Vehicle child lock control method and device, vehicle controller and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a vehicle child lock control method and device, a vehicle controller and a vehicle, and relates to the technical field of automobile electronics and passive safety. The vehicle controller acquires passenger data of a rear space of the vehicle and driving state data of the vehicle, determines whether the passenger type of the rear space of the vehicle contains children according to the passenger data, determines a child lock control instruction according to the driving state data, the passenger type and a preset safety control strategy, and then sends the child lock control instruction to a child lock controller to control locking or unlocking of the child lock. The application realizes full-automatic control, does not require manual operation of the driver, can dynamically adjust according to real-time states, and realizes effective balance between safety and convenience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of automotive electronics and passive safety technology, and in particular to a method, device, vehicle controller, and vehicle for controlling child locks in vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the vast majority of vehicles still use traditional mechanical child locks located on the side of the door, requiring manual operation to activate or deactivate. This design has significant drawbacks: it is extremely inconvenient to operate, requiring parents to bend down and fumble for it; it is easily forgotten, with parents forgetting to activate the child lock when needed or deactivate it when not needed, preventing adults from opening the door from the inside; its function is limited and fixed, unable to dynamically adjust according to real-time situations; and it poses safety hazards, as forgetting to activate it could lead to children accidentally opening the door, while forgetting to deactivate it could trap adults in the back seat in an emergency. Although some newer vehicles offer electronic child locks controlled via the central control screen or driver's door panel switch, this still falls under the category of manual operation, and the problem of forgetting to activate or deactivate the child lock remains, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method, device, vehicle controller, and vehicle for controlling child locks in a vehicle, so as to reasonably control the child locks and achieve an effective balance between safety and convenience.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling a child lock in a vehicle, applied to a vehicle controller. The method includes: acquiring occupant data of the rear seat space of the vehicle and driving status data of the vehicle; determining the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant data; determining a child lock control command based on the driving status data, the occupant type, and a preset safety control strategy; and sending the child lock control command to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock.

[0005] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, acquiring occupant data of the rear seat space and vehicle driving status data includes: in response to a preset triggering event occurring in the vehicle, acquiring occupant data of the rear seat space through an occupant perception sensor on the vehicle, and acquiring vehicle driving status data through a vehicle perception sensor; wherein the preset triggering event includes at least one of the following: vehicle start-up, vehicle stop-up, and change in vehicle driving status.

[0006] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; determining the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant data includes: if the occupant data includes image data, determining a first occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on facial features, body shape features, and child safety seat features in the image data; if the occupant data includes load sensor data, calculating the occupant weight of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the load sensor data, and determining a second occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant weight; wherein the load sensor data includes pressure sensor data and / or weight sensor data; determining the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the first occupant type and / or the second occupant type.

[0007] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant type includes children, adults, and undetermined types; the driving status data includes vehicle speed and / or gear position; determining the child lock control command based on the driving status data, occupant type, and preset safety control strategy includes: if the occupant type is a child and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset first speed threshold, outputting a child lock locking command; if the occupant type is an adult, outputting a child lock unlocking command; if the occupant type is undetermined and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset second speed threshold, outputting a child lock locking command; if the occupant type is undetermined and the gear position is park, outputting a child lock unlocking command.

[0008] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, determining the child lock control command based on driving status data, occupant type, and preset safety control strategy further includes: if the occupant type is a child, the gear is in park, and the vehicle speed is zero, outputting the child lock control command according to a preset user-selectable mode; wherein, the user-selectable mode includes: safety priority mode and convenience priority mode; the safety priority mode corresponds to the child lock locking command, and the convenience priority mode corresponds to the child lock unlocking command.

[0009] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; the occupant type further includes: a child safety seat; the method further includes: determining the installation position of the child safety seat based on the image data and / or load sensor data; and sending a child lock control command to a target child lock controller on the door corresponding to the installation position of the child safety seat to control the locking or unlocking of the target child lock.

[0010] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: displaying the child lock status and manual modification controls in real time on the central control screen so that the driver can modify the child lock control commands; and issuing an audible and visual prompt through a prompt sound or indicator light when the child lock status automatically switches.

[0011] Secondly, the present invention provides a vehicle child lock control device applied to a vehicle controller. The device includes: a vehicle data acquisition module for acquiring occupant data of the rear seat space and vehicle driving status data; an occupant type determination module for determining the occupant type of the rear seat space based on the occupant data; a control command determination module for determining child lock control commands based on driving status data, occupant type, and preset safety control strategies; and a control command execution module for sending the child lock control commands to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock.

[0012] Thirdly, the present invention provides a vehicle controller, including a processor and a memory, the memory storing computer-executable instructions that can be executed by the processor, the processor executing the computer-executable instructions to implement the method provided in the first aspect above.

[0013] Fourthly, the present invention provides a vehicle including a vehicle controller as described in the third aspect above.

[0014] The present invention provides a vehicle child lock control method, device, vehicle controller, and vehicle. The vehicle controller acquires occupant data in the rear seat space and vehicle driving status data; determines whether the occupant type in the rear seat space includes children based on the occupant data; determines the child lock control command based on the driving status data, occupant type, and preset safety control strategy; and then sends the child lock control command to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock. This achieves fully automatic control, eliminating the need for manual operation by the driver, and can dynamically adjust according to real-time status, achieving an effective balance between safety and convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the hardware architecture of a vehicle child lock control system provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 A flowchart of a vehicle child lock control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle child lock control device provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Icons: 310 - Vehicle data acquisition module; 320 - Occupant type determination module; 330 - Control command determination module; 340 - Control command execution module; 400 - Memory; 401 - Processor; 402 - Bus; 403 - Communication interface. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0019] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0020] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0021] In the description of this invention, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used only for distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly; for example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] The following detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0023] See Figure 1The illustrated embodiment of the present invention provides a hardware architecture diagram of a vehicle child lock control system. The occupant sensing unit collects rear-seat image data and pressure / weight data via an in-vehicle camera and seat load sensor. The vehicle sensing unit acquires driving status data such as vehicle speed and gear position via a CAN bus. Both units are connected to the vehicle controller (ECU) to upload the collected data. The vehicle controller determines the occupant type (child, adult, or undetermined) and generates child lock control commands based on driving status and safety control strategies. These commands are then sent to the child lock controller via a control circuit to control door locking or unlocking. Simultaneously, the vehicle controller has a bidirectional communication connection with the central control screen. On one hand, it pushes the child lock status to the central control screen in real time; on the other hand, it receives manual commands input by the driver through manual modification controls and issues audio and visual prompts via sound or indicator lights when the child lock status automatically switches, thus forming a complete closed loop from perception, decision-making, execution to interaction.

[0024] Based on this, see Figure 2 The flowchart shown in this embodiment of the invention provides a method for controlling a vehicle child lock. This method is applied to a vehicle controller and includes: Step S102: Obtain occupant data in the rear seat of the vehicle and vehicle driving status data.

[0025] Specifically, occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data. Image data can be collected by an in-vehicle camera. This camera can be a driver monitoring system camera or an occupant monitoring system camera, installed in the vehicle's ceiling or front seatbacks, etc., capable of clearly capturing images of rear occupants. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, image data can also originate from a combination of multiple cameras, for example, cameras can be positioned at the left rear, right rear, and center positions respectively, to obtain more comprehensive rear occupant image information.

[0026] The load sensor data can be obtained using strain gauge weight sensors, installed under the rear seat cushion or at the connection between the seat frame and the vehicle body. When an occupant sits down, the sensor can detect the weight applied to the seat and output a corresponding electrical signal. After analog-to-digital conversion, the occupant's weight can be estimated. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, a thin-film pressure sensor array is used, laid on the surface of the rear seat cushion. This sensor can not only detect whether an occupant is seated, but also acquire a pressure distribution map of the occupant's contact surface with the seat. The pressure distribution characteristics (such as contact area, pressure center location, etc.) help determine the occupant's body shape. Furthermore, the weight sensor and pressure distribution sensor can be combined to simultaneously acquire weight values ​​and pressure distribution characteristics, thereby improving the accuracy of occupant identification.

[0027] Driving status data includes: real-time vehicle speed obtained from the vehicle's CAN bus by the speed sensor, gear position information obtained through the gear position sensor or transmission control unit, as well as door status and rear seat belt status. Acquiring occupant and driving status data through multiple sensors provides a data foundation for subsequent occupant type determination and control command generation, enabling the system to perceive changes in the vehicle's internal and external environment in real time.

[0028] Step S104: Determine the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant data.

[0029] Specifically, the vehicle controller determines the occupant type in the rear seat based on occupant data and a preset judgment strategy. The preset judgment strategy can be implemented in various ways, including but not limited to judgment methods based on fusion models, judgment methods based on empirical rules, or a combination of both.

[0030] The preset judgment strategy can be based on a fusion model. The vehicle controller inputs occupant data into a preset occupant recognition model and outputs the occupant type. The occupant recognition model is an AI classifier model that can jointly process the input image data and load sensor data. For image data, computer vision technology is used to identify the occupant's facial features, body shape features, and whether a child safety seat is being used. For load sensor data, weight information or seating characteristics of the occupant are obtained by analyzing weight values ​​or pressure distribution. The occupant recognition model fuses visual features and load features to output the occupant type. For example, when the vision system recognizes a child safety seat, the model outputs "child" regardless of the load sensor data; when no child safety seat is recognized, the model combines visual age judgment and weight value for a comprehensive judgment: if the visual features indicate a child and the weight is within the preset child range, it outputs "child"; if the visual features indicate an adult or the weight exceeds the adult threshold, it outputs "adult"; if the visual features are blurry and the weight data is in the borderline between child and adult, the model outputs "pending type" to enter a conservative safety strategy.

[0031] The preset judgment strategy is based on empirical rules. The vehicle controller performs a step-by-step judgment on image data and load sensor data according to the preset judgment rules. For example, it first judges whether a child safety seat is identified in the image data. If so, the occupant type is directly determined to be a child. If not, it judges whether the weight measured by the load sensor data is less than a first weight threshold (e.g., 20kg). If so, the occupant type is determined to be a child. If the weight is greater than a second weight threshold (e.g., 30kg), the occupant type is determined to be an adult. If the weight is between the first and second weight thresholds, it further combines facial features and body shape features in the image data for judgment. If the visual features are clear, the visual judgment result is adopted; if the visual features are blurry, "pending type" is output. Furthermore, it can also combine the priority of multiple judgment dimensions for weighted voting. For example, the visual judgment weight is higher than the load judgment weight, and the occupant type is finally determined according to the weighted result.

[0032] Furthermore, the preset judgment strategy can also employ a multimodal fusion neural network-based occupant recognition model. Image features and load features are processed separately through different feature extraction networks, then fused at a higher level. The classification layer outputs the probability distribution of occupant types, and the category with the highest probability is taken as the final recognition result. Simultaneously, this can complement an empirical rule-based judgment method. When the confidence level of the fusion model's output falls below a preset threshold, it reverts to empirical rules for a fallback judgment, ensuring that a valid occupant type is output under any circumstances.

[0033] By fusing multi-source sensor data through various judgment strategies, the system can accurately identify the type of rear-seat occupants. In particular, the introduction of "pending type" allows for the initiation of preset safety logic when sensor data quality is poor or ambiguous, thus avoiding misjudgment. The judgment method based on empirical rules can respond quickly without relying on complex models, while the judgment method based on the fusion model can handle more complex scenarios. The combination of the two further enhances robustness and adaptability.

[0034] Step S106: Determine the child lock control command based on vehicle status data, occupant type, and preset safety control strategy.

[0035] Specifically, the preset safety control strategy refers to a set of conditional judgment rules pre-set and stored in the vehicle controller. This set of rules defines the specific actions (locking or unlocking) that the child lock should perform under different combinations of occupant types and driving states. The safety control strategy comprehensively considers the balance between safety and convenience, and sets differentiated control logic for child occupants, adult occupants, and pending types with uncertain recognition results, and responds accordingly based on different vehicle operating states (such as driving, parking, high-speed driving, etc.).

[0036] The safety control strategy can be executed according to the following logic: when the occupant type is a child and the vehicle is in motion, a child lock locking command is output; when the occupant type is an adult, a child lock unlocking command is output regardless of the vehicle's status; when the occupant type is undetermined, a conservative strategy is adopted based on the vehicle speed or gear status, such as outputting a locking command when driving at high speed and an unlocking command when parked.

[0037] Furthermore, the safety control strategy can also provide optional mode settings for the control logic when child occupants are parked. For example, users can choose to keep the lock engaged or automatically unlock when parked, adapting to the usage habits of different families. By combining occupant type with driving status, dynamic adaptive control of the child lock is achieved, ensuring that the child lock status can be automatically adjusted in different scenarios, protecting children's safety while also taking into account adult convenience.

[0038] Step S108: Send the child lock control command to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock.

[0039] Specifically, the child lock controller is an electronic child lock actuator, replacing the traditional mechanical child lock switch. It receives instructions from the vehicle controller and directly controls the locking and unlocking of the door lock mechanism. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, two child lock controllers are installed in the left and right rear doors respectively, and can be controlled independently. By receiving automatically generated control instructions through the electronic child lock actuator, the automatic execution of the child lock is achieved, eliminating the need for manual operation by the driver.

[0040] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, obtaining occupant data of the rear seat space and vehicle driving status data includes: in response to a preset triggering event occurring in the vehicle, obtaining occupant data of the rear seat space through an occupant perception sensor on the vehicle, and obtaining vehicle driving status data through a vehicle perception sensor; wherein the preset triggering event includes at least one of the following: vehicle start-up, vehicle stop-up, and vehicle driving status change.

[0041] Specifically, when the vehicle is started, in response to this trigger event, the system automatically wakes up and begins collecting occupant and driving status data. When the vehicle changes from a moving state to a stopped state (e.g., the brakes are applied, or the speed drops to zero), in response to this trigger event, occupant data is collected again to confirm whether the occupant situation has changed. When the vehicle's driving status changes (e.g., switching from D to P, or vice versa), in response to this trigger event, driving status data is updated and a new decision is made. By controlling the timing of data collection through preset trigger events, the high energy consumption of continuous system operation is avoided, while ensuring timely response to critical state changes, enabling on-demand perception and dynamic decision-making.

[0042] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; determining the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant data includes: if the occupant data includes image data, determining a first occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on facial features, body shape features, and child safety seat features in the image data; if the occupant data includes load sensor data, calculating the occupant weight of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the load sensor data, and determining a second occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant weight; wherein, the load sensor data includes pressure sensor data and / or weight sensor data; determining the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the first occupant type and / or the second occupant type.

[0043] Specifically, when occupant data includes image data, the vehicle controller processes the acquired image data using computer vision technology to extract the facial and body features of the rear-seat occupants. Based on facial features, the age range of the occupant can be determined (e.g., infant, child, adult), and based on body features, the occupant's body size can be determined. Based on these visual features, the first occupant type is output, with possible results including "child," "adult," or "unable to determine due to ambiguity."

[0044] When occupant data includes load sensor data, the vehicle controller calculates the weight of the rear occupants based on the load sensor data. The load sensor can be a weight sensor or pressure distribution sensor integrated into the rear seat; the occupant's weight information is obtained by converting the electrical signal output by the sensor. The calculated weight is compared with preset weight thresholds. For example, if the weight is less than a first weight threshold (e.g., 20kg), it is identified as a "child"; if the weight is greater than a second weight threshold (e.g., 30kg), it is identified as an "adult"; and if the weight is between the first and second weight thresholds, it is identified as "critically uncertain." Based on the weight comparison result, a second occupant type is output. Through independent judgment and fusion processing of image data and load sensor data, the accuracy and robustness of occupant type identification are improved.

[0045] When image data and load sensor data are acquired simultaneously, the vehicle controller makes a comprehensive judgment based on the first and second occupant types to determine the final occupant type. As a specific fusion judgment method, if the first and second occupant type judgments are consistent (e.g., both are "child" or both are "adult"), that result is directly adopted as the final occupant type. If the first and second occupant type judgments are inconsistent (e.g., the first occupant type is "child" and the second occupant type is "adult"), a weighted fusion strategy can be adopted. Since visual recognition is direct in age determination, the result of the first occupant type can be prioritized. Alternatively, a "pending type" can be output according to a preset confidence rule, triggering the central control screen to prompt the driver to confirm the occupant status. If the first occupant type is "fuzzy and cannot be determined" while the second occupant type is clearly "child" or "adult," the result of the second occupant type is adopted as the final occupant type. If the second occupant type is "critically uncertain" while the first occupant type is clearly "child" or "adult," the result of the first occupant type is adopted as the final occupant type. If only image data is acquired and load sensor data is missing (e.g., sensor malfunction or lack of configuration), the first occupant type is directly used as the final occupant type. If only load sensor data is acquired and image data is missing (e.g., camera obstruction or lack of configuration), the second occupant type is directly used as the final occupant type. When the judgment results from the two data sources are consistent, the identification result has high reliability. When the results are inconsistent, a reasonable decision is made through weighted fusion or confidence rules to avoid the risk of misjudgment from a single data source. When data from one sensor is missing or of poor quality, judgment can still be made based on data from other sensors, enhancing the reliability and adaptability of the method.

[0046] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant type includes children, adults, and undetermined types; the driving status data includes vehicle speed and / or gear position; determining the child lock control command based on the driving status data, occupant type, and preset safety control strategy includes: if the occupant type is a child and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset first speed threshold, outputting a child lock locking command; if the occupant type is an adult, outputting a child lock unlocking command; if the occupant type is undetermined and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset second speed threshold, outputting a child lock locking command; if the occupant type is undetermined and the gear position is park, outputting a child lock unlocking command.

[0047] Specifically, the preset safety control strategies are pre-stored in the vehicle controller in the form of an automatic decision matrix. As shown in Table 1, this decision matrix defines the corresponding child lock actions and logic descriptions for different combinations of occupant identification results and vehicle states.

[0048] Table 1 Automatic Decision Matrix for Vehicle Child Locks

[0049] When the vehicle controller identifies the occupant type as a child, and the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle sensing unit exceeds a preset first speed threshold (e.g., 5 km / h), the vehicle controller outputs a child lock command according to the rules of Scenario 1 in Table 1 to prevent children from accidentally opening the door while the vehicle is in motion. When the vehicle controller identifies the occupant type as an adult, regardless of the vehicle speed and gear, the vehicle controller outputs a child lock unlock command according to the rules of Scenario 3 in Table 1 to ensure that adult occupants can always open the door from the inside of the vehicle. When the vehicle controller identifies the occupant type as undetermined (i.e., the occupant identification result is uncertain), and the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle sensing unit exceeds a preset second speed threshold (e.g., 20 km / h), the vehicle controller outputs a child lock command according to the rules of Scenario 4 in Table 1, adopting a conservative safety strategy in high-risk scenarios involving high-speed driving. When the vehicle controller identifies the occupant type as undetermined and the gear is in park, the vehicle controller outputs a child lock unlock command according to the rules of Scenario 5 in Table 1, prioritizing convenience when the vehicle is parked. Through a preset automatic decision matrix, a refined control strategy is formulated for different occupant types and vehicle statuses. While ensuring the safety of children, it maximizes the convenience of adults. At the same time, it adopts a graded safety strategy (conservative at high speeds, convenient when parking) for uncertain situations, reflecting the design concept of prioritizing safety while taking convenience into account.

[0050] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, determining the child lock control command based on driving status data, occupant type, and preset safety control strategy further includes: if the occupant type is a child, the gear is in park, and the vehicle speed is zero, outputting the child lock control command according to a preset user-selectable mode; wherein, the user-selectable mode includes: safety priority mode and convenience priority mode; the safety priority mode corresponds to the command to keep the child lock engaged, and the convenience priority mode corresponds to the command to unlock the child lock.

[0051] Specifically, referring to Table 1, according to the rules of Scenario 2, when the passenger type is a child, the gear is in park, and the vehicle speed is zero, the vehicle controller outputs a child lock control command based on a preset user-selectable mode. The user-selectable modes include a safety-first mode and a convenience-first mode, which can be pre-selected by the user through the settings menu on the vehicle's central control screen to suit the usage habits of different families.

[0052] When the user presets the safety-first mode, the vehicle controller outputs a command to keep the child lock engaged. In this mode, the child lock remains engaged even after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and is in parking gear, requiring an adult to open the door from the outside. This mode is suitable for families with young children or special safety needs, ensuring that children will not get out of the car unattended and preventing accidents in complex environments such as parking lots. When the user presets the convenience-first mode, the vehicle controller outputs a command to unlock the child lock. In this mode, the child lock automatically unlocks when the vehicle has come to a complete stop and is in parking gear, allowing parents to easily open the door for their children from inside the vehicle without having to go outside. This mode is suitable for families with older children who have some self-care ability, improving the convenience of daily use.

[0053] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, user-selectable modes can be automatically recommended or switched based on the child's age. For example, by identifying the child's age through image data, if the child is determined to be young (e.g., under 3 years old), the safety-first mode is automatically recommended or switched to; if the child is determined to be older (e.g., over 6 years old), the convenience-first mode is automatically recommended or switched to. The user can confirm or adjust according to the recommendation. By introducing user-selectable modes, the problem of different family usage habits in parking scenarios is solved, and the personalization of the user experience is improved. Through the flexible switching between the safety-first and convenience-first modes, both the protection requirements of families with high safety needs and the operational convenience needs of families with high frequency of use are met.

[0054] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; the occupant type also includes: a child safety seat; the method further includes: determining the installation position of the child safety seat based on the image data and / or load sensor data; and sending a child lock control command to the target child lock controller of the door corresponding to the installation position of the child safety seat to control the locking or unlocking of the target child lock.

[0055] Specifically, when the image data collected by the occupant perception unit identifies the features of a child safety seat through computer vision technology, it can directly determine the presence of a child occupant without relying on load sensor data for weight determination.

[0056] Furthermore, after identifying the child safety seat, it is also necessary to determine its specific installation location. The in-vehicle camera (such as an OMS camera) in the occupant perception unit can capture panoramic images of the rear seats. By analyzing the pixel positions of the child safety seat in the image using computer vision technology, it can be determined whether it is installed in the left, right, or middle seat. For example, if the child safety seat is located in the left area of ​​the image, it is determined to be installed in the left rear seat; if it is located in the right area, it is determined to be installed in the right rear seat. Alternatively, load sensors integrated into the rear seats (such as a pressure distribution sensor array) can sense the pressure distribution characteristics at each seat position. The base of a child safety seat typically has a specific contact area and pressure distribution pattern. By analyzing the pressure distribution at each seat position, it can be determined which seat the child safety seat is specifically installed in. For example, if the pressure sensor on the left seat detects a continuous pressure distribution consistent with the characteristics of the safety seat base, it is determined that the child safety seat is installed in the left rear seat; if the right seat detects the corresponding characteristics, it is determined to be installed in the right rear seat.

[0057] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the installation position of the child safety seat can also be determined by fusing image data and load sensor data. When image data identifies a child safety seat, but the specific location cannot be accurately determined due to limitations in the camera's field of view (such as obstruction by the occupant's body), load sensor data can be used for auxiliary judgment. When load sensor data detects pressure distribution characteristics in multiple seats, image data can be used for further confirmation. By mutually verifying the two data sources, the accuracy of position determination is improved.

[0058] After determining the installation location of the child safety seat, the child lock control command is sent to the target child lock controller on the door corresponding to that installation location to control the locking or unlocking of the target child lock. At this time, the specific actions (locking or unlocking) of the child lock control command still follow the automatic decision matrix shown in Table 1, but the execution scope is limited to the door corresponding to the location of the child safety seat. Referring to the automatic decision matrix in Table 1, when the vehicle is in scenario 1 (occupant type is child, vehicle speed is greater than the first speed threshold), a child lock locking command is generated. If it is determined that the child safety seat is installed on the left rear seat using the above method, then only the locking command is sent to the child lock controller on the left rear door to lock the left rear door child lock, while the right rear door child lock remains unlocked. When the vehicle is in scenario 2 and the user has preset it to convenience priority mode (occupant type is child, in park and the vehicle speed is zero, output unlock command), the unlock command is only sent to the door corresponding to the location of the child safety seat. The child lock of that door is automatically unlocked, making it convenient for parents to open the door for the child from inside the car. The other door remains unlocked (or remains in its original state) if there is no child in it.

[0059] If it is detected that child safety seats are installed on both the left and right rear seats (e.g., two child safety seats are identified through image data, or pressure characteristics of both seats are detected through load sensor data), then the child lock control command is simultaneously sent to the target child lock controllers on both the left and right rear doors, achieving independent control on both sides. By determining the specific installation location of the child safety seat, precise and independent control of the child lock is achieved, locking or unlocking only the door on the child-occupied side, avoiding accidental locking of the door on the side without a child occupant, and maximizing convenience while ensuring safety. Furthermore, the method of determining the installation location based on the fusion of image data and load sensor data improves the accuracy and robustness of location judgment, ensuring reliable operation even when one data source is limited.

[0060] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: displaying the child lock status and manual modification controls in real time on the central control screen, so that the driver can modify the child lock control commands; and issuing an audible and visual prompt through a prompt sound or indicator light when the child lock status automatically switches.

[0061] Specifically, the vehicle's central control screen features a child lock status display area, showing in real-time whether the child locks are locked or unlocked, and displaying the independent status of each rear door (e.g., "Left rear child lock locked," "Right rear child lock unlocked"). The central control screen also provides manual control (such as virtual switches or buttons) for driver intervention (e.g., temporarily unlocking the child locks in special circumstances). Manual operation can be prioritized over automatic control, or used as a temporary override, reverting to automatic control after a specific time.

[0062] When the child lock status automatically switches (for example, automatically switching from unlocked to locked after the vehicle starts moving, or switching from locked to unlocked according to the user's selectable mode after parking), the driver will be informed of the change in child lock status through a prompt sound (such as a short "beep") or an indicator light on the dashboard.

[0063] Furthermore, the central control screen also provides a system settings interface, allowing users to preset various parameters in the safety control strategy, such as the first speed threshold, the second speed threshold, and user-selectable modes (safety priority / convenience priority). By displaying the child lock status in real time on the central control screen and providing a manual intervention interface, the system's transparency and user controllability are enhanced. Audible and visual prompts proactively inform the driver when the status automatically switches, avoiding driver confusion due to lack of awareness and improving the user-friendliness of the human-machine interaction.

[0064] In the vehicle child lock control method provided in this embodiment of the invention, the vehicle controller acquires occupant data of the rear seat space and vehicle driving status data, and determines whether the occupant type of the rear seat space includes children based on the occupant data; determines the child lock control command based on the driving status data, occupant type and preset safety control strategy; and then sends the child lock control command to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock, realizing fully automatic control of the child lock without manual operation by the driver, and can be dynamically adjusted according to real-time new vehicle status data, achieving an effective balance between safety and convenience.

[0065] Based on the above embodiments, this invention provides a vehicle child lock control device, applied to a vehicle controller, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a vehicle child lock control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device includes: The vehicle data acquisition module 310 is used to acquire occupant data in the rear seat space of the vehicle and vehicle driving status data.

[0066] The occupant type determination module 320 is used to determine the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on occupant data.

[0067] The control command determination module 330 is used to determine the child lock control command based on driving status data, occupant type and preset safety control strategy.

[0068] The control command execution module 340 is used to send child lock control commands to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock.

[0069] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle data acquisition module 310 is used to acquire occupant data of the rear seat space of the vehicle through the occupant perception sensor on the vehicle and acquire vehicle driving status data through the vehicle perception sensor in response to a preset trigger event of the vehicle; wherein, the preset trigger event includes at least one of the following: vehicle start-up, vehicle stop-up, and vehicle driving status change.

[0070] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; the occupant type determination module 320 is used to determine a first occupant type in the rear seat space of the vehicle based on facial features, body shape features, and child safety seat features in the image data if the occupant data includes image data; if the occupant data includes load sensor data, calculate the occupant weight in the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the load sensor data, and determine a second occupant type in the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant weight; wherein the load sensor data includes pressure sensor data and / or weight sensor data; and the occupant type in the rear seat space of the vehicle is determined based on the first occupant type and / or the second occupant type.

[0071] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant type includes children, adults, and undetermined types; the driving status data includes vehicle speed and / or gear position; the control command determination module 330 is used to output a child lock locking command if the occupant type is a child and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset first vehicle speed threshold; output a child lock unlocking command if the occupant type is an adult; output a child lock locking command if the occupant type is undetermined and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset second vehicle speed threshold; and output a child lock unlocking command if the occupant type is undetermined and the gear position is parking.

[0072] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the control command determination module 330 is also used to output a child lock control command according to a preset user selectable mode if the occupant type is a child, the gear is in parking gear, and the vehicle speed is zero; wherein, the user selectable mode includes: safety priority mode and convenience priority mode; the safety priority mode corresponds to the child lock locking command, and the convenience priority mode corresponds to the child lock unlocking command.

[0073] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; the occupant type also includes: a child safety seat; the control command determination module 330 is further configured to determine the installation position of the child safety seat based on the image data and / or load sensor data; and send a child lock control command to the target child lock controller of the door corresponding to the installation position of the child safety seat to control the locking or unlocking of the target child lock.

[0074] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the device further includes: a central control module, used to display the child lock status and manual modification controls in real time through the central control screen, so that the driver can modify the child lock control commands; when the child lock status automatically switches, it emits an audible and visual prompt through a prompt sound or indicator light.

[0075] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working process of the vehicle child lock control device described above can be referred to the corresponding process in the embodiments of the aforementioned vehicle child lock control method, and will not be repeated here.

[0076] This invention also provides an electronic device for operating a vehicle child lock control method; see [link to related documentation]. Figure 4 The schematic diagram of an electronic device provided by the embodiment of the present invention shown below includes a memory 400 and a processor 401. The memory 400 is used to store one or more computer instructions, which are executed by the processor 401 to implement the above-mentioned vehicle child lock control method.

[0077] Furthermore, Figure 4 The electronic device shown also includes a bus 402 and a communication interface 403. The processor 401, the communication interface 403 and the memory 400 are connected via the bus 402.

[0078] The memory 400 may include high-speed random access memory (RAM) and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device. Communication between this system network element and at least one other network element is achieved through at least one communication interface 403 (which can be wired or wireless), such as the Internet, wide area network, local area network, metropolitan area network, etc. The bus 402 can be an ISA bus, PCI bus, or EISA bus, etc. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 4 The symbol is represented by a single double-headed arrow, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0079] Processor 401 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by the integrated logic circuitry in the hardware of processor 401 or by instructions in software form. Processor 401 can be a general-purpose processor, including a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), etc.; it can also be a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this invention. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this invention can be directly manifested as execution by a hardware decoding processor, or execution by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can reside in a readily available storage medium in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. This storage medium is located in memory 400, and processor 401 reads information from memory 400 and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the method described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0080] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions. When these computer-executable instructions are called and executed by a processor, they cause the processor to implement the above-described vehicle child lock control method. For specific implementation details, please refer to the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0081] The computer program products of the vehicle child lock control method, device and electronic device provided in the embodiments of the present invention include a computer-readable storage medium storing program code. The instructions included in the program code can be used to execute the methods in the preceding method embodiments. For specific implementation, please refer to the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0082] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working process of the system and / or device described above can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0083] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0084] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this invention, essentially, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0085] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle child lock, characterized in that, Applied to a vehicle controller, the method includes: Acquire occupant data in the rear seat of the vehicle and driving status data of the vehicle; The occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle is determined based on the occupant data; The child lock control command is determined based on the vehicle status data, the occupant type, and the preset safety control strategy. The child lock control command is sent to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Acquiring occupant data in the rear seat of the vehicle and the vehicle's driving status data includes: In response to a preset triggering event occurring in the vehicle, occupant data in the rear seat space of the vehicle is acquired through the occupant perception sensor on the vehicle, and vehicle driving status data of the vehicle is acquired through the vehicle perception sensor; wherein, the preset triggering event includes at least one of the following: vehicle start-up, vehicle stop-up, and change in vehicle driving status.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; determining the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant data includes: If the occupant data includes the image data, the first occupant type in the rear seat of the vehicle is determined based on the facial features, body shape features, and child safety seat features in the image data; If the occupant data includes the load sensor data, the occupant weight in the rear seat of the vehicle is calculated based on the load sensor data, and a second occupant type in the rear seat of the vehicle is determined based on the occupant weight; wherein, the load sensor data includes pressure sensor data and / or weight sensor data; The occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle is determined based on the first occupant type and / or the second occupant type.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The occupant type includes children, adults, and undetermined types; the vehicle status data includes vehicle speed and / or gear position; the child lock control command is determined based on the vehicle status data, the occupant type, and the preset safety control strategy, including: If the occupant type is a child and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset first vehicle speed threshold, output a child lock locking command; If the occupant type is an adult, output a child lock unlock command; If the occupant type is undetermined and the vehicle speed is greater than a preset second vehicle speed threshold, output a child lock locking command; If the occupant type is undetermined and the gear position is parking, output a child lock unlock command.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Determining the child lock control command based on the vehicle status data, the occupant type, and the preset safety control strategy also includes: If the occupant type is a child, the gear is in park, and the vehicle speed is zero, a child lock control command is output according to a preset user-selectable mode; wherein, the user-selectable mode includes: safety priority mode and convenience priority mode; the safety priority mode corresponds to the command to keep the child lock engaged, and the convenience priority mode corresponds to the command to unlock the child lock.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The occupant data includes at least one of the following: image data and load sensor data; The occupant type also includes: a child safety seat; the method also includes: The installation position of the child safety seat is determined based on the image data and / or the load sensor data; The child lock control command is sent to the target child lock controller of the door corresponding to the installation position of the child safety seat, so as to control the locking or unlocking of the target child lock.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The child lock status and manual modification controls are displayed in real time on the central control screen, allowing the driver to modify the child lock control commands. When the child lock status automatically switches, an audible and visual alert will be issued via a prompt sound or indicator light.

8. A vehicle child lock control device, characterized in that, Applied to a vehicle controller, the device includes: The vehicle data acquisition module is used to acquire occupant data in the rear seat space of the vehicle and the vehicle's driving status data. The occupant type determination module is used to determine the occupant type of the rear seat space of the vehicle based on the occupant data; The control command determination module is used to determine the child lock control command based on the driving status data, the occupant type, and the preset safety control strategy. The control command execution module is used to send the child lock control command to the child lock controller to control the locking or unlocking of the child lock.

9. A vehicle controller, characterized in that, The method includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing computer-executable instructions executable by the processor, the processor executing the computer-executable instructions to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the vehicle controller as described in claim 9.

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