SEAT OCCUPANCY RECOGNITION

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat occupancy recognition device for recognising the occupancy of a seat, characterised by at least one volume detection device with at least one first sensor, which is provided and designed to detect a volume on the vehicle seat, and at least one body function detection device with at least one second sensor, which is provided and designed to detect body functions, wherein the first sensor comprises a detection area, the maximum being in a range over and/or in front of the seat.

Claims

1. A seat occupancy recognition device for recognizing the occupancy of a seat, comprising: at least one volume detection device having at least one first sensor provided and designed to detect a volume on the vehicle seat, and at least one body function detection device having at least one second sensor provided and designed to detect body functions, the first sensor comprising a detection area, the detection area including an area over the seat, in front of the seat on both over and in front of the seat.

2. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein at least two first sensors are provided.

3. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first sensor is arranged in a lower region of a backrest of the seat.

4. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first sensor is arranged in a seat part of the seat.

5. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first sensor is arranged in an armrest, the armrest preferably being connected to the seat.

6. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an outline and a mass can additionally be detected by means of the first sensor of the volume detection device.

7. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of cardiac function, pulmonary function and gestures and/or movements typical of humans can be recognised by means of the second sensor of the body function detection device.

8. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the seat occupancy recognition device comprises a memory device, by means of which sensor data that can be recorded by the body function detection device can be stored.

9. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor is designed and provided to record sensor data and to transmit said data to the body function measuring device, the measurement data being able to be compared with previously recorded measurement data by means of the body function measuring device in order to determine a health status.

10. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are each selected from a group comprising an optical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, capacitive, acoustic or mechanical sensor.

11. The seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1, wherein at least one body function measuring device for recognising the measured body functions.

12. The seat comprising a seat occupancy recognition device according to claim 1.

Description

[0032] Additional aims, advantages and expediences of the present invention can be taken from the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a seat occupancy recognition device according to a particularly preferred embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a sensor arrangement according to a preferred embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a sensor arrangement according to another preferred embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a sensor arrangement according to a preferred embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a sensor arrangement according to a preferred embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a sensor arrangement according to a preferred embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a sensor arrangement according to a preferred embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a sensor arrangement according to a preferred embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a sensor arrangement having a measurement region according to another preferred embodiment.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a design of the seat occupancy recognition device 1 according to a preferred embodiment, comprising a volume detection device 2 and a body function detection device 3, the volume detection device 2 and the body function detection device 3 each being connected to a control unit 4 at least for signalling. In this case, the control device 4 comprises a memory 5 and a recognition device 6.

[0043] Advantageously, the seat occupancy recognition device 1, in particular the control device 4, is also connected to the respective vehicle functions 7, at least for signalling, in order to release or block said vehicle functions 7 depending on whether the result of the seat occupancy recognition is positive or negative.

[0044] It is also conceivable for the memory 5 and the recognition device 6 not to be integrated in the control device 4, but rather to be independent devices connected to the control device 4 at least for signalling.

[0045] Advantageously, both the volume detection device 1 and the body function detection device 3 are designed so as to be able to detect the corresponding values in a contact-free manner.

[0046] The sensors 8 of the seat occupancy recognition device 1, in particular the volume detection device 2 and the body function detection device 3, can be arranged as depicted in the following figures.

[0047] In an advantageous manner, FIG. 2 shows two sensors 8 used for volume detection by the volume detection device 2. However, it is also conceivable for just one sensor 8 or more than two sensors 8 to be provided. Preferably, however, at least two sensors 8 are provided in order to ensure a certain level of redundancy in the seat occupancy recognition device 1 and to detect the volume as accurately as possible. Independently of the embodiment, the detection areas 8 can take various geometric shapes, for example oval or club-shaped, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0048] Regardless of the embodiment of the arrangement, the sensors 8 can be arranged in the vehicle seat, on the vehicle seat, in the vehicle, for example in the vehicle inside roof lining, a floor mat, an armrest, a seatback extension, etc.

[0049] According to the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the sensors 8 are arranged in a lower region 14 of the backrest part 10. Preferably, the sensors 8 are integrated in the backrest part 10 such that the driver is not affected when sitting on the vehicle seat 11. More preferably, the sensors 8 are designed so as to enable the volume or body functions to be detected in a contact-free manner.

[0050] In this context, the detection areas 8 advantageously extend in a longitudinal direction L, the longitudinal direction L preferably corresponding to the longitudinal direction L of the vehicle seat 11. The dimensions in the vertical direction H and width direction B of the detection areas 8 are smaller than the dimension in the longitudinal direction L in this case.

[0051] The sensors 8 and their detection areas 8 can determine sensor data that can be used by the seat occupancy recognition device 1, in particular the volume detection device 2, to recognise whether a volume V, in this case the volume of the thigh, buttocks or back, is positioned in the detection area 8 of the sensors 8. The sensor data can be stored appropriately in the memory 5 in order to be analysed, in particular at a later time. It is also conceivable for the sensor data, which is in particular raw data from the sensors 8, to be displayed visually, for example by means of a screen or the like, such that a vehicle driver is given an overview of the current data and can thus check their own health status or suitability to drive.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows an alternative sensor arrangement. As in FIG. 2, the volume of the thighs V is detected in this case, too, when a person is positioned on the vehicle seat 11, although the sensors 8 and their detection areas 8 are not arranged in the backrest part 10, but are rather arranged in the seat part 9, preferably integrated in the seat part 9. In this case, the detection areas 8 extend in the vertical direction H. Particularly advantageously, the sensors 8 are arranged in a front region 15 of the seat part 9, as a result of which both normal sitting on the vehicle seat 11 and sitting on the front region 15 of the seat part 9 are possible.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, in which the sensors 8 are arranged in the front region 15 of the seat part 9, as in FIG. 3. However, two sensors 8 are arranged such that their detection areas 8 extend in the vertical direction and two sensors 8 are arranged such that their detection areas 8 extend in the longitudinal direction L, said sensors 8 being arranged on or close to a front 16 of the seat part 9. By means of the sensors 8 arranged on the front, the volume V of the lower legs can also be detected in addition to the volume V of the thighs.

[0054] It is also conceivable for the sensors 8 not to be positioned in the front region 15 of the seat part 9, but rather to be arranged in any other region of the seat part 9. This applies similarly to the arrangement of the sensors 8 in relation to the backrest part 10.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor 8 that is arranged neither in the seat part 9 nor in the backrest part 10, but rather is arranged on and/or in an armrest 12. In this case, the detection area 8 of the sensor 8 is oriented such as to be directed towards the expected volume V of the thighs. In this case, it is also conceivable for the detection area 8 to be directed towards the upper body, the feet and/or lower leg region.

[0056] Instead of an armrest 12 as shown in FIG. 5, a display device 13 as shown in FIG. 6 can also be provided, said display device preferably being designed as a screen or the like.

[0057] The at least one sensor 8 in FIG. 6 is designed so that its detection area 8 detects a volume V. However, if the orientation of the detection area 8 is altered, as shown for example in FIG. 7, body functions can also be detected in addition or alternatively to the volume detection by designing the at least one sensor 8 accordingly. In this case, possible designs of the sensor 8 include a photoelectric sensor, a heat sensor, an optical sensor designed so as to be suitable for image processing, or an optical sensor designed so as to be suitable for contour recognition. It is also conceivable to position the sensor 8 from FIG. 7 in an armrest 12 in order to detect the volume and/or body functions as desired.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a sensor arrangement. In this case, at least one sensor 8 is arranged in a seat cover part 17 of the vehicle seat, a detection area 8 extending in the width direction B, advantageously in a direction formed of the width direction B, the longitudinal direction L and optionally the vertical direction H.

[0059] Preferably, the detection area 8 is formed such that the volume of the thighs V can be detected, other volume regions also being possible.

[0060] Also advantageously, the seat cover part 17 is a component of the cover of the seat part 9 or a part of the cover of the region in which an armrest 12 is arranged, and the adjustment mechanism of the armrest 12 is hidden by the cover. Of course, other regions of the seat cover are also conceivable, for example a bucket of the backrest cushioning, or the like.

[0061] FIG. 9 shows a different detection area 8 of one or more sensors 8 (not shown here). As can be seen, the detection area 8 is U-shaped and accordingly substantially matches the shape of the region of the thighs and the hips of a person sitting on the vehicle seat.

[0062] All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as being essential to the invention if they are novel over the prior art when taken in isolation or in combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0063] 1 Seat occupancy recognition device [0064] 2 Volume detection device [0065] 3 Body function detection device [0066] 4 Control device [0067] 5 Memory [0068] 6 Recognition device [0069] 7 Vehicle function [0070] 8 Sensor [0071] 8 Sensor detection area [0072] 9 Seat part [0073] 10 Backrest part [0074] 11 Vehicle seat [0075] 12 Armrest [0076] 13 Display device [0077] 14 Lower region of the backrest part [0078] 15 Front region of the seat part [0079] 16 Front of the seat part [0080] 17 Seat cover part [0081] L Longitudinal direction [0082] B Width direction [0083] H Vertical direction