Vehicle Occupant Detection Using Reflected Waves and Size Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional technologies face challenges in accurately determining the presence of an infant in a vehicle using sensors, as they may fail to detect infants in videos acquired from various sensors even when they are present inside the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
An occupant determination apparatus that includes an acquisition unit for acquiring reflected waves, a size detection unit to detect the size of moving subjects, and an occupant detection unit to determine the presence of occupants based on the analysis of these waves, utilizing both radio waves and ultrasound waves, with a controller to combine the results for accurate determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensor technology (image sensor and radio frequency sensor) is used to detect infants in vehicle interiors, then the detection system can identify visible occupants, but it fails to detect infants who do not appear in video footage even when present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection approaches: video-based image sensor detection, radio frequency sensor detection, and ultrasonic wave detection. By merging these different sensing modalities, the system overcomes the limitations of individual sensors and achieves more reliable infant detection, particularly for infants not visible in video footage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an ultrasonic wave as an intermediary detection medium that can penetrate obstacles and detect occupants through reflections. This intermediary wave-based approach complements direct visual detection, enabling the system to detect infants who are present but not visible in video images.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to improve detection coverage, then more occupants can be detected, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the wave reflection analysis unit multi-functional by enabling it to perform both size detection and occupant type detection using the same ultrasonic reflected wave signals. This universal approach allows a single component to serve multiple detection purposes, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the detection functions of multiple sensors into a unified analysis framework where video data, radio frequency data, and ultrasonic data are processed together. This consolidation reduces the complexity of managing separate detection systems while improving overall detection reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the detection system uses detailed analysis of reflected waves to improve accuracy, then occupant detection becomes more precise, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by focusing computational resources on analyzing only the reflected wave components that contain relevant occupant information. Rather than processing all possible signal variations, the system selectively analyzes specific reflection patterns that indicate occupant presence, size, and type, reducing processing time while maintaining precision.
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
The apparatus increases the accuracy of determining the presence of occupants within the vehicle by combining the results from the size detection and occupant detection units, effectively detecting infants even in blind spots and regions difficult for conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
an acquisition unit to acquire a reflected wave generated by a reflection of a wave being a radio wave or an ultrasound wave in an interior of a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object to provide technology enabling an increase in accuracy of determination of an occupant in an interior of a vehicle. An occupant determination apparatus includes: a size detection unit to detect a size of a moving subject in the interior based on a reflected wave acquired by an acquisition unit; an occupant detection unit to detect whether there is an occupant in the interior based on the reflected wave acquired by the acquisition unit by a reflection of a wave; and a controller to determine whether there is a predetermined occupant in the interior based on a result of detection of the size detection unit and a result of detection of the occupant detection unit.