Method and system for operating a motor vehicle

Abstract

A spatial position of at least one first body part, arranged within a sensing range of a sensing device of the motor vehicle, of a vehicle occupant is sensed with respect to the motor vehicle by the sensing device. An anthropometric data model is provided with data including the dimensions of predetermined body parts of a person and the positioning of the body parts with respect to one another. As a result, a spatial position of at least one second body part of the same vehicle occupant which is arranged outside the sensing range of the sensing device can be determined, taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the first body part and the anthropometric data model. At least one functional unit of the motor vehicle is actuated taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the second body part.

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle, comprising: sensing a spatial position with respect to the motor vehicle of at least one first body part of a vehicle occupant, including a first shoulder, arranged within a sensing range of a sensing device of the motor vehicle, by the sensing device; providing an anthropometric data model with data relating to dimensions of predetermined body parts of a human being and positioning of the body parts with respect to one another; determining a spatial position of at least one second body part, including at least one of a second shoulder and a head, of the vehicle occupant arranged outside the sensing range of the sensing device, taking into consideration the spatial position of the at least one first body part and the anthropometric data model; and actuating at least one functional unit of the motor vehicle, taking into consideration the spatial position of the at least one second body part, including at least one of a seat belt height adjustment device of the motor vehicle is actuated automatically, taking into consideration the spatial position of the second shoulder and, taking into consideration the spatial position of the head, an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle is automatically parameterized and/or a head support height adjustment device of the motor vehicle is automatically actuated.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising parameterizing a triggering of a head airbag, taking into consideration the spatial position of the head.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising one of delaying and preventing the triggering of the head airbag with respect to a standard setting, taking into consideration the spatial position of the head.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising parameterizing at least one of a temperature and flow rate distribution of an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle.

5. A system for operating a motor vehicle having functional units, including at least one of a seat belt height adjustment device and a head support height adjustment device, said system comprising: a sensing device configured to determine a spatial position with respect to the motor vehicle of at least one first body part of a vehicle occupant, including a first shoulder, arranged within a sensing range of the sensing device; a storage device configured to provide an anthropometric data model with data relating to dimensions of predetermined body parts of a human being and positioning of the body parts with respect to one another; a data processing device configured to determine a spatial position of at least one second body part, including at least one of a second shoulder and a head, of the vehicle occupant, which is arranged outside the sensing range of the sensing device, taking into consideration the spatial position of the first body part and of the anthropometric data model; a control device configured to actuate at least one of the functional units of the motor vehicle, taking into consideration the spatial position of the at least one second body part, of the vehicle occupant, including at least one of automatically actuating the seat belt height adjustment device of the motor vehicle taking into consideration the spatial position of the second shoulder and, taking into consideration the spatial position of the head, automatically parameterizing an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle and/or automatically actuating the head support height adjustment device of the motor vehicle.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the functional units of the motor vehicle further include a head airbag, and wherein the control device is further configured to parameterize a triggering of the head airbag, taking into consideration the spatial position of the head.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control device is further configured to one of delay and prevent the triggering of the head airbag with respect to a standard setting, taking into consideration the spatial position of the head.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the functional units of the motor vehicle further include an air conditioning system, and wherein the control device is further configured to parameterize at least one of a temperature and flow rate distribution of the air conditioning system of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a motor vehicle with a system for sensing and determining body parts of vehicle occupant and a control device for actuating different functional units of the motor vehicle; and in

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an internal space, shown partially, of the motor vehicle, wherein a driver of the motor vehicle is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(4) Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

(5) A motor vehicle 10 with a system 12 for operating the motor vehicle is shown in a diagrammatic representation in FIG. 1. The system 12 includes a sensing device 14 which is designed to determine a spatial position of at least one first body part 18, arranged within a sensing range 16 of the sensing device 14, of a vehicle occupant 20.

(6) In the present case, the body part 18 is the right-shoulder of the vehicle occupant 20. The system 12 also includes a storage device 22 which is designed to provide an anthropometric data model with data relating to the dimensions of predetermined body parts of a person and the positioning of the body parts with respect to one another. In addition, the system 12 includes a data processing device 24 which is designed to determine a spatial position of at least one second body part 26, 28 of the same vehicle occupant 20 which is arranged outside the sensing range 16 of the sensing device 14, taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the first body part 18 and of the anthropometric data model.

(7) In the present case, the body parts 26, 28 located outside the sensing range 16 are the left-hand shoulder or the head, respectively, of the vehicle occupant 20. Finally, the system 12 also includes a control device 30 which is designed to actuate a plurality of functional units 32, 34, 36, 38 of the motor vehicle 10, taking into consideration the determined spatial position of the body parts 26, 28 located outside the sensing range 16.

(8) In the present case, the functional unit 32 is a height adjustment device of a seat belt of the motor vehicle 10. The functional unit 34 is a head airbag which is arranged in the area of the head 28 of the vehicle occupant 20 within the motor vehicle 10. The functional unit 36 is an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle 10. The functional unit 38 is a height adjustment device of a head support of the seat in which the vehicle occupant 20 is sitting.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a section of the interior space of the motor vehicle 10. In the case shown presently, the sensing device 14 is arranged in a roof lining 40 of the motor vehicle 10. The sensing device 14 here then has such a sensing range 16 that the right-hand shoulder 18 of the vehicle occupant is still located within the sensing range 16, both the head 28 and the left-hand shoulder 26 being located outside the sensing range 16.

(10) In the text which follows, a method for operating the motor vehicle 10 will be explained in greater detail. Initially, a spatial position of the right-hand shoulder 18 of the vehicle occupant is sensed by the sensing device 14 which is also easily possible since the right-hand shoulder 18, as already explained, is arranged within the sensing range 16 of the sensing device 14. Furthermore, the anthropometric data model is provided by the storage device 22. Subsequently, a spatial position of the left-hand shoulder 26 of the vehicle occupant 20 is determined which is arranged outside the sensing range of the sensing device 14. In this context, the sensed spatial position of the right-hand shoulder 18 and the provided anthropometric data model are taken into consideration. Knowing the spatial position or position of the right-hand shoulder 18, respectively, the spatial position and position of the left-hand shoulder 26 can be determined in a simple manner by a comparison with the anthropometric data model since, due to the anthropometric data model, the dimensions of predetermined body parts of a person and the positioning of the body parts with respect to one another are known.

(11) Subsequently, the height adjustment device 32 of the seat belt, arranged on the driver side, of the motor vehicle 10 is actuated automatically with consideration of the determined spatial position of the left-shoulder 26. If, for example, the height adjustment device 32 should not be set correctly for the body size and seat position of the vehicle occupant 20, the height adjustment device 32 is actuated correspondingly by the control device 30 in such a manner that the seat belt is adjusted optimally for the size and seat position of the vehicle occupant 20.

(12) Furthermore, a position is space of the head 28 of the vehicle occupant 20 is determined taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the right-hand shoulder 18 and the provided anthropometric data model. If the vehicle 10 is involved in an accident, in which the head airbag 34 would usually be triggered, triggering of the head airbag 34 will be parameterized with consideration of the determined spatial position of the head 28. If, for example, the head position is unfavorable in such a manner that triggering of the head airbag 34 would lead to an injury of the vehicle occupant 20, the head airbag 34 can be triggered, for example, delayed with respect to a standard setting or not triggered at all, taking into consideration the determined spatial position of the head 28.

(13) Knowing the head position of the vehicle occupant, the air conditioning system 36 of the motor vehicle is additionally parameterized automatically. For example, a temperature and/or flow rate distribution of the air conditioning system is parameterized in such a manner that a particularly draft-free air conditioning of the interior space of the vehicle is achieved with a pleasant temperature distribution. For example, knowing the head position, the air outlet rate of the air conditioning system can be adjusted in such a manner that particularly low flow rates are present in the interior space of the vehicle in the head area.

(14) In addition, the height adjustment device 38 of the head support 42 of the motor vehicle 10 is actuated automatically taking into consideration the determined spatial position of the head 28. If the head support 42 is not set to the right height, the control device 30 actuates the height adjustment device 38 of the head support 42 in such a manner that the head support 42 is set optimally, considering the determined head position of the vehicle occupant 20, as a result of which whiplash traumas and similar injuries can be avoided in the case of an accident.

(15) In the example shown above, the adjustment or parameterization of the most varied functional units 32, 34, 36, 38 of the motor vehicle 10 was explained, taking into consideration the detected positions of different body parts 18, 26, 38 of the vehicle occupant 20.

(16) In this context, the method can be performed similarly in the same way for vehicle occupants sitting at different positions of the motor vehicle 10. Overall, the system 12 explained and method enable the positioning of the most varied body parts of vehicle occupants of a motor vehicle to be determined even if corresponding sensing devices are not suited to sense all body parts of the vehicle occupants. Due to the reliable ascertainability of the spatial positions or positionings, respectively, of the most varied body parts of vehicle occupants, it is possible to adjust comfort- and safety-related functional units of a motor vehicle automatically and optimally to the body size and seat position of the occupants. As a result, both the comfort for vehicle occupants and the safety of vehicle occupants in motor vehicles can be increased.

(17) A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004)