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US 11,447,085 B2Granted
3D time of flight active reflecting sensing systems and methods
AssigneeJoyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
InventorsHamid Naghizadeh, Leonard Cech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system and method provide for identification of dynamic objects in an enclosed space and the presence of a component in a primary location. The system uses an active electro-optical 3D sensor, such as a three-dimensional time of flight camera, to identify the presence or absence of a reflected pulse, to determine, for example, proper placement of a seat belt, or a change in characteristics of a reflected pulse to determine a change in location, and thus possible movement, of a living creature in a vehicle, for example.
Claims19
A system for classifying objects within an identified volume of space, comprising:
- an electro-optical sensor in communication with a processor and computerized memory storing computer-implemented software thereon;
- a reflective surface capable of reflecting an optical signal back to the electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the reflective surface is at least partially within a first line of sight originating from the electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the reflective surface is positioned relative to the identified volume of space such that a second line of sight originating from the reflective surface encompasses at least a portion of the identified volume of space;
- an indirect reflective surface defining a third line of sight, wherein the indirect reflective surface is within the second line of sight originating at the reflective surface but is not within the first line of sight originating from the electro-optical sensor, and wherein the third line of sight originating from the indirect reflective surface includes at least a portion of the identified volume that is not in the first line of sight originating with the active electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the optical signal reflected from the reflective surface back to the electro-optical sensor comprises image data gathered by the reflective surface via the second line of sight into the identified volume;
- wherein if characteristics of the optical signal as reflected by the reflective surface at a first time differ from later characteristics of the optical signal as reflected by the reflective surface at a second time, the sensor uses the software to identify movement data in any possible mechanical degree of freedom for the objects within the identified volume, wherein the software is configured to use the movement data to categorize the object as static, semi-static, or dynamic.
4 more elements
A system for classifying objects within an identified volume of space in a vehicle, comprising:
- an electro-optical sensor positioned inside the vehicle with a first line of sight facing toward a rear of the vehicle, the electro-optical sensor in communication with a processor and computerized memory storing computer-implemented imaging software thereon;
- a component in the vehicle comprising a surface sending an optical signal to the electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the surface is within the first line of sight originating from the electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the surface is positioned relative to the identified volume of space such that a second line of sight originating from the surface encompasses at least a portion of the identified volume of space;
- an indirect reflective surface defining a third line of sight, wherein the indirect reflective surface is within the second line of sight originating at the surface but is not within the first line of sight originating from the electro-optical sensor, and wherein the third line of sight originating from the indirect reflective surface includes at least a portion of the identified volume that is not in the first line of sight originating with the active electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the optical signal reflected from the surface back to the electro-optical sensor comprises image data gathered by the surface via the second line of sight into the identified volume;
- wherein if characteristics of the optical signal as reflected by the reflective surface at a first time differ from later characteristics of the optical signal as reflected by the reflective surface at a second time, the sensor identifies movement data corresponding to the objects within the identified volume via the software.
4 more elements
A system for classifying objects within an identified volume of space in a vehicle, comprising:
- an electro-optical sensor positioned inside the vehicle with a first line of sight, the electro-optical sensor in communication with a processor and computerized memory storing computer-implemented imaging software thereon;
- a component in the vehicle comprising a reflective surface transmitting an optical signal to the electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the reflective surface is within the first line of sight originating from the electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the reflective surface is positioned relative to the identified volume of space such that a second line of sight originating from the reflective surface encompasses at least a portion of the identified volume of space;
- an indirect reflective surface defining a third line of sight, wherein the indirect reflective surface is within the second line of sight originating at the reflective surface but is not within the first line of sight originating from the electro-optical sensor, and wherein the third line of sight originating from the indirect reflective surface includes at least a portion of the identified volume that is not in the first line of sight originating with the active electro-optical sensor;
- wherein the optical signal reflected from the reflective surface back to the electro-optical sensor comprises image data gathered by the reflective surface via the second line of sight into the identified volume, and the image data comprises a sufficient resolution to emulate patterns of objects in either the first line of sight or the second line of sight;
- wherein if the patterns emulated in the optical signal as reflected by the reflective surface at a first time differ from later characteristics of the optical signal as reflected by the reflective surface at a second time, the sensor identifies movement data corresponding to the objects within the identified volume via the software.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.