Vehicle Cabin Occupant Detection With Multi-Sensor ECU Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved monitoring of vehicle passenger cabins to detect and alert occupants, pets, or objects left behind, as they may be inadvertently left in the vehicle, posing safety risks due to temperature extremes or theft, and for objective assessment by rental companies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing sensors (image, spatial, infrared, etc.) and an electronic control unit (ECU) to detect the presence of objects, occupants, or pets within the vehicle, providing notifications to users and potentially adjusting vehicle features like HVAC or opening windows, and communicating with third parties in emergency situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to detect objects, occupants, or pets in the vehicle, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (image sensors, spatial sensors, infrared sensors, weight sensors) into an integrated monitoring system that works together to detect the presence of objects, occupants, or pets. The ECUs process data from all sensors collectively, merging their functions to achieve reliable detection while managing system complexity through integrated architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting objects, occupants, and pets; determining their presence; and providing notifications. The same sensor array and ECU infrastructure serve all these purposes, allowing the system to achieve high reliability across different detection tasks without proportionally increasing complexity for each function.
2Loss of time
If the system provides immediate notifications to users about detected objects or occupants, then safety response time is improved, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the vehicle interior using multiple sensors, maintaining real-time awareness of objects, occupants, or pets before any notification is needed. This preliminary detection and continuous monitoring allow the system to immediately notify users when someone is left behind, minimizing response time without requiring complex post-detection analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to users through notifications when objects, occupants, or pets are detected in the vehicle. This feedback loop enables users to take corrective action promptly. The ECUs process sensor data and generate notifications only when necessary conditions are met, managing information processing loads by filtering and prioritizing alerts based on detection confidence and vehicle state.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the safety of occupants or pets by mitigating dangerous conditions, protecting vehicle integrity, and facilitating faster detection of missing items, while enabling objective assessment of vehicle state for rental companies.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor of the vehicle may be configured to detect sensor data indicating a presence of an object, occupant, or pet within the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
A sensor of the vehicle may be configured to detect sensor data indicating a presence of an object, occupant, or pet within the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for monitoring a vehicle. The system includes a sensor of the vehicle configured to detect sensor data indicating a presence of an object, occupant, or pet within the vehicle. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle communicatively coupled to the sensor. The ECU is configured to determine whether the object, occupant, or pet is within the vehicle. The ECU is also configured to provide a notification to a user of the vehicle regarding the presence of the object, occupant, or pet within the vehicle.