Method for determining the current position of the heads of vehicle occupants

US7227626B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Ludwig Ertl · Regensburg, DE
• Thorsten Köhler · Deuerling, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 1, 2004
• Grant date: Jun 5, 2007
• Expiry date: Jul 20, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06V40/10
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the current position (A, B, C, D) of a head (9) of an occupant (8) in the passenger compartment (2) of a motor vehicle (1), said head moving toward an automatic dynamic disabling zone (6) in front of an airbag module (5). To this end, the invention makes use of the idea that the best position for a measurement with regard thereto is the point in space where the ideal direction of movement (14) of the head (9) is perpendicular to an ideal line of sight (17) of the camera (160. The measurement is then preferably carried out when the geometric center (10) of the head (9) crosses this point. In a preferred embodiment, the calculation of the actual movement vector of the head (9) is taken as a basis, said head being preferably perpendicular in a current line of sight (18) of the camera (16). The invention advantageously increases the potential for protecting an occupant (8) in a motor vehicle (1). It is thus suited, in particular, for use in occupant protection systems of modern motor vehicles (1).