Method for determining the need for a booster seat in a vehicle

Abstract

Method for determining a requirement for a booster seat (3) for a vehicle occupant in a vehicle (1), characterized in that - when a vehicle occupant approaches the vehicle (1) and / or when the vehicle occupant sits on a front passenger seat or on a rear seat (2), the height of the vehicle occupant is automatically determined, - it is automatically determined whether the measured body height falls below a specified threshold, - if the threshold is undershot, the age of the vehicle occupant is automatically determined using facial recognition, - it is automatically determined whether the age determined by facial recognition falls below a further specified threshold, and - if the further specified threshold value is undershot, a query is made on the vehicle side, to be answered by a driver of the vehicle (1), as to whether the vehicle occupant is younger or older than 12 years.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining the need for a booster seat for a vehicle occupant in a vehicle.

[0002] US 2008 / 0021616 A1 discloses a detection device for detecting information about a vehicle occupant in relation to an occupant restraint system and a method for determining information about a vehicle occupant. The detection device comprises a detection unit for detecting information about the vehicle occupant, a storage unit for storing information regarding potential vehicle occupants, and a control unit configured to determine position information regarding the vehicle occupant by linking detected information with the stored information regarding the potential vehicle occupant.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of specifying a method for determining the need for a booster seat for a vehicle occupant in a vehicle.

[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention by a method which has the features specified in claim 1.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0006] A method for determining the need for a booster seat for a vehicle occupant in a vehicle provides, according to the invention, that - when a vehicle occupant approaches the vehicle and / or when the vehicle occupant sits on a front passenger seat or on a rear seat, the height of the vehicle occupant is determined automatically, - it is automatically determined whether the measured body height falls below a specified threshold, - if the threshold is undershot, the age of the vehicle occupant is automatically determined using facial recognition, - it is automatically determined whether the age determined by facial recognition falls below a further specified threshold, and - if the further specified threshold is undershot, a query is made on the vehicle side, to be answered by a driver of the vehicle, as to whether the vehicle occupant is younger or older than 12 years.

[0007] By applying the method, the height of a potential vehicle occupant is automatically determined, and the driver is notified, based on the determined age of the vehicle occupant, that the vehicle occupant, especially a child, requires a booster seat, particularly with regard to a seat belt assigned to the vehicle occupant's seat. This can increase the safety of the vehicle occupant, especially the child, because the booster seat allows the fastened seat belt to be positioned optimally on the child's body, thus optimizing injury protection for the child in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0008] The application of the procedure can also ensure compliance with legal transport regulations to the greatest extent possible.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0010] The following shows: Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a section of a rear area of ​​a vehicle.

[0011] The single figure shows a perspective view of a section of the rear area of ​​a vehicle 1. It depicts a rear seat 2 with a positioned booster seat 3 for a child (not shown in detail). Such a booster seat 3 serves, in particular, to achieve an optimized path for a safety belt 4 assigned to the rear seat 2 on the child's body, in particular on the pelvis and between the child's neck and shoulder, in order to increase injury protection for the child in the event of a collision with the vehicle 1, in particular by reducing a possible forward displacement path.

[0012] It is generally known that when a child is transported in a vehicle 1, especially if the child is not part of the family, no thought is given to whether the child needs a booster seat 3.

[0013] In order to determine whether a potential vehicle occupant requires such a booster seat 3 for this vehicle occupant, a method described below is provided.

[0014] Vehicle 1 has at least one camera (not shown in detail), whose detection range lies outside vehicle 1. Potential vehicle occupants approaching vehicle 1 are detected by this camera. For example, the camera is integrated into an exterior mirror of vehicle 1; this camera may be a so-called SVS camera.

[0015] In addition, the vehicle 1 has a further camera, not shown in detail, by means of which an interior of the vehicle 1 is detected, i.e. a detection area is directed into the vehicle 1.

[0016] The method provides that when a potential vehicle occupant approaches the vehicle 1, this is detected by the camera and the image data captured by the camera are evaluated at least to the extent that a height of the potential vehicle occupant is determined, in particular measured or estimated.

[0017] The determined body height is then assigned to the vehicle occupant in vehicle 1, in particular based on facial recognition, whereby image data recorded by the camera and image data recorded by the further camera are compared so that it can be determined whether the potential vehicle occupant detected outside the vehicle, whose body height was determined, is the vehicle occupant in vehicle 1.

[0018] In one possible embodiment of the method, the height of a vehicle occupant on a front passenger seat or a rear seat 2 in the vehicle 1 is determined, for example measured or estimated.

[0019] If it is determined that the height of the potential vehicle occupant or the vehicle occupant already sitting in the vehicle is below a specified threshold of 150 cm, facial recognition based on the image data captured by the camera and / or the additional camera is used to determine whether this vehicle occupant is a child.

[0020] If the facial recognition determines that the vehicle occupant is a child, the facial recognition is used to determine whether the vehicle occupant is a child under the age of 12. For this purpose, the facial recognition determines, in particular, whether the child's age is below a specified additional threshold, in particular 12 years.

[0021] If the determined height of the vehicle occupant falls below the specified threshold, in particular 150 cm, and the specified additional threshold, in particular 12 years, a driver of vehicle 1 is presented with a query displayed in a display area of ​​an instrument panel. For example, the query may read: "Potential child with a height of less than 150 cm detected. Is the detected potential child older than 12 years?" The driver is also presented with the answer options "Yes" and "No." For example, the display area is touch-sensitive, so that the driver can make an appropriate selection by touching the displayed answer options.

[0022] If the driver of vehicle 1 selects “No” as an answer option, a message appears, particularly in the display area of ​​the instrument panel, stating that a booster seat 3 is required to transport the child in vehicle 1.

[0023] If an integrated booster seat 3 is installed in the vehicle 1, instructions for using the booster seat 3 in the vehicle 1 are automatically output, in particular displayed in the display area.

[0024] If the vehicle 1 has an electronically operated booster seat 3, the driver of the vehicle 1 can activate an automatic positioning of the booster seat 3 by actuating a control element assigned to the booster seat 3, not shown in detail. For this purpose, an additional indication is issued to observe the surroundings of the rear seat 2, in particular with regard to anti-pinch protection, if an object, another vehicle occupant and / or another living being is in the immediate vicinity of the rear seat 2 and the driver intends to position the booster seat 3.

Claims

[1] Method for determining a requirement for a booster seat (3) for a vehicle occupant in a vehicle (1), characterized by , that - when a vehicle occupant approaches the vehicle (1) and / or when the vehicle occupant sits on a front passenger seat or on a rear seat (2), the height of the vehicle occupant is automatically determined, - it is automatically determined whether the measured body height falls below a specified threshold, - if the threshold is undershot, the age of the vehicle occupant is automatically determined using facial recognition, - it is automatically determined whether the age determined by facial recognition falls below a further specified threshold, and - if the further specified threshold value is undershot, a query is made on the vehicle side, to be answered by a driver of the vehicle (1), as to whether the vehicle occupant is younger or older than 12 years. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that if it is indicated that the vehicle occupant of the vehicle (1) is younger than 12 years, an indication is automatically given of the need for a booster seat (3) to transport the vehicle occupant in the vehicle (1). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that if the driver of the vehicle (1) enters that the vehicle occupant is younger than 12 years and a positionable booster seat (3) is integrated in the vehicle (1), instructions for using the booster seat (3) are automatically issued. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat if an electronically operated booster seat (3) is installed in the vehicle (1), automatic positioning of the booster seat (3) is activated by actuating a control element assigned to the booster seat (3).

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