Vehicle Occupant Injury Estimation Using Acceleration Sensors

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle occupant injury estimation apparatuses, such as those using video cameras, face increased processing loads and errors due to handling large image data volumes, leading to inaccuracies in estimating bodily injury levels.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus employing acceleration sensors around vehicle seats to detect occupancy and estimate vehicle body deformation, which calculates the reduced occupant space to accurately assess bodily injury levels, thereby improving estimation accuracy without the need for complex image processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a video camera is used to monitor inside the vehicle for injury estimation, then visual information can be obtained, but processing load increases and errors increase due to handling huge volume of image data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjury estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for injury estimation (occupancy status and deformation amount) from the complex video data, eliminating the need to process the entire huge volume of image data while maintaining estimation accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the optical/mechanical video camera system with an acceleration sensor system that directly measures physical parameters (acceleration) related to collision and deformation, avoiding the complexity of image data processing while providing the same estimation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a video camera system is used for occupant monitoring, then detailed visual data is captured, but the configuration becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjury estimation accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for injury estimation (occupancy status and deformation amount) from the complex video data, eliminating the need to process the entire huge volume of image data while maintaining estimation accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the optical/mechanical video camera system with an acceleration sensor system that directly measures physical parameters (acceleration) related to collision and deformation, avoiding the complexity of image data processing while providing the same estimation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution enhances the accuracy of bodily injury level estimation, reduces errors, and simplifies the configuration, allowing for more reliable and cost-effective injury assessment during vehicle accidents.

Implementation Method 1

at least one acceleration sensor disposed around the seat, and a deformation estimating block which estimates deformation amount of a vehicle body based on a detection result of the acceleration sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS9235687B2Apparatus for estimating bodily injury level of vehicle occupant

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 DENSO CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for estimating level of bodily injury of occupants at an accident of a vehicle. The apparatus has an occupancy detecting block which determines occupied seat. The apparatus has a deformation estimating block which estimates a deformation amount which is reduction of space around the seat. The apparatus has a bodily injury estimating block which estimates bodily injury level based on the occupied seat and estimated deformation amount.