Electronic system and method implemented in an electronic system

Abstract

An electronic system for equipping a vehicle comprises a transceiver module (2), a vehicle motion control unit (6), and a processing unit (4). The vehicle motion control unit (6) is configured to command the transceiver module (2) to transmit a radio wave (E) into the vehicle's external environment before initiating a vehicle maneuver. The transceiver module (2) is configured to receive this radio wave after reflection in said external environment and to produce a signal (S) dependent on the received radio wave (R). The processing unit (4) is configured to process this signal (S) to extract information (I) for detecting a living being in said external environment. A method implemented in an electronic system is also described. Figure 1 for the abstract

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic system and method implemented in an electronic system. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electronic systems embedded in vehicles.

[0002] It relates in particular to an electronic system and a method implemented in an electronic system. State of the art

[0003] More and more vehicles are capable of driving phases without human intervention.

[0004] In particular, it is envisaged that a vehicle may leave a parking space in an autonomous driving mode in order to join the vehicle's passengers at an agreed location.

[0005] The vehicle must then be designed so as to verify that no living being (person or animal) has come to position itself in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle or under it during parking in order to eliminate any danger when the vehicle initiates its maneuver to leave the parking space.

[0006] To do this, ultrasonic sensors and / or radar can be used, and measurements taken before the vehicle went into standby mode and when the vehicle woke up can be compared. If there is a difference, a check must be carried out (this difference may have various causes).

[0007] It is also possible to provide for exterior cameras that monitor the environment of the vehicle throughout its parking.

[0008] This solution is, however, relatively impractical since it would require equipping the vehicle with several cameras (including under the vehicle), which is costly, and / or monitoring the environment for the entire duration of parking to detect the arrival of a living being (which could be located in a blind spot of the cameras when the vehicle maneuvers to leave the parking space). Presentation of the invention

[0009] In this context, the present invention proposes an electronic system for equipping a vehicle and comprising a transmit-receive module, a vehicle movement control unit and a processing unit,

[0010] in which the vehicle movement control unit is configured to control the emission, by the transmit-receive module, of a radio wave in an environment outside the vehicle before initiation of a vehicle maneuver;

[0011] wherein the transmit-receive module is configured to receive said radio wave after reflection in said external environment and to produce a signal dependent on the received radio wave; and

[0012] in which the processing unit is configured to process said signal so as to extract information for the detection of a living being in said external environment.

[0013] Such an electronic system makes it possible to instantly verify the presence or absence of a living being in the vehicle's external environment. If the detection information produced indicates the detection of a living being in the vehicle's external environment, the electronic system can implement appropriate measures, such as immobilizing the vehicle or sending (or displaying) a message to a vehicle user to alert them to the problem.

[0014] The processing unit is, for example, configured to detect a heartbeat and / or respiratory movement by analyzing said signal. It can be provided, for example, that if a heartbeat or respiratory movement is detected, the detection information indicates the detection of a living being in the vehicle's external environment, whereas if neither a heartbeat nor respiratory movement is detected, the detection information indicates the absence of a detection of a living being in the vehicle's external environment.

[0015] The processing unit can in practice be configured to detect a frequency component of said signal within a frequency range associated with vital movement. For example, it can be anticipated that if a frequency component of the signal is present in this frequency range, the detection information will indicate the detection of a living being in the vehicle's external environment, whereas if no frequency component of the signal is included in this frequency range, the detection information will indicate the absence of detection of a living being in the vehicle's external environment.

[0016] The radio wave emitted by the transmit-receive module has, for example, a carrier frequency between 1 GHz and 100 GHz.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the transmit-receive module can be connected to a location system for an electronic identifier. The transmit-receive module can then be used by the location system, in particular to enable the exchange of radio waves with this electronic identifier.

[0018] In other embodiments, the transmit-receive module can be connected to an obstacle detection system.

[0019] The transmit-receive module can then be used by the obstacle detection system, for example to transmit a radio wave into the vehicle's external environment and receive a corresponding reflected radio wave, the system of obstacle detection is then designed to determine a distance to an obstacle based on at least one characteristic of the received radio wave.

[0020] The vehicle motion control unit can also be configured to immobilize the vehicle when the detection information indicates the detection of a living being in said external environment.

[0021] The electronic system may further include a communication unit. This communication unit may be configured to send an alert message to a user terminal when the detection information indicates the detection of a living being in said external environment.

[0022] The invention also proposes a method implemented in an electronic system and comprising the following steps:

[0023] - before initiating a maneuver of a vehicle by a control unit of the vehicle movement, control (by the vehicle movement control unit) of the emission, by a transmit-receive module equipping the vehicle, of a radio wave in an environment external to the vehicle;

[0024] - reception, by the transmit-receive module, of the radio wave after reflection in said external environment;

[0025] - production, by the transmit-receive module, of a wave-dependent signal radio received;

[0026] - processing said signal to extract information for detecting a being living in said external environment.

[0027] Each of the optional features presented above relating to the electronic system may possibly be applicable to such a method.

[0028] Of course, the various features, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0029] In addition, various other features of the invention become apparent from the attached description made with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention and where:

[0030] [Fig-1] represents the elements of an example of an electronic system conforming to the invention; and

[0031] [Fig.2] represents an example of a process implemented by the electronic system of [Fig. 1].

[0032] Fig. 1 represents the elements of an electronic system embedded in a vehicle such as a motor vehicle.

[0033] This electronic system includes a transmit-receive module 2, a processing unit 4, a vehicle movement control unit 6 and a communication unit 8.

[0034] As shown in dotted lines on [Fig.1], the electronic system may further include another system 10 which uses the transmit-receive module 2, as explained below.

[0035] In the example described here, the transmit-receive module 2 includes a control circuit 12, a transmitting antenna 14 and a receiving antenna 16. Alternatively, the transmit-receiving module could include only an antenna ensuring the transmission and reception of radio waves.

[0036] The communication unit 8 includes a control circuit 18 and an antenna 20. The communication unit 8 is designed to establish a link (for example via a mobile telephone network) with user terminals, and in particular with a user terminal (such as a mobile phone) held by the person wishing to use the vehicle.

[0037] Each element among the processing unit 4, the vehicle motion control unit 6, the control circuit 12, and the control circuit 18 can in practice include a processor programmed (by means of computer program instructions) to implement the functionalities of that element described below. Thus, each element implements the functionalities of that element described below by virtue of the execution, by a processor, of computer program instructions stored in a memory associated with that processor.

[0038] Some of these elements can, however, at least in part, be achieved by means of another electronic circuit, which can then cooperate with the processor concerned.

[0039] Some of the aforementioned elements can also be implemented by the same processor, for example within the same electronic control unit.

[0040] The aforementioned elements (processing unit 4, vehicle movement control unit 6, control circuit 12, control circuit 18) are here connected to each other by means of a communication network (internal to the vehicle), not shown in [Fig.1] for the sake of simplification.

[0041] These various elements can thus exchange data or instructions, as represented by arrows in [Fig.1].

[0042] The transmit-receive module 2 is configured to transmit a radio wave into the vehicle's external environment. To achieve this, the transmitting antenna 14 is, for example, located near an external wall of the vehicle so that the emitted radio wave can propagate outside the vehicle (for example, with a range of at least 2 meters). The transmitting antenna can optionally be installed as close as possible to the vehicle. possible low near the outer wall, for example in a vehicle bumper.

[0043] The transmit-receive module 2 is also configured to receive (here by means of the receiving antenna 16) radio waves which propagate in the external environment of the vehicle, and in particular the wave emitted (as indicated above) after at least one reflection of this emitted wave on an object or a living being located in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0044] The aforementioned radio waves (emitted by the transmit-receive module 2 and / or received by the transmit-receive module 2) are, for example, electromagnetic waves in the microwave frequency domain (or in the microwave domain).

[0045] The aforementioned radio waves (emitted by the transmit-receive module 2 and / or received by the transmit-receive module 2) here have a carrier frequency between 1 GHz and 100 GHz.

[0046] To facilitate the detection of the reflected radio wave by the transmit-receive module 2, the emitted radio wave may have a pulsed shape and / or exhibit a characteristic modulation. When equipment with another function is used (as explained later), if a particular modulation is used within the framework of that other function, another modulation (distinct from that particular modulation) may optionally be used for the living being detection function described herein (implemented when the vehicle is awakened).

[0047] The vehicle motion control unit 6 is designed to control the movement of the vehicle and here has at least one autonomous driving mode (in which human intervention is for example limited to entering a destination in a user interface of the vehicle or an electronic device capable of exchanging data with the vehicle, this electronic device being in some cases the user terminal already mentioned).

[0048] In this autonomous driving mode, the vehicle motion control unit 6 generates instructions intended respectively for different actuators (not shown) such as a vehicle powertrain and / or a vehicle steering system and / or a vehicle braking system.

[0049] In the aforementioned autonomous driving mode, the vehicle motion control unit 6 develops these instructions based on various information collected by the vehicle motion control unit 4, for example images provided by image sensors equipping the vehicle and / or data exchanged with other vehicles or with road infrastructure.

[0050] In the embodiment described here, the vehicle motion control unit 6 is further designed to receive, when the vehicle is parked, a departure request D from a user terminal, and to control then the vehicle to an agreed meeting point (for example, at the location of the user terminal).

[0051] The vehicle motion control unit 6 can also allow other driving modes, including an assisted driving mode in which the aforementioned instructions will be developed not only on the basis of the aforementioned information, but also on the basis of commands received from components manipulated by the vehicle driver (such as the vehicle steering wheel or the vehicle pedals).

[0052] According to one conceivable variant, the vehicle is not capable of autonomous driving and the instructions addressed to the actuators (vehicle powertrain and / or vehicle steering system and / or vehicle braking system) are therefore developed according to the commands received from components manipulated by the vehicle driver (such as the vehicle steering wheel or the vehicle pedals).

[0053] The vehicle movement control unit 6 is programmed to send an instruction C to the control circuit 12 during a vehicle restart phase (for example after a period of vehicle parking) and before initiating a vehicle maneuver (to leave the parking space in this same example), so as to control the emission (by the transmit-receive module 2) of a radio wave E in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0054] Thus, upon receiving the instruction C, the control circuit 12 causes the emission (here by the transmitting antenna 14) of this radio wave E into the external environment of the vehicle.

[0055] This radio wave E propagates in the external environment of the vehicle where it undergoes one or more reflections on one or more objects and / or on a living being (typically a human person).

[0056] As already indicated, the transmit-receive module 2 is designed to receive the reflected radio wave R (here by means of the receiving antenna 16).

[0057] The transmit-receive module 2 is also designed to produce a signal S (in analog or digital form) that depends on the received radio wave R. This signal S is, for example, the amplitude as a function of time of the received radio wave R. This signal S is obtained, for example, by low-pass filtering (for example, by means of a filter having a cutoff frequency between 1 MHz and 100 MHz) from the received radio wave R.

[0058] The transmit-receive module 2 is configured to transmit this signal S to the processing unit 4.

[0059] The processing unit 4 is configured to process the signal S so as to extract from it information I of detection of a living being in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0060] For example, reference may be made to the article "Heart rate extraction based on eigenvalues ​​using UWB impulse radar remote sensing" by Minhhuy Le for details on this subject.

[0061] The detection of a living being (signaled in the aforementioned detection information I) can be achieved by detecting a frequency component of the signal S in a frequency range associated with a vital movement (heartbeat or breathing for example).

[0062] The processing unit 6 is thus configured for example to detect a heartbeat and / or a respiratory movement by analyzing the S signal.

[0063] In the event of detection of a heartbeat or respiratory movement, information I is indicative of the detection of a living being in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0064] In the absence of detection of a heartbeat or respiratory movement, information I is indicative of the absence of detection of a living being in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0065] In the example described here, the processing unit 4 is configured to transmit the detection information I to the vehicle motion control unit 6.

[0066] The vehicle motion control unit 6 is configured here to immobilize the vehicle (for example by commanding the activation, or maintaining the activation, of the vehicle's braking system) when the detection information I indicates the detection of a living being in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0067] This avoids any risk of collision with a living being detected by the processing unit 4.

[0068] When the detection information I indicates the detection of a living being in the external environment of the vehicle, the vehicle movement control unit 6 may optionally also transmit an instruction A to the control circuit 18 in order to cause the communication unit 8 (here specifically by the antenna 20) to emit an alert message to the user terminal from which the start (or departure) of the vehicle was commanded.

[0069] The vehicle user is thus warned and can take the necessary measures, as explained in more detail in the description of [Fig.2].

[0070] As already indicated, the transmit-receive module 2 can in certain embodiments be used by another system 10. The transmit-receive module 2 is in this case connected to this other system 10.

[0071] According to a first embodiment, this other system 10 can be a system for locating an electronic identifier (such as a vehicle user's mobile phone or a wireless key).

[0072] Such a location system uses the transmit-receive module 2 to transmit radio waves to the electronic identifier and / or receive radio waves from the electronic identifier and / or exchange data with the electronic identifier.

[0073] The electronic identifier location system is then designed to locate (i.e. determine the position of) the electronic identifier (relative to the vehicle) on the basis of radio waves received from the electronic identifier and / or data exchanged with the electronic identifier.

[0074] According to a second embodiment, the other system 10 can be an obstacle detection system.

[0075] Such an obstacle detection system uses the transmit-receive module 2 to emit a radio wave (including, for example, a pulse) in the external environment of the vehicle, to receive a corresponding reflected wave, and to deduce a distance to an obstacle as a function of a characteristic of the received radio wave (for example, as a function of the time of reception of the pulse included in the reflected wave).

[0076] In the example described above, only one transmit-receive module was mentioned. The proposed electronic system could alternatively include several transmit-receive modules (located at different points in the vehicle) which would then respectively provide several signals, each of which can then be analyzed by the processing unit to extract information for detecting a living being in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0077] Fig. 2 represents an example of a method that can be implemented by the electronic system of Fig. 1.

[0078] Such a process begins with a step E2 during which a vehicle user requests, via a user interface of a user terminal (for example by pressing a virtual button displayed on a touch screen of the user terminal), a departure of the vehicle from its parking space, for example to leave this space (which is particularly useful when the parking space is small and the user cannot access the parked vehicle) and / or to join the user at the place where he is located.

[0079] This user request causes the user terminal to send a departure request message D to the communication unit 8.

[0080] This departure request message D is therefore received by the communication unit 8 which transmits (via the internal communication network of the vehicle) the departure request message D to the vehicle movement control unit 6.

[0081] Upon receipt of the departure request message D, the vehicle movement control unit 6 enters a maneuver preparation phase. vehicle (preliminary to the maneuvering of the vehicle), which here includes a step E4 of issuing an instruction C to the control circuit 12 of the transmit-receive module 2 in order to control the emission, by the transmit-receive module 2, of a radio wave E in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0082] The vehicle maneuver preparation phase may include other steps, for example the activation of sensors (such as image sensors) in order to collect information that may be useful for the vehicle maneuver.

[0083] The radio wave E emitted by the transmit-receive module 2 propagates in the external environment of the vehicle where it undergoes one or more reflections on one or more objects and / or on a living being (typically a human person) located near the vehicle.

[0084] The transmit-receive module 2 therefore receives at step E6 the radio wave R reflected after one or more reflection(s) in the external environment of the vehicle, potentially in contact with a living being.

[0085] The transmit-receive module 2 produces in step E8, for example by low-pass filtering, a signal S depending on received radio wave R. This low-pass filtering makes it possible to retain the frequency components of interest in the signal S. For example, the low-pass filtering makes it possible to retain within the signal S in particular the frequency components below 10 Hz present in the received radio wave R (the low-pass filtering can also in practice retain other frequency components necessary for other uses of the transmit-receive module 2, as mentioned above).

[0086] The signal S produced by the transmit-receive module 2 is transmitted to the processing unit 4.

[0087] The processing unit 4 then analyzes the signal S in order to extract information I for the detection of a living being in the external environment of the vehicle.

[0088] To do this, the processing unit 4 seeks, for example, to detect (step E10) in the signal S a frequency component located in a frequency range associated with a vital movement (heartbeat or respiratory movement). This frequency range is, for example, between 0.2 Hz and 5 Hz.

[0089] The processing unit 4 transmits the detection information I to the vehicle motion control unit 6.

[0090] When a living being has been detected at step E10 (arrow P on [Fig.2]), the detection information I (received by the vehicle movement control unit 6) indicates the detection of a living being near the vehicle.

[0091] In this case, the vehicle motion control unit 6 maintains the vehicle immobilized at step E12 (by continuing to activate the braking system) and the vehicle's departure is postponed (in other words, the vehicle's powertrain is not activated).

[0092] In the example described here, the vehicle movement control unit 6 also commands at step E14 (by transmitting an instruction A to the control circuit 18) the issuance of an alert message to the user terminal mentioned in step E2 in order to warn the vehicle user of the problem encountered.

[0093] The vehicle user can then inspect the surroundings of the vehicle himself and order the vehicle to leave again after such an inspection.

[0094] When no living being has been detected at step E10 (arrow N on [Fig.2]), the detection information I (received by the vehicle movement control unit 6) indicates the absence of detection of a living being near the vehicle and the vehicle movement control unit 6 can initiate at step E16 the maneuver of the vehicle (here the departure of the vehicle from the parking space), for example by deactivating the braking system and / or activating the powertrain and / or controlling the steering system (depending in particular on the information collected by the sensors in the preparation phase of the vehicle maneuver).

[0095] An example of implementation of the invention in a vehicle with autonomous driving capability has been described above.

[0096] However, as already indicated, the invention can also be implemented in vehicles not equipped with this capability.

[0097] For example, in this case, if the detection information indicates the detection of a living being in the external environment of the vehicle, an alert may be displayed on an interior screen of the vehicle so as to ask the driver to inspect the surroundings of the vehicle and / or to immobilize the vehicle until the driver has confirmed that he has checked for the absence of a living being near the vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. An electronic system for equipping a vehicle and comprising a transmit-receive module (2), a vehicle movement control unit (6) and a processing unit (4), wherein the vehicle movement control unit (6) is configured to control the transmission, by the transmit-receive module (2), of a radio wave (E) in an environment outside the vehicle before initiation of a vehicle maneuver; wherein the transmit-receive module (2) is configured to receive said radio wave after reflection in said external environment and to produce a signal (S) dependent on the received radio wave (R); and wherein the processing unit (4) is configured to process said signal (S) so as to extract therefrom information (I) for the detection of a living being in said external environment.

2. Electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (4) is configured to detect a heartbeat by analyzing said signal.

3. Electronic system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing unit (4) is configured to detect a respiratory movement by analyzing said signal.

4. Electronic system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processing unit (4) is configured to detect a frequency component of said signal (S) in a frequency range associated with a vital movement.

5. Electronic system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the radio wave (E) emitted by the transmit-receive module (2) has a carrier frequency between 1 GHz and 100 GHz.

6. Electronic system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmit-receive module (2) is connected to a location system for an electronic identifier.

7. Electronic system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmit-receive module (2) is connected to an obstacle detection system.

8. An electronic system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the vehicle motion control unit (6) is configured to immobilize the vehicle when the information detection (I) indicates the detection of a living being in said external environment.

9. Electronic system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a communication unit (8) configured to send an alert message to a user terminal when the detection information (I) indicates the detection of a living being in said external environment.

10. A method implemented in an electronic system and comprising the following steps: - before initiating a maneuver of a vehicle by a vehicle movement control unit (6), control (E4) of the emission, by a transmit-receive module (2) equipping the vehicle, of a radio wave (E) in an environment external to the vehicle; - reception (E6), by the transmit-receive module (2), of the radio wave after reflection in said external environment; - production (E8), by the transmit-receive module (2), of a signal (S) dependent on the received radio wave (R); - processing (E10) of said signal (S) to extract from it information (I) for the detection of a living being in said external environment.

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