Method and system for controlling a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for controlling a vehicle (30), wherein the vehicle comprises a control unit (12), an adjustable component (14, 15, 16, 18), a monitoring device (20) for an area (40) of the vehicle, a door (38) with a door opening sensor (22), and a detector unit (24) associated with the door for monitoring an entry area (42) of the door, comprising at least the following steps: performing (102) a detection of a person in the area surrounding the vehicle by means of the control unit based on data from the monitoring device; when the door opening sensor indicates that the door is opened: performing (104) a detection of a person located in the entry area of ​​the open door by means of the control unit based on data from the detector unit associated with the open door;and if a known person is detected in one entry area: Control (106) the one adjustable component based on user profile data of the person detected in one entry area (36) by means of the at least one control unit. The method has a lower susceptibility to errors in the setting of the adjustable components.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a system for controlling a vehicle.

[0002] Various vehicle components can be adjusted for different users. For example, seat settings, steering wheel height, and climate control settings can be customized for specific occupants. This is possible for the driver, front passenger, and potentially other passengers as well.

[0003] US patent 2023 / 0174020A1 discloses a system in which a vehicle's cameras capture image data of the vehicle's surroundings. From this image data, people touching the driver's door are identified. If a key is detected near the vehicle, person recognition is initiated, which also activates camera surveillance. When a person is identified, their height can be estimated in order to adjust vehicle components accordingly. Furthermore, a user profile can be loaded, from which settings and other configurations can be derived.

[0004] EP 3 583 754 B1 describes systems and methods that may include a digital assistance application which receives sensor signals from sensors installed in a vehicle and detects an entry event into the vehicle. In response to the entry event, the digital assistance application can receive a variety of authentication input signals from a variety of sensors connected to the vehicle. Based on the variety of authentication input signals and a variety of authentication credentials, the digital assistance application can determine a variety of authentication states. The digital assistance application can identify an access authorization level from a variety of access authorization levels, based at least partially on the variety of identified authentication states.The digital assistance application can, in response to the access authorization level, identify a subset of a range of functions available via the vehicle and provide vehicle access to that subset of functions.

[0005] From DE 10 2023 128 989 A1, a method for providing a personalized entry and / or loading and / or unloading configuration for a vehicle, as well as a corresponding vehicle, is further disclosed, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more adjustable and controllable devices that enable personalized settings. The method comprises the steps of: detecting whether an occupant is approaching the vehicle and / or an entry area from the outside or is already in an entry area outside the vehicle, capturing one or more pieces of biometric information from this occupant, evaluating at least one piece of captured biometric information from this occupant, and determining a personalized entry and / or loading and / or unloading configuration for the occupant based on the at least one piece of captured biometric information from this occupant.Determining one or more control variables for the personalized setting of one or more of the adjustable devices for setting the personalized entry and / or loading and / or unloading configuration, and controlling one or more of the vehicle's adjustable devices with the one or more determined control variables for setting the personalized entry and / or loading and / or unloading configuration.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a method and a system for controlling a vehicle which have a lower susceptibility to errors in the adjustment of the adjustable vehicle components.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] According to a first aspect, a method for controlling a vehicle is described, wherein the vehicle has at least one control unit, at least one adjustable component, at least one monitoring device for an area surrounding the vehicle, at least one door with at least one door opening sensor, and at least one detector unit associated with the at least one door for monitoring at least one entry area of ​​the at least one door, comprising at least the following steps: performing a detection of at least one person in the area surrounding the vehicle using the at least one control unit based on data from the at least one monitoring device;If the at least one door opening sensor indicates that the at least one door has been opened: Perform a detection of a person located in the at least one entry area of ​​the at least one open door, using the at least one control unit based on data from the at least one detector unit assigned to the at least one open door; and if a known person is detected in the at least one entry area: Control the at least one adjustable component based on user profile data of the person detected in the at least one entry area, using the at least one control unit.

[0009] The vehicle control system detects a person in the entry area of ​​at least one door after the door has been opened. The person in the entry area of ​​that door is highly likely to be the person who will also occupy the seat associated with that door. This allows the control of the adjustable components by the at least one control unit to specifically target the person in the entry area of ​​that door. Person detection can be performed individually for each door in each entry area. In this way, a passenger can also open a passenger door, triggering detection of their presence in the passenger door's entry area. The passenger seat can then also be adjusted for that person.The process is carried out as follows: First, a monitoring device in the vehicle's vicinity detects at least one person, for example, all persons in the vehicle's vicinity. The vehicle's vicinity can, for example, encompass a radius of several meters. The vehicle can then identify people who are in its vicinity. As soon as a door opening sensor indicates that a door has been opened, a detector unit for the entry area of ​​that door can detect the person who is in the entry area. The person opening the door can thus be distinguished from the person who is in the entry area.If a known person is detected in the door entry area, a user profile can be loaded, allowing at least one control unit to then activate at least one adjustable component based on the known person's user profile data. Furthermore, the user profile data associated with the vehicle key is not automatically used. Instead, individual person detection in the entry area is used to control the adjustable components. This also reduces the potential for errors when adjusting the components, as it prevents mix-ups.

[0010] The at least one detector unit can, for example, be designed as a camera. The at least one control unit can be connected via a wireless or wired signal connection to the at least one adjustable component, the at least one monitoring device, the at least one door sensor, and / or the at least one detector unit.

[0011] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the method may further include at least the following step: if no known person is detected in the at least one entry area: estimating the height of the unknown person using the at least one control unit based on data from the at least one detector unit and controlling the at least one adjustable component based on the estimated height using the at least one control unit.

[0012] This allows adjustable components to be controlled even if no user profile data is available for the detected person. In this case, at least those adjustable components that can be set depending on a person's height can be configured.

[0013] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the step of detecting at least one person in the vicinity of the vehicle can be carried out if at least one vehicle key signal from at least one vehicle key assigned to the vehicle is received by means of at least one receiving device of the vehicle.

[0014] The steps described above can be triggered when a vehicle key signal is received by the at least one receiving device. This may require the vehicle key to be within an area around the vehicle, such as the surrounding area. Only then will person detection be carried out by the at least one monitoring device.

[0015] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that different people can be detected in entry areas of different doors and that the at least one control unit can control different adjustable components based on different user profile data and / or estimated body sizes.

[0016] The process can thus be carried out simultaneously for different open doors and therefore for different people. The various adjustable components assigned to the open doors can then be controlled according to the detected persons. For example, if an unknown person is detected at the driver's door entry area, the adjustable components relating to the driver can be set, for instance, according to an estimated height of the unknown person. If, at the same time, a known person is detected at the passenger's door entry area, the adjustable components assigned to the passenger can be controlled according to a user profile of the detected known person.

[0017] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that an adjustable component such as a seat, an air conditioning device, a blower device, a massage device and / or a display device can be controlled by means of the at least one control unit.

[0018] Other adjustable vehicle components can also be controlled. For example, the seat can be adjusted to the recognized person. This can be done based on an estimated height or a user profile of a known individual. The climate control and / or fan can be used to adjust the temperature in the area of ​​the seat. A massage function can be set according to the preferences of the known individual.

[0019] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that if the at least one adjustable component is designed as a display device and a known person is detected in the at least one entry area, the at least one control unit can control the display device in such a way that an arrangement of program displays based on the user profile data is displayed by the display device.

[0020] This allows, for example, widgets to be configured specifically for a known individual. Manual configuration by the user is therefore no longer necessary, provided the user's preferences have not changed.

[0021] According to a second aspect, a system for controlling a vehicle is described, comprising at least one control unit, at least one monitoring device, at least one door opening sensor for at least one door of the vehicle and at least one detector unit assigned to the at least one door for monitoring at least one entry area of ​​the at least one door, wherein the system is configured to carry out the steps of the procedure according to the preceding description.

[0022] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the system may further have at least one receiving device which may be designed to receive at least one vehicle key signal from at least one vehicle key of the vehicle.

[0023] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the at least one adjustable component may include a seat device, a climate control device, a blower device, a massage device and / or a display device.

[0024] The advantages and effects of the system result from the advantages, effects, and further developments of the procedure described above. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the preceding description in this regard.

[0025] According to a third aspect, a vehicle is described comprising at least one door and at least one system as described above, wherein at least one door sensor and at least one detector unit of the at least one system are assigned to the at least one door.

[0026] The advantages, effects, and further developments of the vehicle result from the advantages, effects, and further developments of the procedure and system described above. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the preceding description in this regard.

[0027] The invention is described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A flowchart of the process; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the system; and Fig. 3 A schematic representation of the vehicle.

[0028] The entire procedure for controlling a vehicle is referenced by reference numeral 100.

[0029] Method 100 can be implemented using a system 10, which is in Fig. The process shown in Figure 2 is carried out. System 10 has at least one control unit 12 for this purpose.

[0030] Furthermore, the system 10 comprises at least one adjustable component 14, 15, 16, 18 of a vehicle. This at least one adjustable component 14, 15, 16, 18 can be, for example, a seat, a climate control system, a blower, a massage device, and / or a display device.

[0031] Furthermore, the system 10 has at least one monitoring device 20 that monitors the environment in an ambient area 40 of the vehicle 30, exemplified by the following: Fig. Figure 3 shows the location where the system 10 is arranged and can monitor the vehicle 30. The at least one monitoring device 20 can record data from at least one person in the vicinity 40 of the vehicle 30.

[0032] The system 10 further comprises at least one door opening sensor 22, which can detect the opening of at least one door of the vehicle 30, and at least one detector unit 24, which is designed to monitor at least one entry area of ​​the door 38, the opening of which can be detected by the at least one door opening sensor 22.

[0033] Furthermore, the system 10 can have at least one receiving device 26. The at least one receiving device 26 can receive at least one vehicle key signal from a vehicle key 32 of the vehicle 30 on which the system 10 is located.

[0034] The control unit 12 can also access a memory 28 where user profile data can be stored. This user profile data can be assigned to specific individuals. Furthermore, the user profile data can be assigned to individual individuals and contain individual settings for the adjustable components 14, 15, 16, and 18.

[0035] In a first optional step 110, the method 100 can initially check whether at least one vehicle key signal is received from at least one vehicle key 32 of the vehicle 30. The at least one vehicle key 32 can be located in the vicinity 40 of the vehicle 30, which can extend, for example, in a radius of a few meters around the vehicle 30.

[0036] Furthermore, according to step 102, the detection of at least one person 34, 36 in the surrounding area 40 can be carried out. Multiple persons 34, 36 can also be detected. For the detection, data from at least one monitoring device 20 of the vehicle 30 is used. The data can be transmitted to at least one control unit 12, which can then perform the detection of the persons 34, 36.

[0037] The assignment of persons 34 and 36 to a specific seat in vehicle 30 does not yet occur. Therefore, none of the adjustable components 14, 15, 16, and 18 of vehicle 30 are yet activated.

[0038] If one of the persons 34, 36, for example the person designated by reference numeral 36, opens a door 38 of the vehicle 30, a door opening sensor 22, which is assigned to the door 38, can detect the opening of the door 38. The door opening sensor 22 can transmit an opening signal for the opened door 38 to the at least one control unit 12.

[0039] The detector unit 24, which is assigned to the open door 38, can then determine data about the person present in at least one entry area 42. This data can then be transmitted to the at least one control unit 12. According to step 104, the at least one control unit 12 can then detect the person 36 who is present in the at least one entry area 42 of the open door 38.

[0040] The result of the recognition of person 36 may be that person 36 is known and has a user profile. The user profile can be retrieved, for example, from at least one storage device 28 by at least one control unit 12.

[0041] The user profile can then be used to set the adjustable components 14, 15, 16, 18, which are assigned to areas of the open door 38, by means of at least one control unit 12.

[0042] The adjustable component with reference number 14 could, for example, be a seat that includes a massage function. Both the massage function and the seat settings can be adjusted via the control unit. For instance, the seat can be configured according to the user profile data.

[0043] The adjustable component with reference numeral 15 can, for example, be a steering wheel whose height can be adjusted.

[0044] The adjustable component with reference numeral 16 can, for example, be an outlet of a blower or air conditioning unit. This allows, for instance, the adjustment of climatic conditions via a heating unit and a blower.

[0045] The adjustable component with reference numeral 18 can, for example, be a display device that can be controlled by the at least one control unit 12. It is conceivable that by controlling the control unit 12, a specific arrangement of widgets can be triggered and displayed on the display device.

[0046] If no known person is detected in the entry area 42 of the open door 38, a body size can be estimated from at least one control unit 12 using the data from the detector unit 24.

[0047] Based on the estimated height, settings of the adjustable components 14, 15, 16, 18 can then be set using at least one control unit 12. For example, a seat position and a steering wheel position can be set based on the estimated height.

[0048] For example, if both the person represented by reference numeral 34, who is carrying the vehicle key 32, and the person represented by reference numeral 36 simultaneously open the driver's and passenger's doors, person detection can be carried out simultaneously in the respective entry areas using the corresponding detector units 24. The adjustable components 14, 15, 16, 18 assigned to the respective door 38 can then be adjusted based on the detection of the persons in the respective entry areas 42 using at least one control unit 12. It is irrelevant which person 36, 38 is carrying the vehicle key 32. Possession of the vehicle key 32 is not taken into account when individually adjusting the adjustable components 14, 15, 16, 18.

[0049] The example described above does not in any way limit the invention. Rather, the invention can be modified in numerous ways. All features of the invention described above can be essential to the invention, either alone or in combination. Reference symbol list 10 System 12 Control unit 14 adjustable components 15 adjustable components 16 adjustable components 18 adjustable components 20 Monitoring device 22 Door opening sensor 24 detector units 26 Receiving device 28 storage 30 vehicles 32 vehicle keys 34 people 36 people 38 Door 40 surrounding area 42 Entry area

Claims

[1] Method (100) for controlling a vehicle (30), wherein the vehicle (30) has at least one control unit (12), at least one adjustable component (14, 15, 16, 18), at least one monitoring device (20) for an environmental area (40) of the vehicle (30), at least one door (38) with at least one door opening sensor (22) and at least one detector unit (24) associated with the at least one door (38) for monitoring at least one entry area (42) of the at least one door (38), comprising at least the following steps: a. Performing (102) a detection of at least one person in the vicinity (40) of the vehicle (30) by means of the at least one control unit (12) based on data from the at least one monitoring device (20); b. When the at least one door opening sensor (22) indicates that the at least one door (38) has been opened: performing (104) a detection of a person located in the at least one entry area (42) of the at least one open door (38) by means of the at least one control unit (12) based on data from the detector unit (24) associated with the at least one open door (38); and c. If a known person is detected in at least one entry area (42): Control (106) the at least one adjustable component (14, 15, 16, 18) based on user profile data of the person (36) detected in at least one entry area (42) by means of the at least one control unit (12). [2] Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the procedure (100) further comprises at least the following step: a. If no known person is detected in the at least one entry area (42): Estimate (108) the height of the unknown person using the at least one control unit (12) based on data from the at least one detector unit (24) and control the at least one adjustable component (14, 15, 16, 18) based on the estimated height using the at least one control unit (12). [3] Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the step: Performing (110) a detection of at least one person in the vicinity (40) of the vehicle (30) is carried out when at least one vehicle key signal of at least one vehicle key (32) assigned to the vehicle (30) is received by means of at least one receiving device (26) of the vehicle (30). [4] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that different people are detected in entry areas of different doors and that at least one control unit (12) controls different adjustable components (14, 15, 16, 18) based on different user profile data and / or estimated body sizes. [5] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that characterized by , that as an adjustable component (14, 15, 16, 18) a seat device, a climate control device, a blower device, a massage device and / or a display device is controlled by means of the at least one control unit (12). [6] Method (100) according to claim 5, characterized by, that if the at least one adjustable component (14, 15, 16, 18) is designed as a display device and a known person is detected in the at least one entry area (42), the at least one control unit (12) controls the display device in such a way that an arrangement of program displays based on the user profile data is displayed by the display device. [7] System (10) for controlling a vehicle (30), comprising at least one control unit, at least one monitoring device (20), at least one door opening sensor (22) for at least one door (38) of the vehicle (30) and at least one detector unit (24) assigned to the at least one door (38) for monitoring at least one entry area (42) of the at least one door (38), wherein the system (10) is configured to carry out the steps of the method (100) according to one of the preceding claims. [8] System (10) according to claim 7, characterized by, that the system (10) further comprises at least one receiving device (26) designed to receive at least one vehicle key signal from at least one vehicle key (32) of the vehicle (30). [9] System (10) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that the at least one adjustable component (14, 15, 16, 18) includes a seat device, a climate control device, a blower device, a massage device and / or a display device. [10] Vehicle (30) comprising at least one door (38) and at least one system (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein at least one door sensor (22) and at least one detector unit (24) of the at least one system (10) are assigned to the at least one door (38).

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