# US 2017/0282828 A1 · Radar sensing of vehicle occupancy

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- Number: US 2017/0282828 A1
- Document ID: US20170282828A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/510,437
- Filed: 2015-09-10
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-10
- Assignees: Iee International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
- Applicants: Iee International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
- Inventors: Giuseppe CARENZA; Jochen LANDWEHR
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282828A1

## CPC

- B60R 21/01512: {Passenger detection systems}
- G01S 7/40: Means for monitoring or calibrating
- G01S 7/415: {Identification of targets based on measurements of movement associated with the target}
- G01S 13/04: Systems determining presence of a target (based on relative movement of target G01S13/56)
- G01S 13/86: Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
- G01S 13/88: Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00)
- G01S 13/931: of land vehicles
- B60R 21/01534: {using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared}
- B60R 2021/01286: {Electronic control units}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

A method for sensing occupancy status within an automotive vehicle uses a radar sensor system having an antenna system, at least one sensor and processing circuitry. The method comprises: illuminating, using the antenna system, at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with an outgoing radar signal; receiving, using at least one sensor, at least one sensor signal reflected as a result of the outgoing radar signal; obtaining accelerometer data value from at least one accelerometer, the accelerometer data containing information regarding vibration or motion of the automotive vehicle and supplying the accelerometer data to the processing circuitry; and operating the processing circuitry for generating, based on the at least one sensor signal and on the accelerometer data, one or more occupancy status signals, the occupancy status signal indicating a property related to the at least one occupiable position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for sensing occupancy status within an automotive vehicle using a radar sensor system, the radar sensor system comprising an antenna system, at least one sensor and processing circuitry, the method comprising
illuminating, using the antenna system, at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with an outgoing radar signal;
receiving, using at least one sensor, at least one sensor signal reflected as a result of the outgoing radar signal,
obtaining accelerometer data value from at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer data containing information regarding vibration or motion of said automotive vehicle and supplying said accelerometer data to said processing circuitry;
operating the processing circuitry for generating, based on the at least one sensor signal and on the accelerometer data, one or more occupancy status signals, the occupancy status signal indicating a property related to said at least one occupiable position,
wherein said generating one or more occupancy status signals comprises applying, based on said accelerometer data, offset removal to said sensor signal to generate a modified signal; and
generating said one or more occupancy status signals based on the modified signals.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more occupancy status signals comprise
an occupant detection signal, indicating whether or not an occupant is present in the occupiable position,
an occupant classification signal, indicating a classification for an occupant present in the occupiable position, and/or
an occupant vital signs signal, indicating the extent to which vital signs are exhibited in the occupiable position or by an occupant in the occupiable position.

### Claim 3

A radar sensor system for sensing occupancy status within an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:
an antenna system for illuminating at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with an outgoing radar signal;
at least one sensor for receiving at least one sensor signal reflected as a result of the outgoing radar signal, and
a processing circuitry coupled to the at least one sensor, the processing circuitry being operable
for obtaining accelerometer data from at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer data containing information regarding vibration or motion of said automotive vehicle, and
for generating, based on the at least one sensor signal and on the accelerometer data, one or more occupancy status signals, the occupancy status signal indicating a property related to said at least one occupiable position,
wherein said generating one or more occupancy status signals comprises applying, based on said accelerometer data, offset removal to said sensor signal to generate a modified signal; and generating said one or more occupancy status signals based on the modified signals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The radar sensor system according to claim 3, wherein the one or more occupancy status signals comprise
an occupant detection signal, indicating whether or not an occupant is present in the occupiable position,
an occupant classification signal, indicating a classification for an occupant present in the occupiable position, and/or
an occupant vital signs signal, indicating the extent to which vital signs are exhibited in the occupiable position or by an occupant in the occupiable position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The radar sensor system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one accelerometer is a dedicated accelerometer and forms an integral part of said radar sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The radar sensor system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one accelerometer is an accelerometer associated to existing vehicle components, such as an airbag control unit accelerometer.