Method for operating an occupant protection device
AssigneeMercedes-Benz Group AG
InventorsTill Heinrich, Jochen Feese
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for operating an occupant protection device of a vehicle involves triggering an occupant protection mechanism, in the event of an imminent detected collision for the vehicle or of a detected collision of the vehicle. The triggering also depends upon detected image data of at least one interior camera of the vehicle and the triggering can be suppressed based on the detected image data of the interior camera.
Claims16
A method for operating an occupant protection device of a vehicle having at least one occupant protection means allocated to an occupant, which is positioned from its starting position into an active position upon meeting a trigger condition, the method comprising:
- detecting whether there is an imminent collision for the vehicle or whether there is an actual collision for the vehicle;
- detecting, by at least one interior camera located inside of the vehicle, image data of an interior of the vehicle and image data of lateral vehicle surroundings obtained through a vehicle window;
- controlling, responsive to the detection of the imminent collision or of the actual collision, the at least one occupant protection means, wherein, based on the detected image data of the interior of the vehicle and of the lateral vehicle surroundings, the controlling includes triggering the occupant protection means or, based on the detected image data of the interior of the vehicle and of the lateral vehicle surroundings, suppressing the triggering of the occupant protection means;
- predetermining, based on the detected image data, a trigger point in time for the triggering of the at least one occupant protection means;
- and
- making plausible, prior to the actual collision for the vehicle and using the detected image data, at least one radar-based or one Lidar-based signal, or one calculated surroundings or situation model.
An occupant protection device of a vehicle, the occupant protection device comprising:
- at least one occupant protection means allocated to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the at least one occupant protection means is configured to move from a starting position into an active position responsive to occurrence of a trigger condition;
- at least one interior camera arranged in the interior of the vehicle and configured to detect the interior of the vehicle and lateral vehicle surroundings that are visible through a window of the vehicle,
- wherein the at least one occupant protection means is configured to be controlled responsive to detection of an imminent collision or of an actual collision of the vehicle,
- wherein, based on the detected image data of the interior of the vehicle and of the lateral vehicle surroundings, the controlling includes triggering the at least one occupant protection means or, based on the detected image data of the interior of the vehicle and of the lateral vehicle surroundings, suppressing the triggering of the at least one occupant protection means.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle interior;
- a vehicle window;
- and
- an occupant protection device, comprising
- at least one occupant protection means allocated to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the at least one occupant protection means is configured to move from a starting position into an active position responsive to occurrence of a trigger condition;
- at least one interior camera arranged in the interior of the vehicle and configured to detect the interior of the vehicle and lateral vehicle surroundings that are visible through a window of the vehicle,
- wherein the at least one occupant protection means is configured to be controlled responsive to detection of an imminent collision or of an actual collision of the vehicle,
- wherein, based on the detected image data of the interior of the vehicle and of the lateral vehicle surroundings, the controlling includes triggering the at least one occupant protection means or, based on the detected image data of the interior of the vehicle and of the lateral vehicle surroundings, suppressing the triggering of the at least one occupant protection means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.