Method for determining a condition of at least one vehicle occupant

Abstract

Method for determining a state of at least one vehicle occupant (P) in a vehicle (1), comprising a detection unit (2.1) arranged in the vehicle (1) for detecting the at least one vehicle occupant (P), characterized in that - the posture of the vehicle occupant (P) and the acceleration and steering behaviour of the vehicle occupant (P) are recorded during the entire driving period, and - a current state of the vehicle occupant (P) is determined depending on the data of the vehicle occupant (P) recorded during the entire journey, whereby - when determining a deviation of the current posture from a specified posture of the vehicle occupant (P) and - upon detection of a deviation of the instantaneous acceleration and steering behavior from a predetermined acceleration and steering behavior, at least one item of information on the instantaneous state of the vehicle occupant (P) in the vehicle (1) is output optically and / or acoustically.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining a state of at least one vehicle occupant in a vehicle, comprising a detection unit arranged in the vehicle for detecting the at least one vehicle occupant according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] DE 10 2013 223 684 A1 discloses a method and a device for providing recommendations for multiple vehicle occupants. The method comprises the following steps: identifying the occupants of the vehicle by an identification unit; retrieving preference information for the identified occupants by a personalization unit; capturing and recording, by an observation unit, information about the identified occupants and the actions of the identified occupants, preferably with date and / or time stamp information; evaluating and analyzing, by a learning unit, the recorded information and storing the result of the analysis as learned data; and providing recommendations, by a recommendation unit, based on the identified occupants, the preferences of the identified occupants, and based on the learned data.

[0003] DE 10 2013 209 601 A1 discloses a method for the automated detection of neck stiffness problems in a motor vehicle occupant. The motor vehicle has at least one camera, by means of which images of at least the upper body area and / or the face of the vehicle occupant (8) can be recorded.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of specifying a method for determining a state of at least one vehicle occupant in a vehicle that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0007] In the method for determining a state of at least one vehicle occupant in a vehicle, comprising a detection unit arranged in the vehicle for detecting the at least one vehicle occupant, according to the invention a posture of the vehicle occupant and an acceleration and steering behavior of the vehicle occupant are or are detected during an entire journey, wherein a current state of the vehicle occupant is determined as a function of the vehicle occupant data detected during the entire journey. Upon detection of a deviation of the current posture from a predetermined posture of the vehicle occupant and upon detection of a deviation of the current acceleration and steering behavior from a predetermined acceleration and steering behavior, at least one item of information relating to the current state of the vehicle occupant is output visually and / or acoustically in the vehicle.

[0008] The method enables an improvement in the physical well-being and health of the vehicle occupant, in particular of a driver, if the vehicle occupant is informed of a possibility for improving their current condition or at least of their current state during a long or strenuous journey. In particular, the vehicle occupant is made aware of their concentration, alertness, attention, or physical state. In particular, the vehicle occupant can improve their current condition if, for example, they change the posture of their body, in particular their head, torso, arms, and / or legs, after the information on their current condition is automatically output.

[0009] In particular, the vehicle occupant is informed of his current posture and, optionally, of an opportunity for improvement if his current posture does not correspond to a safe posture while driving.

[0010] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0011] It shows: Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle with a device for determining a condition of a vehicle occupant.

[0012] The only Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle 1 with a device 2 for determining a state of a vehicle occupant P, in particular a driver of the vehicle 1.

[0013] The device 2 is, for example, a driver assistance system for supporting the vehicle occupant P in various driving tasks.

[0014] To detect the vehicle occupant P, the device 2 comprises a detection unit 2.1 arranged and / or formed in the vehicle 1. The vehicle occupant P is located in a detection area E of the detection unit 2.1. For this purpose, the detection unit 2.1, designed, for example, as a gesture and / or 3D camera, can be arranged and / or formed in front of, to the side, and / or behind the vehicle occupant P in the vehicle 1. In particular, different body areas, such as the head, torso, arms, and legs of the vehicle occupant P, are detected.

[0015] To determine the condition of the vehicle occupant P, a physical posture of the vehicle occupant P is recorded throughout the entire journey. Alternatively or additionally, a driving behavior, in particular an acceleration and / or steering behavior of the vehicle occupant P, is determined. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, for example, movements of the vehicle occupant P can be recorded by means of the recording unit 2.1 and / or a further sensor or camera unit arranged and / or formed in the vehicle 1. Furthermore, in a further embodiment of the device 2, a movement requirement of the vehicle occupant P can be determined if no movements, i.e. an unchanged and / or static posture of the vehicle occupant P, have been recorded for a predetermined journey time.

[0016] In order to evaluate the recorded data and compare it with predefined data, the device 2 comprises a control unit 2.2. The control unit 2.2 determines a current state of the vehicle occupant P depending on the data of the vehicle occupant P recorded during the entire driving duration. The current state includes concentration, alertness, attention, and physical well-being and / or physical health, in particular with regard to muscle tension, of the vehicle occupant P.

[0017] Furthermore, data on a number of predefined postures, predefined driving behaviors and predefined movements of the vehicle occupant P are stored in the control unit 2.2.

[0018] The currently recorded data of the vehicle occupant P is compared with the stored data by the control unit 2.2 in order to determine the current state and any deviation of the current posture from the specified posture and / or the current driving behavior from the specified driving behavior. If, for example, a current posture of the vehicle occupant P is determined that deviates from a specified and safe posture for a certain period of time, the occupant is requested to assume the specified and safe posture. The stored data on the specified posture and / or the specified driving behavior are stored, for example, as different application cases in the control unit 2.2, with which the recorded data of the vehicle occupant P can be compared quickly and easily.

[0019] In order to output information, in particular feedback, about the current state and / or the above-mentioned deviations in the posture and / or driving behavior of the vehicle occupant P, the vehicle 1 comprises an output unit 3. The output unit 3 is, for example, a so-called head-up display (HUD for short) or another suitable display unit designed for acoustic and / or visual output. By means of the output unit 3, the vehicle occupant P is visually and / or acoustically prompted to change his current state, i.e. to optimise and correct his posture and / or driving behavior. The specified posture is displayed, for example, as an image and / or as an audiovisual sequence by means of the output unit 3.

[0020] A predefined posture and / or a predefined driving behavior and / or predefined movements and / or the deviation from the current posture and / or driving behavior of the vehicle occupant P is / are output as information. Furthermore, a representation of an application that can be activated by the vehicle occupant P can be output as information. In particular, the activatable application comprises a comfort function of the vehicle 1, such as a massage and / or training function of a vehicle seat (not shown in detail).

[0021] A query regarding the current state is automatically performed, for example, after a driving time specified by the vehicle occupant P or by the device 2. For example, the current state is determined after two hours of driving. Furthermore, the automatic query regarding the current state of the vehicle occupant P can be performed upon detection of monotonous driving behavior by the driver of vehicle 1.

[0022] In a further development of the device 2, the determination of the current state of the vehicle occupant P is initiated at the request of the vehicle occupant P, i.e. after a manual activation of the device 2 carried out by the vehicle occupant P.

[0023] After the change in the current posture and / or the current driving behavior of the vehicle occupant P has been carried out, the information displayed by the output unit 3 is hidden again.

[0024] By adhering to or adopting the specified posture and / or the specified driving behavior by the vehicle occupant P, both the physical well-being, physical health and driving safety of the vehicle occupant P are increased. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle 2 Device 2.1 Recording unit 2.2 Control unit 3 Output unit P Vehicle occupant E Detection range

Claims

[1] Method for determining a state of at least one vehicle occupant (P) in a vehicle (1), comprising a detection unit (2.1) arranged in the vehicle (1) for detecting the at least one vehicle occupant (P), characterized by , that - the posture of the vehicle occupant (P) and the acceleration and steering behaviour of the vehicle occupant (P) are recorded during the entire driving period, and - a current state of the vehicle occupant (P) is determined depending on the data of the vehicle occupant (P) recorded during the entire journey, whereby - when determining a deviation of the current posture from a specified posture of the vehicle occupant (P) and - upon detection of a deviation of the instantaneous acceleration and steering behavior from a predetermined acceleration and steering behavior, at least one item of information on the instantaneous state of the vehicle occupant (P) in the vehicle (1) is output optically and / or acoustically. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that a predetermined posture and / or a predetermined acceleration and steering behavior and / or predetermined movements and / or the deviation of the current posture and / or the acceleration and steering behavior of the vehicle occupant (P) is or will be output as information. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that a representation of an application in the vehicle (1) that can be activated by the vehicle occupant (P) is output as information. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the current state of the vehicle occupant (P) is determined automatically after a predetermined driving time or after a manual activation carried out by the vehicle occupant (P). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that when a movement requirement of the vehicle occupant (P) determined by the vehicle (1) is determined, at least one piece of information on the current state of the vehicle occupant (P) in the vehicle (1) is output optically and / or acoustically.

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