Vehicle Seat Occupancy Detection Using Electromagnetic Waves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles lack an efficient method to detect living beings on seats, particularly during high external temperatures, where the interior can become a greenhouse, potentially harming occupants, especially children, due to the automatic shutdown of ventilation and air-conditioning systems when the engine is off.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using electromagnetic waves, such as microwaves, radio waves, or infrared radiation, to detect and classify objects on vehicle seats by measuring transit time and frequency changes, determining the presence and movement of objects, and analyzing these signals to determine if they are living beings, with a cascaded detection process for improved efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the ventilation and air-conditioning system is switched off when the drive motor is off, then energy consumption is reduced, but the interior temperature rises rapidly causing harm to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system performs preliminary detection of occupants on seats before the engine shutdown occurs. When an occupant is detected, the system pre-activates the ventilation and air-conditioning system to maintain safe temperatures, preventing thermal harm before it can occur. This resolves the contradiction by preparing the cooling system in advance based on detected occupancy conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors seat occupancy using sensors (pressure sensors, capacitive sensors, or optical sensors) and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback loop enables the ventilation and air-conditioning system to automatically adjust its operation based on real-time occupancy detection, ensuring occupants are protected without unnecessary energy consumption when seats are empty.
2Productivity
If a simple presence detection method is used, then detection speed is improved, but reliability of detecting living beings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is segmented into multiple independent stages: first detecting object presence using simple sensors, then classifying the object as living or non-living using additional sensors and algorithms. This segmentation allows the system to use fast, simple detection for initial screening while applying more complex, reliable classification only when needed, thus maintaining both detection speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary classification stage between simple presence detection and final occupancy determination. This intermediary layer uses additional sensor data (temperature, motion patterns, breathing detection) to reliably distinguish living beings from inanimate objects, preventing false alarms while maintaining efficient detection flow.
3Measurement precision
If complex detection algorithms are applied to all detected objects, then detection accuracy is improved, but computational resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies complex detection algorithms selectively rather than universally. Simple presence detection is applied to all seats, but complex classification algorithms are applied only to objects that require further verification. This partial application of computational resources maintains high detection accuracy for critical cases while minimizing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Different detection and classification methods are applied to different seats based on local conditions. Seats with detected objects trigger localized complex analysis, while empty seats use simple presence detection. This local differentiation optimizes computational resource distribution, applying high-precision algorithms only where necessary rather than uniformly across all seats.
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 allows for rapid and reliable detection of living beings on vehicle seats, enabling efficient operation of ventilation and air-conditioning systems to prevent overheating and ensuring occupant safety, while also conserving computational resources by tailoring detection methods based on object size and movement patterns.
Implementation Method 1
emitting electromagnetic waves or electromagnetic radiation of at least one predetermined frequency or at least one predetermined frequency band towards the seat by means of an electromagnetic radiator and receiving electromagnetic waves of radiation reflected on a surface by means of a sensor
Implementation Method 2
receiving electromagnetic waves of radiation reflected on a surface by means of a sensor
Implementation Method 3
a transit time of the waves from the transmitter to the surface and back to the sensor or receiver can be detected. From the transit time, a distance between the sensor and a surface which reflects the waves emitted by the radiator can be determined
Implementation Method 4
in particular a change in the frequency of the reflected waves by comparison with the electromagnetic waves emitted by the radiator or transmitter and/or a transit time of the waves from the transmitter to the surface and back to the sensor or receiver can be detected
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting a living being on a seat of a vehicle, further relating to a detection arrangement and to a vehicle. The method may include emitting electromagnetic waves at predetermined frequency or at a predetermined frequency band towards the seat by an electromagnetic radiator, receiving electromagnetic waves reflected on a surface by a sensor, detecting an object on the seat from a transit time of the emitted and the reflected electromagnetic waves between the radiator, the surface and the sensor by a detection device, detecting movements of the object from the reflected electromagnetic waves by the detection device if an object has been detected, determining from the detected movements of the object whether the detected object is a living being, and outputting a detection signal by way of the detection device if it has been determined that the detected object is a living being.