US 7,009,502 B2 · Method for controlling output of a classification algorithm

Abstract

Method for controlling output of a classification algorithm which classifies an occupant of a seat including initially classifying the occupant and outputting the classification, subsequently periodically classifying the occupant and enabling a change in the classification of the occupant only upon obtaining evidence of a new classification which is greater than evidence of the current classification. The initial classification of the occupant may be conducted based on satisfaction of a condition such as the detection of closure of a door by, e.g., a sensor such as a door closure sensor, the detection of an empty seat by, e.g., an occupant presence sensor, weight sensor, electric field sensor, wave sensor, camera and the like, the detection of the switching on of the vehicle ignition by an appropriate sensor, motion or the absence of motion of the vehicle.

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Claims47

Dependent claims

A method for controlling output of a classification algorithm which classifies an occupant of a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

initially classifying the occupant and outputting a current classification;
setting an initial threshold period of time relative to which changes in the current classification are made;
conducting multiple re-classifications of the occupant;
determining a substantially consecutive period of time that the occupant has been classified or re-classified as the current classification;
determining which of the consecutive period of time that the occupant has been classified or re-classified as the current re-classification or the initial threshold is less and setting whichever is less as a comparison threshold;
determining a substantially consecutive period of time that the occupant has been classified differently than the current classification;
and
changing the current classification only when the consecutive period of time that the occupant has been classified differently than the current classification is greater than the comparison threshold.

5 more elements

A method for controlling output of a classification algorithm which classifies an occupant of a seat in a vehicle, comprising:

initially classifying the occupant and outputting a current classification;
subsequently periodically re-classifying the occupant;
and
enabling a change in the classification of the occupant upon satisfying pre-determined criteria;
and
resetting the classification by classifying the occupant and outputting the classification, upon detection of a condition selected from a group consisting of motion of the vehicle and absence of motion of the vehicle,
the step of enabling a change in the classification of the occupant comprising:
determining a substantially consecutive period of time that the re-classification of the occupant is the same as the current classification;
detecting a change in classification and then determining a substantially consecutive period of time that the re-classification of the occupant is the changed classification;
and
when the period of time in which the classification is the changed classification is greater than the period of time when the classification is the output classification, or greater than a predetermined time period, outputting the changed classification.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,845 words

Summary4,921 words

#The present invention relates to the design, creation and use of an algorithm for controlling classification of a vehicle occupancy detection system.

#Vehicles currently include various systems whose operation depends on the occupancy of the vehicle. For example, it has been known for some time that an occupant restraint or protection device can be designed to deploy differently depending on the type of occupants to be protected by the device (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,782 (Breed et al.)). A classification of the occupancy of the vehicle is therefore desired in order to optimize the deployment of the occupant protection device.

#Moreover, it is known that the position of the occupant can also affect the operation of various systems in the vehicle, most importantly, the occupant protection device (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,462 (Breed et al.)). Determination of the position of the occupant is therefore desired to optimize the deployment of the occupant protection device.

Brief description of the drawings3 figures

#The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.

#FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the manner in which one embodiment of the algorithm in accordance with the invention operates.

#FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the manner in which another embodiment of the algorithm in accordance with the invention operates.

Detailed description2,832 words

#Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements, FIG. 1 shows an algorithm for controlling changes in a classification process performed by a system in a vehicle which requires that the occupants of the vehicle be classified.

#This algorithm functions based on the satisfaction of a condition such as closure of a door as represented at 10. When closure of the door is detected, a data set is obtained from sensors used in the classification process at 12 and the seat occupancy is determined at 14. A variable n is set to 1 at 16, this variable will be used to count the number of times the seat occupancy is classified the same. A new data set is obtained from the sensors at 18 and the seat occupancy is determined at 20. A determination is made whether the new classification is the same as the immediately previous classification at 22. If so, the variable n is increased by 1 at 24 and a new data set is obtained from the sensors at 18 and the seat occupancy is determined from the new data set at 20. Thus, the variable n will represent the number of times that data sets provide the same seat occupancy classification.

#Sensors at 18 may be any type of occupant sensors including but not limited to all types of weight sensors, capacitance based sensors, electric field based sensors, radar or any other electromagnetic wave or electric field based sensors, camera based sensors including 3D sensors, ultrasonic based sensors, etc.

Facts

Application

10/644,334Filed 20 Aug 2003 · us provisional application

Priority

26 Aug 2002

Published

US 2004/0045758 A111 Mar 2004

Granted

7 Mar 2006

Term ended

14 Dec 2023

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 116 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

B60R 21/01516
Passenger detection systems: using force or pressure sensing means
B60R 21/0153
Passenger detection systems: using field detection presence sensors
B60R
Vehicle fittings and parts

Timeline

26 Aug 2002Priority claimedParent application 60/405,991
20 Aug 2003Application filedUS 10/644,334
20 Aug 2003Assigned to Automotive Technologies International, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
11 Mar 2004PublishedUS 2004/0045758 A1
7 Mar 2006GrantedUS 7,009,502 B2
10 Apr 2012Assigned to American Vehicular Sciences LLCassignment of assignor's interest
5 Jun 2020Assigned to Starboard Value Intermediate Fund LP, AS Collateral Agentpatent security agreement
8 Jul 2020Assigned to Acacia Research Group LLC, American Vehicular Sciences LLC, Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC, Cellular Communications Equipment LLC, Innovative Display Technologies LLC, Lifeport Sciences LLC, Limestone Memory Systems LLC, Mobile Enhancement Solutions LLC, Monarch Networking Solutions LLC, Nexus Display Technologies LLC, Parthenon Unified Memory Architecture LLC, R2 Solutions LLC, Saint Lawrence Communications LLC, Stingray IP Solutions LLC, Super Interconnect Technologies LLC, Teleconference Systems LLC, Unification Technologies LLCrelease of security interest in patents
6 Jan 2021Assigned to American Vehicular Sciences LLCcorrective assignment to correct the assignee name previously recorded on reel 053654 frame 0254. assignor(s) hereby confirms the release of security interest granted pursuant to the patent security agreement previously recorded.
3 Mar 2021Assigned to Starboard Value Intermediate Fund LP, AS Collateral Agentcorrective assignment to correct the assignor name previously recorded on reel 052853 frame 0153. assignor(s) hereby confirms the patent security agreement.
14 Dec 2023Term endedEstimated, includes 116 days of adjustment

Method for controlling output of a classification algorithm

Life of this patent

Method for controlling output of a classification algorithm

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims47

Description7,845 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,845 words