Acoustic Seat Occupancy Detection Using Reflected Sound Signatures

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies for detecting occupied seats require sensors in each seat, can only detect a single seat, and often rely on memory-intensive image processing using cameras.

Innovation Solution

An occupied seat detection system using a single set of sensors that transmits predetermined sounds and calculates temporal or frequency characteristics of the sound reflections to determine the presence or absence of occupants across multiple seats without embedding sensors in each seat or performing image processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensors are embedded in each seat to detect occupancy, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupancy detection reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the detection space into multiple zones corresponding to different seats, allowing a single sensor system to detect occupancy in multiple seats by analyzing sound reflections from different spatial regions. This eliminates the need for embedding sensors in each seat while maintaining multi-seat detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sound waves as an intermediary medium to detect seat occupancy. Instead of directly sensing physical presence with embedded sensors, the system uses sound reflections as a mediator to indirectly detect occupancy status, thereby avoiding the need for complex embedded sensor systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a single set of sensors is used to detect multiple seats, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidoccupancy detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from spatial segmentation (multiple sensors per seat) to temporal-frequency dimension analysis. By analyzing sound reflections in the frequency domain and temporal domain, the system can distinguish between different seat occupancies using a single sensor, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameters from physical position (spatial coordinates) to acoustic characteristics (frequency and temporal properties of sound reflections). This parameter transformation allows a single sensor to differentiate between multiple seat occupancies by analyzing the unique acoustic signatures reflected from each seat region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If image processing using a camera is performed to detect occupancy, then detection versatility is improved, but memory load and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection versatilityVSAvoidmemory load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical-mechanical camera system with an acoustic sensing system. Instead of capturing and processing visual images that require significant memory and computational resources, the system uses acoustic sensors to detect occupancy through sound reflections, thereby reducing memory load and processing requirements while maintaining detection versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive acoustic sensors instead of expensive camera systems. Acoustic sensors are cheaper, consume less memory, and require less processing power while still providing effective occupancy detection across multiple seats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Enables efficient detection of occupied seats across multiple seats without embedded sensors and reduces the need for image processing, improving accuracy and reducing computational and memory loads.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting one after another predetermined sounds to inside a space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

receiving one after another reflected waves of the predetermined sounds transmitted by the transmitter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS12128843B2Occupied seat detection device, occupied seat detection method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

An occupied seat detection device includes: at least one receiver that is disposed in a space including a plurality of seats and receives at least one of sound generated inside the space or sound generated outside the space; an acoustic characteristics analyzer that calculates, from a signal received by the at least one receiver, temporal characteristics or frequency characteristics of the sound in the space; and a detector that detects whether an occupant is present or whether an occupied seat is present inside the space, based on the temporal characteristics or the frequency characteristics calculated by the acoustic characteristics analyzer, and outputs a detection result.