Method for establishing a radio connection between a transmitter unit of a mobile child seat and a transmitter-receiver unit of a vehicle

Abstract

A method for establishing a radio connection between a transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of a mobile child seat (2, 3, 4) and a transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of a vehicle (1) via a transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of a mobile HMI interface (5) is described, which is connected to the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) for data exchange.A pairing routine to establish the radio connection between the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) and the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) is started when an impending installation of a child seat (2, 3, 4) in the vehicle (1) or a child seat (2, 3, 4) already installed in the vehicle (1) is detected via an optical recognition unit (6) and / or when the transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of the mobile HMI interface (5) receives a request signal from the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) to pair with the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for establishing a radio connection between a transmitter unit of a mobile child seat and a transmitter-receiver unit of a vehicle.

[0002] German patent DE 10 2016 221 738 A1 relates to a portable child car seat for a motor vehicle, comprising a support area for placing or resting a child and an anchoring device for non-destructively and reversibly connecting the child car seat to a restraint system of a rear seat of the motor vehicle. The child car seat incorporates a camera for generating images and a holding device for securing the camera. The holding device is designed to keep the camera's field of view aligned with the support area. Furthermore, a communication device is provided to transmit image data from the camera to a communication interface of the motor vehicle, depending on the connection status of the anchoring device.

[0003] US patent 2019 / 0215672 A1 discloses a vehicle system that can connect to a child car seat with integrated sensors. During the installation process, a vehicle user can use HMI controls to pair a child car seat with the vehicle system via a wireless connection. The vehicle system's computer platform comprises one or more processors configured to execute instructions, commands, and other routines to support various processes. This computer platform can be configured to execute instructions from vehicle applications to provide functions such as navigation, incident detection, satellite radio decoding, child car seat data processing, and alerts. Furthermore, the computer platform can communicate wirelessly with a smart child car seat.An intelligent child car seat can be a child car seat that has sensors as well as processing and communication functions.

[0004] Additionally, the vehicle system's computer platform can communicate wirelessly with a mobile device, such as a mobile phone. Furthermore, the mobile device can be wirelessly connected to the smart child seat.

[0005] Ideally, these so-called smart child car seats can be directly connected to the vehicle to allow the operation of functions and the reading of sensor data without the driver needing to use a smartphone or similar device. This prevents the use of a smartphone while driving, which is prohibited for safety reasons.

[0006] To pair a smart child car seat with a vehicle, it may be necessary to install additional software in the vehicle. Furthermore, the pairing process must first be initiated by an operator in the vehicle settings. However, these steps are cumbersome for operators and undesirably complicate the pairing process.

[0007] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a method by which an intelligent child seat can be easily coupled to a vehicle.

[0008] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1.

[0009] The inventive method enables a simple wireless connection to be established between a transmitter unit of a mobile child seat and a transmitter-receiver unit of a vehicle via a transmitter-receiver unit of a mobile HMI interface. For this purpose, the transmitter-receiver unit of the mobile HMI interface is connected to the transmitter-receiver unit of the vehicle via signal exchange.

[0010] The wireless connection between the child seat's transmitter unit and the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit is easily initiated by the operator by starting a pairing routine when an optical recognition unit detects that a child seat is about to be installed in the vehicle or that a child seat is already installed. Additionally, or alternatively, the pairing routine is also easily initiated by the operator when the transmitter-receiver unit of the mobile HMI interface receives a pairing request from the child seat's transmitter unit.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the transmitter unit of the child seat sends a request signal to the transmitter-receiver unit of the vehicle for coupling with the vehicle when a sensor of the child seat is activated by the operator.

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible that the transmitter unit of the child seat sends a request signal to the transmitter-receiver unit of the HMI interface for pairing with the vehicle when a sensor of the child seat is activated by the operator.

[0013] Depending on the specific application, the request signal from the child seat's transmitter unit can trigger a request signal from the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit to the transmitter-receiver unit of the HMI interface, or a request signal from the transmitter-receiver unit of the HMI interface to the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit.

[0014] Furthermore, it can also be provided that, once the pairing routine has started, the system automatically detects the manufacturer and type of the child seat based on signals, without requiring any operator intervention. These signals can include optical characteristics of the child seat detected by the optical recognition unit, information generated by the operator within the mobile HMI interface, and / or information transmitted by the transmitter unit of the mobile child seat. It is also possible that, when determining the child seat model, the system checks whether the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit and the child seat's transmitter unit are compatible enough to allow wireless data exchange between them.

[0015] The vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit or the transmitter-receiver unit of the HMI interface can each output a warning signal to inform an operator that the child seat model could not be sufficiently determined and that confirmation is required from the operator.

[0016] This informs the operator that the automatic pairing process is interrupted. To allow the pairing process to continue without time-consuming operator intervention, a selection menu can be displayed to the operator via the mobile HMI interface or a vehicle-mounted HMI interface, allowing the operator to select the child seat model to be paired. The pairing routine can then be continued.

[0017] Furthermore, if the compatibility check is successful, a further check may be performed to verify whether the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit has current software installed for receiving signals from the child seat's transmitter unit. If this check is successful, the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit is connected to the child seat's transmitter unit easily and without any additional user intervention.

[0018] If the subsequent query step yields a negative result, a start symbol can be displayed in the HMI interface to assist the operator. If the operator activates the start symbol, a software update is triggered.

[0019] After the software update, in a further variant of the inventive method, the transmitter-receiver unit is coupled to the transmitter unit of the child seat without any further operator intervention.

[0020] In a further variant of the inventive method, if the compatibility check yields a negative result, an optical, haptic, and / or acoustic signal is output in the area of ​​the HMI interface. This signal informs the operator that the child seat cannot be connected to the vehicle.

[0021] To simplify the installation and operation of the child seat, the HMI interface may provide the operator with visual and / or audible information about the child seat's installation and related functions when the child seat is connected to the vehicle. These functions could include, for example, detecting whether a child is seated, measuring the temperature inside the vehicle in the area of ​​the child seat, and similar functions.

[0022] Additionally, the optical recognition unit can detect whether a child seat is occupied by a child seat installed in the vehicle and paired with the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit, and this information can be stored in the area of ​​the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit.

[0023] Furthermore, the optical detection unit can be configured to determine when a child seat paired with the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit is removed from the vehicle. The vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit can then send a signal to the transmitter-receiver unit of the HMI interface and / or to an operator, and, for example, additionally query whether the pairing should be permanently or only temporarily disconnected.

[0024] The method described above allows a so-called smart child seat to be paired with a vehicle as automatically as possible, in order to enable wireless communication between the child seat and a vehicle system.

[0025] The smart child seat generally has a transmitter or radio unit that exchanges data with the vehicle system, for example via Bluetooth. The radio unit can also be designed as a transmitter-receiver unit, allowing, for example, the control of features integrated into the child seat from the vehicle.

[0026] The coupling can also be started automatically using one of the methods presented below.

[0027] Initially, it may be necessary for an operator to have already connected their smartphone to the vehicle before pairing the smart child seat with the vehicle.

[0028] When the operator pairs the smart child seat with their smartphone, this can be detected by an application installed in the vehicle.

[0029] The first step is to check whether the smart child seat is technically compatible with the vehicle, meaning, for example, whether the child seat and vehicle have the same radio communication system. This check can preferably be carried out using a database that records the compatibility of various vehicle and child seat models.

[0030] If the compatibility check is successful, the user may be prompted to pair the smart child seat with the vehicle. If the user agrees, various steps can be performed in the vehicle.

[0031] If software updates are necessary in the vehicle or if additional applications need to be installed for pairing, the vehicle can be instructed accordingly via an application installed on the smartphone.

[0032] Once the software installation in the vehicle is complete, the vehicle transmitter-receiver unit is put into pairing mode and the operator inserts the smart child seat into the vehicle.

[0033] The smartphone app can assist the user during installation in the vehicle. For example, it can display instructional images that are precisely tailored to the combination of vehicle and child seat model.

[0034] Wireless pairing can also be activated by the user pressing a button, sensor, or similar device located on the child seat. Alternatively, the smartphone can transmit a previously received pairing token to the vehicle.

[0035] Once the pairing between the vehicle and the child seat is successful, the smart child seat and the vehicle can communicate directly. Sensor readings can then be displayed to an operator and used to control vehicle functions. For example, a temperature sensor in the child seat can be used to more precisely control the climate control in that area.

[0036] Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle's camera systems can be used to automatically initiate the pairing process. If the vehicle detects, via at least one exterior or interior camera, that the user is about to install a child seat, image recognition can preferably be used to determine the specific child seat model.

[0037] If this model identification is ambiguous, an operator can be asked for confirmation, e.g., via voice output. Once the child seat model has been determined, the software installation and wireless pairing can be carried out as described in more detail above.

[0038] If multiple smart child seats are installed in a vehicle, an interior camera can be used to automatically assign the child seats to the corresponding seats in the vehicle. This allows the driver to see, for example, the sensor readings of each child seat on a display, spatially aligned with their actual position in the vehicle interior.

[0039] If a previously paired smart child seat is removed from the vehicle, this can also be detected via an interior or exterior camera. The user can then be asked whether they want to permanently or temporarily unpair the removed child seat.

[0040] Further advantages and beneficial developments of the invention result from the patent claims and the exemplary embodiment described in principle with reference to the drawing.

[0041] The only figure in the drawing shows a schematic rear view of a vehicle as well as various child seats that can be used in the vehicle.

[0042] The figure shows a vehicle 1 and three differently designed child car seats 2 to 4, each intended for different age groups. The child car seats 2 to 4 are each equipped with a transmitter unit 2A, 3A, or 4A, respectively. A radio connection can be established between the transmitter units 2A, 3A, or 4A and a transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 via a transmitter-receiver unit 5A of a mobile HMI interface 5. The transmitter-receiver unit 5A of the mobile HMI interface 5 is connected to the transmitter-receiver unit 1A for data exchange. In this case, the mobile transmitter-receiver unit 5A is implemented as a so-called smartphone and, depending on the specific application, could also be configured as a so-called smart device.

[0043] Such a smart device is equipped with a touchscreen and a storage unit on which the program code of an application is stored and executable, forming an intuitively operable HMI (Human Machine Interface) interface between an operator and the vehicle's transmitter-receiver unit.

[0044] Since the coupling between the transmitter units 2A, 3A or 4A of the child seats 2 to 4 and the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 is essentially the same, the following description will, for the sake of clarity, only refer to the child seat 2 and its transmitter unit 2A.

[0045] A pairing routine is initiated to establish a radio connection between the transmitter unit 2A of the child seat 2 and the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 when an optical detection unit 6 detects that the child seat 2 is about to be installed in the vehicle 1 or that it is already installed. The optical detection unit 6 comprises one or more external cameras 6A to optically capture the vehicle's surroundings 7, as well as one or more internal cameras 6B to monitor the vehicle's interior 1B. Alternatively or additionally, the pairing routine is initiated when the transmitter-receiver unit 5A of the mobile HMI interface 5 receives a pairing request signal from the transmitter unit 2A of the child seat 2, preferably via Bluetooth or another suitable radio signal transmission standard.In the embodiment considered here, the request signal is triggered by an operator actuation of a sensor 2B of the child seat 2.

[0046] The request signal, which is sent from the transmitter unit 2A of the child seat 2 to the transmitter-receiver unit 5A of the HMI interface 5, in turn triggers a request signal in the area of ​​the HMI interface 5, which is sent from the transmitter-receiver unit 5A of the HMI interface 5 to the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1.

[0047] Alternatively, the request signal from transmitter unit 2A of the child seat 2 is sent to the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1, and a request signal from transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 is triggered to the transmitter-receiver unit 5A of the HMI interface 5.

[0048] Once the pairing routine is initiated, signals are used to identify the manufacturer and model of the child car seat. These signals can contain information about the optical characteristics of the child car seat 2, which are captured by the optical recognition unit 6. Furthermore, the signals can also include information generated by an operator at the mobile HMI interface 5 by selecting relevant menu items in an application installed on the HMI interface 5. Additionally, the signals may transmit information that the transmitter unit 2A of the mobile child car seat 2 has sent along with the request signal.

[0049] During the determination of the child seat model, it is also checked whether the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 and the transmitter unit 2A of the child seat 2 are compatible in such a way that wireless data exchange between them is possible.

[0050] The transmitter-receiver unit 1A of vehicle 1 or the transmitter-receiver unit 5A of HMI interface 5 outputs a warning signal to inform an operator that the child seat model could not be sufficiently determined and that confirmation must be given by the operator.

[0051] If the compatibility check is successful, a further check is performed to determine whether the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of vehicle 1 has current software stored for receiving signals from transmitter unit 2A of child seat 2. If so, transmitter-receiver unit 1A of vehicle 1 is connected to transmitter unit 2A of child seat 2.

[0052] To simplify the installation of a software update for the operator, a start symbol is displayed in the HMI interface 5 area if the subsequent query step returns a negative result. When the operator activates the start symbol, an automatic software update is initiated. Once the software update is complete, the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of vehicle 1 is paired with the transmitter unit 2A of child seat 2.

[0053] If, during the compatibility check, it is detected that the child seat 2 cannot be connected to the vehicle 1 via signal technology, an optical, a haptic and / or an acoustic signal is output in the area of ​​the HMI interface 5 and the pairing routine is terminated.

[0054] To support the operator, for example during the installation of the child seat 2 in the vehicle, the operator is guided visually and / or audibly by the HMI interface 5 about the installation of the child seat 2 in the vehicle 1 and informed about functions that are available to the operator in the coupled state, provided that the child seat 2 and the vehicle 1 are coupled.

[0055] For example, the interior cameras 6B of the optical recognition unit 6 and the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 are used to determine the occupancy of seats by child seats 2, 3 and / or 4 installed in the vehicle 1, and this information is stored in the area of ​​the transmitter-receiver unit of the vehicle and displayed to a driver during the journey.

[0056] It is also possible for the optical detection unit 6 to determine when a child seat 2, 3, or 4 paired with the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 is removed from the vehicle 1. The transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 may send a signal to the transmitter-receiver unit 5A of the HMI interface 5 and / or directly to an operator. Preferably, the transmitter-receiver unit 1A of the vehicle 1 and / or the transmitter-receiver unit 5A of the HMI interface 5 prompts the operator to indicate whether the pairing between the vehicle 1 and the child seat 2, 3, or 4, which was removed from the vehicle 1, should be temporarily or permanently disconnected. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle 1A Vehicle transmitter-receiver unit 1B Vehicle interior 2 to 4 child seats 2A to 4A Transmitter-receiver unit of the child seat 2 to 4 2B to 4B Sensor of the child seat 2 to 4 5 mobile HMI interface 5A Transmitter-receiver unit of the mobile HMI interface 6 optical recognition units 6A Outdoor Camera 6B Interior Camera 7 Vehicle environment QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2016 221 738 A1

[0002] US 2019 / 0215672 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Method for establishing a radio connection between a transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of a mobile child seat (2, 3, 4) and a transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of a vehicle (1) via a transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of a mobile HMI interface (5) which is signal-connected to the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) for data exchange, wherein a coupling routine for establishing the radio connection between the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) and the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) is started, if an impending installation of a child seat (2, 3, 4) in the vehicle (1) or a child seat (2, 3, 4) already installed in the vehicle (1) is detected via an optical recognition unit (6), and / or when the transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of the mobile HMI interface (5) receives a request from the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) to pair with the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized bythat the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) sends a request signal for coupling with the vehicle (1) to the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) and / or the transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of the mobile HMI interface (5) upon operator-side actuation of a sensor (2B, 3B, 4B) of the child seat (2, 3, 4), wherein the request signal of the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) sends a request signal of the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) to the transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of the HMI interface (5) or a request signal of the transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of the HMI interface (5) to the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat when the coupling routine is started, a recognition of manufacturer and type information of the child seat (2, 3, 4) is started on the basis of signals which comprise optical properties of the child seat (2, 3, 4) detected by the optical recognition unit (6) and / or information generated by the operator in the area of ​​the mobile HMI interface (5) and / or information sent by the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the mobile child seat (2, 3, 4), wherein when the child seat model is determined, it is also checked whether the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) and the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) are compatible in such a way that a wireless data exchange between them is possible. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) or the transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of the HMI interface (5) emits an indication signal informing an operator that the child seat model could not be sufficiently determined and that the operator must provide confirmation. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that if the query result of the compatibility check is positive, a further query step is carried out to check whether up-to-date software for receiving signals from the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) is stored in the area of ​​the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1), wherein if the query result is positive, the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) is connected to the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4). [6] Method according to claim 5, characterized bythat if the query result of the further query step is negative, a start symbol is displayed to an operator in the area of ​​the HMI interface (5), whereby actuation of the start symbol by the operator triggers an update of the software. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) is coupled to the transmitter unit (2A, 3A, 4A) of the child seat (2, 3, 4) after the software update. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that if the compatibility check result is negative, an optical, a haptic and / or an acoustic signal is output in the area of ​​the HMI interface (5), which indicates to an operator that the child seat (2, 3, 4) cannot be connected to the vehicle (1). [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat, when the child seat (2, 3, 4) is coupled to the vehicle (1), the HMI interface (5) provides an operator with optical and / or acoustic information about the installation of the child seat (2, 3, 4) in the vehicle (1) and about functions that are active when the coupling is established. [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the occupancy of a seat by a child seat (2, 3, 4) installed in the vehicle (1) and coupled to the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) is determined via the optical recognition unit (6) and stored in the area of ​​the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1). [11] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the optical detection unit (6) detects when a child seat coupled to the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) is removed from the vehicle, wherein the transmitter-receiver unit (1A) of the vehicle (1) outputs a signal to the transmitter-receiver unit (5A) of the HMI interface (5) and / or to an operator.

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