Vehicle Speaker Acoustic Sensing for Occupancy and Cabin State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle sensor systems increase manufacturing costs and complexity by requiring multiple sensors for occupancy detection and diagnostic data, which are costly and not practical for real-time vehicle operation.
Innovation Solution
Reusing existing vehicle speakers to detect acoustic signatures for occupancy and diagnostic information, leveraging their bi-directional operation to capture vibrations and sound patterns, and processing these signals with a local processing unit to determine vehicle state without additional instrumentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated SRS occupancy sensors are implemented to detect seat occupancy, then occupancy detection accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to requiring 5 to 9 sensors per vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling vehicle speakers to perform both their primary audio output function and a secondary occupancy detection function. The speakers are configured to emit test signals and detect acoustic responses, allowing them to serve dual purposes: audio playback and occupancy sensing. This eliminates the need for dedicated occupancy sensors, reducing component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are installed to detect vehicle state information such as window and sunroof status, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends multi-functionality to detect various vehicle states including window position, sunroof status, and door opening/closing events using the same speaker-based acoustic sensing system. By analyzing acoustic signatures and vibration patterns captured by speakers, the system can infer multiple vehicle state parameters without requiring separate sensors for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple detection functions into a single integrated system. Instead of having separate sensors for occupancy, window status, sunroof position, and door events, the invention merges these functions into one acoustic sensing system using vehicle speakers. This consolidation reduces the number of individual components and simplifies the sensor network architecture.
3Loss of information
If additional sensors are added to collect diagnostic data during vehicle operation, then diagnostic capability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling existing vehicle components (speakers) to perform diagnostic functions without requiring additional dedicated diagnostic sensors. The speakers continuously capture acoustic data that can be analyzed to detect abnormal vehicle conditions, component failures, or performance degradation. This allows the vehicle system to monitor its own health using already-installed hardware, eliminating the need for separate diagnostic instrumentation.
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 cost-effective and accurate detection of vehicle occupancy, window and sunroof states, and diagnostic data, providing redundancy and improved accuracy for vehicle state information, while reducing the need for additional sensors and instrumentation.
Implementation Method 1
leveraging their bi-directional operation to capture vibrations and sound patterns
Implementation Method 2
detect acoustic signatures for occupancy and diagnostic information
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are disclosed to use existing vehicle speakers alone or in conjunction with other sensors (e.g. SRS sensors and/or microphones) that may already be implemented as part of the vehicle to identify acoustic signatures. Suitable low-cost and widely available hardware components (e.g., relays) may be used to modify the vehicle's existing speakers for a bi-directional mode of operation. Moreover, the vehicle's existing of audio amplifiers may be used to amplify signals collected by the speakers when operating in "reverse," and process these collected signals to determine vehicle state information.