IMAGE-BASED AUTOMATIC OCCUPANT DETECTION FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS

Abstract

Airbag deployment system comprising: a memory (260) configured to store a weight / pressure standard threshold value for weight / pressure; a weight / pressure sensor (210) configured to detect a weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface; a remote sensor (220) installed on the vehicle seat for detecting the presence of a child restraint seat; a processor (230) for generating a weight / pressure-related compensation based on whether the remote sensor (220) detects a child restraint seat or does not detect a child restraint seat: a processor decision to enable airbag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output exceeds a compensated weight / pressure threshold, and a processor decision to suppress airbag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output is less than a compensated weight / pressure threshold; a vehicle controller (250) for detecting a vehicle contact event; and an airbag deployment controller configured to inhibit deployment of an airbag (110) in response to detecting the vehicle contact event and the airbag suppression signal and to enable deployment of the airbag (110) in response to the vehicle contact event and the airbag enable signal.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to remote sensing of occupants in vehicle seats equipped with frontal airbags, and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for sensing a weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface, sensing a child restraint seat, and determining whether to perform weight / pressure-related compensation. This compensation may be in the form of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment of the sensed weight / pressure output or a sensed weight / pressure adjustment of the sensed weight / pressure output in response to sensing the child restraint seat on the vehicle seat surface.A decision to suppress or deploy the airbag is then made based on whether the measured weight / pressure value, after applying the compensation procedure to that measurement, is less than or greater than a weight / pressure threshold value after applying the compensation procedure to that threshold value.

[0002] Automotive airbags are well-known passive occupant restraint systems that have been used in vehicles since the late 1970s and early 1980s. In a typical airbag deployment system, a vehicle contact event is detected by on-board sensors, such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) or similar, and the vehicle airbags are quickly deployed before the vehicle occupant would impact a vehicle interior surface due to rapid vehicle deceleration. Typically, each front passenger seat incorporates a weight or pressure sensor that indicates that the seat is occupied. If the seat is unoccupied, the airbag may not deploy. Likewise, an airbag deployment may be suppressed if the occupant weight / pressure sensor detects a lower weight, possibly indicating a child occupant, or it may deploy in a special manner to avoid injury to the child.Further uncertainties arise when a child seat is placed on the vehicle seat, as the combined weight of the child and the child seat may be close to that of an adult front passenger, making it difficult or impossible to determine the difference, and child airbag protection factors, such as deployment suppression, may be impaired, potentially resulting in injury to the child from airbag deployment.##.

[0003] Due to other system and environmental variations, there is a large gray area between the detected airbag deployment state and the airbag suppression state, where occupants applying a weight / pressure within this zone to the seat sensor could receive a deployed or suppressed airbag. With upcoming motor vehicle laws requiring heavier child restraint seats, the range between the 5th percentile adult airbag deployment state and the deployment state for a six-year-old child is becoming increasingly narrow. It is desirable to provide systems to accurately detect child occupants in airbag-equipped vehicle seats and to modify the deployment algorithms to more accurately compensate for a) children in heavier car seats and b) larger children and short adults in the vehicle seat, reducing the size of the detection gray areas.Other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

[0004] DE 102 06 673 C1 describes a method for checking, by means of a processing unit, whether a motor vehicle seat equipped with a seat occupancy mat connected to the processing unit has a belt tension that distorts the measurement result of the seat occupancy mat. The seat is lowered in order to eliminate the belt tension.

[0005] DE 102 39 761 A1 relates to a method for identifying the type of occupancy of a support surface, in particular a motor vehicle seat, using force sensor-supported signals.

[0006] DE 199 50 552 B4 describes an occupant restraint system that protects vehicle occupants in the event of a collision. It consists of a sensor that detects the constitution of the seated person and a tension switch attached to the seat belt. The switch assumes a first state when the tension exerted on the belt exceeds a certain threshold and a second state in other situations. The operating mode of the restraint system can be set based on the states of the sensor and the switch. It changes to a different mode when the switch is in the first state or, depending on the sensor, in the second state.

[0007] DE 601 12 595 T2 relates to a method and a device for measuring the weight of a person on a seat and for classifying the person into a weight class.

[0008] DE 10 2012 216 119 B4 describes a method for optimizing an airbag suppression threshold for an airbag suppression system in a vehicle. The method includes defining a first value as the airbag suppression threshold such that deployment of an airbag above the first value is suppressed. Next, one or more factors indicating the presence of a child seat in the vehicle seat are determined.

[0009] The object is to counteract the aforementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by the subject matter according to claim 1. Further developments can be found in the subclaims.

[0010] Described herein are methods and systems for airbag deployment and occupant detection, as well as associated electrical systems for providing such systems, methods of manufacturing and methods of operating such systems, and motor vehicles and other devices such as aircraft, ships, wind turbines, and other electric vehicles equipped with on-board propulsion systems. By way of example, and not limitation, various embodiments of systems for automatic remote occupant detection for airbag deployment are presented to provide an appropriate margin between airbag deployment enablement for smaller adults and airbag deployment suppression for children in heavier child safety seats and the like.

[0011] Described herein are methods and systems for airbag deployment and occupant detection, as well as associated electrical systems for providing such systems, methods of manufacturing and methods of operating such systems, and motor vehicles and other devices such as aircraft, ships, wind turbines, and other electric vehicles equipped with on-board propulsion systems. By way of example, and not limitation, various embodiments of systems for automatic remote occupant detection for airbag deployment are presented to provide an appropriate margin between airbag deployment enablement for smaller adults and airbag deployment suppression for children in heavier child safety seats and the like.

[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system for precisely suppressing and enabling airbag deployment based on a current occupant. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the airbag deployment system comprises a memory configured to store a weight / pressure standard threshold value for weight / pressure, a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect a weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface, a remote sensor installed on the vehicle seat for detecting the presence of a child restraint seat, a processor for generating a weight / pressure-related compensation based on whether the remote sensor detects a child restraint seat or does not detect a child restraint seat, a processor decision to enable airbag deployment,if the compensated weight / pressure output exceeds a compensated weight / pressure threshold, and a processor decision to suppress airbag deployment if the compensated weight / pressure output is less than a compensated weight / pressure threshold, a vehicle controller for detecting a vehicle contact event, and an airbag deployment controller configured to suppress deployment of an airbag in response to detecting the vehicle contact event and the airbag suppression signal and to enable deployment of the airbag in response to the vehicle contact event and the airbag enable signal.

[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation is at least one of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment and a measured weight / pressure output adjustment.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation includes compensating for the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing that amount to a weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is detected, and comparing the measured weight / pressure to a weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is not detected.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation includes using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to a weight / pressure threshold, which is compensated to a higher value when CRS is detected, and wherein the measured weight / pressure is compared to a weight / pressure threshold when CRS is not detected.

[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation comprises using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to the weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is detected, and using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to a weight / pressure threshold that is compensated to a lower value when a CRS is not detected.

[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation is at least one of a selected magnitude compensation and a percent of the compensation of an uncompensated value.

[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the remote sensor is configured to view a vehicle seat, a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat, an occupant on the vehicle seat, and an occupant on a child restraint seat that is in turn on the vehicle seat.

[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the remote sensor includes at least one focused detection area for child restraint seat detection.

[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the at least one focused detection area is indexed to a portion of the vehicle seat and moves with the portion of the vehicle seat.

[0021] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the at least one focused detection region is disposed at a location where it can distinguish the presence of a CRS from the vehicle seat and occupants based on the detected CRS characteristics that are different from those of the vehicle seat and occupants.

[0022] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the remote sensor is at least one of a camera and a radar and lidar, and wherein the camera can be at least one of an infrared camera, a red-green-blue camera, a stereo vision camera, a time-of-flight camera, and a thermal camera.

[0023] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the in-seat weight / pressure sensor is formed from at least one bladder and one load cell.

[0024] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, which can detect the presence or lack of presence of an occupant in a CRS once a CRS is detected.

[0025] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, further configured to reduce the weight / pressure threshold after the processor detects the presence or lack of presence of a CRS and the weight / pressure remains above the weight / pressure threshold for a period of time exceeding a time duration.

[0026] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an airbag deployment system comprising a memory configured to store a weight / pressure default threshold value for weight / pressure, a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect a weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface, and a remote sensor to detect a presence of a child restraint seat installed on a vehicle seat, wherein the remote sensor is capable of detecting the presence or absence of a child restraint seat on a vehicle seat with at least one focused detection area, and wherein the child restraint seat has different visible features for the area in the focused detection area compared to the vehicle seat and an occupant.

[0027] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, further comprising a processor for generating a weight / pressure related compensation, wherein the compensation is at least one of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment of the measured weight / pressure output and a measured weight / pressure adjustment of the measured weight / pressure output based on whether the remote sensor detects a child restraint seat or does not detect a child restraint seat.

[0028] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, weight / pressure related compensation includes compensating for the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing that amount to a weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is detected, and comparing the measured weight / pressure to a weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is not detected.

[0029] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the at least one focused detection area is indexed to and moves with a portion of the vehicle seat.

[0030] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an airbag deployment system comprising a memory configured to store a weight / pressure standard threshold value for weight / pressure, a weight / pressure sensor configured to detect a weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface, a remote sensor installed on the vehicle seat for detecting a presence of a child restraint seat, a processor for generating a weight / pressure-related compensation, wherein the weight / pressure-related compensation includes compensating for the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing this amount to a weight / pressure threshold value when a CRS is detected, and wherein the measured weight / pressure is compared to a weight / pressure threshold value when a CRS is not detected,a processor decision to enable airbag deployment if the compensated weight / pressure output exceeds a compensated weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is detected, and a processor decision to suppress airbag deployment if the compensated weight / pressure output is less than a compensated weight / pressure threshold for a compensated weight / pressure when a CRS is detected, and a processor decision to enable airbag deployment if the weight / pressure output exceeds a weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is not detected, and a processor decision to suppress airbag deployment if the weight / pressure output is less than a compensated weight / pressure threshold when a CRS is not detected, a vehicle controller for detecting a vehicle contact event; and an airbag deployment controller configured tosuppress deployment of an airbag in response to detecting the vehicle contact event and the airbag suppression signal and release deployment of the airbag in response to the vehicle contact event and the airbag release signal.

[0031] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the remote sensor is further configured to detect a vehicle seat, a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat, an occupant on the vehicle seat, and an occupant on a child restraint seat that is in turn on the vehicle seat, and uses at least one focused detection area for child restraint seat detection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The exemplary embodiments are described below in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements and wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment for use of an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system in accordance with various embodiments; FIGS. 1a, 1c, 1e, 1g and 1i show exemplary configurations for child restraint seats and occupants on a vehicle seat in accordance with various embodiments; FIGS. 1b, 1d, 1f, 1h and 1j show planar views from the remote sensor to the vehicle seat and any child restraint seats or occupants on the vehicle seat located within the planar views according to various embodiments; Fig. 2 shows an exemplary configuration for an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system according to various embodiments; and Fig. 3 shows an exemplary method for an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system according to various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any express or implied theories presented in the foregoing technical field, background, summary, or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and / or processor device, alone or in any combination, including, but not limited to: application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), electronic circuits, processors (collectively, dedicated, or in groups), and memories that execute one or more software or firmware programs, combinational logic circuits, and / or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

[0034] The exemplary automatic occupant detection (AOS) system for airbag deployment systems uses a sensor located away from the seat (hereafter referred to as a remote sensor) to more accurately detect occupant characteristics to distinguish between a detected airbag deployment condition and an airbag suppression condition. In some exemplary embodiments, the in-seat sensor's threshold approach to airbag deployment and suppression is compensated when either a child restraint seat is detected or when a child restraint seat is not detected. For example, the remote occupant detection system can detect and compensate for the AOS system's in-seat detection logic before the occupant enters the vehicle, since the child restraint seat is deployed before the older child enters the vehicle.The alternative approach of supplementing the AOS system with remote sensing to detect occupant height instead of child restraint seat presence is much more difficult and may not produce reliable results. For example, it is difficult to determine occupant height within a small size range, such as from small adult occupants to 10-year-old occupants to 6-year-old occupants, using remote sensors because smaller occupants may wear coats and hats that make them appear larger. This detection requires a complex algorithm that processes the perspective view of the remote sensor and takes into account the adjustable position of the vehicle seat.In addition, the child restraint seat detection approach described in this document is needed as input to an occupant height detection approach because a smaller child sits much higher in a child restraint seat and may appear larger or approximately the same size as a larger child sitting directly in the vehicle seat or a small adult sitting directly in the vehicle seat.

[0035] In Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment 100 for use of an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system according to various embodiments. The example environment 100 may include a vehicle cabin 101, an airbag 110, a vehicle seat 120, a child restraint seat (CRS) 115, which may be a backless booster seat 116 (represented by the dashed outline and hatches) or a child restraint seat with a backrest 117 (represented by the non-dashed outline area), a vehicle occupant 103, which may be a short occupant 104 (represented by the solid shape) seated on a CRS 115, or a tall occupant 108 (represented by the dotted shape) seated on the vehicle seat 120, an in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, and a remote sensor 107.

[0036] The example environment 100 shows a CRS 115 installed in a front vehicle seat 120, with an occupant 104 in the CRS 115 and also an occupant 108 sitting directly on the vehicle seat 120. An airbag 110 is installed in the vehicle cabin 101 in front of the vehicle seat 120 to mitigate a forward impact force of a vehicle occupant 103 (i.e., occupants 104, 108) against an instrument panel or the like during a forward vehicle contact event. The example environment 100 further illustrates an in-seat pressure sensor 125 for sensing the presence of the occupant 103, such as occupants 104, 108, as well as a remote sensor 107 for additional vehicle seat, occupant, and CRS installation detection.

[0037] The remote sensor 107 may be a passive optical sensor, such as a camera, radar, or lidar. The camera may be an infrared camera, a red-green-blue camera, a stereo vision camera, a time-of-flight camera, a thermal imaging camera, or another type of camera. One or more sensors of the types mentioned here or other remote sensors may then form the remote sensor 107. The remote sensor is mounted within the vehicle cabin 101 in a forward position, such as on / in an A-pillar between the windshield and a passenger window, on / in a rearview mirror, on / in an instrument panel, on / in a display screen, on / in an interior headliner, or the like, with a field of view (FOV) that includes the vehicle seat 120. In some example embodiments, the remote sensor 107 may transmit images to an image processor or an airbag deployment controller.In some example embodiments, the image may be one of multiple sequentially captured images, such as a video stream or the like.

[0038] With reference to the Fig. Some representative seating conditions are described to illustrate the difference in what the remote sensor 107 can see and detect across its field of view. Fig. 1a-1j depict a vehicle seat 120. In some exemplary embodiments, the vehicle seat 120 may include a recognizable pattern in the upholstery, a distinctive stitching pattern, or other recognizable shapes or features. The vehicle seat 120 may include recognizable shapes such as side wings, a headrest, headrest mounting posts, the distance between the backrest and seat bottom, etc. In other embodiments, the vehicle seat 120 may include a CRS 115 having different detectable shapes, such as the backrest, the side wings, the seat bottom, the headrest, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the vehicle seat 120 may include an occupant 103 having different detectable shapes. Other objects having different shapes may also be present in the vehicle seat 120, with or without the CRS 115 or occupant 103.

[0039] The pairs of figures (1a - 1j) depict: a) a perspective view of the vehicle seat 120 and the objects located therein as seen by the remote sensor 107 in the figures ending with "a, c, e, g, and i," with the remote sensor 107 located at a location on the roof / headliner near the lateral centerline of the vehicle, directly behind the windshield, and b) a two-dimensional section through a focused detection area 130 as seen by the remote sensor 107 in the figures ending with "b, d, f, h, and j." The two-dimensional section could also have a height and be a three-dimensional focused area instead of a two-dimensional focused area. The focused detection area 130 could be positioned at other locations within the field of view of the remote sensor. For example, in Fig. 1a, a second focused detection area 140 is shown extending generally horizontally through the vehicle seat 120 at a location below the general focused detection area 130, which is located at a position where it covers the headrest 142 or the headrests 144 of the raised headrest 146 (in Fig. 1a shown dashed) overlaps. Fig. 1c shows a generally vertical third detection area 150 located generally near the inside edge of the vehicle seat 120. Fig. 1a also shows a generally front-to-rear fourth detection area 160, which is generally positioned to include the bottom edge of the seat closest to the remote sensor 107 and the area above it. In addition, a focused detection area, similar to the focused detection areas 105, 106, can be arranged on the outer edge of the vehicle seat 120. The focused detection area or areas for the method described herein are chosen to enable the method to detect the presence of a CRS 115, which may be located within the focused detection area, some of the areas, or all of the areas if present. The focused detection area or areas are also chosen to detect other things in the vehicle seat 120, such asa person or object, or the absence of an object, in the vehicle seat 120, can be distinguished by a CRS 115. The focused detection area(s) may have different sizes or shapes, including a focused detection area focused on a small area or extending to nearly the entire field of view or the entire field of view. The focused detection area may also use the detected area of ​​the vehicle seat or another part of the vehicle as an indexing feature to determine the area's position. The location of the focused detection area and any indexing features or images of indexing features will likely be programmed into the algorithm's logic, e.g., during factory activation of the AOS system.The movable vehicle seat, specifically the movable seatback, is the likely detection zone for indexing. If a portion of the vehicle seat is used for indexing, the focused detection zone would move with that portion of the seat as that portion of the seat is moved, so that the focused detection zone maintains the same geometric relationship to the portion of the seat used for indexing. To illustrate the ability to detect CRS 115 presence, the . Fig. 1a-1J, the focused detection area 130 is described. A similar approach can be used for other focused detection areas or for scenarios where multiple focused detection areas are used.

[0040] Fig. 1a shows a vehicle seat 120 with a CRS 115, which is a backless booster seat 116. As shown in the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, the focused detection area 130 does not include the backless booster seat 116. Depending on the height of the headrest of the vehicle seat, a portion of the convex-shaped headrest is detected by the remote sensor 107 in its lower position 142 or in its upper position 146. If the headrest is in a higher position, a portion of the round headrest post 144 may also be detected. If the vehicle seat 120 were empty, a similar picture would result for the focused detection area 130. With respect to the backless child seat 116 in Fig. 1a could, when using the third focused detection area 150 (shown in Fig. 1C) or the fourth focused detection area 160, the backless child seat 116 can be detected because it is present in these areas and the geometric shape of the child restraint seat with a backrest 117 differs from anything else that is not a CRS. Although in the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, the backless booster seat 116 could be replaced by a side-transverse child restraint seat, and the same detections could result from this uniquely shaped type of restraint seat.

[0041] Fig. 1c shows a vehicle seat 120 with a CRS 115, which is a child restraint seat with a backrest 117. As shown in the Fig. 1c and Fig. 1d, the focused detection area 130 includes the child restraint seat with a back 117 in its field of view. Likewise, the second, third, and fourth focused detection areas 140, 150, 160 include the child restraint seat with a back 117 in their field of view, and this CRS can be detected if / because the geometric shape of the child restraint seat with a back 117 is different from anything else that is not a CRS. As shown, for example, in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1d, the child restraint seat with a back 117 has a concave curved shape that can be detected by the remote sensor 107.

[0042] Fig. 1e shows a vehicle seat 120 with occupants 103, which may be a short occupant 104 (represented by the solid outline) or a tall occupant 108 (represented by the shape outlined with dots) sitting on the vehicle seat 120. Of great importance for the present CRS detection concept is that the shape of the occupant, or the lack thereof, in one of the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160 differs from the shape of a CRS 115. In Fig. 1f, the remote sensor 107 can detect the head area of ​​the tall occupant with its convex shape and a portion of the headrest 142, 146 with its convex shape. The focused detection area 130 can possibly distinguish between the two differently tall occupants, since in the Fig. 1e and Fig. 1f shows that the head of the tall occupant 108 lies within the focused detection area 130 and the head of the short occupant 104 lies outside the focused detection area 130.

[0043] Fig. Figure 1g shows a vehicle seat 120 with an occupant 103, which is a short occupant 104, together with a CRS 115, which is a backless booster CRS 116. The shape of the occupant in one of the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160 differs from the shape of the CRS 115. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1h, the remote sensor 107 can detect the head portion of the tall occupant 108 with its convex shape and a portion of the head restraint 142, 146 with its convex shape. Furthermore, the occupant in the third and fourth focused detection zones 150, 160 could potentially be distinguished from the backless booster CRS 116, since both are within the third and fourth focused detection zones 150, 160, but are located at different locations within the third and fourth focused detection zones 150, 160.

[0044] Fig. Figure 1i shows a vehicle seat with an occupant 103, which is a short occupant 104, sitting in a CRS 115, which is a child restraint seat with a backrest 117. The shape of the CRS in one of the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160 differs from all others in the zones. The shape of the occupant in one of the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160 also differs from the shape of a CRS 115. In Fig. 1j, for example, the head portion of the short occupant 104 has a convex curved shape and the child restraint seat 117 has a concave curved shape, which can be partially detected by the remote sensor 107.

[0045] Importantly, the geometry of the CRS 115 for certain focused detection zones, particularly the focused detection zone 130, is different than anything else that may be present in the seat. Thus, a remote sensor 107 may be used to detect a CRS 115, particularly a child restraint seat with a back 117, which may be present in the focused detection zones 130, 140, and 150. Furthermore, a remote sensor 107 may be used to detect the presence of an occupant 103.

[0046] As described above, the remote sensor 107 may be configured to detect a CRS 115 in the vehicle seat 120. The CRS detection may be triggered by an AOS system responsive to activation of a vehicle system, such as unlocking the vehicle doors, opening a vehicle door, or a control signal to activate the vehicle's remote start. In some example embodiments, the remote sensor 107 may initiate a CRS detection in response to a weight detected in the seat by the weight / load sensor 125, an obscuration of a feature of the vehicle seat 120, or in response to certain features of the CRS 115, such as the backrest, side wings, seat bottom, headrest, or a combination thereof. In other example embodiments, the remote sensor 107 may initiate a CRS detection in response to a trigger routine when the system wakes up and attempts to determine what is present in the vehicle seat 120.

[0047] In response to detecting an installed CRS 115, the remote sensor 107 may capture a baseline image of the CRS 115 for use in later determining whether the vehicle occupant 103 is seated in the CRS 115. Furthermore, before detecting anything on the seat, the remote sensor 107 may capture a baseline image of the seat 120 in its empty state for use in later determining whether a CRS 115 is present or an occupant 103 is present. Detection of the vehicle seat 120, the CRS 115, and the vehicle occupant 103 may be a time-based sequence in which the detected state is locked after a certain period of time or the like. For some scenarios, it may be more robust to first detect the vehicle seat 120 in an empty state and then additively detect the presence of a CRS 115 or an occupant 103 either in the CRS or on the vehicle seat.In other scenarios, detection of a time-based sequence may not be necessary for robust detection of these various conditions. (Using a non-time-based sequence approach is preferable because the algorithm can then detect what is currently present in the vehicle seat 120 without having to consider the past.) CRS detection may include continuous detection until the detected condition is locked with re-activation in response to a change in the output signal of the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, a change in seatbelt status, a change in door status, a change in vehicle operational status, or the like. In response to a detected CRS 115, the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125 may set a detection threshold.For example, the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125 may use a higher weight / pressure threshold when a CRS 115 is detected, or a lower weight / pressure threshold when no CRS 115 is detected. The output of the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125 may be set to a lower value when a CRS 115 is detected, or to a higher value when no CRS 115 is detected.

[0048] In some example embodiments, the CRS detection algorithm may be executed on images captured by the remote sensor 107. For example, the algorithm may look for one or two vertical CRS side wings in one or more areas of horizontal cross-sections of the seat. Many CRS 115 have very pronounced side wings around the occupant's head and torso area, which may be used to distinguish the CRS 115 from the vehicle seat 120. In some example embodiments, the remote sensor 107 may be a time-of-flight sensor, a lidar, a radar, or another type of sensor capable of sensing depth and creating a two- or three-dimensional representation of the sensing target to distinguish the sensing target's shape. The CRS detection algorithm may use the resulting depth maps from the remote sensor to detect the presence of the CRS 115 and / or a vehicle occupant within the CRS 115.

[0049] In Fig. Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary configuration 200 for an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system according to an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary configuration 200 includes a weight / pressure sensor 210, a remote sensor 220, a processor 230, a vehicle controller 250, a memory 260, and an airbag control unit 240.

[0050] The exemplary weight / pressure sensor 210 may be an in-seat weight / pressure sensor. A weight / pressure sensor may be a flexible or rigid contact sensor located on a loaded surface of the vehicle seat 120, such as the seat bottom, a seat hinge, or the seatback. When external weight / pressure is applied to the vehicle seat 120, e.g., when an occupant 103 sits on the vehicle seat 120 or when another object is placed on the vehicle seat 120, the sensor outputs a signal to achieve detection. The output signal may generally be proportional to the amount of weight / pressure the occupant 103 or object exerts on the vehicle seat. The sensor may be formed from bladders, load cells, silver paste, ink, and other components.When the weight / pressure sensor 210 detects a weight / pressure above a threshold, the weight / pressure sensor 210 couples a control signal indicative of the detected weight / pressure to the processor 230 or the like. The processor 230 can then use this detected weight / pressure value as a base weight for determining an airbag suppression / deployment threshold.

[0051] The remote sensor 220 may be a passive or active sensor, such as a camera, lidar, radar, thermal sensor, infrared proximity sensor, or other suitable sensor. The remote sensor 220 may be used to detect when the vehicle seat 120 is empty, the presence of a CRS 115, or the presence of a vehicle seat occupant 103. In some example embodiments, the remote sensor 220 may initiate detection of the CRS 115 when the processor 230 receives a weight / pressure value from the weight / pressure sensor 210 indicating an object on the vehicle seat 120.For example, if the weight / pressure sensor 210 detects a weight / pressure greater than a standard weight / pressure indicative of an empty seat established during vehicle manufacturing or the like, a control signal from the processor 230 may be coupled to the remote sensor 220 to send images to the processor 230 so that it can perform the CRS detection algorithm. In some example embodiments, a current image of the vehicle seat 120 may be compared to a previous image of the vehicle seat 120 to detect any obstructions between the remote sensor 220 and the vehicle seat 120. The remote sensor 220 may be configured to detect distinguishing features of a CRS 115, such as protruding sidewalls, distinctive shapes, color changes, or the like. Furthermore, the remote sensor 220 may be configured to detect the presence of an occupant 103.To assist in detecting a CRS 115 and distinguishing the CRS 115 from occupants 103, the vehicle seat 120, and other objects, the algorithm may use machine learning, state machine logic, or a combination of both when analyzing the output of the remote sensor 220 and the specific output located within the focused sensing zones 130, 140, 160, etc. The processor 230 may also use a time-based sequence approach to detect changes in the vehicle seat with detected state locking to estimate an empty vehicle seat 120, a vehicle seat 120 with the CRS 115 installed, and an occupant 104 within the CRS 115 installed in the vehicle seat 120. Similarly, state locking may be used to estimate an empty vehicle seat 120 and a vehicle seat with an occupant 108.In this time-based sequence approach, the remote sensor 220 may be activated when a vehicle door is opened or the vehicle is turned on, allowing the state of the vehicle seat 120 to be determined by the processor 230 in a time-sequence-based manner. The processor 230 may also store the last detected state before the system was turned off or idle for use in the time-sequence-based approach. In this approach, the processor 230 adjusts an airbag suppression / deployment threshold, such as a weight / pressure threshold, or adjusts a weight / pressure sensor output.

[0052] The processor 230 is configured to generate an airbag suppression or deployment threshold in response to data received from the weight / pressure sensor 210, the remote sensor 220, and the vehicle controller 250. The occupant detection and airbag deployment control system may be triggered in response to a change in the vehicle's operating state, e.g., from "off" to "standby," in response to a change in the door cycle state, a change in the door lock state, or the like. In response to a triggering of the occupant detection and airbag deployment control system, the processor 230 may retrieve, request, or receive a weight / pressure sensor value from the in-seat weight / pressure sensor 210. In response to this weight / pressure sensor value, the processor may determine a probability of the presence of an object in the front passenger seat.This determination may be based on a deviation of the weight / pressure sensor reading from a standard weight / pressure sensor reading indicating a known empty seat.

[0053] In response to detecting an object on the passenger seat, processor 230 may then initiate a remote sensing algorithm and request remote sensing data from remote sensor 220. Remote sensor 220 may capture an image of vehicle seat 120 along with the objects located thereon and transmit this data to processor 230, which estimates the likelihood that a CRS 115 is installed on vehicle seat 120.This determination may be made in response to a comparison of the captured image with image data from a database of a known empty vehicle seat 120 in various seat orientations, a known number of different CRS 115 models, and a known number of different occupants 103, a determination of a visual obstruction of an indicator on the vehicle seat 120 or a known feature of the vehicle seat 120, or in response to a detection of a physical feature indicative of a CRS 115, such as a protruding sidewall, a different shape, a distinct color, etc. The vehicle seat 120, the occupants 103, the CRS 115, and any objects may be in different positions in the database. For example, the vehicle seat 120 may be in different positions where the backrest is reclined up or down, or where it is facing forward or rearward.Occupants 103 may have different body shapes, wear different clothing, and sit in different orientations with different arm positions. The CRS 115 may be of different models and colors and be equipped with different accessories in its deployed or stowed position. This determination data is then transmitted from the remote sensor 220 to the processor 230.

[0054] The processor 230 evaluates the output of the remote sensor 107, 210 and determines whether to perform a weight / pressure-related compensation. This compensation may be in the form of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment of the measured weight / pressure output or a measured weight / pressure adjustment of the measured weight / pressure output, as will now be described. In response to determining a likely installation of the CRS 115, the processor 230 may set a weight / pressure threshold to determine whether an occupant 104 is in the CRS 115.For example, if it is determined that a CRS 115 is installed in the vehicle seat 120, a higher weight / pressure threshold (than would be used for the unmodified base version of that threshold if no CRS 115 is present) may be used to determine an occupant's height / weight classification to compensate for the additional weight of the CRS 115. Likewise, if no CRS 115 is detected, a lower weight / pressure threshold (than would be used for the unmodified base version of that threshold if a CRS 115 is present) may be used to determine the occupant's height / weight classification based on the output of the weight / pressure sensor 125, 210. Alternatively, an offset value may be added to the measured output of the weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 if no CRS 115 is detected, or subtracted from the measured output of the weight / pressure sensor if a CRS 115 is detected.At least one of these approaches would be performed to compensate for the additional weight of a CRS 115 or the absence of a CRS 115, depending on whether a CRS 115 was detected or not. The weight / pressure threshold or offset value may be adjusted by either of these approaches by a fixed amount or by a percentage of the unadjusted amount. The amount of adjustment would preferably correspond to the approximate weight / pressure that a heavier CRS 115 would exert on the weight / pressure sensor 210, which would likely originate from a large-sized child restraint seat with a back 117. As a further alternative, a larger adjustment could be used than the weight / pressure exerted by a heavier CRS 115. The adjustment could consist of setting a threshold or the output of the weight / pressure sensor 210 either to infinity or to zero.

[0055] These changes in the weight / pressure threshold or weight / pressure sensor output are intended to correct for the fact that a CRS 115 may have a significant weight and may impair the ability of the weight-pressure sensor 125 to detect the difference between a larger and heavier occupant (e.g., a tall occupant 108) sitting in the vehicle seat 120 and a smaller and lighter occupant (e.g., a short occupant 104) sitting on a heavy CRS 115.

[0056] The child restraint seat with a backrest 117 typically weighs much more than a backless child restraint seat 116. Thus, the method may detect either only the child restraint seat with a backrest 117 or both the backless booster 116 and the child restraint seat with a backrest 117. For the actual detection of the CRS 115, it may be easier to detect a child restraint seat with a back 117 and not attempt to detect the backless booster 116, since the back of the child restraint seat with a back 117 is likely the easiest part of a CRS 115 to detect and distinguish from a vehicle seat 120 or an occupant 103. For either approach, the method adjusts either the weight / pressure threshold or the weight / pressure sensor output to largely or completely eliminate the weight of the CRS 115 from the weight / pressure sensing approach.

[0057] Note that for a robust remote sensing approach, CRS 115 detection must be used because one cannot simply observe the seat height of an occupant 103 via a remote sensor 107, since a short occupant in a CRS 115 on a vehicle seat 120, as in the Fig. 1, Fig. 1G and Fig. 1I, can have the same seat height as the tall passenger 108 sitting directly on the vehicle seat 120, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 1e. Similarly, in a remote sensing approach, a smaller occupant might wear a winter coat and a thick hat or hood, which could make them appear larger than a larger occupant.

[0058] In response to a deployment of the airbag control system, e.g., in response to vehicle movement, a vehicle operating condition, or the like, the processor may receive subsequent weight / pressure values ​​from the weight / pressure sensor 210 in the seat. The processor 230 then compares these updated weight / pressure values ​​to the corresponding weight / pressure threshold and generates an airbag enable signal for coupling to the airbag controller 240 if the subsequent weight / pressure values ​​exceed the weight / pressure threshold. Likewise, the processor 230 may couple an airbag suppression signal to the airbag controller 240 if the updated weight / pressure threshold is less than the weight / pressure threshold.

[0059] The airbag controller 240 may receive data from the vehicle controller 250, other vehicle sensors, or from sensors within the airbag sensing system, such as accelerometers, inertial measurement units, contact sensors, or the like, to estimate the occurrence of a vehicle contact event. After determining the vehicle contact event, the airbag controller 240 may check the status of the airbag suppression signal to determine whether to deploy the airbag in response to detecting the contact event. If the airbag suppression signal has been received from the processor 230, the airbag will not deploy. If the airbag enable signal has been received, the airbag will deploy.

[0060] In Fig. 3, an exemplary method 300 for an occupant detection and airbag deployment control system is illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0061] The method is initially capable of initiating 310 the occupant detection algorithm. The example method 300 may be triggered 310 when the weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 on the vehicle seat 120 detects a weight or pressure above a predetermined threshold, the measured performance of the weight / pressure sensor changes beyond a predetermined delta amount, the seat row door is opened or actuated, the door adjacent to the seat is opened or actuated, the seat belt is fastened, the belt webbing is extended, the vehicle is started, vehicle motion is initiated, or the like. In response to initiating the algorithm, the method 300 next detects 315 a weight / pressure on the vehicle seat 120.The method compares 320 this detected weight / pressure to a predetermined weight / pressure to determine whether the vehicle seat 120 is empty or whether an object is located in the vehicle seat 120. If the determined weight / pressure value does not exceed the default weight / pressure value by a threshold, such as 10%, the method may determine that the vehicle seat 120 is empty. If the vehicle seat 120 is empty, the method 305 may send a belt suppression signal to the airbag controller to suppress deployment of the airbag corresponding to the vehicle seat 120 in the event of a vehicle contact event.

[0062] In response to detecting a weight / pressure on the vehicle seat 120 that differs from a standard value by the threshold, the method then triggers a detection 330 by the remote sensor 107, 220. In some example embodiments, the remote sensor 107, 220 is a camera configured to capture one or more images of the vehicle seat 120 in response to the trigger signal and transmit this output to a processor 230. In other example embodiments, the remote sensor 107, 220 could pulse when the algorithm is activated at 310, capturing and transmitting images to the processor 230, allowing a time-based sequencing approach to be used.The processor 230 may then perform an image processing procedure on the captured image / series of captured images or a comparison of the captured image / series of captured images from a database of a known empty vehicle seat 120 in various seat orientations, a known number of different CRS 115 models, and a known number of different occupants 103 to determine if a CRS 115 is present. If a time-based sequencing approach is used, the processor 230 may first identify the vehicle seat 120, then a CRS 115 on the vehicle seat 120, then an occupant 104 in the CRS 115, or, if no CRS 115 is used, an occupant 103 in the vehicle seat 120. If a time-based sequencing approach is not used, the processor 230 would detect what is currently in the vehicle seat 120.The algorithm may use a machine learning approach, a state machine approach, or a combination of both in its logic to detect whether a CRS 115 is present based on the output in the focused detection zones 130, 140, 150, 160, etc. Once the presence of a CRS 115 is determined, the method may use 350 to compensate for the weight of a CRS 115. If a CRS is not present, the method may use 360 ​​to compensate for the weight of the CRS. The method next compares the weight / pressure sensor value from 350, 360 and compares this value at 370 to the weight / pressure threshold value from 350, 360 to determine whether an occupant is larger or smaller than the weight / pressure threshold value from 350, 360.

[0063] The compensation at 350 and 360 may be at least one of a set of matched pairs. In a first exemplary embodiment, the weight / pressure is subtracted from the measured weight / pressure at 350 when a CRS 115 is detected, and no change is made to the measured weight / pressure at 360 when no CRS 115 is detected. In a second exemplary embodiment, the weight / pressure is added to the weight / pressure threshold at 350 when a CRS 115 is detected, and no change is made to the measured weight / pressure threshold at 360 when no CRS is detected. In a third exemplary embodiment, no change is made to the measured weight / pressure at 350 when a CRS 115 is detected, and the weight / pressure is added to the measured weight / pressure at 360 when a CRS 115 is not detected.In a fourth exemplary embodiment, the base weight / pressure threshold value is not changed at 350 if a CRS 115 is detected, and the weight / pressure is subtracted from the weight / pressure threshold at 360 if a CRS 115 is not detected. These various embodiments compensate for the weight of the CRS 115. The amount of compensation may be a preselected amount or a percentage of the unchanged weight / pressure threshold.

[0064] If at 370 the occupant is less than the weight / pressure threshold, at 305 an airbag suppression signal is coupled to the airbag controller to suppress airbag deployment according to the position of the vehicle seat 120 in response to a vehicle contact event. If at 370 the occupant is greater than the weight / pressure threshold, at 375 an optional reduction in the weight / pressure threshold occurs, and at 380 an enable signal is coupled to the airbag controller so that the airbags are deployed upon a vehicle contact event. At 375, after the controller 230 determines whether or not a CRS 115 is present, the method may optionally determine whether the measured weight / pressure output remains above the weight / pressure threshold for a period of time defined by a time duration threshold.If the duration threshold is exceeded, the weight / pressure threshold can optionally be reduced to a lower value. This prevents small decreases in the measured value of the seat sensor 125, 210 caused by small movements of the occupant 103 or vehicle dynamic inputs from triggering a release to suppress the change that would otherwise occur if the measured weight / pressure exceeded the weight / pressure threshold.

[0065] After the suppression 305 or enable signals 380 are coupled to the airbag controller, the method may return to monitoring the weight / pressure sensor signal to collect 315 subsequent weight / pressure values ​​from the weight / pressure sensor 125, 210. In some example embodiments, the method may enter a sleep or standby mode when the CRS and occupant status / classification relative to the weight / pressure threshold have been determined, when the door is closed, or shortly after the vehicle is in motion, when the occupant is detected / classified in the seat, e.g., when the door is closed or the trip has begun, when the vehicle is turned off, or when the trip ends. The in-seat weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 would continue to monitor the load on the vehicle seat 120.The remote sensor(s) 107 could pulse at regular intervals or sleep at a lower sampling rate to confirm a detected condition. The method may wake up when the seat weight / pressure sensor 125, 210 has an output change beyond a predetermined delta, when any sensor that was enabled detects a significant difference, when the buckle state changes, when the webbing length changes beyond a predetermined delta, or when an event occurs to initiate the method. In some example embodiments, the method may run at a lower detection rate instead of sleeping.

Claims

[1] Airbag deployment system comprising: a memory (260) configured to store a weight / pressure standard threshold value for weight / pressure; a weight / pressure sensor (210) configured to detect a weight / pressure on a vehicle seat surface; a remote sensor (220) installed on the vehicle seat for detecting the presence of a child restraint seat; a processor (230) for generating a weight / pressure-related compensation based on whether the remote sensor (220) detects a child restraint seat or does not detect a child restraint seat: a processor decision to enable airbag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output exceeds a compensated weight / pressure threshold, and a processor decision to suppress airbag deployment when the compensated weight / pressure output is less than a compensated weight / pressure threshold; a vehicle controller (250) for detecting a vehicle contact event; and an airbag deployment controller configured to inhibit deployment of an airbag (110) in response to detecting the vehicle contact event and the airbag suppression signal and to enable deployment of the airbag (110) in response to the vehicle contact event and the airbag enable signal. [2] The airbag deployment system of claim 1, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation is determined by using at least one of a weight / pressure threshold adjustment and a measured weight / pressure output adjustment, and wherein the compensation is determined using a time-based sequence approach or an approach that is not a time-based sequence approach. [3] The airbag deployment system of claim 1, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation includes compensating for the measured weight / pressure by subtracting an amount from the measured weight / pressure and comparing that amount to a weight / pressure threshold when a CRS (115) is detected, and comparing the measured weight / pressure to a weight / pressure threshold when a CRS (115) is not detected. [4] The airbag deployment system of claim 1, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation includes using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to a weight / pressure threshold, which is compensated to a higher value when a CRS (115) is detected, and wherein the measured weight / pressure is compared to a weight / pressure threshold when no CRS (115) is detected. [5] The airbag deployment system of claim 1, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation includes using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to the weight / pressure threshold when a CRS (115) is detected, and compensating for the measured weight / pressure by adding an amount to the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to a weight / pressure threshold when no CRS (115) is detected. [6] The airbag deployment system of claim 1, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation comprises using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to the weight / pressure threshold when a CRS (115) is detected, and using the measured weight / pressure and comparing it to a weight / pressure threshold that is compensated to a lower value when a CRS (115) is not detected. [7] The airbag deployment system of claim 1, wherein the weight / pressure related compensation is at least one of a selected magnitude compensation and a percent of the compensation of an uncompensated value. [8] The airbag deployment system of claim 1, wherein the remote sensor (220) is configured to view a vehicle seat (120), a child restraint seat on the vehicle seat (120), an occupant on the vehicle seat (120), an occupant on a child restraint seat (120) which in turn is on the vehicle seat (120). [9] The airbag deployment system of claim 8, wherein the remote sensor (220) includes at least one focused detection zone for child restraint seat detection, the focused detection zone being located at a location where the remote sensor (220) can distinguish the presence of a CRS (115) from the vehicle seat and occupants based on the detected CRS characteristics that are different from those of the vehicle seat and occupants.

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