Vehicle Occupancy Detection Using Sensor Fusion and User Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining vehicle occupancy are often inefficient and invasive, lacking a non-intrusive, cost-effective, and accurate means to count occupants.
Innovation Solution
A transponder system within the vehicle processes data from various sources, including engine parameters, seat belt sensors, and mobile devices, to accurately determine occupancy by analyzing signals and updating counts based on user input, utilizing a processor and memory to compare and establish the occupancy count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If door slam detection or camera-based methods are used to determine vehicle occupancy, then occupancy detection capability is achieved, but the system becomes invasive and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by leveraging existing vehicle sensors (accelerometer, engine control unit, seat belt sensors) that indirectly detect occupancy through vehicle dynamics parameters rather than directly monitoring occupants. This mediator system processes data from multiple sources including acceleration patterns, engine load, and seat belt engagement to infer occupancy status without invasive direct observation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical/intrusive detection methods (door slam sensors, cameras) with a computational approach using vehicle dynamics data. The system substitutes physical intrusion with analysis of vehicle motion characteristics, engine parameters, and sensor data to determine occupancy, achieving non-intrusive detection while maintaining accuracy
2Measurement precision
If camera-based or intrusive sensing systems are deployed, then occupancy detection is achieved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making existing vehicle sensors serve multiple functions. The accelerometer, originally designed for crash detection, is repurposed to detect occupancy through acceleration pattern analysis. The engine control unit data, intended for engine management, is also used to infer occupancy based on engine load and RPM characteristics. This multi-functional use of existing components reduces overall system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service principles by utilizing the vehicle's own existing sensor network and computational resources to perform occupancy detection. Rather than adding dedicated occupancy sensors, the invention leverages data already being collected by the vehicle's standard equipment, allowing the vehicle to monitor its own occupancy status using its inherent sensing capabilities
3Measurement precision
If multiple data sources and processing methods are used, then occupancy accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary action by continuously collecting and pre-processing data from multiple sensors in the background during normal vehicle operation. Acceleration data, engine parameters, and seat belt sensor information are gathered and stored in advance, allowing the occupancy determination to be made quickly when needed without requiring time-consuming real-time analysis of multiple data sources
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are described herein for methods, devices and systems that can be used to determine an occupancy count for a vehicle. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data signals from a corresponding one or more occupancy data sources, storing a plurality of occupancy data source records corresponding to each received data signal analyzing the plurality of occupancy data signals to identify a state of each occupancy data source for a duration of time marked by a starting time and a stopping time of the vehicle, processing the plurality of occupancy data signals based on the identified state of the corresponding occupancy data source; generating an estimated occupancy count; providing a signal corresponding to the estimate occupancy count to a display system for verification by at least one occupant of the vehicle and receiving a verification input from the at least one occupant.