Vehicle Occupant Interaction Through Time-of-Flight Depth Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional monitoring techniques for vehicle occupants rely on visual image data, which may be limited in spatial determination and require complex imaging methods, leading to inefficiencies and potential certification issues.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing time-of-flight sensors to generate point clouds for three-dimensional positional information, enabling identification and orientation analysis of body segments, such as heads and appendages, to estimate intended tasks and generate responsive signals for vehicle component adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional visual image data monitoring techniques are used, then the system can capture occupant information, but the spatial determination accuracy is limited and the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial determination accuracyVSAvoidimaging system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex visual imaging systems with time-of-flight sensors that use optical flight time measurement. This substitution provides direct depth information through physics-based measurement rather than complex image processing, achieving high spatial determination accuracy while reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces point cloud data as an intermediary representation between the time-of-flight sensor and the occupant analysis system. This point cloud intermediary efficiently encodes three-dimensional spatial information, simplifying the data processing pipeline while maintaining high measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If multiple sensors and complex image processing methods are used, then more occupant information can be captured, but the system requires more sensors and processing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant information completenessVSAvoidsensor and processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the time-of-flight sensor system multi-functional by using it for both depth mapping and gesture recognition. The same sensor infrastructure that captures spatial information also detects occupant gestures, eliminating the need for separate sensors and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining information completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional image data to three-dimensional point cloud data, adding the depth dimension. This dimensional enhancement provides complete spatial and gesture information from a single sensor type, reducing the need for multiple sensors while maintaining comprehensive occupant information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If visual image data is used for gesture recognition, then the system can detect gestures, but the processing time and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture detection capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex visual image processing for gesture detection with direct three-dimensional coordinate analysis from time-of-flight sensors. This substitution processes spatial coordinates directly without requiring heavy image processing algorithms, significantly reducing computational complexity and processing time while maintaining accurate gesture detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enhances occupant interaction management by providing accurate, efficient, and certification-friendly monitoring, reducing the need for multiple sensors and complex image processing, and enabling automated adjustments based on gaze direction and gesture recognition.

Implementation Method 1

generating, via a time-of-flight sensor, a point cloud representing a compartment of the vehicle, the point cloud including three-dimensional positional information about the compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS12450941B2Systems and methods for managing occupant interaction using depth information

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A method for managing occupant interaction with components of a vehicle includes generating, via a time-of-flight sensor, a point cloud representing a compartment of the vehicle, the point cloud including three-dimensional positional information about the compartment. The method further includes identifying at least one body segment of a user based on the point cloud. The method further includes determining, via processing circuitry in communication with the time-of-flight sensor, a position of at least one feature of the at least one body segment. The method further includes calculating an orientation of the at least one body segment based on the at least one feature. The method further includes estimating an intended task of the user based on the orientation of the at least one body segment. The method further includes generating, via the processing circuitry, a response signal in response to estimation of the intended task.