Method, device, and computer program product for operating a motor vehicle

A motor vehicle device, comprising:

• a control unit comprising memory and a processor, the processor executing a computer executable program stored in the memory to:
• receive, via a position sensor assigned to the motor vehicle, a measurement signal that includes spatial information concerning a predetermined area of an interior of the motor vehicle;
• cause to emit, via at least one radiation source assigned to the motor vehicle, a predetermined radiation;
• detect, via at least one vital sensor assigned to the motor vehicle and having a detector, a portion of the radiation emitted by the radiation source that strikes the vital sensor, wherein:
• a measurement signal of the vital sensor is representative of at least one vital parameter of a given vehicle occupant;
• as a function of the measurement signal of the position sensor, a position of at least one predetermined reference body part and a characteristic value for a movement dynamic that is representative of a movement of the vehicle occupant in question are determined, and analysis is performed on the characteristic value to determine whether the characteristic value for the movement dynamic exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• as a function of the detected position of the predetermined reference body part and the analyzed characteristic value for the movement dynamic of the vehicle occupant in question, one or more following actions occur:
• (i) the radiation source is deactivated and (ii) an orientation of the radiation source is controlled.

A motor vehicle system, comprising:

• a position sensor;
• a radiation source;
• a vital sensor with a detector;
• and
• a control unit comprising memory and a processor, the processor executing a computer executable program stored in the memory to:
• receive, via the position sensor assigned to the motor vehicle, a measurement signal that includes spatial information concerning a predetermined area of an interior of the motor vehicle;
• cause to emit, via the radiation source assigned to the motor vehicle, a predetermined radiation;
• detect, via the vital sensor assigned to the motor vehicle, a portion of the radiation emitted by the radiation source that strikes the vital sensor, wherein:
• a measurement signal of the vital sensor is representative of at least one vital parameter of a given vehicle occupant;
• as a function of the measurement signal of the position sensor, a position of at least one predetermined reference body part and a characteristic value for a movement dynamic that is representative of a movement of the vehicle occupant in question are determined, and analysis is performed on the characteristic value to determine whether the characteristic value for the movement dynamic exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• as a function of the detected position of the predetermined reference body part and the analyzed characteristic value for the movement dynamic of the vehicle occupant in question, one or more following actions occur:
• (i) the radiation source is deactivated and (ii) an orientation of the radiation source is controlled.