Vehicle seat occupant classifying method and apparatus based on a support vector machine
AssigneeDenso Corporation
InventorsTomoji Suzuki, Shinichi Tamura
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Abstract
A seat occupant in a vehicle is classified into one of first and second categories by using a support vector machine (SVM). Sensor signals are obtained from seat sensors to form a sensor signal vector. By using the sensor signal vector, a value of a two-value decision function known as SVM is calculated. The seat occupant is decided to be of one of the first and second categories associated with the value. The two-value decision function can be generated through support vector learning by using a set of training vectors obtained from the seat sensors. An airbag system using an inventive seat occupant classifying apparatus is also disclosed.
Claims44
A method of classifying a seat occupant or a state of the seat occupant into one of a first category and a second category in a vehicle having an array of sensors and a controller connected to the sensors for embodying the method, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining respective sensor signals from said sensors to form a sensor signal vector whose components are said sensor signals;
- (b) calculating a value of a two-value decision function known as a support vector machine by using said sensor signal vector;
- and
- (c) deciding said seat occupant to be of one of said first and second categories associated with said value.
A method of generating a two-value decision function known as a support vector machine and used for classifying a seat occupant or a state of the seat occupant into one of a first category and a second category in a vehicle having an array of sensors and a controller connected to the sensors for effecting the classification, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a set of training input-output data samples, each training input-output data sample comprising a training sensor signal vector whose components are derived from said respective sensors and a class value that indicates said first or second category depending on said seat occupant at a time of obtaining said sensor signal vector;
- and
- (b) using said set of training input-output data samples to find parameters for said two-value decision function through support vector learning.
An apparatus for classifying a seat occupant or a state of the seat occupant into one of a first category and a second category in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an array of sensors each providing a sensor signal in response to an applied force;
- and
- a controller connected to said sensors, said controller comprising:
- (a) means for obtaining respective sensor signals from said sensors to form a sensor signal vector whose components are said sensor signals;
- (b) means for calculating a value of a two-value decision function known as a support vector machine by using said sensor signal vector;
- and
- (c) means for deciding said seat occupant to be of one of said first and second categories associated with said value.
An apparatus for controlling airbag deployment in response to a state of a seat occupant in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an array of force sensors each providing a sensor signal in response to an applied force;
- and
- a first controller connected to said sensors for classifying said state of said seat occupant into one of a first category and a second category, said first controller comprising:
- (a) means for obtaining respective sensor signals from said sensors to form a sensor signal vector whose components are said sensor signals;
- (b) means for calculating a value of a two-value decision function known as a support vector machine by using said sensor signal vector;
- (c) means for deciding said seat occupant to be of one of said first and second categories associated with said value;
- means, in response to a detection of an imminent crash, for controlling airbag deployment on the basis of said one of said first and second categories.
A method of classifying a seat occupant or a state of the seat occupant into one of a first category and a second category in a vehicle having an array of sensors and a controller connected to the sensors for embodying the method, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining respective sensor signals from said sensors to form a sensor signal vector whose components are said sensor signals;
- (b) calculating a value of a two-value decision function known as a support vector machine by using said sensor signal vector;
- (c) deciding said seat occupant to be of one of said first and second categories associated with said value of said two-value decision function, said first category denoting an adult class, and said second category denoting a child class;
- (d) if said seat occupant is decided to be of said second category, calculating a second value of a second two-value decision function known as the support vector machine and associated with said second category by using said sensor signal vector, said second category being classified into a first subcategory denoting a sitting child class for a child seating on a vehicle seat and a second subcategory denoting an infant seat class for an infant put in an infant seat;
- and
- (e) deciding said seat occupant to be of one of said sitting child class and said infant seat class associated with said second value of said second two-value decision function.
A method of classifying a seat occupant or a state of the seat occupant into one of a first category and a second category in a vehicle having an array of sensors and a controller connected to the sensors for embodying the method, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining respective sensor signals from said sensors to form a sensor signal vector whose components are said sensor signals;
- (b) calculating a value of a two-value decision function known as a support vector machine by using said sensor signal vector;
- and
- (c) deciding said seat occupant to be of one of said first and second categories associated with said value of said two-value decision function,
- wherein said first and second categories relate to degrees of fatigue of said seat occupant.
A method of classifying a seat occupant or a state of the seat occupant into one of a first category and a second category in a vehicle having an array of sensors and a controller connected to the sensors for embodying the method, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining respective sensor signals from said sensors to form a sensor signal vector whose components are said sensor signals;
- (b) calculating a value of a two-value decision function known as a support vector machine by using said sensor signal vector;
- and
- (c) deciding said seat occupant to be of one of said first and second categories associated with said value of said two-value decision function,
- wherein said first and second categories relate to degrees of awakening of said seat occupant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.