Method and device for operating a restraint system in a vehicle
The method and device enhance vehicle restraint systems by using an interior camera and sensor to estimate occupant physical features, ensuring personalized protection and comfort by adapting to individual body dimensions and weight, leveraging existing vehicle components.
DE102024203641A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-10-23VOLKSWAGEN AG
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102024203641
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-18
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-23
AI Technical Summary
Technical Problem
Existing restraint systems in vehicles rely on average human body dimensions, failing to adapt to individual occupant characteristics, leading to suboptimal protection and comfort.
Method used
A method and device that utilize an interior camera and a sensor to detect the initial position of a seat belt and measure its extension length, jointly estimating physical features like body extent and weight, allowing the restraint system to adapt accordingly.
Benefits of technology
Enhances the reliability and effectiveness of restraint systems by providing personalized protection and comfort through accurate estimation of occupant physical features, using existing vehicle components cost-effectively.
✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.
Smart Images
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Abstract
In the method according to the invention for operating a restraint system in a vehicle, the restraint system is suitable for holding a vehicle occupant (21) on a seat (22) of the vehicle and comprises a safety belt (23). A part of the interior (20) of the vehicle is recorded (10) with an interior camera (25), wherein the recorded part of the interior comprises the vehicle occupant (21) and the safety belt (23) of the seat (22). By evaluating the camera images of the safety belt (23) recorded by the interior camera (25), it is determined that the detected safety belt (23) is in an initial position, and starting from this initial position, the belt webbing extension length of the safety belt (23) is recorded (11) with a sensor (27).By jointly evaluating the camera images of the vehicle occupant detected by the interior camera (25) and the belt webbing extension length detected by the sensor (27), at least one physical characteristic of the vehicle occupant (21) is estimated (12); and the restraint system is adapted (13) based on the estimated physical characteristic of the vehicle occupant (21).
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Citation Information
Patent Citations
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Method for operating an occupant protection device, occupant protection device and vehicle with such an occupant protection device
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