Vehicle Seat Occupant Detection Using Coarse-to-Fine Doppler Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to reliably detect the presence of occupants in vehicles, including children and pets, and their activities, such as breathing and heartbeat, which is crucial for preventing heat-related deaths and unauthorized vehicle entry.
Innovation Solution
A system using low-power microwave and millimeter wave Doppler modules to create a topology of ambient sensing nodes that detect coarse and fine movements, biometric signatures like breathing and heartbeat, and employs deep learning for enhanced detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prior art methods are used to detect occupant presence, then the system can detect coarse movements, but it fails to detect resting occupants with only fine movements like breathing and heartbeat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection process into two distinct stages: coarse movement detection using ambient sensing nodes, and fine movement detection using Doppler modules. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific detection task, with the coarse detection providing initial occupant presence indication and the fine detection confirming resting occupants through biometric signatures like breathing and heartbeat patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that coordinates between ambient sensing nodes and Doppler modules. This intermediary layer analyzes data from both sources, determines when to activate fine detection mode, and synthesizes the final occupant presence determination. The intermediary acts as a mediator that resolves the contradiction by intelligently switching between detection modes based on environmental conditions and initial sensor readings.
2Reliability
If the system uses advanced Doppler modules and deep learning for fine movement detection, then detection reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic detection system that adapts its complexity based on operational needs. The system transitions between coarse detection mode (using simple ambient sensing nodes) and fine detection mode (activating Doppler modules and deep learning algorithms) based on initial sensor readings and environmental conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain high reliability when needed while reducing complexity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by using ambient sensing nodes to perform initial occupant presence screening before activating the more complex Doppler modules. This preliminary detection step filters out false positives and reduces the frequency of fine detection activations, thereby maintaining reliability while significantly reducing the overall operational complexity and power consumption of the advanced sensing components.
3Measurement precision
If the system continuously monitors for fine movements like breathing and heartbeat, then detection precision improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by scheduling fine movement detection operations rather than running them continuously. The system activates Doppler modules and deep learning-based fine detection algorithms at specific intervals or when triggered by preliminary coarse detection events. This periodic operation maintains the ability to detect biometric signatures with high precision while dramatically reducing the average energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by deploying low-power ambient sensing nodes to perform initial screening for occupant presence. Only when these preliminary sensors detect potential occupancy do they trigger the activation of energy-intensive Doppler modules for fine movement analysis. This two-stage approach ensures high detection precision for biometric signatures while minimizing the duration and frequency of high-power operation, thereby controlling overall energy consumption.
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 system effectively detects the presence of occupants through coarse and fine movements, breathing, and heartbeat, providing reliable safety features and preventing unauthorized access.
Implementation Method 1
low-power, and portable microwave and other millimeter wave doppler modules to create a topology of ambient sensing nodes that can not only reliably detect the presence of an active occupant in a vehicle detecting coarse movements but also detect a resting individual by detecting key biometric signatures like breathing and heartbeat
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for identifying the presence of an occupant in a vehicle. The system includes a first sensor positioned within a seating area of a seat and having a corresponding sensitive zone passing through the seating area vertically, and a second sensor positioned within a back rest area of the seat and having a corresponding sensitive zone passing through a chest area of an occupant horizontally. The first sensor is adapted to sense coarse movements adjacent to and farther from the sensor while the second sensor is adapted to capture both coarse and finer movements, such as breathing and heartbeats.