Patent Application
20150301175
Subject matter described herein is directed to detecting entry of an occupant into a vehicle to facilitate motor-vehicle feature personalization.
Motor vehicles are equipped with a variety of features that can be personalized, such as seat position, steering-wheel position, interior lighting, radio controls, mirror angles, and touch-screen configuration, among others. Some systems automatically personalize one or more features in response to various detections, such as a door closing or a key being inserted into an ignition. But the earlier a detection of a driver can be made, the more time that exists pre-ignition to personalize features.
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an infrared (IR) sensor that is affixed in a motor-vehicle driver footwell and that detects the driver's entry into the vehicle. For example, the active IR sensor might be attached to a driver seat. The detection of the driver by the IR sensor is usable to personalize motor-vehicle features.
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an active infrared (IR) sensor that is contained on a single integrated chip and that is usable to detect entry of an occupant into a motor vehicle. The sensor includes an IR emitter that transmits a signal and a signal receiver that detects a reflection of the signal. The sensor also includes a microcontroller that receives an indication from the signal receiver that the reflection was detected, and an output converter that converts the indication to an automotive-compatible protocol. A power conditioner adapts a 12V power supply to a sensor-usable voltage.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method for personalizing a feature of a motor vehicle. According to the method, an infrared signal is transmitted into a footwell of the motor vehicle. In addition, a reflected infrared signal is received. In response to receiving the reflected signal, a notification is generated that an occupant entered the motor vehicle. A personalized feature is applied in response to the notification.
Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention is provided here to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed-description section. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein:
The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different elements or combinations of elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed except when the order of individual steps is explicitly stated.
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an infrared (IR) sensor that is affixed in a motor-vehicle driver footwell and that detects the driver's entry into the vehicle. The detection of the driver by the IR sensor is usable to personalize motor-vehicle features, such as seat position, steering-wheel position, interior lighting, radio controls, mirror angles, and touch-screen configuration, among others.
In one embodiment, the IR sensor is an active IR sensor, and an exemplary depiction of an active IR sensor 10 is depicted in
The active IR sensor 10 includes a housing 22 that contains various electrical components, such as a circuitry, wiring, and a microcontroller. The housing 22 might be of various sizes depending on a use of the sensor 10, and in one aspect, the housing measures about 5 mm×2.4 mm×0.8 mm. In one embodiment, the active IR sensor is contained on a single integrated chip (IC). The microcontroller performs various functions, such as signal threshold detection and providing startup logic for the IC, among other things. In addition, the active IR sensor 10 includes various components that adapt the sensor to be used in an automobile context.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the active IR sensor 10 includes a power-logic component 28 (e.g., power conditioner) which provides an appropriate voltage to the chip and emitter components. For example, if the chip operates on 3.3V, the power-logic component adapts or regulates the 12V, which is typically available in an automobile.
In addition, the sensor 10 might include one or more types of emitters. For instance, an internal IR emitter 30 might provide a signal appropriate for detecting or sensing objects at shorter distances (e.g., about or less than 20 cm). In addition (or alternatively), an external IR emitter might provide an increased IR signal, which is appropriate and sufficient to detect or sense objects that are farther away (e.g., about or greater than 20 cm).
In a further embodiment, the active IR sensor 10 includes an output converter 34 that configures a notification sent from the active IR sensor to be consistent with a protocol suitable for communication between electronic modules in a motor vehicle. For instance, if the chip includes an Inter-integrated Circuit (I2C) Bus, which communicates using an I2C protocol, then the output converter 34 transforms the I2C-formatted messages to be readable by other electronic module in the motor vehicle.
A message generated by the output converter 34 might be transmitted to various other modules in the motor vehicle. For example, the message might be communicated to a central controller that manages the vehicle features, such as seat position, steering-wheel position, interior lighting, radio controls, mirror angles, and touch-screen configuration, among others. The central controller might take various conditions into account when determining a personalization of various features. For example, the central controller might also receive information sent from a smart key fob, which identifies a specific driver. An embodiment of the invention uses the combination of the key-fob driver identification and the driver-entry detection to personalize one or more motor-vehicle features.
The active IR sensor 10 might be positioned in various locations within a motor vehicle to detect the entry of a driver into the motor vehicle. For example, the sensor 10 might be positioned in a driver-footwell region to detect when a driver's legs enter the vehicle. Detecting the driver entering the vehicle provides the ability to activate more features, as compared to some other systems that rely on door closure or the ignition switch, which are not time-linked to driver entry.
In order to detect driver entry when the driver seat is situated in a wide range of positions, in one embodiment the active IR sensor is packaged at the bottom of a seat. For example, referring to
The IR sensor 10 provides other benefits, as well. For example, the IR sensor 10 has favorable cost compared to vision, weight, and other driver-detection technologies. In addition, the IR sensor 10 does not need to be packaged in the seat foam, like weight-based and capacitive systems, thereby reducing the difficulty of packaging the IR sensor 10.
Referring now to
Step 412 includes transmitting an infrared signal into a footwell of the motor vehicle. For example, IR emitter 12 might transmit signals 14 into a footwell region 50 of a motor vehicle. At step 414, a reflected infrared signal is received. For example, photo diode 20 might receive the reflected signal 18.
The method 410 also includes, in response to receiving the reflected signal, generating 416 a notification that an occupant entered the motor vehicle. For example, a notification might be generated by the IR sensor 10 or the output converter 34. Further, at step 418, a personalized feature is applied in response to the notification. For instance, once the notification is transmitted to a central controller of the motor vehicle, the central controller applies a personalized feature.
The method 410 might be applied in various contexts, which include other steps or elements. For example, a driver preference often includes a seat position in which a particular driver operates the motor vehicle (i.e., an operating seat position). In some instances, the driver seat is adjusted rearward after the motor vehicle is turned off in order to make egress and ingress easier. For instance, the seat might be manually slid rearward or a feature of the motor vehicle might automatically slide the seat rearward. When the driver re-enters the vehicle, it is desirable for the driver seat to be re-positioned in the operating seat position. The present invention (i.e., active IR sensor 10) detects driver re-entry relatively early in the pre-ignition process when the driver's legs enter the footwell. For example, the present invention allows re-entry to be detected prior to various other events, such as starting the ignition, door closure, sitting in the driver's seat, and the like. Once driver re-entry is detected using the present invention, the position of the seat is re-established to the operating seat position in which the seat was positioned when the motor vehicle was last driven. The present invention detects driver re-entry independently from, and regardless of, the manner in which the door is opened or unlocked (e.g., manual, smart-phone detection, smart key fob, dumb key fob, and the like).
The method 410 might include other elements as well. For instance, the reflected IR signal might be received by a photo diode, which transmits an indication to a microprocessor that the reflected signal was received and that complies with an Inter-integrated Circuit protocol. In response, the microprocessor generates the notification complying with an automotive-compatible protocol. In addition, applying the personalized feature might include various elements, such as adjusting to a personalized seat position, adjusting to a personalized steering-wheel position, illuminating an ignition, setting a radio station, rendering a personalized navigation screen, or a combination thereof.
The method 410 might include other elements as well. For instance, in a motor-vehicle context, a 12V power supply might be converted by a power-logic component into a sensor-usable voltage (e.g., 3.3V). In addition, the IR signal that is emitted might be increased, such that the IR sensor includes a detection range of more than about 20 cm into the footwell.
Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.
