# US 11,440,552 B2 · Method and device for operating an assistance system in a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,552 B2 - Document ID: US11440552B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/649,738 - Filed: 2018-11-06 - Published: 2020-08-20 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-06 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Juergen Bruegl; Matthias Franz; Michael Hellmuth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440552B2 ## CPC - B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers - B60N 2/002: {Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon (detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266)} - B60N 2/0023: {for detection of driver fatigue} - B60N 2/005: Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles {, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats}(B60N2/02 takes precedence {; for railway vehicles B61D1/04}) - B60W 30/08: {Active safety systems} predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision {or attempting to minimise its consequences} - A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors - B60N 2220/10: using a database - B60W 2040/0881: {Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence} - F24F 2110/60: Odour - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A method for operating an assistance system in a motor vehicle detects at least one odor profile using a respective odor sensor. The at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorous substances. The method carries out one or more assistance functions depending on the detected at least one odor profile. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating an assistance system in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: recording at least one odor profile by way of a respective odor sensor, wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorants; and performing one or more assistance functions depending on the at least one odor profile, wherein: the at least one odor profile is recorded as a temporal evolution of concentrations of the odorants of the at least one odor profile, a change in the at least one odor profile is recognized depending on the temporal evolution of the concentrations of the odorants of the at least one odor profile, the change in the at least one odor profile is used to determine a change in a physiological state of a user in the motor vehicle, the change in the physiological state of the user is used to determine the one or more assistance functions that are performed, and the one or more assistance functions are performed depending on the change in the physiological state of the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two odor sensors are assigned to different vehicle seats of the motor vehicle, such that an odor profile of a user sitting on the respectively assigned vehicle seat is able to be recognized, seat occupancy is recognized by comparing the odor profile assigned to the vehicle seat in question with a predefined reference odor profile of ambient air, and the one or more assistance functions are performed depending on the recognized seat occupancy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the predefined reference odor profile is recorded by a reference odor sensor, and a temporal evolution of the predefined reference odor profile is recorded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one odor profile is assigned to the user by way of a user reference odor profile, the one or more assistance functions are performed or adjusted individually depending on the user, and the user reference odor profile is stored in the assistance system, retrieved from a data carrier and/or is received externally from the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein after performing the one or more assistance functions depending on the change in the physiological state of the user, the performance of the one or more assistance functions is stopped or the performance of the one or more assistance functions is adjusted depending on a further change in the at least one odor profile. ### Claim 6 A system in a motor vehicle, comprising: an assistance system configured to execute processing to: record at least one odor profile by way of a respective odor sensor, wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorants; perform one or more assistance functions depending on the at least one odor profile, wherein: the at least one odor profile is recorded as a temporal evolution of concentrations of the odorants of the at least one odor profile, a change in the at least one odor profile is recognized depending on the temporal evolution of the concentrations of the odorants of the at least one odor profile, the change in the at least one odor profile is used to determine a change in a physiological state of a user in the motor vehicle, the change in the physiological state of the user is used to determine the one or more assistance functions that are performed, and the one or more assistance functions are performed depending on the change in the physiological state of the user. ### Claim 7 A motor vehicle, comprising: an assistance system configured to execute processing to: record at least one odor profile by way of a respective odor sensor, wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorants; perform one or more assistance functions depending on the at least one odor profile; and a vehicle seat; wherein: the respective odor sensor is arranged in the vehicle seat or assigned to an area in a vicinity of the vehicle seat, the at least one odor profile is recorded as a temporal evolution of concentrations of the odorants of the at least one odor profile, a change in the at least one odor profile is recognized depending on the temporal evolution of the concentrations of the odorants of the at least one odor profile, the change in the at least one odor profile is used to determine a change in a physiological state of a user in the motor vehicle, the change in the physiological state of the user is used to determine the one or more assistance functions that are performed, and the one or more assistance functions are performed depending on the change in the physiological state of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the odor sensor is arranged in a backrest, a head support or a seat surface of the vehicle seat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the odor sensor is arranged in a roof lining in the vicinity above the vehicle seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The motor vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising: a reference odor sensor configured to record a reference odor profile of ambient air fed into an interior of the motor vehicle.