Exterior imager utilized in adjusting a passenger compartment arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12257932-B2
Application number	US-202017092751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2020
Priority date	Nov 9, 2020
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are disclosed, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods are disclosed that illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a passenger compartment;
an access door on at least a selected one of a right and left side of the vehicle;
a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within the passenger compartment in a current seat arrangement;
a sensor to capture images in its field of view, wherein the sensor is mounted on the vehicle the field of view thereof being oriented toward a vehicle-exterior environment, wherein the sensor is configured to collect images of prospective users exterior to the vehicle; and
a controller that references the sensor and includes a microprocessor and memory, wherein the memory comprises routines stored therein, and wherein the controller is configured to:
process the images collected of the prospective users exterior to the vehicle;
determine an arrangement of the plurality of seating assemblies within the passenger compartment based upon the images of the prospective users exterior to the vehicle, wherein the arrangement of the plurality of seating assemblies includes a child seat arrangement, and wherein the child seat arrangement includes one of the plurality of seating assemblies placed in a side-facing orientation in which a seating surface of the one of the plurality of seating assemblies is presented to the access door to decrease a difficulty of placing a child in the one of the plurality of seating assemblies; and
identify a first prospective user exterior to the vehicle and a second prospective user exterior to the vehicle, the second prospective user being smaller in stature than the first prospective user, wherein the controller is configured to control the plurality of seating assemblies to adjust the passenger compartment from the current seat arrangement into the child seat arrangement if the second prospective user has an age below a threshold age based on predefined criteria, and wherein the controller is configured such that it does not adjust the passenger compartment from the current seat arrangement into the child seat arrangement if the second prospective user does not have an age below the threshold age based on the predefined criteria.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the second user being carried by the first user.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the first user holding a hand of the second user.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the controller estimates a height of the second user and infers an age of the second user based upon the height.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies a cargo item that is in the possession of the prospective user, and wherein the controller arranges to the passenger compartment into a cargo arrangement, the cargo arrangement placing seats of two of the plurality of seating assemblies in an upwardly-stowed position and actuating the two of the plurality of seating assemblies in a vehicle-forward direction.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the cargo item identified by the controller is one or more bags carried by the prospective user.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the prospective user as comprising a plurality of occupants, and wherein the controller arranges the passenger compartment into an ingress/egress arrangement, the ingress/egress arrangement placing a seat of one of the plurality of seating assemblies in an upwardly-stowed position and actuating the one of the plurality of seating assemblies in a vehicle-forward direction.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the prospective user as comprising a plurality of occupants, and wherein the controller arranges the passenger compartment into a social arrangement, the social arrangement placing at least one of the plurality of seating assemblies in a rearward-facing orientation.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Maloney Patrick
• Mozurkewich Kevin
• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Parenti Robert

Classifications

• B60N2/0021

  characterised by the type of sensor or measurement · CPC title

• B60N2/0278

  using sensors external to the seat for measurements in relation to the seat adjustment, e.g. for identifying the presence of obstacles or the appropriateness of the occupants position · CPC title

• B60N2/0248

  with memory of positions · CPC title

• B60N2/0273

  taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state · CPC title

• B60N2/0272

  using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts · CPC title