The present invention discloses a mm-wave radar sensor to be deployed in the vehicles for seat occupation detection applications. The key system relevant components are utilization of mm-wave integrated radar, specific planar high-gain antenna radiation pattern, and analyzing of the heartbeat and optionally also respiratory dynamics. The method of operation calculates probability of the seat occupation event regarding: detection of the passenger on the seat, detection of a baby or a child on the seat, detection of the presence of a baby or a child in the vehicle after the driver has left the vehicle, detection of the human or animal presence of intrusion in specific vehicle environment. In case that probability is above a predefined threshold, typically the interaction with vehicle control system is initiated using arbitrary automotive interfaces. Corresponding predefined actions are taken in that case. The predefined actions could be one or combination of the following: audio signal alerts to driver, inside cabin light condition change, engine operation condition change, opening of the windows or corresponding communication using arbitrary wireless means to outside vehicle environment. Optionally, the system is utilizing additional parameters like vehicle cabin temperature and/or timing information about engine stop and driver leaving the car. Preferably, the system is using 60 GHz or 77-79 GHz integrated radar front end working in Doppler operation mode, with 4?4 Tx and Rx planar radiation elements, with physical size typically in the range 4?2?1 cm, or smaller.

Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for calibrating a sensing arrangement within an interior compartment of the vehicle. One method involves initiating operation of an interior component of the vehicle, obtaining one or more signals from the sensing arrangement within the interior compartment of the vehicle, wherein a characteristic of the one or more signals is influenced by the operation of the interior component, determining a measured position of the interior component based at least in part on the characteristic of the one or more signals, obtaining a reference position associated with the interior component, and determining a calibration offset for a reference axis associated with the sensing arrangement based on a relationship between the measured position and the reference position, wherein subsequent operation of the vehicle is influenced by the calibration offset associated with the sensing arrangement.

A system for improving safety of an occupant by a vehicle seat belt, which can provide adaptive protection for an occupant in different seat positions and different sitting postures is provided. A method for improving safety of an occupant by a vehicle seat belt is also provided, along with a computer-readable medium. The a system for improving safety of an occupant by a vehicle seat belt includes an in-vehicle observation system, an active seat belt system, and an integrated safety domain control unit. The integrated safety domain control unit formulates a vehicle seat belt protection strategy based on received data from the in-vehicle observation system, and a slack state of an active retractor and a positional state of an active lift buckle in the active seat belt system, to implement selective tightening or loosening of the active retractor and/or selective lifting or lowering of the active lift buckle.

Method for controlling a vehicle including a smartphone-engaging coupling element. Data about operational status of the vehicle is transferred from one or more vehicle-resident systems to a smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element. Commands are received by the vehicle from the smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element, which commands being based in part on data previously transferred from the vehicle-resident system(s) to the smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element. A vehicular system, e.g., seat positioning system, mirror positioning system, passenger compartment temperature control system, route guidance or navigation system, changes its operation in accordance with the commands received by the vehicle from the smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element.

A device which detects a child presence in a car seat and communicates an audible and mobile-device reminder to the driver that a child occupant is in the seat is disclosed. The system utilizes internal sensors to monitor various vehicle occupancy conditions to determine when a triggering event has occurred while the car seat occupancy sensor is engaged. Once triggered, the system will immediately notify the driver that the child remains in the car seat inside the vehicle, and will also sent follow-up alerts.

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling a vehicle seat so as to control a seat back and a neck pillow based on a sound. The apparatus includes the vehicle seat installed in a vehicle and including a seat back and a neck pillow, a detector for detecting vehicle information and seat information, and a processor connected to the vehicle seat and the detector, wherein the processor determines a vehicle state and a seat sitting posture based on the vehicle information and the seat information, analyzes a sound being reproduced in the vehicle, determines a haptic pattern and a haptic pressure based on the vehicle state and the seat sitting posture, and the analysis of the sound, and controls the seat back and the neck pillow based on the determined haptic pattern and haptic pressure to provide a haptic effect.

Arrangements related to the operation of an autonomous vehicle are described. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle seat. It can be determined whether a future planned driving maneuver of the autonomous vehicle includes a change in a current motion of the autonomous vehicle. Responsive to determining that the future planned driving maneuver includes a change in the current motion of the autonomous vehicle, the vehicle seat can be caused to provide a haptic indication of the future planned driving maneuver prior to implementing the future planned driving maneuver. In this way, a vehicle seat occupant can be alerted to the future planned driving maneuver. The haptic indication can include a movement of the vehicle seat. In one or more arrangements, the movement of the vehicle seat can correspond to a sensation that a vehicle seat occupant will experience during at least a portion of the future planned driving maneuver.

The present invention discloses a mm-wave radar sensor to be deployed in the vehicles for seat occupation detection applications. The key system relevant components are utilization of mm-wave integrated radar, specific planar high-gain antenna radiation pattern, and analyzing of the heartbeat and optionally also respiratory dynamics. The method of operation calculates probability of the seat occupation event regarding: detection of the passenger on the seat, detection of a baby or a child on the seat, detection of the presence of a baby or a child in the vehicle after the driver has left the vehicle, detection of the human or animal presence of intrusion in specific vehicle environment. In case that probability is above a predefined threshold, typically the interaction with vehicle control system is initiated using arbitrary automotive interfaces. Corresponding predefined actions are taken in that case. The predefined actions could be one or combination of the following: audio signal alerts to driver, inside cabin light condition change, engine operation condition change, opening of the windows or corresponding communication using arbitrary wireless means to outside vehicle environment. Optionally, the system is utilizing additional parameters like vehicle cabin temperature and/or timing information about engine stop and driver leaving the car. Preferably, the system is using 60 GHz or 77-79 GHz integrated radar front end working in Doppler operation mode, with 44 Tx and Rx planar radiation elements, with physical size typically in the range 421 cm, or smaller.

Disclosed are an assist grip and a vehicle including the same. The assist grip includes a fixing part coupled to an interior of a vehicle, a grip part including a radar member that senses whether an object is present within a close distance, and connected to the fixing part to be rotatable, and a connection part connecting the grip part to the fixing part such that the grip part is rotatable.

A seat monitoring system for monitoring a state of at least one seat arrangeable in a vehicle's interior and determining the position of the seat in the interior. The monitoring system has a control module, two sending modules signally connected to the control module, and at least one seat module associated with at least one seat and a receiving module. The two sending modules are spaced apart from one another and each have one antenna, the receiving module has two antennas. A first antenna of the receiving module is configured to receive a signal from a first sending module of the sending modules, and a second antenna of the receiving module is configured to receive a signal from a second sending module of the sending modules. The receiving module is configured to determine signal strengths of the signals received by the antennas of the receiving module for position determination.