Radar-based occupancy detector for automobiles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11498518-B2
Application number	US-201916686171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2019
Priority date	Nov 29, 2018
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

A radar-based occupancy detection system that includes a seatbelt buckle disposed adjacent a seat of a vehicle and a radar module disposed within the seatbelt buckle, the radar module including an antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, a RF receiver, and a processor, the antenna configured to broadcast a RF signal generated by the RF transmitter toward the seat, the processor configured to derive signal information from output received from the receiver and to characterize occupancy of the seat based on the signal information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A radar-based occupancy detection system comprising:
a seatbelt buckle disposed adjacent a seat of a vehicle; and
a radar module disposed within the seatbelt buckle, the radar module including an antenna configured to broadcast a radio frequency (RF) signal toward the seat;
wherein the seatbelt buckle includes a buckle sensor that receives electrical power via a power line that extends into the seatbelt buckle, and wherein the radar module also receives electrical power via the power line.

2. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 1 , wherein the radar module further includes a RF transmitter and a RF receiver coupled to the antenna.

3. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 2 , wherein the radar module further includes a processor that is coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to derive signal information from output received from the receiver, the signal information including at least one of time of flight, frequency change, and amplitude ratio.

4. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to characterize occupancy of the seat based on the signal information.

5. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate information relating to occupancy of the seat to at least one of a seatbelt buckle system, a safety retention system, a climate control system, and an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

6. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is configured to produce a pulsed wave RF signal.

7. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is configured to produce a continuous wave RF signal.

8. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is configured to produce RF signals in the millimeter wave frequency spectrum.

9. A radar-based occupancy detection system comprising:
a seatbelt buckle disposed adjacent a seat of a vehicle; and
a radar module disposed within the seatbelt buckle, the radar module comprising: an antenna configured to broadcast a radio frequency (RF) signal toward the seat;
a RF transmitter and a RF receiver coupled to the antenna; and
a processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to derive signal information from output received from the receiver, the signal information including at least one of time of flight, frequency change, and amplitude ratio;
wherein the processor is configured to characterize occupancy of the seat based on the signal information; and
wherein the processor is configured to communicate information relating to occupancy of the seat to a system in the vehicle to influence operation of such system;
wherein the seatbelt buckle includes a buckle sensor that receives electrical power via a power line that extends into the seatbelt buckle, and wherein the radar module also receives electrical power via the power line.

10. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 9 , wherein an output of the processor is operatively connected to a seatbelt buckle system of the vehicle.

11. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 9 , wherein an output of the processor is operatively connected to a safety retention system of the vehicle.

12. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 9 , wherein an output of the processor is operatively connected to a climate control system of the vehicle.

13. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 9 , wherein an output of the processor is operatively connected to an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

14. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is configured to produce a pulsed wave RF signal.

15. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is configured to produce a continuous wave RF signal.

16. The radar-based occupancy detection system of claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is configured to produce RF signals in the millimeter wave frequency spectrum.

Assignees

• Littelfuse Inc

Inventors

• Scheele Juergen
• Fesshaie Efrem
• Misevi{Hacek Over (C)}Ius Rimantas

Classifications

• B60R22/48 Primary

  Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness · CPC title

• B60R2021/01088

  wireless · CPC title

• B60R21/01534 Primary

  using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared · CPC title

• B60R2022/4816

  for sensing locking of buckle · CPC title

• B60R16/02

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title