Method for monitoring interior of vehicle, control unit and sensor device
By using antenna combinations of different sensitivity and resolutions in UWB sensor devices, combined with machine learning and Euclidian equations, accurate presence detection of vehicle internal space is achieved, solving the problems of low detection accuracy and false alarms in the prior art, especially in distinguishing between detection accuracy and false alarm reduction in young children.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510407212.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-04-03
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-04
AI Technical Summary
When monitoring the internal space of the vehicle, the existing UWB sensor unit has low detection accuracy and is prone to false alarms, especially when distinguishing between people of different ages and body types.
Using an antenna combination with different sensitivity and resolution, sensor signals are analyzed through machine learning methods and positioned in combination with Euclidean equations to achieve accurate presence detection of the internal space of the vehicle, especially young children's presence detection.
It improves the accuracy of on-site detection, reduces false alarms, and can safely and reliably distinguish people of different ages and body types, enhancing user comfort and trust.
Smart Images
Figure CN120254831A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the interior space of a vehicle by means of a sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding control unit and a corresponding sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device, for carrying out the corresponding method. Background Art
[0002] UWB sensor units are increasingly installed in modern vehicles. The UWB sensor unit can be used to detect persons in the interior space of the vehicle. The UWB sensor unit can detect the propagation time of a sensor signal reflected by a person located in the interior space of the vehicle. The distance to the person can be determined by means of the propagation time of the sensor signal. By means of the Doppler frequency shift of the sensor signal, the movement of the person, for example during breathing, can be detected, so that the chest cavity of the person moves. Furthermore, the vital parameters of the person, such as the breathing rate, can be determined. In known sensor units, it is disadvantageous that the detection is often inaccurate and associated with errors. Summary of the Invention
[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome at least one of the above-described disadvantages. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for monitoring the interior space of a vehicle by means of a sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device, which enables improved presence detection in the interior space of the vehicle, which has improved accuracy, which enables improved monitoring functions, which increases user comfort and enhances trust in the monitoring method. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device, for carrying out the corresponding method.
[0004] The present invention provides a method for monitoring the interior space of a vehicle by means of a sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device, having the features of the independent method claims. Furthermore, the present invention provides a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding control unit and a corresponding sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device, having the features of the dependent claims. Here, the features and details described in connection with different embodiments and / or aspects of the present invention naturally also apply in connection with other embodiments and / or aspects, and vice versa respectively, so that the disclosures regarding the individual embodiments and / or aspects always refer to each other or can always refer to each other.
[0005] The present invention provides that:
[0006] A method for monitoring the interior of a vehicle with the aid of a sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device.
[0007] Here, the sensor device has a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, wherein the first sensor unit has (at least) a first antenna and a second antenna (or a plurality of antennas), the first antenna and the second antenna have different sensitivities (or resolutions), and the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged at known positions and / or are arranged at a known spacing from each other, wherein the second sensor unit has (at least) a first antenna and a second antenna (or a plurality of antennas), the first antenna and the second antenna have different sensitivities (or resolutions), and the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged at known positions and are arranged at a known spacing from each other.
[0008] It is hereby provided that, when monitoring the interior of the vehicle, information of different antennas is taken into account in order to provide improved presence detection, in particular detection of the presence of a young child, in the interior of the vehicle.
[0009] The two (UWB) sensor units can be arranged on the top. Here, in the vehicle, the first (UWB) sensor unit can be arranged at the front and the second (UWB) sensor unit can be arranged at the rear.
[0010] The two (UWB) sensor units can both transmit and receive.
[0011] Each (UWB) sensor unit can include at least two or more antennas.
[0012] Advantageously, the antennas within a (UWB) sensor unit can have different sensitivities or resolutions (especially in terms of the range of action). Here, one antenna in a (UWB) sensor unit can have a relatively higher sensitivity than the other antennas.
[0013] The present invention recognizes that antennas with different sensitivities can identify different types of movements. For a newborn sleeping in a vehicle seat, the chest moves only a few millimeters during breathing. In order to detect such small movements, one antenna must have a correspondingly high resolution in order to detect movements of a few millimeters. For a young child, who also makes some larger movements of a few millimeters during breathing, a plurality of antennas with a correspondingly high resolution can respond to the movements. For an adult, even an antenna with a relatively low resolution can provide detection, for example in the range of several millimeters and / or in the centimeter range.
[0014] Therefore, the present invention recognizes that if multiple, especially all antennas with different sensitivities or resolutions (high resolution, e.g., in the millimeter range, or low resolution, e.g., in the range of multiple millimeters and / or centimeter range) detect a person, it is very likely that an adult is involved here.
[0015] Presence detection, especially for detecting the presence of young children, can be particularly advantageous in cases where an infant, young child or animal has been inadvertently left in a parked vehicle. This can be particularly dangerous in summer.
[0016] Presence detection can be used to warn the user of the vehicle if a child or animal remains in the vehicle after leaving the vehicle.
[0017] To avoid false alarms, the proposed method can be used when, for example, an adult remains in the vehicle. It is very likely that an adult intentionally remains in the vehicle. In addition, most adults can leave the vehicle on their own.
[0018] With the aid of the method, it is possible to distinguish safely and reliably between persons of different ages and / or body sizes.
[0019] If multiple, especially all antennas in the sensor device sense a person, it can be inferred therefrom that the person in the vehicle is an adult. In this case, the warning can be stopped.
[0020] In addition, it can also be provided that when monitoring the interior space of the vehicle, the sensitivities of different antennas are taken into account in order to detect persons of different ages and / or body sizes in the interior space of the vehicle. Here, it can be determined how many antennas with a relatively high resolution (e.g., in the millimeter range) detect a newborn (e.g., only one antenna with a high resolution provides a signal for a positive detection) or a young child (e.g., two antennas with a high resolution provide a signal for a positive detection). For adults or persons with a relatively large body size, even antennas with a relatively low resolution (e.g., in the range of multiple millimeters and / or in the centimeter range) can identify a person. In this way, the method can better identify persons of different ages and / or body sizes.
[0021] Advantageously, at least one (or only one) antenna with such (relatively high) sensitivity can be provided in order to detect a newborn in the interior space of the vehicle.
[0022] For example, at least one antenna, preferably two antennas, with such (relatively high) sensitivity can be provided in order to detect a young child in the interior space of the vehicle.
[0023] Advantageously, it can be provided that at least two antennas, preferably three antennas, preferably four antennas with such (relatively low) sensitivity are provided in order to detect an adult in the interior space of the vehicle.
[0024] Furthermore, a threshold value can be set, which relates to how many antennas, preferably all antennas, should detect presence in order to identify an adult in the interior space of the vehicle and, in particular, to avoid false alarms in the case of presence detection, especially in the case of presence detection of a young child. In other words, if such an antenna with relatively low sensitivity also detects presence, it can be assumed that an adult has been identified.
[0025] Furthermore, when monitoring the interior space of the vehicle, the positions of different antennas can be taken into account in order to locate a person in the interior space of the vehicle. Here, the angle of incidence on the antenna can be investigated and the position of the person can be determined with the aid of Euclidean equations.
[0026] Furthermore, when monitoring the interior space of the vehicle, the spacing of different antennas can be taken into account in order to locate a person in the interior space of the vehicle. Here, too, the angle of incidence on the antenna can be investigated and the position of the person can be determined with the aid of Euclidean equations. In addition, the spacing of different antennas enables a corresponding angular resolution, so that different antennas can specifically monitor different regions of the interior space of the vehicle.
[0027] Advantageously, the method, in particular the analysis of sensor signals, can be implemented by means of methods for machine learning. Methods for machine learning are particularly suitable for evaluating sensor signals, so that fast and computationally simple detection can be achieved with low storage requirements.
[0028] The invention provides for:
[0029] A computer program product, which includes instructions that, when the computer program product is executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method that can be carried out as described above. By means of the computer program product, the same advantages as those described above in connection with the method according to the invention can be achieved. These advantages are hereby fully incorporated by reference.
[0030] The invention provides for:
[0031] A control unit (ECU), which includes a computing unit and a storage unit, in which code is stored that, when at least partially executed by the computing unit, implements the method that can be carried out as described above. By means of the control unit (ECU), the same advantages as those described above in connection with the method according to the invention can be achieved. These advantages are hereby fully incorporated by reference.
[0032] The invention provides for:
[0033] A sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device, wherein the sensor device has a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, wherein the first sensor unit has a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna and the second antenna having different sensitivities, and the first antenna and the second antenna being arranged at known positions and at a known spacing from each other, wherein the second sensor unit has a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna and the second antenna having different sensitivities, and the first antenna and the second antenna being arranged at known positions and at a known spacing from each other, and wherein the sensor device includes a control unit, the control unit being implemented to take into account the information of the different antennas when monitoring the interior space of a vehicle in order to provide a presence detection PE in the interior space of the vehicle. The control unit can advantageously be specifically implemented to perform a method that can be carried out as described above. The same advantages as those already described in connection with the method according to the invention can be achieved by means of the receiving unit. These advantages are currently fully addressed. Description of the Drawings
[0034] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In the figures:
[0035] Figure 1 Exemplary views showing the sensor device, and
[0036] Figure 2 Exemplary visualizations of the sensor detections are shown. Detailed Description of the Embodiments
[0037] Figure 1 and Figure 2 For explaining a method in the sense of the present invention, the method being developed for monitoring the interior space of a vehicle by means of a sensor device, in particular a UWB sensor device.
[0038] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the sensor device 100 has a first sensor unit 10 and a second sensor unit 20, wherein the first sensor unit 10 has at least a first antenna 11 and a second antenna 12 or has more antennas, the first antenna and the second antenna or the more antennas having different sensitivities E11, E12 or having different resolutions and being arranged at known positions P11, P12 and / or at a known spacing A1 from each other, wherein the second sensor unit 20 has at least a first antenna 21 and a second antenna 22 or has more antennas, the first antenna and the second antenna or the more antennas having different sensitivities E21, E22 or having different resolutions and being arranged at known positions P21, P22 and / or at a known spacing A2 from each other.
[0039] Advantageously, when monitoring the interior space of the vehicle 200, information from different antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 is taken into account (including, for example: sensor signals, antenna parameters such as sensitivity, antenna position, antenna spacing, etc.) in order to provide improved presence detection, especially detection of the presence of small children, in the interior space 201 of the vehicle 200.
[0040] The two UWB sensor units 10, 20 can be arranged on the top. Here, in the vehicle 200, the first UWB sensor unit 10 can be arranged at the front and the second UWB sensor unit can be arranged at the rear.
[0041] The two UWB sensor units 10, 20 can both transmit and receive.
[0042] Each UWB sensor unit 10, 20 can include at least two or more antennas.
[0043] For example, it can be envisaged that one antenna 11, 21 within one UWB sensor unit 10, 20 can both transmit and receive, and / or one further antenna 12, 22 within one UWB sensor unit 10, 20 can both transmit and receive or can only receive.
[0044] Advantageously, the antennas 11, 12 or 21, 22 within one UWB sensor unit can have different sensitivities E11, E12, E21, E22 or resolutions, especially in terms of the range of action. Here, one antenna 11, 21 in one UWB sensor unit can have a relatively higher sensitivity E11, E21 than the other antennas 12, 22.
[0045] The present invention recognizes that antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 with different sensitivities E11, E12, E21, E22 can be used to identify different types of movement.
[0046] For a newborn NG sleeping in a vehicle seat, the chest only moves a few millimeters during breathing. To detect such small movements, the antenna 11 or 21 must have a correspondingly high resolution in order to detect movements of a few millimeters.
[0047] For a small child KK, who also makes relatively larger movements of a few millimeters during breathing, the multiple antennas 11 and 21 can respond to the movements with a correspondingly high resolution.
[0048] For an adult ERW, even antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 with a relatively low resolution can provide detection, which can be in the range of several millimeters and / or even in the centimeter range, for example.
[0049] The present invention now proposes that if multiple, in particular all, antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 recognize a person with different sensitivities E11, E12, E21, E22 or resolutions (high resolution, for example in the millimeter range, and / or low resolution, for example in the range of multiple millimeters and / or centimeter range), then the person is likely to be an adult ERW here.
[0050] Presence detection, especially detection of the presence of a young child, can be particularly advantageous in the case where a newborn NG, a young child KK or an animal has been inadvertently left in a parked vehicle 200. This can be particularly dangerous in summer.
[0051] If a newborn NG, a young child KK or an animal remains in the vehicle 200 after leaving the vehicle 200, the presence detection PE can be used to timely warn the user of the vehicle 200.
[0052] To avoid false alarms, for example when an adult ERW remains in the vehicle 200, this may be intentional. An adult ERW can generally leave the vehicle by themselves.
[0053] By means of the method, it is possible to safely and reliably distinguish between persons of different ages and / or body sizes, especially between a newborn NG, a young child KK and an adult ERW.
[0054] If multiple, in particular all, antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 in the sensor device 100 sense a person, it can be inferred therefrom that the person in the vehicle 200 is an adult ERW. In this case, the warning can be stopped to reduce false alarms.
[0055] When monitoring the interior space 201 of the vehicle 200, the sensitivities E11, E12, E21, E22 of the different antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 can be particularly taken into account in order to detect persons of different ages and / or body sizes in the interior space 201 of the vehicle 200.
[0056] Here, the respective numbers of antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 for different age groups and / or body sizes can be determined separately.
[0057] An antenna 11 and / or 21 with a relatively high resolution (for example in the millimeter range) can recognize a newborn NG.
[0058] Two antennas 11 and 21 with a relatively high resolution (for example in the millimeter range) can recognize a young child KK.
[0059] For adults or relatively large-sized individuals, antennas 12, 22 with relatively low resolution (e.g., in the range of several millimeters and / or in the centimeter range) can also identify the person.
[0060] Advantageously, thresholds can be defined for differentiating between newborns (NG), toddlers (KK), and adults (ERW).
[0061] Furthermore, when monitoring the interior space of vehicle 200, the positions P11, P12, P21, P22 and / or the spacings A1, A2 of the different antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 can be taken into account in order to locate a person in the interior space 201 of vehicle 200. Here, the angles of incidence of antennas 11, 12, 21, 22 can be investigated and the position of the person can be determined with the aid of Euclidean equations.
[0062] Advantageously, in the method, the analysis of the sensor signals can be carried out with the aid of methods for machine learning.
[0063] Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding control unit ECU, and a corresponding sensor device 100, in particular a UWB sensor device, for carrying out the corresponding method.
[0064] The above elaboration of the embodiments only describes the invention within the scope of examples. Of course, the individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other as long as they are technically reasonable and do not depart from the scope of the invention.
[0065] List of reference signs
[0066] 100 Sensor device
[0067] 10 Sensor unit
[0068] 11 Antenna
[0069] 12 Antenna
[0070] A1 Spacing
[0071] P11 Position
[0072] P12 Position
[0073] E11 Sensitivity
[0074] E12 Sensitivity
[0075] 20 Sensor unit
[0076] 21 Antenna
[0077] 22 Antenna
[0078] A2 Spacing
[0079] Position P21
[0080] Position P22
[0081] Sensitivity E21
[0082] Sensitivity E22
[0083] Newborn NG
[0084] Toddler KK
[0085] Adult ERW
[0086] Vehicle 200
[0087] Internal space 201
[0088] On-site detection of PE
[0089] ECU control unit
Claims
1. A method for monitoring the interior space (201) of a vehicle (200) by means of a sensor device (100), in particular a UWB sensor device, wherein, the sensor device (100) has a first sensor unit (10) and a second sensor unit (20), the first sensor unit (10) has a first antenna (11) and a second antenna (12), the first antenna and the second antenna have different sensitivities (E11, E12), and the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged at known positions (P11, P12) and are arranged at a known spacing (A1) from each other, the second sensor unit (20) has a first antenna (21) and a second antenna (22), the first antenna and the second antenna have different sensitivities (E21, E22), and the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged at known positions (P21, P22) and are arranged at a known spacing (A2) from each other, when monitoring the interior space of the vehicle (200), information of different antennas (11, 12, 21, 22) is taken into account in order to provide presence detection in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
2. The method according to claim 1, Among them, when monitoring the interior space of the vehicle (200), the sensitivities (E11, E12, E21, E22) of different antennas (11, 12, 21, 22) are taken into account in order to detect persons of different ages and / or body sizes in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Among them, at least one antenna (11, 21) with such sensitivities (E11, E21) is provided in order to detect a newborn (NG) in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, Among them, at least one antenna (11, 21), preferably two antennas (11, 21), with such sensitivities (E11, E21) is provided in order to detect a toddler (KK) in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, Among them, at least two antennas (11, 21), preferably three antennas (11, 12, 21), preferably four antennas (11, 12, 21, 22), with such sensitivities (E11, E21) are provided in order to detect an adult (ERW) in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, Among them, a threshold value is set as to how many antennas (11, 12, 21, 22) should detect presence in order to identify an adult (ERW) in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200), and in particular in order to avoid false alarms in the case of presence detection, especially in the case of presence detection of a toddler.
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, Among them, When monitoring the interior space of a vehicle (200), the positions (P11, P12, P21, P22) of different antennas (11, 12, 21, 22) are taken into account in order to locate a person in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, Among them, When monitoring the interior space of a vehicle (200), the spacings (A1, A2) of different antennas (11, 12, 21, 22) are taken into account in order to locate a person in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, Among them, The method, in particular the analysis of sensor signals, is implemented by means of a method for machine learning.
10. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method according to one of claims 1 to 9 preceding.
11. A control unit (ECU) comprising a computing unit and a storage unit, in which a code is stored which, when at least partially executed by the computing unit, implements the method according to one of claims 1 to 9 preceding.
12. A sensor device (100), in particular a UWB sensor device, wherein The sensor device (100) has a first sensor unit (10) and a second sensor unit (20), The first sensor unit (10) has a first antenna (11) and a second antenna (12), the first antenna and the second antenna having different sensitivities (E11, E12), and the first antenna and the second antenna being arranged at known positions (P11, P12) and being arranged at a known spacing (A1) from each other, The second sensor unit (20) has a first antenna (21) and a second antenna (22), the first antenna and the second antenna having different sensitivities (E21, E22), and the first antenna and the second antenna being arranged at known positions (P21, P22) and being arranged at a known spacing (A2) from each other, and the sensor device (100) includes a control unit (ECU) which is implemented to take into account information of different antennas (11, 12, 21, 22) when monitoring the interior space of a vehicle (200) in order to provide a presence detection in the interior space (201) of the vehicle (200).
13. The sensor device (100) according to the preceding claim, Among them, The control unit (ECU) is specifically implemented to execute the method according to one of claims 1 to 9 of the preceding method claims.