Monitoring System for a Vehicle Cabin

Abstract

A monitoring system for a vehicle cabin, a vehicle including such a monitoring system and a method for monitoring a vehicle cabin. The monitoring system includes a first sensor unit, a second sensor unit and a control unit. The first sensor unit is configured to generate image data of the vehicle cabin. The second sensor unit is configured to generate non-image data of the vehicle cabin. The control unit is configured to collect the image data and the non-image data and determine based thereon whether an obstacle is in the vehicle cabin. The control unit is further configured to limit an actuation of a subsystem if the obstacle is disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for a vehicle cabin, the monitoring system comprising: a first sensor unit, a second sensor unit, and a control unit, the first sensor unit being configured to generate image data of the vehicle cabin, the second sensor unit being configured to generate non-image data of the vehicle cabin, the control unit being configured to collect the image data and the non-image data and determine based thereon whether an obstacle is in the vehicle cabin, and the control unit being further configured to limit an actuation of a subsystem if the obstacle is disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1, the first sensor unit comprising at least one optical image sensor.

3. The monitoring system according to claim 1, the subsystem being a sunroof system, a window system, a headrest system, a seat adjustment system, a door system and/or an airbag system.

4. The monitoring system according to claim 1, the second sensor unit being configured to detect a reflected signal from the obstacle in the vehicle cabin.

5. The monitoring system according to claim 1, the first sensor unit being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and/or the second sensor unit being arranged perpendicular to the driving direction of the vehicle.

6. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a third sensor unit including one or more subsystem sensors, the third sensor unit being configured to send operating data of the subsystem to the control unit.

7. The monitoring system according to claim 6, the control unit being configured to fuse data collected from the first sensor unit, the second sensor unit and/or the third sensor unit and to determine a position of the obstacle.

8. The monitoring system according to claim 7, the data collected from the first sensor unit, the second sensor unit and/or the third sensor unit being raw data.

9. The monitoring system according to claim 7, the data collected from the first sensor unit, the second sensor unit and/or the third sensor unit being feature extraction data.

10. The monitoring system according to claim 7, the data collected from the first sensor unit, the second sensor unit and/or the third sensor unit being inference data.

11. The monitoring system according to claim 7, the control unit being configured to determine whether the position of the obstacle in the vehicle cabin is disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem.

12. The monitoring system according claim 11, the control unit being configured to initiate scanning the vehicle cabin by the first sensor unit, the second sensor unit and/or the third sensor unit based on a command for the actuation of the subsystem.

13. The monitoring system according to claim 12, the control unit being configured to allow the actuation of the subsystem if the obstacle is removed.

14. A vehicle, comprising: a vehicle cabin, and a monitoring system for the vehicle cabin, the monitoring system comprising: a first sensor unit, a second sensor unit, and a control unit, the first sensor unit being configured to generate image data of the vehicle cabin, the second sensor unit being configured to generate non-image data of the vehicle cabin, the control unit being configured to collect the image data and the non-image data and determine based thereon whether an obstacle is in the vehicle cabin, and the control unit being further configured to limit an actuation of a subsystem if the obstacle is disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem.

15. A method for monitoring a vehicle cabin, the method comprising: generating image data of the vehicle cabin by a first sensor unit, generating non-image data of the vehicle cabin by a second sensor unit, collecting the image data and the non-image data and determining based thereon whether an obstacle is in the vehicle cabin, and limiting an actuation of a subsystem if the obstacle is disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Exemplary embodiments will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a monitoring system according to the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 2, FIG. 3 show schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a detected area by a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit of a monitoring system according to the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of subsystems according to the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows schematically and exemplarily a method for monitoring a cabin vehicle according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a monitoring system 1, which is integrated in a vehicle 100 for monitoring a vehicle cabin 2. The monitoring system 1 includes a first sensor unit 10 and a second sensor unit 20. The first sensor unit 10 is configured to generate image data of the vehicle cabin 2. The first sensor unit 10 may be a camera including at least one optical image sensor and a wide field view lens such as a fisheye lens to acquire image data of entire area of the vehicle cabin 2 and to detect visual obstructions in the vehicle cabin 2. The second sensor unit 20 is configured to generate non-image data of the vehicle cabin 2. The second sensor unit 20 is configured to detect a reflected signal from the obstacle in the vehicle cabin 2. The second sensor unit 20 may be a radar system.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the first sensor unit 10 is mounted in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100 and a plurality of sensor elements of the second sensor unit 20 are arranged in a lateral direction, i.e. perpendicular to the driving direction of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3 substantially entire area of the vehicle cabin 2 may be detected the first sensor unit 10 and the second sensor unit 20 to provide reliable information on vehicle cabin 2.

[0043] The monitoring system 1 further includes a third sensor unit 30 including one or more subsystem sensors. The third sensor unit 30 is configured to send operating data of the subsystem 40 to a control unit 3. The subsystem 40 is for instance a sunroof system 41, a window system 42, a head-rest system 43, a seat adjustment system 44, a door system and/or an airbag system (see FIG. 4).

[0044] The control unit 3 is configured to collect the image data and the non-image data from the first second and/or third sensor unit 10, 20, 30 and to determine, whether an obstacle is in the vehicle cabin 2. The obstacle may one or more occupants and/or objects positioned in the vehicle cabin 2. The control unit 3 initiates scanning the vehicle cabin 2 by the first sensor unit 10, the second sensor unit 20 and/or third sensor unit 30 based on a command for an actuation of the subsystem 40. The command may be an input of the occupant and/or any inevitable command of the control unit depending on a driving situation such as vehicle collision.

[0045] The control unit 3 is further configured to fuse data collected for determining a position of the obstacle. The level of collected data may be defined with respect to a level of data processing. The collected data may be raw data, feature extraction data and/or inference data. The control unit 3 may be configured to automatically learn at which level a data fusion is most beneficial for a detection result. In the control unit 3, a training strategy may be implemented, which focuses the learning on a specific sensor type.

[0046] The control unit 3 determines based on the data collected from the first sensor unit 10, the second sensor unit 20 and/or third sensor unit 30, whether the position of the obstacle in the vehicle cabin 2 is disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem 40. If the obstacle is determined as disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem 40, the control unit 3 limits or disables the actuation of the subsystem 40. The control the control unit 3 allows the actuation of the subsystem 40 if the obstacle is removed.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows schematically the method for monitoring the vehicle cabin 2. The method includes: [0048] S0 a subsystem 40 in an inactive mode, [0049] S1 receiving a command for an actuation of the subsystem 40, [0050] S2 initiating scanning the vehicle cabin 2 by the first sensor unit 10, the second sensor unit 20 and/or third sensor unit 30 based on the command for the actuation of the subsystem 40, [0051] S3 generating image data of the vehicle cabin 2 by a first sensor unit 10, [0052] S4 generating non-visible data of the vehicle cabin 2 by a second sensor unit 20, [0053] S5 collecting the image data and the non-visible data and determining based thereon whether an obstacle is in the vehicle cabin 2, [0054] S6 collecting operating data of the subsystem 40 by a third sensor unit 30, [0055] S7 determining a position of an obstacle by fusing data collected from the first sensor unit 10, the second sensor unit 20 and/or third sensor unit 30, [0056] S8 determining whether the position of the obstacle in the vehicle cabin 2 is disruptive for an actuation of the subsystem 40, [0057] S9 limiting the actuation of the subsystem 40 if the obstacle is disruptive for the actuation of the subsystem 40, and [0058] S10 allowing the actuation of the subsystem 40 if the obstacle is removed.

[0059] It has to be noted that embodiments of the disclosure are described with reference to different subject matter. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matter is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

[0060] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0061] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items re-cited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.