Methods for protecting a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for protecting a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle who uses an orthopaedic device in the event of an accident, wherein in the method an occupant protection system of the motor vehicle is activated (V2) as soon as the accident of the motor vehicle is detected (V1), wherein at least one protective function of the occupant protection system is adapted depending on the orthopaedic device and / or the vehicle occupant using the orthopaedic device, wherein - as soon as the motor vehicle accident is detected, an adjustment of the orthotic device is triggered, and / or - a data connection is established between the motor vehicle and the orthotic device, via which the properties of the orthotic device and / or a command to adjust the setting of the orthotic device are transmitted, and / or - the deployment of an airbag as a protective function of the occupant protection system is adapted, and / or - for the identified accident, an accident sequence is simulated using a predefined simulation model, and depending on a result of the simulation, the protective function of the occupant protection system and / or the setting of the orthopaedic device are adjusted, and / or - the protective function and / or the setting of the orthotic device is adjusted depending on at least one of the following factors: ◯ Type of orthotic device, ◯ Type of physical impairment of the vehicle occupant using the orthopaedic device, ◯ Movement model of the vehicle occupant using the orthotic device, ◯ Type of accident, ◯ Intensity of the accident.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for protecting a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle who uses an orthopaedic device in the event of an accident, as well as to a motor vehicle.

[0002] US 2018 / 0092536 A1 discloses a method in which a first exoskeleton communicates with a central server or a peripheral device. The first exoskeleton collects first data and transmits the first data to the central server or the peripheral device. The central server or the peripheral device generates second data from the first data and transmits it to the first exoskeleton or a second exoskeleton.

[0003] Furthermore, US 2021 / 0309135 A1 discloses a vehicle seat with a backrest configured to protect the seated occupant from behind. A shoulder support portion of the backrest is designed to support the seated occupant's shoulders. For this purpose, the shoulder support portion includes an air cell that expands when air is supplied.

[0004] In addition, an orthopaedic device with a large number of sensors is known from US 2017 / 0196499 A1.

[0005] DE 10 2009 012 407 B3 discloses a device for controlling an adaptive restraint system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2022 113 775 A1 discloses a vehicle comprising a floor, a seat supported by the floor, the seat being translatable relative to the floor along a vehicle longitudinal axis, an airbag housing, and an airbag. The airbag housing is supported by the floor and is arranged along the seat, the airbag housing being translatable relative to the floor along the vehicle longitudinal axis. The airbag is supported by the airbag housing, the airbag being inflatable to an inflated position extending from the airbag housing away from the floor.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 10 2020 200 595 A1 discloses a method for operating a safety system of a vehicle, which has a sensor device and a control unit. Furthermore, DE 10 2019 133 469 B3 discloses a method for operating a restraint system for a motor vehicle.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a solution by means of which a person wearing an orthopaedic device can be particularly well protected from injuries in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

[0009] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims, the description, and the figures. Features, advantages, and possible embodiments presented in the description for one of the subject matter of the independent claims are to be regarded at least analogously as features, advantages, and possible embodiments of the respective subject matter of the other independent claims, as well as any possible combination of the subject matter of the independent claims, optionally in conjunction with one or more of the subclaims.

[0010] The invention relates to a method for protecting a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle who uses an orthopedic device in the event of an accident. The orthopedic device can be, for example, an orthosis, a prosthesis, a cuff, or an exoskeleton, which the vehicle occupant wears on their body. The orthopedic device is designed to support the musculoskeletal system of the vehicle occupant. The method provides for an occupant protection system of the motor vehicle to be activated as soon as the motor vehicle accident is detected. This means that the activation of the occupant protection system of the motor vehicle is triggered after the motor vehicle accident has been detected. The occupant protection system is designed to protect vehicle occupants from injury in the event of accidents and vehicle rollovers.If a potential accident situation is detected, for example due to the initiation of emergency braking by an activated brake assist system, the occupant protection system is activated. As a result, seat belts for the driver and front passenger can be automatically pre-tensioned. Alternatively or additionally, side windows and / or a sunroof can be closed when the occupant protection system is activated. Furthermore, an electric seat function can be adjusted. Furthermore, when the occupant protection system is activated, the airbag can be deployed and / or the vehicle's seat belts can be tensioned. The method further provides for at least one protective function of the occupant protection system to be adapted depending on the orthopedic device and / or the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device.By adapting the protective function triggered when the occupant protection system is activated to the orthopaedic device or the vehicle occupant using the orthopaedic device, a particularly low risk of injury for the vehicle occupant using the orthopaedic device in the event of an accident can be achieved.

[0011] This is based on the knowledge that three-point seat belts are typically used in two-track motor vehicles. These serve to protect vehicle occupants during braking maneuvers and in the event of a collision. The restraint effect of seat belts couples the vehicle occupant to the vehicle's deceleration at an early stage during sudden braking or a collision. The seat belt plays a key role in protecting the vehicle occupant from serious injury. Furthermore, the operation of the vehicle's occupant protection system can be designed to trigger protective elements of the occupant protection system, such as an airbag, based on sensor signals in the event of a crash. If vehicle occupants wear orthopedic devices such as orthoses, prostheses or cuffs, exoskeletons, or the like, these can have a significant influence on the individual risk of injury in an accident.These orthopedic devices increasingly incorporate drives, locks, brakes, and / or dampers that can be adjusted, activated, or deactivated via a corresponding electronic control unit. An electronic control unit of the orthopedic device can be connected to one or more sensors within the device to modify the behavior of the device based on the sensor data.

[0012] Particularly in a traffic accident, human bodies behave differently when wearing orthopedic devices than when not. Therefore, these devices generally have a significant impact on injuries resulting from an accident. The risk of injury, particularly in the event of a crash, can be significantly higher for a person wearing orthopedic devices. It is therefore advisable to take special, individualized measures to protect vehicle occupants wearing orthopedic devices. For example, active locking devices on orthopedic devices can be released or activated in the event of an accident to best protect the health of the vehicle occupant.This can be done depending on the orthopaedic equipment used, the physical limitations of the vehicle occupant, any existing movement models of the vehicle occupant and the type of accident, in particular based on the detected direction of impact and the detected impact forces.

[0013] The invention provides that as soon as the motor vehicle accident is detected, an additional adjustment of a setting of the orthopedic device is triggered. This means that after the motor vehicle accident is detected, both the at least one protective function of the occupant protection system and a setting of the orthopedic device are adjusted. The combination of adjusting the protective function and adjusting the setting of the orthopedic device can ensure that the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device is particularly low in the event of an accident. In particular, the motor vehicle can provide an accident signal for the orthopedic device, which indicates that the accident has been detected.In addition to providing information that the accident has been detected, the accident signal can characterize the type and / or intensity of the accident. Using the control unit of the orthopedic device, the settings of the orthopedic device can be adjusted depending on the received accident signal.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides for the protective function and / or the settings of the orthopedic device to be adapted depending on the type of orthopedic device and / or the type of physical limitation of the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device and / or the movement model of the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device and / or the type of accident and / or the intensity of the accident. The more of the aforementioned factors are taken into account when adapting the protective function of the occupant protection system or when adapting the settings of the orthopedic device, the better the vehicle occupant can be protected from injury in the event of an accident. The type of orthopedic device can describe whether it is an orthosis, a prosthesis, a cuff, or an exoskeleton.Furthermore, the type of orthopedic device can characterize which body part the vehicle occupant uses the orthopedic device with, for example, the arm or leg. In addition, the type of orthopedic device can characterize which type of orthosis or prosthesis, cuff, or exoskeleton is involved. In particular, the type of orthopedic device can characterize which manufacturer manufactured the orthopedic device or which manufacturer's model this orthopedic device belongs to. The more precisely the type of orthopedic device is known, the better the settings of the orthopedic device or the protective function can be adjusted in order to minimize the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant in the event of an accident.The type of physical limitation of the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device may, for example, mean that the vehicle occupant has a stiff leg or a stiff arm. As a result, the settings of the orthopedic device or its protective function can be particularly well adapted to this physical limitation of the vehicle occupant, thus reducing the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant in the event of an accident.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, the settings of the orthopedic device or the protective function of the occupant protection system can be individually adjusted depending on a movement model of the vehicle occupant. The movement model describes how the vehicle occupant moves. For this purpose, the movement model can have been determined in the past and stored in an electronic computer. The movement model can characterize how the vehicle occupant moves with or without using the orthopedic device. The movement model thus describes a movement sequence of the vehicle occupant. By adjusting the settings of the orthopedic device depending on the individual movement model of the vehicle occupant, the risk of injury for this vehicle occupant in the event of an accident can be minimized.The setting of the orthopaedic device is thus adapted to a typical movement profile of the vehicle occupant, which is represented by the movement model, in order to prevent the vehicle occupant from being injured or particularly seriously injured in the accident due to his or her individual movement profile.

[0016] The type of accident can, for example, determine whether the accident was a motor vehicle collision or a rollover. If the accident was a motor vehicle collision, the type of accident can further determine whether the accident was a collision between the motor vehicle and another vehicle, a tree, an animal, or a house wall. The more precisely the type of accident is known, the better the protective function or the settings of the orthopedic device can be adapted to ensure a particularly low risk of injury for the vehicle occupant in this specific type of accident.The intensity of the accident can characterize whether it is a minor accident or a serious accident, with a minor accident being associated with a low expected risk of injury and a serious accident with a high expected risk of injury for the vehicle occupant. In a minor accident, for example, lower acceleration forces may act on the vehicle occupant than in a serious accident. In a serious accident, more and stronger protective functions of the occupant protection system may be necessary than in a minor accident. For example, in a minor accident, an initial setting of the orthopedic device and, in a serious accident, a second setting of the orthopedic device that differs from the first setting may result in the lowest risk of injury for the vehicle occupant.Furthermore, in a minor accident, a different protective function can result in the lowest possible risk of injury for the vehicle occupant compared to a serious accident. Thus, if the severity of the accident is known, the protective function or the adjustment of the orthopedic device can be adjusted particularly well, thereby significantly reducing the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant.

[0017] Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides for a data connection to be established between the motor vehicle and the orthopedic device, via which connection the property of the orthopedic device and / or a command to adjust the settings of the orthopedic device are transmitted. Communication between the motor vehicle and the orthopedic device can take place via the data connection, for example, using WLAN or Bluetooth. For example, the orthopedic device can provide property information for the motor vehicle characterizing the property of the orthopedic device via the data connection, whereby the protective function of the occupant protection system can be adapted depending on the property of the orthopedic device.Furthermore, the motor vehicle can provide the command to adjust the settings of the orthopedic device via the data connection. The motor vehicle can thus trigger the adjustment of the settings of the orthopedic device via the data connection. Consequently, the motor vehicle can detect the accident and, following the detected accident, trigger the adjustment of the settings of the orthopedic device via the data connection. This enables a reliable adjustment of the settings of the orthopedic device in the event of the detected accident.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides for the deployment of an airbag to be adapted as a protective function of the occupant protection system. For example, the airbag can be adapted so that it is deployed or not deployed in the event of an accident, depending on when the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant wearing the orthopedic device is lowest. Furthermore, it is possible for the type of airbag deployment, for example how extensively the airbag is inflated, or how quickly the airbag is inflated, or in which direction the airbag expands, to be adjusted depending on the orthopedic device or the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device in order to minimize the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant. This enables a particularly low risk of injury to the vehicle occupant from the airbag.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides for the accident sequence to be simulated for the identified accident using a predefined simulation model, and for the protective function of the occupant protection system and / or the settings of the orthopedic device to be adjusted depending on the result of the simulation. Simulating the accident sequence using the predefined simulation model can be performed, for example, using an electronic computing device of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the simulation model can be stored, for example, in the electronic computing device or in a memory device of the motor vehicle. The simulation is performed depending on the available data on the accident.The accident sequence, which can be used to determine the effects of the accident on the vehicle occupant, can be simulated using the simulation model based on the type of detected orthopedic device and / or a determined setting of the orthopedic device and / or a detected position and / or posture of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle cabin and / or based on known physical limitations of the vehicle occupant and / or based on a known movement model of the vehicle occupant. The more of this data is available for the simulation, the more accurately the effects of the accident on the vehicle occupant can be simulated and thus predicted.As a result, the vehicle occupant can be particularly well protected from injuries by appropriately adjusting the protective function of the occupant protection system and / or by adjusting the setting of the orthopaedic device.

[0020] In a possible further development of the invention, it is provided that a lock of a joint of the orthopedic device is activated or deactivated as a setting of the orthopedic device. This means that the joint of the orthopedic device is locked or released as a setting of the orthopedic device. In other words, the state of the joint is changed as soon as the motor vehicle accident has been determined. In this case, the state of the joint is changed in such a way that the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device is particularly low. By locking the joint of the orthopedic device, bending of the joint is prevented during the accident.Releasing the joint of the orthopedic device enables the joint to bend during an accident, allowing a vehicle occupant or a limb of the vehicle occupant to evade the accident, thus significantly reducing the risk of injury to that limb or the vehicle occupant. If the orthopedic device has multiple joints, all joints of the orthopedic device can be locked or unlocked in the event of a detected accident, or at least one of the joints of the orthopedic device can be locked and at least one other joint of the orthopedic device can be unlocked.

[0021] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the data connection is established as soon as the vehicle occupant has determined that the data connection has been enabled. This means that a user input has been received, for example, via the motor vehicle or alternatively via the orthopedic device. This user input characterizes the enablement of the data connection by the vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant can thus trigger the establishment of the data connection via the user input. Establishing the data connection without the vehicle occupant's consent can therefore be avoided. The vehicle occupant thus has control over whether data is exchanged between the motor vehicle and their orthopedic device.

[0022] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle which is designed to carry out a method as has already been described in connection with the method according to the invention for protecting a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle.

[0023] The procedure aims to provide the best possible protection from injury to vehicle occupants wearing orthopedic devices in the event of a crash. This is achieved, among other things, by actively changing the settings of the relevant orthopedic device and / or preventing airbag deployment if this is appropriate given the specific orthopedic device, and / or determining an optimized deployment strategy for occupant protection systems and / or settings of the orthopedic device based on a simulation model for the accident scenario.

[0024] Further features of the invention can be derived from the following description of the figures and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features shown below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures alone, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0025] The drawing shows in the only figure a process diagram for a method for protecting a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle.

[0026] In Fig.1 shows a method diagram for a method for protecting a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle using an orthopedic device in the event of an accident. This method comprises a first method step V1, in which an accident involving the motor vehicle is detected. Furthermore, the method comprises a second method step V2, in which, after the accident has been detected, an occupant protection system of the motor vehicle is activated, wherein at least one protective function of the occupant protection system is adapted depending on the orthopedic device and / or the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device. In addition, an adjustment of a setting of the orthopedic device can be triggered in the second method step V2.

[0027] The protective function or the setting of the orthopedic device is adapted in particular depending on the type of orthopedic device and / or the type of physical limitation of the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device and / or depending on a movement model of the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device and / or depending on a type of accident and / or depending on an intensity of the accident. As a setting of the orthopedic device, at least one lock of a joint of the orthopedic device is activated or deactivated. As a protective function of the occupant protection system, a deployment process of an airbag is adapted.In order to optimally adapt the protective function to the specific orthopedic device or the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device, a data connection can be established between the motor vehicle and the orthopedic device. Via this data connection, information about the orthopedic device or the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device can be provided from the orthopedic device to the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, a trigger signal characterizing the detected accident can be provided from the motor vehicle to the orthopedic device via the data connection. Following receipt of the trigger signal, the settings in the orthopedic device can be adjusted.The trigger signal can indicate how the settings of the orthopedic device should be adjusted. Alternatively or additionally, the trigger signal can indicate the type and / or intensity of the accident, allowing the orthopedic device to select the setting to be adjusted and the type of adjustment depending on the type and / or intensity of the accident.

[0028] In order to optimally adapt the settings of the orthopedic device or the protective function of the occupant protection system to the respective likely effects of the accident on the vehicle occupant, it may be possible to simulate the accident sequence and thus the effects on the vehicle occupant using the orthopedic device using a predefined simulation model. Depending on the result of this simulation, the protective function of the occupant protection system and / or the settings of the orthopedic device can be adjusted.

[0029] The method thus allows orthopedic devices such as orthoses, prostheses, cuffs, exoskeletons, and the like, with their electronic control units, to exchange data with a vehicle system of the motor vehicle, particularly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. In particular, a vehicle user can share their data interfaces with electronic control units of the orthopedic devices they use with the vehicle system of the motor vehicle.

[0030] In the event of a crash, the vehicle system should send the necessary data about the accident to an electronic control unit of the orthopedic device as quickly as possible. A user profile for preventive measures can be stored in the vehicle system and / or in the electronic control unit of the orthopedic device, which active measures should be implemented in the orthopedic device depending on the type and intensity of the accident in order to best protect the vehicle occupant from injury in the event of a crash. For example, a database can store which settings should be selected for which orthopedic devices used by the vehicle occupant and for which accident types and intensity.

[0031] Movement analyses can be carried out in advance for the vehicle occupant, particularly when the orthopaedic device is adapted for the vehicle occupant, in order to examine health-protective settings of the orthopaedic device used for possible accident scenarios and to define optimal settings for potential crash cases.

[0032] Depending on detected orthopedic devices and / or the recorded settings of the orthopedic device, an airbag and / or other components of the occupant protection system can be activated. For example, if the vehicle occupant uses orthopedic devices in such a way, or has activated settings of the orthopedic device in such a way that airbag deployment would result in injury, airbag deployment is prevented in the event of a crash. Alternatively, airbag deployment can be prevented depending on certain settings if, with these settings, the risk of injury to the affected vehicle occupant is assessed as too high and thus higher than a predefined limit compared to the protective effect provided by the airbag.Occupant protection measures in the motor vehicle and / or in the orthopedic devices used can then be implemented in such a way that the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant is minimized in the event of a crash. In particular, artificial intelligence trained in potential accident scenarios can be used to provide appropriate occupant protection measures depending on the specific accident scenario. The occupant protection measures describe how the protective function of the occupant protection system or how the settings of the orthopedic device should be adapted to the specific accident.

[0033] When an accident is detected, a data processing device can be used to simulate the course of the accident for at least one accident scenario using the predefined simulation model, in particular depending on detected orthopedic devices, settings of the orthopedic devices, the recorded position and posture of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle cabin, and available data on the accident. If necessary, known physical limitations of the vehicle occupant and / or known movement models of the vehicle occupant can be used. In this way, an optimized triggering strategy for the protective function of the occupant protection system and / or optimized settings of the orthopedic device can be selected depending on the result of the simulation, thereby achieving improved protection for the vehicle occupant.

[0034] Overall, the invention shows how optimized occupant protection for vehicle users, in this case the vehicle occupants, can be achieved with the inclusion of orthopaedic devices. List of reference symbols V1 to V2 respective process steps

Claims

[1] Method for protecting a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle using an orthopaedic device in the event of an accident, wherein in the method an occupant protection system of the motor vehicle is activated (V2) as soon as the accident of the motor vehicle is detected (V1), wherein at least one protective function of the occupant protection system is adapted depending on the orthopaedic device and / or the vehicle occupant using the orthopaedic device, wherein - as soon as the motor vehicle accident is detected, an additional adjustment of the setting of the orthopaedic device is triggered, and / or - a data connection is established between the motor vehicle and the orthopaedic device, via which the property of the orthopaedic device and / or a command to adjust the setting of the orthopaedic device are transmitted, and / or - the deployment of an airbag is adapted as a protective function of the occupant protection system, and / or - for the accident identified, an accident sequence is simulated using a predefined simulation model and, depending on the result of the simulation, the protective function of the occupant protection system and / or the setting of the orthopaedic device are adjusted, and / or - the protective function and / or the setting of the orthopaedic device is adjusted depending on at least one of the following factors: ◯ Type of orthopaedic device, ◯ Type of physical limitation of the vehicle occupant using the orthopaedic device, ◯ Movement model of the vehicle occupant using the orthopaedic device, ◯ Type of accident, ◯ Intensity of the accident. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein a lock of a joint of the orthopaedic device is activated or deactivated as an adjustment of the orthopaedic device. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data connection is established as soon as a release of the data connection by the vehicle occupant has been determined. [4] Motor vehicle which is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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