Seat Occupancy Recognition Using Volume and Biosignal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat occupancy detection systems for commercial vehicle seats cannot accurately differentiate between a person and other objects, such as animals or inanimate objects, leading to inaccurate occupancy recognition.
Innovation Solution
A method combining volume detection using capacitive sensors to identify the presence of a human body and bodily function detection, including heart rate, lung function, and other biosignals, to distinguish between a person and non-human entities, utilizing sensors like capacitive, inductive, light barriers, or ultrasonic sensors for contactless detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If volume detection alone is used to detect seat occupancy, then the detection process is simple, but it cannot distinguish between a person and other objects leading to inaccurate occupancy recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection methods (volume detection, body function detection) into a unified seat occupancy detection system. The control unit integrates data from both detection devices to make a comprehensive determination of seat occupancy, thereby improving accuracy while managing system complexity through coordinated operation of multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system is segmented into distinct functional components: a volume detection device for detecting physical presence and a body function detection device for detecting physiological signals. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific detection tasks, improving overall measurement precision while enabling modular system design.
2Measurement precision
If multiple detection methods are combined to improve occupancy recognition accuracy, then detection precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes data from the volume detection device, processes data from the body function detection device, and makes the final occupancy determination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated processing units for each detection method, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If body function detection is added to distinguish persons from objects, then occupancy differentiation accuracy improves, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs volume detection first as a preliminary step before activating body function detection. Only when volume detection indicates potential occupancy does the system proceed to more energy-intensive body function detection, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining high differentiation accuracy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback from volume detection to dynamically control the operation of body function detection. When volume detection indicates no occupancy, body function detection is deactivated to save energy. When occupancy is detected, body function detection is activated to confirm person vs object status, optimizing energy usage based on real-time detection needs.
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
Accurately identifies seat occupancy by a person, enabling safer vehicle operation by preventing false positives from objects and allowing for real-time monitoring of driver health and safety, with sensor data used to control vehicle functions and provide alerts for driver well-being.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor that can generate an electric field. If a volume is introduced into, or is already present in, the electric flux density associated with the electric field changes due to the change in the dielectric conductivity of the volume
Implementation Method 2
the electric field changes due to the change in the dielectric conductivity of the volume
Implementation Method 3
Body function monitoring can detect whether a living being is in the vehicle seat, and in particular, whether a person is in the vehicle seat. Biosignals and/or body movements are used for this differentiation.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a seat occupancy recognition device for recognising the occupancy of a seat, characterised by at least one volume detection device (1) with at least one first sensor (11), which is provided and designed to detect a volume on the vehicle seat, and at least one body function detection device (6) with at least one second sensor (12), which is provided and designed to detect body functions, and at least one body function recognition device for recognising the detected body functions.