second sensor device 40 of vehicle 1 includes a pre-collision sensor and an acceleration sensor. Figure 3 The difference is that the pre-collision sensor is also located at the rear of vehicle 1 and detects the distance and relative speed between vehicle 1 and vehicle 2. The acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of vehicle 1.

[0075] and Figure 3 Similarly, the control device 60 controls the first actuator based on data from the first sensor device 30 and the second sensor device 40 to tighten the neck muscles of the occupant 20.

[0076] Figure 5 A flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 3 or Figure 4In this method, in step S1, the PP detects data of the neck muscle state of the occupant 20 by the first sensor device 30. In step S2, data related to the emergency state of the vehicle 1 is detected by the second sensor device 40. In step S3, the first execution device 40 is controlled based on the data of the first sensor device 30 and the second sensor device 40 to tense the neck muscles of the occupant 20. In this step S3, the control device 60 receives and analyzes the data of the first sensor device 30 and the second sensor device 40 in real time. If the data of the first sensor device 30 indicates that the neck muscles of the occupant 20 are in a relaxed state and the data of the second sensor device 40 indicates that the vehicle 1 is in an emergency state, the control device 60 controls the first execution device 40 to tense the neck muscles of the occupant 20. If the data of the first sensor device 30 indicates that the neck muscles of the occupant 20 are already in a tense state or if the data of the second sensor device 40 indicates that the vehicle 1 is not in an emergency state, the control device 60 does not perform control on the first execution device 40.

[0077] Figure 6 A flowchart of a method according to another embodiment of the application is shown. The method is similar to the method 100 according to the first embodiment of the application, except that in this other embodiment, in parallel to the step S3, in step S31, in addition, a vibration signal and / or an optical signal and / or an acoustic signal is output to the occupant 20 to additionally tense the neck muscles of the occupant 20 (as described in connection with the first embodiment of the application). Figure 5 Figure 3 or Figure 4 as described.

[0078] Figure 7 A flowchart of a method according to another embodiment of the application is shown. The method is similar to the method 100 according to the first embodiment of the application, except that in this other embodiment, in parallel to the step S3, in step S31, in addition, a vibration signal and / or an optical signal and / or an acoustic signal is output to the occupant 20 to additionally tense the neck muscles of the occupant 20 (as described in connection with the first embodiment of the application). Figure 6 Similarly, after the steps S3 and S31, in step S4, upon deactivation of the emergency state, the control device 60 deactivates the first execution device 50. In this state, the control device 60 controls the optical device 93 to continue outputting the optical signal to the occupant 20 to maintain the tension of the neck muscles of the occupant 20.

[0079] The application also protects a computer program product comprising computer instructions for at least assisting in the implementation of one of the methods 100 of the application when executed by the control device 60.

[0080] By the technical solution of the application, the neck muscles of the occupant can be tensed in a particularly effective and different and / or combined manner when the vehicle is in an emergency state, thereby particularly reliably protecting the neck of the occupant from further injury and effectively improving the safety of the occupant when the vehicle is driving.

[0081] ​Other advantages and alternative embodiments of the present application will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present application in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details rendered by way of specific and preferred embodiments. Rather, the present application is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A system (10) for neck protection of an occupant (20), the system (10) comprising: a first sensor device (30) configured and adapted to detect data of a neck muscle state of the occupant (20); a second sensor device (40) configured and adapted to detect data related to a collision risk of a vehicle (1); at least one first execution device (50) configured and adapted to tension the neck muscles of the occupant (20); and a control device (60) configured and adapted to receive signals from the first sensor device (30) and the second sensor device (40) and to control the first execution device (50) based on the data to bring the neck muscles of the occupant (20) from a relaxed state into a tensioned state, wherein the first execution device (50) comprises a seat belt (52) configured and adapted to be controlled by the control device (60) to alternately perform a stretching movement and to alternately change a slack / tight state of the seat belt (52).

2. The system (10) of claim 1, wherein, the first execution device (50) comprises a gas injector (51) arranged at a headrest of an occupant seat (80), the gas injector (51) being configured and adapted to be controlled by the control device (60) to inject gas in a direction towards the neck of the occupant (20).

3. The system (10) of claim 1, wherein, the first sensor device (30) is arranged at a headrest of an occupant seat (80).

4. The system (10) of claim 2, wherein, the first sensor device (30) is arranged at a headrest of an occupant seat (80).

5. The system (10) according to claim 1, the system (10) further comprising: a third sensor device (70) communicatively connected to the control device (60) and configured and adapted to detect a biometric feature of the occupant (20), the first execution device (50) being controlled by the control device (60) to adjust an operating parameter of the first execution device (50) based on the biometric feature of the occupant (20).

6. The system (10) according to claim 2 or 4, the system (10) further comprising: a third sensor device (70) communicatively connected to the control device (60) and configured and adapted to detect a biometric feature of the occupant (20), the first execution device (50) being controlled by the control device (60) to adjust an operating parameter of the first execution device (50) based on the biometric feature of the occupant (20).

7. The system (10) of claim 6, wherein, the biometric feature of the occupant (20) comprises a height and / or a weight and / or an age and / or a gender; and / or the operating parameter comprises a gas injection frequency and / or a gas injection flow and / or a gas injection time of the gas injector (51); and / or the operating parameter comprises an alternating frequency of the stretching movement and / or a tensioning degree of the seat belt (52); the injected gas is a compressed gas.

8. The system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7, the system (10) further comprising: a vibration device (91) communicatively connected to the control device (60) and configured and adapted to output a vibration signal to the occupant (20); and / or an optical device (92) communicatively connected with the control device (60) and configured to be adapted to output an optical signal to the occupant (20); and / or an acoustic device (93) communicatively connected with the control device (60) and configured to be adapted to output an acoustic signal to the occupant (20).

9. The system (10) according to claim 6, further comprising: a vibration device (91) communicatively connected with the control device (60) and configured to be adapted to output a vibration signal to the occupant (20); and / or an optical device (92) communicatively connected with the control device (60) and configured to be adapted to output an optical signal to the occupant (20); and / or an acoustic device (93) communicatively connected with the control device (60) and configured to be adapted to output an acoustic signal to the occupant (20).

10. The system (10) of claim 9, wherein, The vibration device (91) comprises a seat belt vibrator and / or a seat vibrator and / or a steering wheel vibrator, which are controlled by the control device (60) to adapt the vibration intensity and / or vibration frequency based on the biometric features of the occupant (20) and / or the degree of collision risk.

11. The system (10) of claim 10, wherein, The seat belt vibrator is integrated in a seat belt (52) and made of flexible piezoelectric ceramic.

12. The system (10) according to claim 5, wherein the first sensor device (30) is configured as an infrared sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor; and / or the second sensor device (40) is configured as a pre-crash sensor and / or an acceleration sensor; and / or the third sensor device (70) is configured as an in-car camera.

13. The system (10) of claim 2, wherein, The gas injector (51) is integrated in a headrest.

14. The system (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, The first sensor device (30) is integrated in a headrest.

15. A method (100) for neck protection of an occupant (20), the method (100) being performed by the system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and comprising the steps of: S1 detecting, by a first sensor device (30), data of a neck muscle state of the occupant (20); S2 detecting, by a second sensor device (40), data related to a collision risk of a vehicle (1); and S3 controlling, based on the data of the first and second sensor devices, a first execution device to cause the neck muscle of the occupant (20) to enter a tensed state from a relaxed state, wherein the first execution device (50) comprises a seat belt (52) configured to be controlled by the control device (60) to alternately perform an extension and contraction movement and to alternately change the relaxed / tensed state of the seat belt (52).

16. The method (100) of claim 15, wherein In parallel to step S3, a vibration signal and / or an optical signal and / or an acoustic signal is output to the occupant (20) to additionally tense the neck muscle of the occupant (20).

17. A vehicle (1) comprising the system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

18. The vehicle (1) according to claim 17, wherein The vehicle (1) is an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle (1) is an autonomous vehicle.

19. A computer program product comprising computer instructions for at least assisting in implementing the method (100) according to claim 15 or 16 when executed by a control device (60).

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