# US 9,517,775 B2 · Method, device, and computer program product for operating a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,775 B2 - Document ID: US9517775B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/598,682 - Filed: 2015-01-16 - Published: 2015-07-23 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-17 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Frank Gensler; Ulrich Langenkamp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517775B2 ## CPC - B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/1102: {Ballistocardiography} - A61B 5/1112: {Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS} - A61B 5/1128: {using image analysis (A61B5/1127 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/1176: {Recognition of faces} - A61B 5/18: for vehicle drivers {or machine operators} - A61B 5/6893: {Cars} - A61B 8/00: Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - G01B 11/00: Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques - G06V 20/597: {Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness} - G06V 40/10: Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands - A61B 5/14551: {for measuring blood gases} - G06V 10/141: Control of illumination - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract In order to operate a motor vehicle, a position sensor and a radiation source as well as at least one vital sensor having a detector are provided. The position sensor delivers a measurement signal having information regarding a predetermined area of the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle. The radiation source emits a predetermined radiation after activation. The vital sensor detects a reflected portion of the radiation that is emitted by the radiation source. The 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 is determined of at least one predetermined reference body part of the vehicle occupant in question. The orientation of the radiation source is controlled as a function of the detected position of the predetermined reference body part of the vehicle occupant in question. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: providing, 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; emitting, via at least one radiation source assigned to the motor vehicle, a predetermined radiation; detecting, 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 determined 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: as a function of the measurement signal of the vital sensor, the at least one vital parameter of the vehicle occupant in question is determined. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one vital parameter of the vehicle occupant in question is determined as a function of the measurement signal of the vital sensor on a basis of vibrocardiography. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein: the at least one vital parameter of the vehicle occupant in question is determined as a function of the measurement signal of the vital sensor on the basis of photo oximetry. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one vital parameter of the vehicle occupant in question is determined as a function of the measurement signal of the vital sensor on the basis of photo oximetry. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: as a function of the detected position of the reference body part of the vehicle occupant in question and the measurement signal of the vital sensor, the radiation source is controlled so as to be oriented toward at least one predetermined preferred position on the vehicle occupant in question. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: as a function of the measurement signal of the vital sensor, a radiation intensity of the radiation source is controlled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: as a function of the measurement signal of the position sensor, the radiation source is activated or deactivated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: as a function of the analyzed characteristic value for the movement dynamic, the radiation source is activated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the position sensor comprises a camera. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein: the radiation source comprises a laser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the position sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein: the radiation source comprises a laser. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the radiation source comprises a laser. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of: providing, via a person sensor assigned to the motor vehicle, a measurement signal representative of a personal identification marker of the vehicle occupant in question, and as a function of the measurement signal of the person sensor, performing an identification to detect an identified vehicle passenger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein: the position sensor is additionally used as the person sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein: a respective progression of the measurement signal of the vital sensor is associated with the identified vehicle passenger in question. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 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.