Visually enhanced automatic occupant sensing for airbag deployment

Abstract

An airbag deployment system includes a memory configured to store a default weight / pressure threshold, a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect weight / pressure on a surface of a vehicle seat, a remote sensor for detecting a presence of a child restraint seat mounted on the vehicle seat, a remote sensor may detect the presence or absence of a child restraint seat on a vehicle seat having at least one focus detection zone, where the child restraint seat has a different visual characteristic for a portion of the focus detection zone when compared to the vehicle seat and an occupant, where the child restraint seat is visible to a portion of the focus detection zone based on detecting or not detecting the child restraint seat. At least one of the weight / pressure threshold and the weight / pressure measured on the vehicle seat is compensated for.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to remote detection of occupants in vehicle seats equipped with front airbags, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for detecting weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface, for detecting a child restraint seat, and for determining whether weight / pressure related compensation is to be performed. The compensation may be in the form of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment or a measured weight / pressure output adjustment in response to detection of a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat surface. An airbag inhibition or activation decision is then made based on whether the weight / pressure measurement after applying the compensation method to the measurement is less than or greater than the weight / pressure threshold after applying the compensation method to the threshold. Background Art

[0002] Automotive airbags are well known passive occupant restraint devices that have been used in vehicles since the late 1970s and early 1980s. In a typical airbag deployment system, a vehicle contact event is sensed by an onboard vehicle sensor such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and the vehicle airbag is rapidly deployed in the time before the vehicle occupant impacts a vehicle cabin surface due to rapid vehicle deceleration. Typically, an occupant weight or pressure sensor is integrated into each passenger seat to indicate that the seat is occupied. If the seat is not occupied, the airbag may not deploy in certain circumstances. Similarly, if the occupant weight / pressure sensor detects a lower weight, thereby possibly indicating a child occupant, the deployment of the airbag may be inhibited or may deploy in a unique manner to avoid injury to the child. Further uncertainty is created when a child seat is placed on the vehicle seat, as the combined weight of the child and child seat may approach the weight of an adult occupant, making it difficult or even impossible to distinguish this difference, and child airbag protection factors, such as deployment inhibition, may be weakened, thereby potentially injuring the child due to the deployment of the airbag.

[0003] Due to other system and environmental variations, there is a large gray area between the detected airbag activation state and the airbag inhibition state where an occupant applying weight / pressure to the seat sensor may receive an activated or inhibited airbag. With upcoming motor vehicle laws requiring heavier child restraint seats, the margin between the 5th percentile adult airbag activation condition and the six-year-old inhibition condition becomes very small. It is desirable to provide the following system for accurately detecting child occupants in vehicle seats equipped with airbags and modifying the deployment algorithm to more accurately compensate for: a) heavier children in vehicle seats, and b) larger children and smaller adults in vehicle seats to reduce the size of the detection gray area. Moreover, other desired features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background. Summary of the invention

[0004] Disclosed herein are airbag deployment and occupant sensing methods and systems and associated electrical systems for providing such systems, methods for manufacturing such systems, and methods for operating such systems, as well as motor vehicles and other equipment, such as aircraft, ships, wind turbines, and other electric vehicles equipped with onboard propulsion systems. By way of example and not limitation, various embodiments of automatic remote occupant sensing systems for airbag deployment are provided to provide sufficient margin between airbag deployment enablement for smaller adults and airbag deployment inhibition for heavier children in child seats, etc.

[0005] Disclosed herein are airbag deployment and occupant sensing methods and systems and associated electrical systems for providing such systems, methods for manufacturing such systems, and methods for operating such systems, as well as motor vehicles and other equipment, such as aircraft, ships, wind turbines, and other electric vehicles equipped with onboard propulsion systems. By way of example and not limitation, various embodiments of automatic remote occupant sensing systems for airbag deployment are provided to provide sufficient margin between airbag deployment enablement for shorter adults and airbag deployment inhibition for heavier children in child seats, etc.

[0006] According to aspects of the present disclosure, an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system is used to accurately inhibit and enable airbag deployment based on the current occupant. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the airbag deployment system includes: a memory configured to store a default weight / pressure threshold; a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface; a remote sensor for detecting the presence of a child restraint seat installed at the vehicle seat; a processor for generating a weight / pressure related compensation based on whether the remote sensor detects a child restraint seat or does not detect a child restraint seat, generating a processor decision to enable airbag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output exceeds the compensated weight / pressure threshold, and generating a processor decision to inhibit airbag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output is less than the compensated weight / pressure threshold; a vehicle controller for detecting a vehicle contact event; and an airbag deployment controller configured to inhibit airbag deployment in response to detecting a vehicle contact event and an airbag inhibition signal, and enable airbag deployment in response to a vehicle contact event and an airbag activation signal.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure related compensation is at least one of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment and a measured weight / pressure output adjustment.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure related compensation includes: when CRS is detected, compensating the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing this result with a weight / pressure threshold, and when CRS is not detected, comparing the measured weight / pressure with the weight / pressure threshold.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure related compensation includes: when CRS is detected, using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it with a weight / pressure threshold compensated to a higher value, and when CRS is not detected, comparing the measured weight / pressure with the weight / pressure threshold.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure related compensation includes: when CRS is detected, using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it with the weight-pressure threshold, and when CRS is not detected, using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it with the weight / pressure threshold compensated to a lower value.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure related compensation is at least one of a selected amplitude compensation and an uncompensated value percentage compensation.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the remote sensor is configured to observe a vehicle seat, a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat, an occupant on the vehicle seat, and then an occupant on the child restraint seat on the vehicle seat.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the remote sensor includes at least one focused detection area for child restraint seat detection.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, at least one focused detection zone is indexed to a portion of a vehicle seat and moves with the portion of the vehicle seat.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, at least one focused detection zone is located at a position capable of distinguishing the presence of a CRS from a vehicle seat and an occupant based on detected characteristics of the CRS being different from those of the vehicle seat and the occupant.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the remote sensor is at least one of a camera, a radar, and a lidar, and the camera may be at least one of an infrared camera, a red, green, and blue camera, a stereo vision camera, a time-of-flight camera, and a thermal camera.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure sensor in the seat is configured by at least one of an air bag and a load cell.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, once the CRS is detected, it may detect the presence or absence of an occupant in the CRS.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure threshold is further configured to be lowered after the processor detects the presence or absence of the CRS and the weight / pressure remains above the weight / pressure threshold for an amount of time exceeding the duration.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an airbag deployment system includes: a memory configured to store default weight / pressure thresholds, a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect weight / pressure on a surface of a vehicle seat, and a remote sensor for detecting the presence of a child restraint seat installed on the vehicle seat, wherein the remote sensor can detect the presence of a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat through at least one focused detection area, and wherein the child restraint seat has different visual characteristics for portions in the focused detection area when compared to the vehicle seat and the occupant.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a processor is further included for generating a weight / pressure related compensation, wherein the compensation is at least one of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment and a measured weight / pressure output adjustment based on whether the remote sensor detects or does not detect the child restraint seat.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the weight / pressure related compensation includes compensating the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing this result with a weight / pressure threshold when CRS is detected, and comparing the measured weight / pressure with the weight / pressure threshold when CRS is not detected.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, at least one focused detection zone is indexed to a portion of a vehicle seat and moves with the portion of the vehicle seat.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an airbag deployment system includes: a memory configured to store a default weight / pressure threshold; a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface; a remote sensor for detecting the presence of a child restraint seat installed at the vehicle seat; and a processor for generating a weight / pressure-related compensation, wherein the weight / pressure-related compensation includes compensating the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing the result with the weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is detected, and wherein when no CRS is detected, the measured weight / pressure is compared with the weight / pressure threshold, and the processor is further configured to output the compensated weight / pressure when the CRS is detected and exceeds the compensated weight / pressure output. a processor decision to enable airbag deployment when a weight / pressure threshold is exceeded when a CRS is detected, and a processor decision to inhibit airbag deployment when a compensated weight / pressure output when the CRS is detected is less than the compensated weight / pressure threshold, a processor decision to enable airbag deployment when a weight / pressure output when no CRS is detected exceeds the compensated weight / pressure threshold, and a processor decision to inhibit airbag deployment when a weight / pressure output when no CRS is detected is less than the weight / pressure threshold; a vehicle controller for detecting a vehicle contact event; and an airbag deployment controller configured to inhibit airbag deployment in response to detection of a vehicle contact event and an airbag inhibition signal, and to enable airbag deployment in response to a vehicle contact event and an airbag activation signal.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the remote sensor is further configured to observe a vehicle seat, a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat, an occupant on the vehicle seat, and an occupant on the child restraint seat on the vehicle seat in sequence, and detect the child restraint seat using at least one focused detection zone. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and in the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 An exemplary environment for use of an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system according to various embodiments is shown;

[0028] Figure 1a , Figure 1c , Figure 1e , Figure 1g and Figure 1i shows exemplary configurations for a child restraint seat and an occupant in a vehicle seat according to various embodiments;

[0029] Figure 1b , Figure 1d , Figure 1f, Figure 1h and Figure 1j shows a plan view from a remote sensor to a vehicle seat and any child restraints or occupants on the vehicle seat within the plan view according to various embodiments;

[0030] Figure 2 shows an exemplary configuration for an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system according to various embodiments; and

[0031] Figure 3 Exemplary methods for occupant detection and airbag deployment control systems are shown in accordance with various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and use. In addition, it is not intended to be bound by any express or implied theory presented in the aforementioned technical field, background technology, invention content or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic and / or processor device, alone or in any combination, including but not limited to: application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), electronic circuits, processors (shared, dedicated or groups) and memories that execute one or more software or firmware programs, combinational logic circuits and / or other suitable components that provide the described functions.

[0033] An exemplary automatic occupant sensing (AOS) for an airbag deployment system employs sensors located away from the seat (hereinafter referred to as remote sensors) to more accurately detect occupant characteristics in order to distinguish between detected airbag activation states and airbag inhibition states. In some exemplary embodiments, compensation is made for in-seat sensor thresholds approaching airbag activation and inhibition when a child restraint seat is detected or not detected. For example, a remote occupant detection system can detect and compensate for the AOS system in-seat sensing logic before an occupant enters the vehicle because a child restraint seat is placed in the vehicle before a larger child enters the vehicle. An alternative approach to using remote sensing to supplement an AOS system is to use remote sensing to detect occupant size rather than the presence of a child restraint seat, which is much more difficult and may not produce reliable results. For example, it is challenging to determine occupant size within a small size range, such as a small adult occupant to a 10-year-old occupant to a 6-year-old occupant size, with a remote sensor because smaller occupants can wear coats and hats that make them appear larger. In order to perform such sensing, a complex algorithm is required to process the perspective of the remote sensor and take into account the adjustable vehicle seat position. Additionally, the child restraint seat detection method described herein requires as input to the occupant size detection method because smaller children sit higher in a child restraint seat and may appear larger or approximately the same size as a larger child seated directly in a vehicle seat or a smaller adult seated directly in a vehicle seat.

[0034] Now go to Figure 1 , shows an exemplary environment 100 for use of occupant detection and airbag deployment control systems according to various embodiments. The exemplary environment 100 may include a vehicle cabin 101, an airbag 110, a vehicle seat 120, a child restraint seat (CRS) 115, which may be a backless booster seat 116 (represented by a dashed outline and shaded markings) or a child restraint seat with a backrest 117 (represented by a non-dashed peripheral surface), a vehicle occupant 103, which may be a short occupant 104 (represented by a solid filled shape) sitting on the CRS 115 or a tall occupant 108 (represented by a shape outlined with dots) sitting on the vehicle seat 120, an in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, and a remote sensor 107.

[0035] The exemplary environment 100 shows a CRS 115 installed in a front vehicle seat 120, with an occupant 104 in the CRS 115, and also shows an occupant 108 sitting directly on the vehicle seat 120. An airbag 110 is installed in the vehicle cabin 101 forward of the vehicle seat 120 to mitigate forward impact forces of a vehicle occupant 103 (i.e., occupants 104, 108) against an instrument panel, etc. during a forward vehicle contact event. The exemplary environment 100 also shows an in-seat pressure sensor 125 for detecting the presence of an occupant 103 (such as occupants 104, 108), and a remote sensor 107 for additional vehicle seat, occupant, and CRS installation detection.

[0036] The remote sensor 107 may be a passive optical sensor, such as a camera or a radar or a lidar. The camera may be an infrared camera, a red, green, and blue camera, a stereo vision camera, a time-of-flight camera, a thermal camera, or other types of cameras. One or more sensors of the types mentioned herein or other remote sensors may then include the remote sensor 107. The remote sensor is mounted at a forward position within the vehicle cabin 101, such as on / in the A-pillar between the windshield and the passenger window, on / in the rearview mirror, on / in the dashboard, on / in the display screen, on / in the interior roof trim, etc., having a field of view (FOV) including the vehicle seat 120. In some exemplary embodiments, the remote sensor 107 may send an image to an image processor or an airbag deployment controller. In some exemplary embodiments, the image may be one of a plurality of sequentially captured images, such as a video stream.

[0037] refer to Figure 1a-1j , some representative seating conditions will be described to illustrate the differences in what the remote sensor 107 can observe and detect via its field of view. Figure 1a-1j A vehicle seat 120 is shown. In some exemplary embodiments, the vehicle seat 120 may have a pattern, a unique stitch pattern, or other detectable shape or feature that is distinguishable from the interior. The vehicle seat 120 may include detectable shapes such as side wings, headrests, headrest mounting posts, seat back to seat bottom gaps, etc. In other embodiments, the vehicle seat 120 may include a CRS 115 that has a different detectable shape, such as a seat back, side wings, seat bottom, headrest, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the vehicle seat 120 may include an occupant 103 having a different detectable shape. Other objects having different shapes thereof may also be in the vehicle seat 120 with or without the CRS 115 or occupant 103.

[0038] Figure pairs (1a-1j) show: a) a perspective view from the perspective of the remote sensor 107 in the vehicle seat 120 and anything in the figures ending in "a, c, e, g and i", where the remote sensor 107 is located on the roof / headliner near the lateral centerline of the vehicle, just behind the windshield, and b) a two-dimensional slice through the focused detection area 130 from the perspective of the remote sensor 107 in the figures ending in "b, d, f, h and j". The two-dimensional slice can also have a height and be a three-dimensional focused area instead of a two-dimensional focused area. The focused detection area 130 can be positioned at other locations within the field of view of the remote sensor. For example, the remote sensor 107 is shown in FIG. Figure 1a The second focus detection area 140 in the vehicle seat 120 is generally horizontally disposed below the universal focus detection area 130, which is located between the headrest 142 or the raised headrest 146 (at Figure 1a The position where the headrest pillar 144 overlaps (shown by dotted lines) is shown. Figure 1c A third generally vertical detection zone 150 is shown that is generally located near the inner edge of the vehicle seat 120 . Figure 1a Also shown is a generally forward-forward fourth detection zone 160, which is generally positioned to include the area above and the edge of the seat bottom closest to the remote sensor 107. In addition, a focused detection zone similar to the focused detection zones 150, 160 can be located at the outer edge of the vehicle seat 120. One or more focused detection zones for the methods described herein are selected so that they cause the method to detect the presence of the CRS 115, which when present can be located within the focused detection zone, some of the detection zones, or all of the detection zones. One or more focused detection zones are also selected so that other things in the vehicle seat 120 (such as people, objects) or the absence of things in the vehicle seat 120 can be distinguished from the CRS 115. The one or more focused detection zones can be of different sizes or shapes, including having focused detection zones that focus on a small area or extend to cover nearly the entire field of view or the entire field of view. The focused detection zone can also use a sensing portion / area of ​​interest of the vehicle seat or other part of the vehicle as an index feature to determine the location of the detection zone. The focused detection zone location and any index features / images of any index features may be programmed into the logic of the algorithm, such as during factory AOS system startup. A movable vehicle seat, especially a movable seat back, may be an area of ​​interest for indexing. If a portion of a vehicle seat is used for indexing, when that portion of the seat is moved, the focused detection area will move with that portion of the seat so that the focused detection area maintains the same geometric relationship with the portion of the seat used for indexing. To illustrate the ability to detect the presence of CRS 115, Figure 1a-Figure 1 J will discuss focus detection zone 130. Similar methods can be used for other focus detection zone locations or for scenarios where multiple focus detection zones are used.

[0039] Figure 1a A vehicle seat 120 is shown having a CRS 115 which is a backless booster seat 116. Figure 1a and Figure 1b As shown, the focused detection area 130 does not include the backless booster seat 116. Depending on the height of the vehicle seat headrest, a portion of the convex headrest in its lower position 142 or upper position 146 will be detected by the remote sensor 107. If the headrest is in the upper position, a portion of the round headrest post 144 will also be detected. If the vehicle seat 120 is empty, a similar view will be presented for the focused detection area 130. Figure 1a In the backless booster seat 116, if the third focus detection area 150 ( Figure 1 C) or fourth focused detection zone 160, the backless booster seat 116 can be detected because it is present in those detection zones, and the geometry of the child restraint seat with back 117 is different from anything else that is not a CRS. Figure 1a and Figure 1b Not shown, but a sideways lateral crib CRS could be substituted for the backless booster seat 116 and the same detection could be obtained from this uniquely shaped type of CRS.

[0040] Figure 1c A vehicle seat 120 is shown having a CRS 115, which is a child restraint seat having a backrest 117. Figure 1c and Figure 1d As shown, the focused detection zone 130 does include the child restraint seat with backrest 117 within its field of view. Likewise, the second, third, and fourth focused detection zones 140, 150, 160 also include the child restraint seat with backrest 117 within their fields of view, and if / because the geometry of the child restraint seat with backrest 117 is different from anything else other than a CRS, then the CRS can be detected. For example, Figure 1d As shown, the child restraint seat having the backrest 117 has a concave curved shape that can be seen by the remote sensor 107 .

[0041] Figure 1e A vehicle seat 120 is shown with an occupant 103, which may be a short occupant 104 (represented by a solid outline) or a tall occupant 108 (represented by a dotted shape) sitting on the vehicle seat 120. Important to the CRS detection concept herein is that the shape of the occupant, or lack thereof, in any of the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160 is different from the CRS 115 shape. Figure 1fIn FIG. 1 , the head of a tall occupant with its convex curved shape and a portion of the headrest 142, 146 with its convex shape can be seen by the remote sensor 107. The focused detection area 130 can distinguish between two occupants of different sizes because Figure 1e and Figure 1f It can be seen that the head of the tall occupant 108 is within the focus detection area 130 , while the head of the short occupant 104 is outside the focus detection area 130 .

[0042] Figure 1g A vehicle seat 120 is shown with an occupant 103 and a CRS 115, wherein the occupant 103 is a short stature occupant 104 and the CRS 115 is a non-backrest heightened CRS 116. The shape of the occupant in any of the focused detection areas 130, 140, 150, 160 is different from the shape of the CRS 115. Figure 1h As shown in FIG, the head of a tall occupant 108 with its convex curved shape and a portion of the head restraints 142, 146 with its convex shape can be seen by the remote sensor 107. In addition, for the third and fourth focused detection zones 150, 160, the occupant may be distinguished from the non-back booster CRS 116 because both of them are within the third and fourth focused detection zones 150, 160, but they are located at different locations within the third and fourth focused detection zones 150, 160.

[0043] Figure 1i A vehicle seat is shown with an occupant 103, which is a small occupant 104 seated in a CRS 115, which is a child restraint seat with a backrest 117. The shape of the CRS in any one of the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160 is different from any other shape in the detection zone. The shape of the occupant in any one of the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160 is also different from the shape of the CRS 115. For example, in Figure 1j In FIG. 1 , the head of the small occupant 104 has a convex curvature, while the child restraint seat with the backrest 117 has a concave curvature that can be partially seen by the remote sensor 107 .

[0044] Importantly, for certain focused detection zones, particularly focused detection zone 130, the geometry of the CRS 115 is different than anything else located in the seat. Thus, the remote sensor 107 can be used to detect the CRS 115, particularly a child restraint seat having a backrest 117, which may be present in focused detection zones 130, 140, and 150. Additionally, the remote sensor 107 can be used to detect the presence of the occupant 103.

[0045] As described above, the remote sensor can be configured to detect a CRS 115 in a vehicle seat 120 . CRS detection can be initiated by the AOS system startup in response to activation of a vehicle system (such as unlocking a door, opening a door, or a remote vehicle start activation control signal). In some exemplary embodiments, the remote sensor 107 can initiate detection of the CRS in response to weight detected by an in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125 , obscuring of features of the vehicle seat 120 , or in response to different features of the CRS 115 (such as a seat back, side wings, seat bottom, headrest, or a combination thereof). In other exemplary embodiments, the remote sensor 107 can initiate detection of the CRS in response to a startup routine when the system wakes up and attempts to determine what is present in the vehicle seat 120 .

[0046] In response to determining that the CRS 115 is installed, the remote sensor 107 may capture a baseline image of the CRS 115 for subsequent determination of the vehicle occupant 103 sitting in the CRS 115. In addition, the remote sensor 107 may capture a baseline image of the seat 120 in an empty state before detecting anything in the seat for subsequent determination of whether the CRS 115 is present or the occupant 103 is present. The detection of the vehicle seat 120, the CRS 115, and the vehicle occupant 103 may be a time-based sequence, including latching the detected state after a certain period of time has passed, etc. For some scenarios, it may be more robust to first detect when the vehicle seat 120 is empty, and then additionally detect the presence of the CRS 115 or the occupant 103 in the CRS or on the vehicle seat. In other scenarios, robust detection of these different states may not require time-based sequence detection (a non-time-based sequence approach is preferred because the algorithm can detect what is currently present in the vehicle seat 120 without requiring past history). CRS detection may include continuous detection until a point in time when the detected state is locked by restarting in response to a change in the output of the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, a change in the state of the seat buckle, a change in the state of the door, a change in the driving state of the vehicle, etc. In response to detecting CRS115, the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125 may adjust the detection threshold. For example, the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125 may use a higher weight / pressure threshold when CRS115 is detected, or a lower weight / pressure threshold when CRS115 is not detected. When CRS115 is detected, the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125 output may be offset to a lower value, or when CRS115 is not detected, it may be offset to a higher value.

[0047] In some exemplary embodiments, a CRS detection algorithm may be performed on images captured by the remote sensor 107. For example, for one or two vertical CRS flanks, the algorithm may look for CRS flanks in one or more areas of a horizontal cross-section of the seat. Many CRS 115 have very distinct flanks around the head and torso area of ​​the occupant, which may be used to distinguish the CRS 115 from the vehicle seat 120. In some exemplary embodiments, the remote sensor 107 may be a time-of-flight sensor, lidar, radar, or other type of sensor that can detect depth and create a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation of the detected object to distinguish the shape of the detected object. The CRS detection algorithm may use the resulting depth map from the remote sensor to detect the presence of the CRS 115 and / or a vehicle occupant within the CRS 115.

[0048] Now go to Figure 2 , shows an exemplary configuration 200 for an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system according to an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary configuration 200 includes a weight / pressure sensor 210, a remote sensor 220, a processor 230, a vehicle controller 250, a memory 260, and an airbag controller 240.

[0049] An exemplary weight / pressure sensor 210 may be an in-seat weight / pressure sensor. The in-seat weight / pressure sensor may be a flexible or rigid contact sensor located on a stress-bearing surface of the vehicle seat 120, such as a seat bottom, a seat connection, or a seat back. When external weight / pressure is applied to the vehicle seat 120, such as when an occupant 103 sits on the vehicle seat 120 or when another object is placed on the vehicle seat 120, the sensor outputs a signal to achieve detection. The output signal may generally be proportional in magnitude to the weight / pressure applied to the vehicle seat by the occupant 103 or an object. The sensor may be composed of an airbag, a weighing sensor, silver paste, ink, and other components. When the weight / pressure sensor 210 detects a weight / pressure exceeding a threshold, the weight / pressure sensor 210 couples a control signal indicating the detected weight / pressure to a processor 230, etc. The processor 230 may then use the detected weight / pressure value as a reference weight for determining an airbag suppression / activation threshold.

[0050] The remote sensor 220 may be a passive or active sensor, such as a camera, a lidar, a radar, a thermal sensor, an infrared proximity sensor, or other capable sensor. The remote sensor 220 may be used to detect when the vehicle seat 120 is empty, the presence of the CRS 115, or the presence of the occupant 103 located on the vehicle seat. In some exemplary embodiments, in response to the processor 230 receiving a weight / pressure value indicating an object on the vehicle seat 120 from the weight / pressure sensor 210, the remote sensor 220 may initiate detection of the CRS 115. For example, if the weight / pressure sensor 210 detects a weight / pressure greater than a default weight / pressure indicating an empty seat established during vehicle manufacturing, etc., a control signal may be coupled from the processor 230 to the remote sensor 220 to send an image to the processor 230 so that the processor 230 may execute a CRS detection algorithm. In some exemplary embodiments, the current image of the vehicle seat 120 may be compared with a previous image of the vehicle seat 120 to detect any obstructions between the remote sensor 220 and the vehicle seat 120. The remote sensor 220 may be configured to detect distinguishable features of the CRS 115, such as a protruding sidewall, a protruding shape, a change in color, etc. In addition, the remote sensor 220 may be configured to detect the presence of an occupant 103. To assist in the detection of the CRS 115 and the differentiation of the CRS 115 from the occupant 103, the vehicle seat 120, and other objects, the algorithm may use machine learning, state machine logic, or a combination of both when analyzing the output from the remote sensor 220 and the specific output located within the focused detection area 130, 140, 10, 160, etc. The processor 230 may also use a time series based approach to detect changes in a vehicle seat with a detected state latch, wherein the detected state latch is used to estimate an empty vehicle seat 120, a vehicle seat 120 with a CRS 115 installed, and an occupant 104 within a CRS 115 installed in the vehicle seat 120. Similarly, the state latch may be used to estimate an empty vehicle seat 120 and a vehicle seat containing an occupant 108. Using this time series based approach, when the door is opened or the vehicle is turned on, the remote sensor 220 can be activated so that the state of the vehicle seat 120 can be determined by the processor 230 in a time series based manner. The processor 230 can also store the last detected state before the system is turned off or dormant for use in the time series based approach. Using this approach, the processor 230 adjusts the airbag suppression / activation thresholds such as weight / pressure thresholds, or adjusts the weight / pressure sensor output size.

[0051] The processor 230 is configured to generate an airbag inhibition / activation threshold in response to data received from the seat weight / pressure sensor 210, the remote sensor 220, and the vehicle controller 250. The occupant detection and airbag deployment control system can be activated in response to a vehicle operating state change (such as from "off" to "standby"), in response to a door cycle state change, a vehicle door lock state change, etc. In response to the activation of the occupant detection and airbag deployment control system, the processor 230 can retrieve, request, or receive a weight / pressure sensor value from the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 210. In response to the weight / pressure sensor value, the processor can determine the likelihood that an object is present on the passenger seat. The determination can be based on the deviation of the weight / pressure sensor value from a default weight / pressure sensor value indicating a known empty seat.

[0052] In response to the determination of an object on the passenger seat, the processor 230 may then initiate a remote detection algorithm and request remote detection data from the remote sensor 220. The remote sensor 220 may capture an image of the vehicle seat 120 and anything on it and send that data to the processor 230, which estimates the likelihood that the CRS 115 is installed on the vehicle seat 120. This determination may be made in response to comparing the captured image with image data in a database (known empty vehicle seats 120 in different seat orientations, a known number of different CRS 115 models, and a known number of different occupants 103) to determine a visual obstruction of an indicator on the vehicle seat 120 or a known feature of the vehicle seat 120, or the determination may be made in response to detecting a physical feature indicative of the CRS 115, such as a protruding sidewall, other shape, different color, etc. The vehicle seat 120, the occupant 103, the CRS 115, and any object may be in different positions in the database. For example, the vehicle seat 120 may be in different seat back tilt positions, up-down positions, and fore-aft positions. The occupants 103 may be of different body shapes, wearing different clothing, and sitting in different orientations with different arm positions. The CRS 115 may be of different models, colors, and have different accessories in the deployed or stowed position. This determination data is then sent from the remote sensor 220 to the processor 230.

[0053] The processor 230 evaluates the remote sensor 107, 210 output and determines whether weight / pressure related compensation is to be performed. The compensation can be in the form of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment or a measured weight / pressure output adjustment, as will now be described. In response to the determination of a possible CRS 115 installation, the processor 230 can adjust the weight / pressure threshold used to determine whether an occupant 104 is present in the CRS 115. For example, if it is determined that the CRS 115 is installed in the vehicle seat 120, a higher weight / pressure threshold (a higher weight / pressure threshold than the weight / pressure threshold used by the baseline unmodified version of the threshold when the CRS 115 is not present) can be used to determine the size / weight classification of the occupant to compensate for the additional weight of the CRS 115. Similarly, if the CRS 115 is not detected, a lower weight / pressure threshold (a lower weight / pressure threshold than the weight / pressure threshold used by the baseline unmodified version of the threshold when the CRS 115 is present) can be used to determine the size / weight classification of the occupant from the weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 output. Alternatively, if no CRS 115 is detected, an offset value may be added to the measured weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 output, or if a CRS 115 is detected, an offset value may be subtracted from the measured weight / pressure sensor output. Depending on whether a CRS 115 is detected, at least one of these methods will be performed to compensate for the extra weight of the CRS 115 or the lack of the CRS 115. The weight / pressure threshold or offset value may be adjusted by one of these methods by a fixed magnitude or by a percentage of the unadjusted magnitude. The adjustment amount will preferably correspond to the approximate weight / pressure exerted on the weight / pressure sensor 210 by a heavier CRS 115, which may come from a large-sized child restraint seat with a backrest 117. As another alternative, an adjustment greater than the weight / pressure exerted by a heavier CRS 115 may be used. The adjustment may include setting the threshold or weight / pressure sensor 210 output to infinity or zero.

[0054] These changes to the weight / pressure thresholds or weight / pressure sensor outputs are intended to correct for the fact that the weight of the CRS 115 may be considerable and may affect the ability of the weight pressure sensor 125 to detect the difference between a larger and heavier occupant (e.g., a tall occupant 108 ) seated in the vehicle seat 120 and a smaller and lighter occupant (e.g., a short occupant 104 ) seated in the heavier CRS 115 .

[0055] A child restraint seat with a backrest 117 is typically much heavier than a backless booster seat 116. Therefore, the method may detect only child restraint seats with backrests 117, or it may detect both backless booster seats 116 and child restraint seats with backrests 117. For actual CRS 115 detection, it may be easier to detect a child restraint seat with a backrest 117 without attempting to detect a backless booster seat 116 because the backrest of a child restraint seat with a backrest 117 may be the easiest part of the CRS 115 to detect and distinguish from the vehicle seat 120 or occupant 103. For either method, the method adjusts the weight / pressure threshold or weight / pressure sensor output to largely or completely eliminate the weight of the CRS 115 from the weight / pressure sensing method.

[0056] Note that in order for the remote sensing method to be robust, the CRS 115 detection must be used because the seat height of the occupant 103 cannot be observed by the remote sensor 107 alone, as Figure 1 , Figure 1 G and Figure 1 I shows that a short occupant in a CRS 115 on a vehicle seat 120 may have the same Figure 1 and Figure 1e The same sitting height as a tall occupant 108 is shown sitting directly on the vehicle seat 120. Likewise, using remote sensing methods, a smaller occupant may be wearing a winter coat and a thick hat or hood, which may make them appear to be as large as a larger occupant.

[0057] In response to activation of the airbag control system, e.g., in response to vehicle movement, vehicle operating conditions, etc., the processor may receive subsequent weight / pressure values ​​from the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 210. The processor 230 then compares these updated weight / pressure values ​​to corresponding weight / pressure thresholds and, if the subsequent weight / pressure value exceeds the weight / pressure threshold, generates an airbag activation signal to couple to the airbag controller 240. Likewise, if the updated weight / pressure value is less than the weight / pressure threshold, the processor 230 may then couple an airbag deactivation signal to the airbag controller 240.

[0058] The airbag controller 240 may receive data from the vehicle controller 250, other vehicle sensors, or sensors within the airbag sensing system (such as accelerometers, inertial measurement units, contact sensors, etc.) to estimate the occurrence of a vehicle contact event. After determining a vehicle contact event, the airbag controller 240 may check the state of the airbag suppression signal to determine whether the airbag should be deployed in response to the detection of the contact event. If the airbag suppression signal has been received from the processor 230, the airbag is not deployed. If the airbag activation signal has been received, the airbag is deployed.

[0059] Now go to Figure 3 , an exemplary method 300 for an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

[0060] The method is first operable to initiate 310 an occupant detection algorithm. The exemplary method 300 may be initiated 310 when the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 detects a weight / pressure indicating that something is on the vehicle seat 120 above a default threshold level, the measured output of the weight / pressure sensor changes by more than a predetermined incremental amount, the seat row door is opened or cycled, the door adjacent to the seat position is opened or cycled, the seat belt is buckled, the seat belt webbing is unwound, the vehicle is started, vehicle movement begins, etc. In response to the start of the algorithm, the method 300 next detects 315 the weight / pressure on the vehicle seat 120. The method compares 320 the detected weight / pressure to a default weight / pressure to determine whether the vehicle seat 120 is empty or if an object is present in the vehicle seat 120. If the determined weight / pressure value does not exceed the default weight / pressure value by a threshold amount, such as 10%, then the method may determine that the vehicle seat 120 is empty. If the vehicle seat 120 is empty, the method may send 305 a seatbelt inhibition signal to an airbag controller to inhibit deployment of an airbag corresponding to the position of the vehicle seat 120 in the event of a vehicle contact event.

[0061] In response to detecting that the weight / pressure on the vehicle seat 120 differs from the default value by a threshold amount, the method then initiates detection 330 by the remote sensor 107, 220. In some exemplary embodiments, the remote sensor 107, 220 is a camera configured to capture one or more images of the vehicle seat 120 in response to the activation signal and transmit the output to the processor 230. In other exemplary embodiments, when the algorithm is activated at 310, the remote sensor 107, 220 can be pulsed on and capture images and send the images to the processor 230, so that a time series based approach can be used. The processor 230 can then perform image processing techniques on the captured image / series of captured images, or compare the captured image / series of captured images from a database (known empty vehicle seats 120 in different seat orientations, a known number of different CRS 115 models, and a known number of different occupants 103) to determine 340 whether a CRS 115 is present. If a time series based approach is used, the processor 230 may first identify the vehicle seat 120, then identify the CRS 115 on the vehicle seat 120, then identify the occupant 104 in the CRS 115, or if the CRS 115 is not used, identify the occupant 103 on the vehicle seat 120. If a time series based approach is not used, the processor 230 will identify what is in the vehicle seat 120 at the current time. The algorithm may use a machine learning approach, a state machine approach, or a combination of both in its logic to use the outputs in the focused detection areas 130, 140, 150, 160, etc. to identify whether the CRS 115 is present. If the CRS 115 is determined to be present, the method may use 350 to compensate for the weight of the CRS 115. If the CRS is determined not to be present, the method may use 360 ​​to compensate to not account for the additional CRS weight. The method next compares the weight / pressure sensor value from 350 , 360 and, at 370 , compares the value to the weight / pressure threshold from 350 , 360 to determine if the occupant is above or below the weight / pressure threshold from 350 , 360 .

[0062] The compensation in 350 and 360 can be at least one of a set of matching pairs. In a first exemplary embodiment, when CRS 115 is detected, weight / pressure is subtracted from the measured weight / pressure at 350, and when CRS 115 is not detected, the measured weight / pressure is not modified at 360. In a second exemplary embodiment, when CRS 115 is detected, weight / pressure is added to the weight / pressure threshold at 350, and when CRS is not detected, the baseline weight / pressure threshold is not modified at 360. In a third exemplary embodiment, when CRS 115 is detected, there is no modification to the measured weight / pressure at 350, and when CRS 115 is not detected, weight / pressure is added to the measured weight / pressure at 360. In a fourth exemplary embodiment, when CRS 115 is detected, there is no modification to the baseline weight / pressure threshold at 350, and when CRS 115 is not detected, weight / pressure is subtracted from the weight / pressure threshold at 360. These various embodiments compensate for the weight of the CRS 115. The compensation amount may be a preselected amount, or may be a percentage of the unmodified weight pressure measurement or weight / pressure threshold.

[0063] If at 370 the occupant is less than the weight / pressure threshold, an airbag inhibition signal is coupled to the airbag control at 305 to inhibit deployment of the airbag corresponding to the vehicle seat 120 position in response to the vehicle contact event. If at 370 the occupant is greater than the weight / pressure threshold, an optional reduction in the weight / pressure threshold occurs at 375 and an enable signal is coupled to the airbag controller at 380 so that the airbag is deployed in the vehicle contact event. At 375, after the controller 230 has determined whether the CRS 115 is present, the method may optionally determine whether the measured weight / pressure output remains above the weight / pressure threshold after a duration defined by the duration threshold. If the duration threshold has been exceeded, the weight / pressure threshold may optionally be reduced to a lower amount. This prevents a small reduction in the measured output of the seat sensors 125, 210 due to a small movement of the occupant 103 or vehicle ride dynamics input from causing a change from enable to inhibit that would otherwise occur if the measured weight / pressure crossed the weight / pressure threshold.

[0064] After inhibiting 305 or enabling 380 the signal coupling to the airbag controller, the method may return to monitoring the weight / pressure sensor signal to detect 315 a subsequent weight / pressure value from the weight / pressure sensor 125, 210. In some exemplary embodiments, the method may sleep or enter a standby mode when the CRS and occupant status / classification have been determined relative to the weight / pressure thresholds, when the vehicle doors are closed, or shortly after the vehicle enters motion, when the occupant is detected / classified in the seat (such as once the doors are closed or the ride has begun), when the vehicle is turned off, or when the motion ends. The in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 will continue to monitor the load on the vehicle seat 120. One or more remote sensors 107 may periodically pulse on or operate at a lower sampling rate while dormant to confirm the detected status. The method may wake up when the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 has an output change exceeding a predetermined increment, when any sensor pulsed on detects a significant difference, when the buckle state changes, when the seat belt webbing length changes exceeding a predetermined increment, or when a method initiation event occurs. In some exemplary embodiments, the method may run at a lower detection rate rather than sleeping.

[0065] Although at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that there are a large number of variations. It should also be understood that the exemplary embodiment or multiple exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. On the contrary, the foregoing detailed description will provide a convenient roadmap for implementing the exemplary embodiment or multiple exemplary embodiments for those skilled in the art. It should be understood that various changes may be made to the functions and arrangements of the elements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the attached claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. An airbag deployment system, comprising: a memory configured to store a default weight / pressure threshold; a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect weight / pressure on a surface of a vehicle seat; a remote sensor for detecting the presence of a child restraint seat mounted at a vehicle seat; Processor for: generating a weight / pressure related compensation based on whether the remote sensor detects a child restraint seat or does not detect a child restraint seat; generating a processor decision to enable air bag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output exceeds a compensated weight / pressure threshold; as well as generating a processor decision to inhibit airbag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output is less than a compensated weight / pressure threshold; a vehicle controller for detecting a vehicle contact event; as well as An airbag deployment controller is configured to inhibit deployment of an airbag in response to detecting the vehicle contact event and an airbag inhibition signal, and to enable deployment of the airbag in response to the vehicle contact event and an airbag activation signal.

2. The airbag deployment system according to claim 1, wherein: The weight / pressure related compensation is at least one of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment and a measured weight / pressure output adjustment, and wherein the compensation is determined using one of a time series based approach and a non-time series based approach.

3. The airbag deployment system according to claim 1, wherein: The weight / pressure related compensation includes: when CRS is detected, compensating the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing the subtraction result with a weight / pressure threshold, and wherein, when CRS is not detected, comparing the measured weight / pressure with the weight / pressure threshold.

4. The airbag deployment system according to claim 1, wherein: The weight / pressure related compensation includes: when CRS is detected, using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it with a weight / pressure threshold compensated to a higher value, and wherein when CRS is not detected, comparing the measured weight / pressure with the weight / pressure threshold.

5. The airbag deployment system according to claim 1, wherein: The weight / pressure related compensation includes: when CRS is detected, using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it with the weight / pressure threshold, and when CRS is not detected, compensating the measured weight / pressure by adding an amount to the measured weight / pressure and comparing the added result with the weight / pressure threshold.

6. The airbag deployment system according to claim 1, wherein: The weight / pressure related compensation includes: when CRS is detected, using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to the weight-pressure threshold, and when CRS is not detected, using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to the weight / pressure threshold compensated to a lower value.

7. The airbag deployment system according to claim 1, wherein: The weight / pressure related compensation is at least one of a selected amplitude compensation and an uncompensated value percentage compensation.

8. The airbag deployment system according to claim 1, wherein: The remote sensor is configured to observe a vehicle seat, a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat, an occupant on the vehicle seat, and in turn, an occupant in the child restraint seat on the vehicle seat.

9. The airbag deployment system according to claim 8, wherein: The remote sensor includes at least one focused detection zone for child restraint seat detection, wherein the focused detection zone is located at a position where the remote sensor can distinguish the presence of the CRS from the vehicle seat and occupant based on the detected CRS characteristics being different from the vehicle seat and occupant.

10. A method comprising: Store default pressure thresholds; Detect pressure on vehicle seat surfaces; as well as The presence of a child restraint seat mounted at a vehicle seat is detected within a detection zone, and wherein the child restraint seat has at least one detectable feature within the detection zone, and wherein the at least one detectable feature is absent from the vehicle seat and a vehicle seat occupant.

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