Vehicle and system for accident diagnostics in such a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle with an accident diagnostic system that detects the degree of injury of a vehicle occupant during a crash. According to the invention, the system comprises a diagnostic module (4) with which an internal injury of the vehicle occupant can be displayed in an output device (11, 19) for rescue personnel using an imaging method.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a system for accident diagnosis in such a vehicle according to claim 10.Ultrasonic devices are widely used in medicine and industry, but they are available only to a limited extent in accident situations in the vehicle environment. The use of conventional mobile or hand-held ultrasound devices requires additional equipment and time since they are often not available directly on site and external devices are necessary for visualizing the ultrasound data.Especially in the case of severe traffic accidents in which internal injuries-such as damage to organs or the spinal column-are not visible externally, the position is extremely difficult for first responders and rescue workers. The prior art does not currently offer a seamless, integrated solution which allows emergency services to carry out a targeted diagnosis already at the accident site and without rearrangement of the injured persons. This results in delays in the supply of occupants, which can impair the effectiveness of life-saving measures.DE 10 2022 126 318 A1 discloses a vehicle of the generic type having an accident diagnostic system which detects the degree of injury to a vehicle occupant in the event of a crash event. The system enables injury severity prediction. This prediction is based on data detectable by various sensors in the vehicle interior, including location, orientation, size, and type of object or occupant. In the event of a crash, this information as well as other event data such as vehicle speed, airbag deployment status and seatbelt engagement status are communicated to a telemetry and monitoring service (similar to GM's OnStar service) or directly to first responders.US 2013 / 0 267 194 A1 discloses a system for notifying a service center of an accident of a vehicle. In the system, data on the occupant status is also transmitted to the deployment center. DE 10 2019 103 443 A1 discloses a vehicle seat in which ultrasonic sensors are installed. With the aid of the ultrasonic sensors, data about the health state of the vehicle occupant is recorded.The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle and a system for accident diagnosis in such a vehicle, with which rescue workers easily obtain more detailed information about the degree of injury of the vehicle occupant compared to the prior art.The object is achieved by the features of claim 1 or 10. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.The invention relates to a vehicle having a system for accident diagnosis which detects the degree of injury of a vehicle occupant in the event of a crash event. According to claim 1, the system has a diagnostic module, with which an internal injury to the vehicle occupant in an output device for emergency workers can be detected in an imaging method. The system therefore enables rescue workers to quickly visually detect internal injuries directly at the accident site without having to move theally involved person unnecessarily or with only minimal position adaptations of theally involved person. This increases the efficiency of the first diagnosis and can be life-saving, since potentially critical injuries can be quickly detected and treated.In one technical implementation, at least one ultrasonic sensor and one data processing module can be assigned to the diagnostic module for detecting the internal injury of the vehicle occupant. The latter converts the sensor data acquired by the ultrasonic sensor into image data which can be visually displayed on the output device. With the aid of the ultrasonic sensor and the data processing module, high-frequency sound waves can be used for detailed detection of the internal injury to the vehicle occupant. The direct conversion into image data enables an illustrative representation of the injury, which improves and speeds the decision making for emergency workers. The ultrasonic sensor is designed as an ultrasonic transducer. This consists of piezoelectric crystals placed in a special arrangement. These crystals convert electric pulses into ultrasonic waves and receive the reflected waves. These waves are then analyzed by the data processing module (i.e., a high-performance processor), which converts the data into images interpretable for the human.With regard to meaningful imaging, it is advantageous if the ultrasonic sensor is installed in the seat part and / or in the backrest of a vehicle seat of the vehicle. In one technical realization, a plurality of ultrasonic sensors are distributed in the seat part, in the backrest and, if appropriate, also in the headrest of the vehicle seat. By integrating the ultrasonic sensors in the seat part and in the backrest, optimum positioning is achieved, which enables diagnostics without repositioning the occupant. This minimizes the risks of movement for the injured person and facilitates use of the system.The diagnostic module can preferably be in passive mode during accident-free normal operation. In addition, the diagnostic module may be directly or indirectly in signal connection with a crash sensor system of the vehicle. In the presence of a crash event, an electronic control unit can generate a wake-up signal, for example, with which the diagnostic module can be switched into its active mode. In the active module, the diagnostic module can start the imaging method. The passive mode in the accident-free state saves energy and avoids unnecessary loads on the system. The wake-up signal activates the diagnostic module only in the event of a crash event, which enables immediate and targeted diagnosis if necessary and maximizes the efficiency of the system.A chronological sequence of the crash event can be divided into a pre-crash phase, a crash phase and a post-crash phase. In order to provide imaging that is as meaningful as possible for the emergency workers, it is preferred if the diagnostic module records a video sequence in the imaging method, which video sequence extends from the pre-crash phase to the post-crash phase. Recording a video sequence over all phases of the crash event provides valuable information for comprehensive assessment of internal injuries. This helps rescue workers better understand the causes of injury and initiate more targeted first aid measures.In one embodiment variant, the output device can be a vehicle interior display, for example an MMI display. In this case, the display of the diagnostic data on an in-vehicle display ensures rapid and direct inspection of the rescue workers in the vehicle without relying on external devices. This saves valuable time in critical situations.Alternatively and / or additionally, the output device can also be an output device external to the vehicle, for example a tablet. The external output device can be connectable to the diagnostic module via a wired interface, for example an interface on the vehicle seat, or via a wireless interface, for example Bluetooth or WLAN. The ability to receive diagnostic data via an external device such as a tablet provides flexibility to emergency workers and allows for rapid delivery of information to other emergency teams. The interfaces (wired and wireless) increase the system's compatibility and user-friendliness.In addition, the diagnostic module can be assigned an energy supply independent of the on-board power supply in order to ensure the functionality of the diagnostic module even in the event of an energy supply inherent to the on-board power supply which fails because of an accident. Such an independent energy supply ensures that the diagnostic module remains functional even in the event of a complete failure of the on-board electronics, which ensures reliable diagnostic capability in emergency situations.The diagnostic module can also be assigned an input means with which the diagnostic module can be switched manually into the active mode even in accident-free normal operation, so that the vehicle occupant receives information about his body functions. Such a possibility of manually activating the diagnostic module offers occupants a valuable function for monitoring their own health, which assists preventive diagnostics in accident-free operation and increases well-being.Overall, therefore, the accident diagnostic system provides a complete, integrated solution for the real-time detection and representation of internal injuries in the vehicle. It offers emergency workers decisive information directly at the accident site and thus increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the medical initial care.An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the attached figure, which roughly schematically indicates a vehicle interior 1 of a vehicle in which a vehicle seat 3 is occupied by a vehicle occupant. The vehicle seat 3 is assigned a system for accident diagnostics, which has a diagnostic module 4 installed in the vehicle. The diagnostic module 4 consists of a number of ultrasonic sensors 5 and of a data processing module 7. the ultrasonic sensors 5 are positioned distributed on the seat part, on the backrest and on the headrest of the vehicle seat 3, to be precise preferably directly below the respective reference material, in order to be arranged at the smallest possible distance from the vehicle occupant, which simplifies the transmission of sound between the ultrasonic sensors 5 and the vehicle occupant.The ultrasonic sensors 5 are in data connection with the data processing module 7. As can be further seen from the figure, the image processing module 7 is connected to an MMI display 11 arranged on the instrument panel 9 in a data connection, on which the image data generated in the data processing module 7 can be visually displayed for the rescue workers.In the figure, the data processing module 7 is also in signal connection with a vehicle-side electronic control unit 13, which detects, with the aid of an associated crash sensor system 15, whether a crash event is present.The mode of operation of the accident diagnostic system is described below: accordingly, in an accident-free normal operation, the diagnostic module 4 is in a passive mode in which the energy consumption of the diagnostic module 4 is reduced to a minimum. Only when the electronic control unit 13 detects a crash event does it generate a wake-up signal S, with which the diagnostic module 4 can be switched into its active mode. In the active mode, the diagnostic module 4 generates an image interpretable by the rescue workers in an imaging method, which image is displayed in the MMI display 11. It is preferred if the diagnostic module 4 is already activated by the electronic control unit 13 in a pre-crash phase. In this case, the diagnostic module 4 can generate a video sequence which extends from the pre-crash phase to a post-crash phase, thereby enabling an even more comprehensive assessment of the internal injuries of the vehicle occupant.In the figure, the accident diagnostic system has, as an alternative and / or in addition to the MMI display 1, an external output device 19 which is connected at an interface 17, for example, in a wireless data connection to the data processing module 7 of the diagnostic module 4. The external output device 19 can be, for example, a tablet of rescue workers who may not yet be at the accident site. With the external output device 19, the rescue workers have the possibility of obtaining information about the internal injuries of the vehicle occupant already in the front (i.e. before reaching the accident site).In addition, as indicated in the figure, the diagnostic module 4 can be assigned an energy supply 21 independent of the on-board power supply or independent of the vehicle battery, for example a small storage battery. In this case, the functionality of the accident diagnostic system is ensured even in the event of an energy supply inherent in the vehicle electrical system which fails as a result of an accident. The diagnostic module 4 is further equipped with an input means 23. The vehicle occupant can, for example, switch the input means 23 manually into the active mode in accident-free normal operation in order to start the imaging method. As a result, the vehicle occupant can monitor his body functions or his state of health as required.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS:1 Vehicle interior 3 Vehicle seat 4 Diagnostic module 5 Ultrasonic sensor 7 Data processing module 9 Instrument panel 11 In-vehicle display 13 In-vehicle electronic control unit 15 Crash sensor system 17 Interface 19 Out-of-vehicle output device 21 Vehicle battery-independent energy supply 23 Input means S Wake-up signal

Claims

Vehicle having a system for accident diagnosis, which detects the degree of injury of a vehicle occupant in the event of a crash event, characterized in that the system has a diagnostic module (4), with which an internal injury of the vehicle occupant can be displayed in an output device (11, 19) for rescue workers in an imaging method.Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in order to detect the internal injury of the vehicle occupant, the diagnostic module (4) is assigned at least one ultrasonic sensor (5) and a data processing module (7) which converts the sensor data recorded by the ultrasonic sensor (5) into image data which can be visually displayed on the output device (11, 19).Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the ultrasonic sensor (5) is installed in the seat part and / or in the backrest of a vehicle seat (3) of the vehicle.Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diagnostic module (4) is in the passive mode in accident-free normal operation, in that in particular the diagnostic module (4) is in signal connection with a crash sensor system (15) of the vehicle, and in that, in the presence of a crash event, a wake-up signal (S) can be generated, with which the diagnostic module (4) can be switched into its active mode, in which the diagnostic module (4) carries out the imaging method.Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a chronological sequence of the crash event comprises a pre-crash phase, a crash phase and a post-crash phase, and in that the diagnostic module (4) records a video sequence in the imaging method, which extends from the pre-crash phase to the post-crash phase, in order to enable a more comprehensive assessment of the internal injury of the vehicle occupant.Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output device is a display (11) inside the vehicle, for example an MMI display.Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output device is an output device (19) external to the vehicle, for example a tablet, which can be connected to the diagnostic module (4) via a wired interface, for example an interface on the vehicle seat, or via a wireless interface (17), for example Bluetooth or WLAN.Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diagnostic module (4) is assigned an energy supply (21) which is independent of the on-board power supply in order to ensure the functionality of the diagnostic module (4) even in the event of an energy supply which is inherent in the on-board power supply which fails as a result of an accident.Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diagnostic module (4) is assigned an input means (23), with which the diagnostic module (4) can be switched manually into the active mode even in accident-free normal operation by the vehicle occupant, so that the vehicle occupant receives information about his body functions.System for diagnosing accidents in a vehicle according to one of the preceding claims.

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