Child protection system

Abstract

Child protection system (100) for a vehicle (10), wherein the child protection system (100) comprises: a computer device (110) comprising one or more processors (112) and a memory (114), wherein the computer device (110) is configured to run a parental control application (116) stored in the memory (114), wherein running the parental control application (116) comprises: Receive sensor inputs from one or more sensors (202) installed in the vehicle (10); based on the sensor input, determine for each vehicle seat of the vehicle (10) whether the seat is occupied by a child; and If it is detected that the vehicle seat is occupied by a child, activate a child safety lock (304) on the vehicle door directly next to the vehicle seat, If it is detected that the vehicle seat is not occupied by a child, deactivate a child safety lock (304) on the vehicle door directly next to the vehicle seat.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to a child protection system, in particular a child protection system in a vehicle. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART AND SUMMARY

[0002] All modern vehicles are equipped with child safety locks, at least on the rear doors. This means the door can be locked so it cannot be opened from inside the vehicle. Optionally, the window of that door can also be prevented from being opened or closed. This prevents children sitting in a seat directly next to that door from accidentally opening it or the window. The door can generally only be opened from the outside. Often, a button is provided for the driver to open or close the window of that door. This helps prevent children from falling out of the vehicle while it is moving or from getting out in situations where it is unsafe for a child to leave the parked vehicle unattended.Furthermore, collisions of the door with other vehicles or objects near the vehicle can be prevented, and children can be prevented from trapping their fingers when closing the window. However, there is a risk that the child safety lock for the respective door will not be activated if a child occupies the corresponding vehicle seat. On the other hand, an activated child safety lock can be inconvenient or even a hazard for adults occupying the respective seat if they cannot exit the vehicle in an emergency.

[0003] There is a need for a reliable and flexible child protection system in a vehicle. SUMMARY

[0004] In an example according to embodiments of the disclosure, a child safety system for a vehicle includes a computer device comprising one or more processors and a memory, wherein the computer device is configured to execute a child safety application stored in the memory, wherein the execution of the child safety application includes: receiving sensor inputs from one or more sensors installed in the vehicle, determining, based on the sensor input, for each vehicle seat of the vehicle whether the seat is occupied by a child, and, if it is detected that the vehicle seat is occupied by a child, activating a child safety lock on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the vehicle seat, and, if it is detected that the vehicle seat is not occupied by a child, deactivating a child safety lock on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the vehicle seat.

[0005] A vehicle according to embodiments of the disclosure comprises a child protection system according to embodiments of the disclosure, one or more child safety devices, wherein each child safety device of the one or more child safety devices is installed in a different door of the vehicle, and one or more sensors coupled to the child protection system.

[0006] It should be understood that the above summary serves to introduce, in simplified form, a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined solely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that overcome any disadvantages mentioned above or in any part of this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a child protection system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a vehicle comprising a child protection system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 3 schematically illustrates a method according to embodiments of the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] The following description relates to systems and methods for a child safety system. The child safety system disclosed herein monitors vehicle seats, determines whether a vehicle seat is occupied by a child, and reliably activates child safety locks on doors adjacent to vehicle seats occupied by a child and deactivates child safety locks on doors adjacent to vehicle seats not occupied by a child. Fig. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a child protection system. Fig. Figure 2 shows a vehicle that includes a child safety system, and Fig. Figure 3 shows a procedure for a child protection system.

[0008] All modern vehicles include child safety locks, at least on the rear doors and often on the front passenger door as well. This means that when the child safety lock is activated, the door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle. However, the door can still be opened from the outside. Optionally, when the child safety lock is activated, the opening and closing of the window in that door can also be prevented via a user interface installed in that door (e.g., one or more buttons on the inside of the door). The driver of the vehicle is generally still able to open and close the window using a separate user interface (e.g., a button on the driver's door) that is not normally accessible from any seat other than the driver's seat.This prevents children sitting in a seat directly next to the door in question from unintentionally opening the door or window. The door can generally only be opened from the outside. This prevents children from falling out of the vehicle while it is moving or from exiting the vehicle in situations where it is unsafe for the child to leave the parked vehicle unattended. Furthermore, it prevents the door from colliding with other vehicles or objects near the vehicle, prevents children from pinching their fingers when closing the window, and prevents objects from falling out of a window opened by a child. However, there is a risk that the child safety lock for that particular door may not be activated, for example, if children do not normally travel in that vehicle or in that vehicle seat.On the other hand, if the child safety lock is activated, this can be inconvenient for adults occupying the respective seat. A door that cannot be opened from inside the vehicle can even pose a significant risk if adults are unable to exit the vehicle independently in an emergency, such as an accident or other incident.

[0009] Fig. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a child safety system 100 in a block diagram. The child safety system 100 for a vehicle comprises a computer device 110, which includes one or more processors 112 and a memory 114. The computer device 110 is configured to execute a child safety application 116 stored in the memory 114. Executing the child safety application 116 involves receiving sensor input from one or more sensors 202 installed in the vehicle 10 and, based on the sensor input, determining for each vehicle seat in the vehicle 10 whether the seat is occupied by a child. If it is detected that the vehicle seat is occupied by a child, a child safety lock 304 on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the vehicle seat is activated. If it is detected that the vehicle seat is not occupied by a child, a child safety lock 304 on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the vehicle seat is deactivated.

[0010] The computer device 110 can be any type of device that includes one or more processors 112, such as a system-on-a-chip (SoC). In some embodiments, the computer device 110 can be a head unit or other component included in a vehicle system. Generally, the computer device 110 can be configured to coordinate the overall operation of the child protection system 100. The embodiments disclosed herein include any technically feasible system configured to implement the functionality of the child protection system 100 via the computer device 110. In various embodiments, the computer device 110 can be located in various environments, including, without limitation, road and / or land vehicle environments such as consumer vehicles, commercial vehicles, wheeled drones, and so on.

[0011] The processors 112 can be any technically feasible form of processing device configured to process data and execute program code. For example, and without limitation, the processors 112 could include a system-on-a-chip (SoC), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or the like. The processors 112 can include one or more processing cores. In operation, the processors 112 can be a primary processor of the computer device 110, controlling and coordinating the operations of other system components. For example, the processors 112 can be configured to execute instructions (e.g., procedures, algorithms, processes, etc.) stored in the memory 114.

[0012] Memory 114 stores the child safety application 116 and can include a single memory module or a collection of memory modules. Memory 114 can be non-transient memory or another form of non-volatile memory, random access memory (RAM), or any other technically feasible type of memory system. In various embodiments, the processors 112 can execute the child safety application 116 to activate / deactivate the child safety lock 304 of a vehicle door. In some embodiments, the child safety application 116 can be stored and loaded in memory 114 for execution.

[0013] The presence of a child in a vehicle seat can generally be detected in any suitable way. For example, the one or more sensors 202 installed in the vehicle can include one or more cameras, with the respective vehicle seat being located within the field of view of at least one of the one or more cameras. One or more images can be captured by the one or more cameras. The one or more images can be provided to the child protection system 100 as sensor input and analyzed by the child protection system 100, e.g., using suitable image processing and / or facial recognition techniques. For example, facial features of a person captured in one or more images can be analyzed to determine or at least estimate the age of the person sitting in the respective vehicle seat. Using the captured images, it is also generally possible, e.g.,to determine the size of the person sitting in the respective vehicle seat.

[0014] Additionally or alternatively, the one or more sensors 202 may include one or more radar sensors. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, the computer device 110 may be configured, based on sensor inputs received from one or more radar sensors, to determine the age range of a person detected in a vehicle seat by determining a heart rate and shape of the detected person and subsequently comparing the determined heart rate and shape with known heart rates for the age range. For example, the child protection system 100 may employ generative artificial intelligence (AI) to reliably determine the presence of a child in a vehicle seat in response to receiving sensor data from one or more radar sensors or from any other type of sensor.

[0015] The generative AI can be trained during a previous training session. This means that a variety of parameters typical for a child can be provided to the generative AI (e.g., height, heart rate, etc.). Once the generative AI has been trained during a previous training session, it can subsequently determine, based on sensor input provided by one or more sensors, whether a seat is occupied by a child.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the computer device 110 can determine that a vehicle seat is occupied by a child if the person seated in that vehicle seat is determined to be 11 years of age or younger and / or to be 150 cm or less tall. In many countries, the activation of a child restraint 304 is mandatory until a child reaches the age of 12 or is 150 cm tall. However, regulations may vary from country to country. Therefore, other criteria may be applied to determine when a person is considered a child.

[0017] According to some embodiments, it is even possible to determine the identity of a person sitting in a vehicle seat. For example, individuals who regularly travel in a particular vehicle can be known to the child protection system 100. A person's identity can be determined based on images captured by one or more cameras installed in the vehicle and using suitable facial recognition techniques. According to some embodiments, the child protection system 100 can even know a person's exact age if, for example, the age is stored in a user profile assigned to that person.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively, the computer device 110 can be configured to determine that a seat is occupied by a child when a child seat is installed on that seat. Child seats are now often installed in vehicles using ISOFIX systems. Sensor data from one or more sensors 202 attached to the vehicle's ISOFIX system 10 can be used to determine whether a child seat is attached to the vehicle's ISOFIX system. However, the presence of a child seat on a vehicle seat can also be determined in other ways. For example, a child seat may be visible in images captured by one or more cameras installed in the vehicle and can be detected using suitable image processing techniques.

[0019] Now, referring to Fig. Figure 2 schematically illustrates a vehicle 10 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The vehicle 10 comprises a child protection system 100 (e.g., the child protection system 100 from Fig. 1 and as described above), one or more child safety locks 304, each child safety lock 304 being installed in a different door of the vehicle 10, and one or more sensors 202 coupled to the child safety system 100. Similar to the above, the one or more sensors 202 may include at least one of one or more cameras and one or more radar sensors. According to some embodiments, the vehicle 10 may include an ISOFIX system, and at least one of the one or more sensors 202 may be configured to detect whether a child seat is attached to the ISOFIX system.

[0020] As shown in the arrows in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 2, the child safety system 100 can monitor the various vehicle seats using one or more sensors 202. By evaluating the sensor data received from the sensors 202, the child safety system 100 is able to determine for each vehicle seat whether it is occupied by a child, an adult, or is unoccupied. If it is detected that a vehicle seat is occupied by a child, a child safety lock 304 on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the respective vehicle seat is activated. If it is detected that a vehicle seat is not occupied by a child (e.g., the vehicle seat is occupied by an adult, the vehicle seat is unoccupied, the vehicle seat is occupied by an animal, such as a dog or cat, or one or more objects are on the vehicle seat, such as bags, an empty child car seat, etc.), the child safety lock 304 on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the respective vehicle seat is activated.The child safety lock 304 of the vehicle door can be deactivated directly next to the respective vehicle seat. This means that the child protection system 100 communicates with the child safety lock 304 of each vehicle door, even in a large number of vehicle doors.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure 300 for a child protection system of a vehicle 10, such as the child protection system 100 from Fig. 1, illustrated, shown. The procedure 300 can be executed by one or more processors of the child protection system 100, such as processors 112, based on instructions stored in the memory, such as memory 114. The vehicle described herein can be a gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle, a battery-electric vehicle, a hybrid-electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle, a hydrogen-powered vehicle, or the like.

[0022] In 302, procedure 300 involves receiving sensor input from one or more sensors 202 installed in the vehicle 10. In 304, based on the sensor input, procedure 300 involves determining for each vehicle seat in the vehicle 10 whether the seat is occupied by a child. If it is detected that the vehicle seat is occupied by a child, in 306, procedure 300 involves activating a child safety lock 304 on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the vehicle seat. If it is detected that the vehicle seat is not occupied by a child, in 308, procedure 300 involves deactivating a child safety lock 304 on the vehicle door directly adjacent to the vehicle seat. The procedure then terminates.

[0023] Procedure 300 can be performed continuously during a driving session and / or whenever new sensor data is available. For example, sensors 202 can provide sensor data continuously or at regular intervals. Sensor data can be sent to the child restraint system 100 automatically or on request. This means that the child restraint system 100 can send appropriate requests to sensors 202, for example, at regular intervals and / or when a triggering event occurs (e.g., at the start of a driving session or when a vehicle door is opened / closed). According to some examples, procedure 300 can be performed at regular intervals, such as every few seconds or every few minutes, etc. Thus, any changes in seat occupancy can be detected in real time at any interval.A triggering event can include at least one of the following: switching on the ignition, opening / closing a vehicle door, and a request received from a vehicle occupant, for example.

[0024] The following claims, in particular, disclose certain combinations and subcombinations that are considered novel and not obvious. These claims may refer to "one" element, "a first" element, or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood as including one or more such elements, without requiring or excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and / or properties may be claimed by amending the present claims or by presenting new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, the same, or different in scope from the original claims, are also considered to be included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Claims

[1] Child protection system (100) for a vehicle (10), wherein the child protection system (100) comprises: a computer device (110) comprising one or more processors (112) and a memory (114), wherein the computer device (110) is configured to run a parental control application (116) stored in the memory (114), wherein running the parental control application (116) comprises: Receive sensor inputs from one or more sensors (202) installed in the vehicle (10); based on the sensor input, determine for each vehicle seat of the vehicle (10) whether the seat is occupied by a child; and If it is detected that the vehicle seat is occupied by a child, activate a child safety lock (304) on the vehicle door directly next to the vehicle seat, If it is detected that the vehicle seat is not occupied by a child, deactivate a child safety lock (304) on the vehicle door directly next to the vehicle seat. [2] Child protection system (100) according to claim 1, wherein Activating a child safety lock (304) includes preventing the respective vehicle door from being opened from the inside of the vehicle, and The disabling of a child safety lock (304) includes enabling the respective vehicle door to be opened from the inside of the vehicle. [3] Child protection system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Activating a child safety lock (304) includes preventing the opening and closing of a window installed in the respective vehicle door via a user interface installed in the respective vehicle door, and Disabling a child safety lock (304) includes enabling the opening and closing of a window installed in the respective vehicle door via a user interface installed in the respective vehicle door. [4] Child protection system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor data of at least one of one or more images received from one or more cameras installed in the vehicle (10), sensor data received from one or more radar sensors installed in the vehicle (10) include [5] Child protection system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the computer device (110) is configured to determine that a seat is occupied by a child when the person sitting on the respective vehicle seat is determined to be 11 years of age or younger and / or the person sitting on the respective vehicle seat is determined to be 150 cm or less in height. [6] Child protection system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the computer device (110) is configured to determine that a seat is occupied by a child when a child seat is installed on the respective seat. [7] vehicle (10) comprising the child protection system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6; one or more child safety locks (304), each child safety lock (304) of the one or more child safety locks (304) being installed in a different door of the vehicle (10); and one or more sensors (202) that are coupled to the child protection system (100). [8] Vehicle (10) according to claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors (202) are at least one of one or more cameras and include one or more radar sensors. [9] Vehicle (10) according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle (10) comprises an ISOFIX system and at least one of the one or more sensors (202) is configured to detect whether a child seat is attached to the ISOFIX system.

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