Mounted object detection device and vehicle control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12097785-B2
Application number	US-202217747671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2022
Priority date	Nov 26, 2019
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

A mounted object detection device includes: a load sensor in which a plurality of sensor parts each configured to detect a load are disposed in a matrix shape; and a controller configured to detect a situation of a mounted object on the load sensor on the basis of an output from the load sensor. The controller: detects a load distribution on a detection region of the load sensor on the basis of an output from the load sensor; discerns which of a person or animal and a thing the mounted object is, on the basis of the load distribution; and when having discerned that the mounted object is a thing, discerns whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing, on the basis of temporal change in the load distribution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounted object detection device comprising:
a load sensor in which a plurality of sensor parts each configured to detect a load are disposed in a matrix shape; and
a controller configured to detect a situation of a mounted object on the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor, wherein
the controller
detects a load distribution on a detection region of the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor,
discerns which of a person or animal and a thing the mounted object is, based on the load distribution,
when having discerned that the mounted object is a thing, discerns whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing, based on a temporal change in the load distribution, and
when the temporal change in the load distribution is not greater than 10 Hz, determines that a person or an animal is mounted to the thing.

2. The mounted object detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the load sensor is incorporated in a predetermined target object, to be used, and
the controller detects the load distribution using, as a reference, a detection value of each sensor part after the load sensor has been incorporated in the target object.

3. The mounted object detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
after the controller has discerned that no person or animal is mounted on the thing, the controller monitors the temporal change in the load distribution, and continues to perform discernment as to whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing.

4. A mounted object detection device comprising:
a load sensor installed in a moving body, in which a plurality of sensor parts each configured to detect a load are disposed in a matrix shape; and
a controller configured to detect a situation of a mounted object on the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor, wherein
the controller
obtains information regarding acceleration of the moving body,
detects a load distribution on a detection region of the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor,
discerns which of a person or animal and a thing the mounted object is, based on the load distribution,
when having discerned that the mounted object is a thing, discerns whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing, based on the information regarding the acceleration and a temporal change in the load distribution, and
when a temporal change in the load distribution based on an output from the load sensor does not match a temporal change in the load distribution caused by the acceleration, discerns that a person or an animal is mounted on the thing.

5. A mounted object detection device comprising:
a load sensor installed in a moving body, in which a plurality of sensor parts each configured to detect a load are disposed in a matrix shape; and
a controller configured to detect a situation of a mounted object on the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor, wherein
the controller
obtains information regarding acceleration of the moving body,
detects a load distribution on a detection region of the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor,
discerns which of a person or animal and a thing the mounted object is, based on the load distribution,
when having discerned that the mounted object is a thing, discerns whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing, based on the information regarding the acceleration and a temporal change in the load distribution, and
when the acceleration is not less than a threshold, stops discerning that a person or an animal is mounted on the thing.

6. A mounted object detection device comprising:
a load sensor installed in each seat of a vehicle, in which a plurality of sensor parts each configured to detect a load are disposed in a matrix shape; and
a controller configured to detect a situation of a mounted object on the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor, wherein
the controller
detects a load distribution on a detection region of the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor,
discerns which of a person or animal and a thing the mounted object is, based on the load distribution, and
when having discerned that the mounted object is a thing, discerns whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing, based on a temporal change in the load distribution, and
in the discernment as to whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing, the controller
based on an output from a first load sensor for which a mounted object has been discerned to be a thing, obtains a first temporal change in a load distribution in the first load sensor,
based on an output from a second load sensor, as another load sensor, for which a mounted object has been discerned to be a thing, obtains a second temporal change in a load distribution in the second load sensor, and
based on a fact that the first temporal change and the second temporal change do not match each other, discerns that a person or an animal is mounted on a thing on the first load sensor.

7. A vehicle control system comprising:
a mounted object detection device; and
a vehicle controller configured to perform a predetermined control with respect to a vehicle, wherein
the mounted object detection device includes
a load sensor in which a plurality of sensor parts each configured to detect a load are disposed in a matrix shape; and
a controller configured to detect a situation of a mounted object on the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor,

the controller
detects a load distribution on a detection region of the load sensor based on an output from the load sensor,
discerns which of a person or animal and a thing the mounted object is, based on the load distribution, and
when having discerned that the mounted object is a thing, discerns whether or not a person or an animal is mounted on the thing, based on a temporal change in the load distribution,

the load sensor is installed in a seat of the vehicle, and
when the vehicle controller has determined that a person or an animal is left in the vehicle, based on a detection result by the mounted object detection device, the vehicle controller executes a control of making notification that a person or an animal is left in the vehicle, to outside of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle control system according to claim 7 , wherein
when a predetermined exit condition regarding exit of a driver has been satisfied, the vehicle controller starts determination as to whether or not a person or an animal is left in the vehicle.

9. The vehicle control system according to claim 7 , wherein
when the vehicle controller has determined that there is no person on a driver's seat, based on a detection result by the mounted object detection device, the vehicle controller determines whether or not a person or an animal is left in the vehicle, based on whether or not there is a person or an animal on a seat other than the driver's seat.

10. The vehicle control system according to claim 9 , wherein
in a case where the vehicle controller has determined that there is no person on the driver's seat, based on a detection result by the mounted object detection device, even when the vehicle controller has determined that there is no person or animal on a seat other than the driver's seat, based on a detection result by the mounted object detection device, the vehicle controller continues to perform determination as to whether or not a person or an animal is left in the vehicle.

11. The vehicle control system according to claim 7 , wherein
the vehicle controller switches a mode of notification in accordance with a time for which a

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Matsumoto Takashi
• Furuya Hiroyuki
• Moriura Yuta
• Ukitsu Hironobu
• Uragami Susumu
• Matsui Yoshinori

Classifications

• B60Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B60N2/267

  alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children · CPC title

• B60N2210/12

  Capacitive; Electric field · CPC title

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title

• B60N2/266

  with detection or alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children; with detection or alerting means responsive to improper locking or installation of the child seats or parts thereof · CPC title