DE102012216181A1 - System for gesture-based adjustment of seat mounted in vehicle by user, has control unit that controls setting of vehicle seat associated with recognized gesture and gesture area - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a touch data storage unit (20) that stores the gesture data defining a set of predefined gestures. A gesture recognition unit (30) detects the recognized gesture based on the depth images and the stored gesture data, and determines a range in which the gesture is executed as a gesture area. A control rule memory unit (40) stores data for controllable settings of a vehicle seat (60), which allocates the gestures or the gesture area. A control unit (50) controls the setting of the seat associated with the recognized gesture and gesture area. An independent claim is included for a method for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat by a user.

Description

The present invention relates to a system and method for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat.

Known vehicle seats can be adjusted in various ways. Thus, mechanical actuators may be provided, such as detent pawls, side handwheels, pump-action levers, hand cranks, or the like, to adjust the seat. This type of adjustment requires that a user himself must apply a certain amount of force to make an adjustment. This is often perceived as annoying.

In particular, in the case of higher-priced vehicle seats, it is also known that individual or all adjustment possibilities of a vehicle seat can be operated by electric keys or switches, wherein the adjustment takes place by means of electromotive, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators. The keys or switches are usually mounted laterally on the seat or on the side of the center armrest.

This type of operation "by pressing a button" is usually perceived as more comfortable compared to a manual operation. But even in this case, the adjustment can be perceived as a challenge, since the controls are usually not in sight and are not intuitive to use. Thus, a user must either actively turn to the controls by changing his or her body position, or by keying to find the correct key intended for the setting desired to be changed. As a result, it can lead to unwanted operating errors and corresponding undesirable changes in the seat adjustment, which the user has to correct again.

The arrangement of the controls for adjusting the seat to the seat itself or in the vicinity can also be a great challenge especially for physically impaired people.

The described problems are further reinforced, in particular, by the fact that vehicle seats, in particular comfort seats for luxury vehicles, are equipped with an ever increasing number of adjustment options in order to offer a user the most individual and good sitting comfort possible. For example, comfort seats can provide the ability to adjust the longitudinal seating position, seat length, seat height, seat depth, seat tilt, and backrest tilt, as well as adjust the height of a lumbar support. For each of the adjustment options corresponding switches or switches must be provided to allow both an adjustment in one direction and in the other direction. This makes it increasingly difficult to identify and find the right button or switch to make the desired setting.

In particular, with high-priced comfort seats, it is also known to provide a memory function, with a once set seating position can be stored so that it can be automatically restored at a later date. For example, a vehicle key may be used to identify a driver to automatically adjust the driver's seat using the driver's stored seat position. However, if other people want to use the vehicle for which no seating position is stored, or if the driver desires a different seating position, such as because he or she wears thick clothes in winter, so also face the aforementioned problems.

In the document DE 10 2011 009 229 A1 It is proposed that an occupant in the rear of a vehicle by means of a hand gesture can move a front passenger seat forward and backward without contact. To detect the gesture, an infrared sensor is used, which is mounted on the back of the back of the passenger seat in the vehicle. While this proposal makes it easier for a rear passenger to adjust a passenger seat located in front of it, the passenger can not make use of this adjustment option and is still dependent on conventional ways of adjusting the seat, whereby again the aforementioned disadvantages arise.

In the document DE 10 2007 023 141 A1 It is proposed to take a picture of a driver by means of a camera system in order to measure its body and to determine its position. Based on the survey result, the seat is automatically adjusted without the driver having to take action. It is also described in the document that the driver can indicate by a hand movement down that his seat should be set lower.

An automatic adjustment of a driver's seat is also from the document DE 10 2005 019 154 A1 In addition, wherein the automatic adjustment by a gesture that is detected by an imaging sensor, can be started, suppressed or stopped.

An automatic seat adjustment based on a survey result has the disadvantage that the result and the resulting seat adjustment personal preferences and A user's habits are not taken into account. It will therefore often be the case that the user wants to correct the automatic seat adjustment to suit his or her personal feelings. This in turn requires that a corresponding number of settings, such as switches or buttons must be provided.

The user has the ability to adjust the seat height by a hand gesture, such as a hand gesture down, as in the document DE 10 2007 023 141 A1 called, eliminating the need to provide a button or switch for adjusting the seat height. The document DE 10 2007 023 141 A1 does not mention how to proceed in addition to the adjustment of the seat height with other Einstellmöglichketen a seat. Thus, the other settings could be further controlled by means of, for example, electrical buttons or switches. In this case, the aforementioned disadvantages would continue to exist for these adjustment options. If one were to consider defining two hand gestures for each adjustment of a seat, in order to be able to adjust both in one direction and in the other direction, this would mean that a very large number of hand gestures would be required. In this case, a user would be confronted with a correspondingly large number of gestures, which he or she must learn, remember and execute correctly in order to be able to make the desired setting. Gestures are not remembered correctly or even confused, this can lead to a desired adjustment is omitted because the gesture was not executed correctly, or due to the confusion an undesirable adjustment is made, which would be unsatisfactory and the acceptance of a user for this Could reduce the type of control. Moreover, the large number of gestures to be distinguished would also pose a considerable challenge to the systems which would correctly recognize and distinguish these gestures.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system and method that allows intuitive and convenient adjustment of a vehicle seat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method that permits quick and easy adjustment of a vehicle seat.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved with a system of a method for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat by a user as in independent claims 1 and 14, as well as with a vehicle as defined in claim 12. Further preferred developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

In a first aspect, a system for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat by a user includes at least one depth camera for acquiring depth images for a gesture-sensing area associated with the vehicle seat; a gesture data storage unit for storing gesture data defining a set of predefined gestures; a gesture recognition unit for recognizing, based on the depth images and the stored gesture data, a gesture as a recognized gesture, and for determining an area where the recognized gesture is performed as a recognized gesture area; a control rule storage unit that stores data that associates at least one of the predefined gestures and at least one gesture range for a plurality of controllable settings of the vehicle seat, respectively; and a vehicle seat adjustment control unit associated with the recognized gesture and the detected gesture area.

One and the same gesture may therefore have a different meaning and lead to a different setting, depending on where within the gesture detection area the gesture is executed. In this way, the number of different gestures, such as hand movements that a user must learn and remember, can be significantly reduced. It thereby makes it easier for the user to control the system by gestures and reduces the likelihood of unwanted misuse.

Preferably, the user sitting in the vehicle seat executes the gestures in an area in front of the upper body and / or in an adjacent area at or above head height, or above the center console. The gesture detection portion may therefore be formed so as to cover an area between the back of the seat and the steering wheel, for a driver's seat, for a passenger seat, or between the back of the seat to be adjusted and the seat back of a seat arranged in front thereof Back seat, to capture.

Preferably, at least one upper gesture area is defined in the gesture detection area and a lower gesture area is defined below a vertical axis. This allows gestures to be assigned to the user, in an intuitive manner, to adjust upper and lower seating sections.

The gesture recognition unit can also be set up from the depth images Recognize shoulder height of the user and to determine a level that is essentially at the detected shoulder height. Thus, the upper gesture area may be defined to be above the particular level, and the lower gesture area may be defined to be below the particular level. In this way it can be achieved that the position of the upper and lower gesture areas are defined for users of different sizes and for changing seat heights, each in a way that is easy for the respective user to understand and recognize.

Preferably, a third gesture area may be further defined, wherein a gesture is determined to be recognized as being detected in the third gesture area when the gesture is detected to be executed across a boundary between the first and second gesture areas. In this way, it is possible to use a same gesture to control other gestures. For example, a vertical gesture may begin in the upper gesture area and extend beyond the boundary into the lower gesture area.

• – eine Einstellung der Sitzposition nach vorne, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach vorne und der untere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Sitzposition nach hinten, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach hinten und der untere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Rückenlehnenneigung nach vorne, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach vorne und der obere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Rückenlehnenneigung nach hinten, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach hinten und der obere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Sitzhöhe nach oben, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach oben und der dritte Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Sitzhöhe nach unten, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach unten und der dritte Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Sitzflächentiefe zu einer höheren Position, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach oben und der untere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Sitzflächentiefe zu einer tieferen Position, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach unten und der untere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist;
• – eine Einstellung der Lordosenstütze zu einer höheren Position; wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach oben und der obere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist; und
• – eine Einstellung der Lordosenstütze zu einer niedrigeren Position, wobei dieser Einstellung eine Geste einer Handbewegung der offenen Hand nach unten und der obere Gestenbereich zugeordnet ist.

Preferably, the following settings can be controlled with the following gestures and associated gesture areas:

• - An adjustment of the seating position forward, with this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand forward and the lower gesture area;
• - An adjustment of the seat position to the rear, with this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand to the rear and the lower gesture area;
• - An adjustment of the backrest tilt forward, with this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand forward and the upper gesture area;
• - An adjustment of the backrest inclination to the rear, this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand to the rear and the upper gesture area;
• - An adjustment of the seat height upward, this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand up and the third gesture area;
• An adjustment of the seat height down, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand down and the third gesture area;
• An adjustment of the seat depth to a higher position, this setting being associated with a hand gesture of the open hand up and the lower gesture area;
• An adjustment of the depth of the seat to a lower position, this setting being associated with a hand gesture of the open hand down and the lower gesture area;
• - an adjustment of the lumbar support to a higher position; wherein this setting is associated with a hand gesture of the open hand up and the upper gesture area; and
• - An adjustment of the lumbar support to a lower position, with this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand down and the upper gesture area.

In this way, a user with a small number of gestures can make a large number of settings of a vehicle seat, with the assignment of hand movement and the range in which the hand movement is to be performed to the associated setting being easy to understand for the user. This makes it easier for a user to remember the gestures and properly make the assigned gesture in the associated gesture area for a desired setting. The risk of incorrect operation is thereby reduced.

In a further development, the set of predefined gestures may include an activation gesture, wherein the control unit activates the gesture-based adjustment of the vehicle seat after the activation gesture has been detected. This has the advantage that an undesirable adjustment or adjustment of the vehicle seat can be avoided.

Preferably, the gesture recognition unit is further configured to determine a speed at which the detected gesture is executed; and wherein the control means is arranged to control the setting such that the amount of adjustment change corresponds to the determined speed.

In this way, the user can determine, by the speed with which he or she executes the gesture, to what extent, and thus by how much, a setting should be changed. So he or she can make a big adjustment with a quick movement, with a slow movement a small adjustment of the attitude.

Alternatively, it is also possible for the gesture recognition unit to be further configured to determine a speed with which the recognized gesture is executed, wherein the control unit is set up when the determined speed is above a first predetermined threshold value, the setting after completion of the gesture control according to the amount of attitude change according to the determined speed, and if the certain speed is below that predetermined threshold, to begin the control of the setting during the execution of the gesture and to continue the control until the completion of the gesture.

In this way, the user can influence how the process of adjustment occurs. If the user makes a gesture at a speed greater than the threshold, the speed is used as a measure of how much, and how much, a setting should change. Thus, with a quick movement, he can make a great adjustment, with a less rapid movement a less great adjustment of the attitude. If it is detected that the user is making the gesture at a speed that is less than the threshold, the control unit begins to execute the gesture during the execution of the gesture and executes it until the gesture is ended. This is preferably done with a relatively small adjustment speed, which may be predetermined or in turn depends on the detected speed of the gesture. In this way, the user experiences direct feedback so that he or she can perceive, monitor and respond to the adjustment as a result of his control command in the form of the gesture, so as to make the desired setting in a quasi-closed loop. This allows a simple way to make a very precise setting.

In a preferred embodiment, a second predetermined threshold for the speed of the gesture may be taken into account by the controller, with control of the adjustment not occurring when the speed exceeds the second threshold.

Thus, a further improvement of the protection against unwanted misuse can be achieved by very rapid and sudden movements, which are suspected that they are not wanted by the user and, for example, in fright, ignored and discarded and not to an adjustment of the Lead vehicle seat.

Preferably, the system has two depth cameras which detect the gesture detection area from different angles.

By using multiple depth cameras that also monitor the gesture coverage area from different angles, a more robust and reliable capture of gestures can be achieved.

Preferably, it is also possible that an activation gesture is provided. The gesture-based control can be activated by the control device only when it has been detected that a user has carried out the activation gesture.

It is further possible for the control device to control a visual, acoustic and / or haptic signal unit of the vehicle in order to give the user feedback for confirming the recognition of the activation gesture or the detected gesture or for the message that a gesture was not recognized, or that an adjustment adjustment range has been reached. For example, a sound may sound or the vehicle's interior light may illuminate to indicate that the gesture-based vehicle seat adjustment has been activated. The user learns so that from now on gestures will cause an adjustment of the seat.

In a second aspect, a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a variety of adjustment options and the system for gesture-based adjustment of the vehicle seat.

Preferably, the depth camera is arranged on the headliner of the vehicle.

In a third aspect, a method of gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat by a user comprises the steps of: predetermining a set of predefined gestures; Defining a gesture detection area associated with the vehicle seat; for each controllable adjustment of the vehicle seat, providing an association of at least one predefined gesture and an area within the gesture detection area as a gesture area; Capturing depth images for the gesture detection area by at least one depth camera; Recognize, based on the depth images and on the predefined gestures, a gesture as a recognized gesture; Determining the area in which the recognized gesture is executed as a recognized gesture area; and controlling a setting of the vehicle seat associated with the recognized gesture and the detected gesture area.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: detecting, from the depth images, a shoulder height of the user; Determining a substantially horizontal plane substantially at the detected shoulder height; Defining an upper gesture area above the determined level and a lower gesture area below the determined level; Determining that a gesture is detected in a third gesture area when the gesture is executed across a boundary between the upper and lower gesture areas; Determining a speed at which the detected gesture is executed; Performing an optical, audible and / or haptic feedback to the user for confirmation indicate that a gesture has been detected, or that a gesture has not been detected, or that an adjustment adjustment range has been reached; and wherein controlling the setting: when the determined speed is above a first predetermined threshold, after completion of the gesture, to control with an amount of adjustment change corresponding to the determined speed and when the determined speed is below the predetermined threshold during execution the gesture begins and continues until the gesture is completed.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by means of examples with reference to the following figures.

1 Fig. 12 schematically shows a block diagram of a system for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat by a user, according to an embodiment of the invention;

2 symbolically represents a user making a gesture for adjusting the backrest;

3 symbolically represents a user who makes a gesture to adjust the sitting position;

4 symbolically represents a user making a seat height adjustment gesture; and

5 exemplifies the arrangement of two depth cameras in a vehicle according to another preferred embodiment.

The 1 schematically shows a block diagram of a system for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat 60 by a user, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Like in the 1 shown, the system has a depth camera 10 , a gesture data storage unit 20 , a gesture recognition unit 30 , a control rule storage unit 40 and a control unit 50 on.

The depth camera 10 is arranged in the vehicle to detect an area in which it is provided that a user performs the gestures with which the vehicle seat 60 should be adjusted. In particular, this area may comprise the area in front of the upper body of the user, an area above the center console, or an area above and at the head height of the user. Preferably, the depth camera 10 detect a region between a backrest of the seat to be adjusted and a steering wheel, for a driver's seat, or a dashboard, for a passenger's seat. For a back seat, the depth camera can 10 to detect an area between the backrest of a rear seat and a backrest of the front seat. The depth camera 10 may preferably also detect an area laterally to the center console, as well as in height up to a height of at least substantially a hand's breadth above the head. In this way, a gesture detection area can be defined within which the depth camera 10 Gestures can be recorded by a user sitting on the vehicle seat 60 is sitting, running.

The depth camera 10 can provide 3D image data in the form of a depth map. For this purpose, the depth camera 10 be equipped with a source of modulated and / or structured light, in particular infrared light, which illuminates the monitored area. When using modulated light, the transit time between sending and receiving the light, English: "Time-of-Flight" are evaluated to determine the desired depth information. Alternatively or additionally, structured light can be used, in which the light is emitted in the form of a pattern, such as a grid, a light stripe or a defined dot matrix, wherein the desired depth information can be triangulated from the reflected and detected values. The ability of a depth camera to provide a depth map allows for simple and direct depth image segmentation to detect individuals and their limbs and movements. In addition, a depth camera makes it possible to make a very precise determination of the location or area in which, for example, a hand is moving or moving.

As a depth camera 10 You can also use a stereo camera system.

The one from the depth camera 10 or the depth cameras 10 Captured depth images become the gesture recognition unit 30 fed. The gesture recognition unit 30 performs processing of the depth images to identify positions and / or movements of the body, upper body, head, arms and / or hands of a user in the depth images.

The gesture recognition unit 30 can access gesture data stored in the Gesture Data Storage Unit 20 are stored and describe a set of predefined gestures. The gesture recognition unit 30 can recognize, based on the gesture data, whether information obtained from the depth images reveals positions and / or movements of the body, the upper body, the head, arms and / or hands, that the User performs a gesture that corresponds to one of the predefined gestures. If so, the user-executed gesture is determined to be a recognized gesture.

From the depth image data, the gesture recognition unit 30 further determine in which room area or gesture area the detected gesture is executed to determine a recognized gesture area.

The information about the recognized gesture and the recognized gesture area are used by the control unit 50 to determine what adjustment of the vehicle seat 60 is to control. For this purpose, the control unit engages 50 to the control rule storage unit 40 in which data is stored which is suitable for a plurality of controllable settings of the vehicle seat 60 each assigns at least one of the predefined gestures and at least one gesture area. So can in the control rule storage unit 40 For example, the rule to be stored that an adjustment of the backrest of the vehicle seat 60 forward is associated with a hand gesture with the open hand forward as a gesture and an upper gesture area, for example, an area above the user's shoulder line. Based on it, the control unit controls 50 the appropriate setting of the vehicle seat 60 ,

The adjustment of the vehicle seat 60 can by known electric, electromotive, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators 65 carried out, which by control signals from the control device 50 be controlled by electrical control signals.

The assignment of settings to gestures and gesture areas may be fixed by the vehicle manufacturer. Preferably, a user can specify the assignment by programming himself.

With reference to the 2 and the 3 The method of operation of the system will now be exemplified.

In the 2 is a user who wants to set a backrest. For this purpose, the user performs a hand movement with his open hand in the direction of forward or backward over his shoulder in this example for this purpose, to adjust the backrest forward or backward accordingly. This gesture of moving the open hand forward or backward is by the gesture recognition unit 30 after a comparison with the data of the predefined gestures as a detected gesture.

The gesture detection area is in the example of 2 in an upper gesture area 70 and a lower gesture area 80 divided, which are arranged vertically one above the other. The gesture recognition unit 30 can therefore in the case of 2 determine that the gesture is performed in an upper gesture area and, accordingly, determine the upper gesture area as the recognized gesture area.

In this example, in the storage rule unit 40 for the adjustment of the backrest forward the movement of the open hand forward and the upper gesture area are assigned, as well as for the adjustment of the backrest to the rear the movement of the open hand to the rear and the upper gesture area to be assigned. According to the recognized gesture and the recognized gesture area is therefore by the controller 50 controlled the corresponding assigned setting and the backrest moved forward or backward.

In the 3 the user wants the position of the vehicle seat 60 to move forwards or backwards along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. He or she again performs the gesture of moving the open hand forward or backward, with the gesture in this case in the lower gesture area 80 is performed. According to the information about the recognized gesture, the recognized gesture area, and based on the data of the control rule memory 40 therefore controls the control unit 50 the adjustment of the seat position forward or backward.

As the 2 and 3 A similar gesture can take on a different meaning, depending on which gesture area it is executed in. The user therefore only has to learn, remember and correctly execute a gesture in order to be able to adjust both the backrest and the sitting position forward, for example.

As in the 2 and 3 shown, the border between lower and upper gesture area 70 . 80 be at the height of a user's shoulder line. Since people can have very different body sizes, and because the seat height can change significantly due to their adjustability, it is preferred that the system recognize the shoulder line from the acquired depth images to thereby define the location of the gesture areas. In this way, an easy-to-understand and intuitive operation can be achieved for each user, since each user only needs to orient himself to himself, without having to make the execution of gestures depending on, for example, the current seat height. The reference to a shoulder line is merely exemplary and not restricting, and other reference points can be selected, such as the center of the head and so on.

In the 2 and 3 are the upper gesture area 70 and the lower gesture area 80 defines two separate contiguous space areas formed within the gesture detection area. This is not limiting, and more than two separate space areas may be defined as gesture areas.

Also, there may be a gap between two adjacent gesture areas, which is a kind of "dead space" and is not treated as a gesture area. This may be advantageous for better protection against a user making a gesture that is mistakenly associated with another gesture area.

It is also possible that two or more gesture areas partially overlap. In order to distinguish whether a gesture is carried out in one or the other gesture area, the evaluation of a center of gravity of the hand can be used, for example.

Moreover, it is also possible to define a gesture area not only as a room area alone, but also as a kind of "logical" or "virtual" gesture area, based on whether a particular event is detected, possibly linked to one or two others gesture areas. This should be with reference to the 4 will be explained with an example.

The 4 shows the upper gesture area 70 and the lower gesture area 80 , In addition, a third gesture area is defined such that a gesture is assigned to the third gesture area when crossing the border between the upper and lower gesture areas 70 . 80 is carried away.

In the example of 4 wishes a user to adjust the seat height. To do this, he performs a movement of the open hand up or down, whereby the movement over the border between the lower and upper gesture area 70 . 80 extends. The gesture recognition unit 30 Therefore, in this example, determines that the gesture belongs to the third gesture area. Based on the detected gesture and the recognized third gesture area, the controller takes 50 therefore an adjustment of the seat height before.

The 5 shows an example of a vehicle in which two depth cameras 10 are arranged on the headliner of the vehicle to the area of the vehicle seat from different directions 60 capture. Because the positions and gaze directions of the two depth cameras 10 are known to each other, the depth images taken by the two depth cameras 10 be merged into a uniform 3D representation of the gesture detection area. This allows for a more robust and accurate detection.

In an embodiment, the gesture recognition unit 30 Also determine a speed at which a user performs the gesture, such as the speed with which the user guides the open hand forward. The speed determined in this way can be determined by the control device 50 be compared with a first predetermined threshold to run differently depending on the control. So the control device 50 for example, in a fast gesture whose speed is above the first predetermined threshold, interpret the speed as a measure indicative of the extent to which adjustment should be adjusted. Thus, high speeds can lead to a large adjustment and lower speeds to a smaller adjustment. If the speed is below the predetermined threshold, then the controller may begin to control the adjustment during the execution of the gesture and continue the control until the gesture is terminated. In this way, both large adjustments quickly and small or larger adjustments can be made precisely.

In the foregoing description, various examples of possible gestures, gesture areas, settings, and associations between them have been described by way of illustration. However, these examples are not limiting and many other gestures, gesture ranges, settings, and associations between them may be devised to control vehicle seat settings.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102011009229 A1 [0008]
• DE 102007023141 A1 [0009, 0012, 0012]
• DE 102005019154 A1 [0010]

Claims (15)

System for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat ( 60 by a user, comprising: at least one depth camera ( 10 ) for capturing depth images for a gesture detection area that is adjacent to the vehicle seat ( 60 ) assigned; a gesture data storage unit ( 20 ) for storing gesture data defining a set of predefined gestures; a gesture recognition unit ( 30 ) for recognizing, based on the depth images and the stored gesture data, a gesture as a recognized gesture, and for determining an area in which the recognized gesture is executed as a recognized gesture area; a control rule storage unit ( 40 ), which stores data that is suitable for a plurality of controllable settings of the vehicle seat ( 60 ) each assigns at least one of the predefined gestures and at least one gesture area; and a control unit ( 50 ) for controlling the adjustment of the vehicle seat ( 60 ) associated with the recognized gesture and the recognized gesture area. The system of claim 1, wherein the gesture detection area comprises at least a first gesture area and a second gesture area, wherein the first gesture area is defined as an upper gesture area within the gesture detection area vertically above the second gesture area as a lower gesture area. The system of claim 2, wherein the gesture recognition unit ( 30 ) is further configured to recognize from the depth images a shoulder height of the user and to determine a plane substantially at the detected shoulder height; and wherein the upper gesture area is defined to be above the determined level, and the lower gesture area is defined to be below the determined level. The system of any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein a third gesture area is defined, and wherein a gesture is determined to be detected in the third gesture area if the gesture is detected to be performed across a boundary between the first and second gesture areas. The system of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the adjustment comprises at least one of: an adjustment of the seating position forward, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand forward and the lower gesture area; an adjustment of the seat position to the rear, with this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand to the rear and the lower gesture area; an adjustment of the backrest tilt forward, with this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand forward and the upper gesture area; an adjustment of the backrest inclination to the rear, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand to the rear and the upper gesture area; an adjustment of the seat height to the top, with this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand up and the third gesture area; an adjustment of the seat height down, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand down and the third gesture area; an adjustment of the seat depth to a higher position, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand up and the lower gesture area; an adjustment of the seat depth to a lower position, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand down and the lower gesture area; an adjustment of the lumbar support to a higher position, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand up and the upper gesture area; an adjustment of the lumbar support to a lower position, wherein this setting is associated with a gesture of a hand movement of the open hand down and the upper gesture area. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the set of predefined gestures comprises an activation gesture, and wherein the control unit ( 50 ) the gesture-based adjustment of the vehicle seat ( 60 ) is activated after the activation gesture is detected. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gesture recognition unit ( 30 ) is further configured to determine a speed at which the detected gesture is executed; and wherein the control device ( 50 ) is arranged to control the setting such that the amount of adjustment change corresponds to the determined speed. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gesture recognition unit ( 30 ) is further configured to determine a speed at which the detected gesture is executed; and wherein the control device ( 50 ) is established: if the determined speed is above a first predetermined threshold, the To control adjustment upon completion of the gesture in accordance with the amount of adjustment change corresponding to the determined speed, and if the determined speed is below the predetermined threshold, to start the control of the adjustment during the execution of the gesture and to continue the control until the completion of the gesture , System according to one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the control device ( 50 ) is further configured, when the determined speed is above a second predetermined threshold, not to control the setting. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the system comprises two depth cameras ( 10 ), which detect the gesture detection area from different angles. System according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control device ( 50 ) is further configured to control an optical audible haptic signal unit of the vehicle to provide feedback to the user to confirm recognition of the activation gesture or gesture, or to indicate that a gesture has not been recognized, or that an end of Setting range for the setting has been reached. Vehicle comprising: a vehicle seat ( 60 ), which has a variety of settings; and a system according to one of claims 1 to 11 for gesture-based adjustment of the vehicle seat ( 60 ). Vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the depth camera ( 10 ) is arranged on the headliner of the vehicle. Method for gesture-based adjustment of a vehicle seat ( 60 by a user, comprising the steps of: predetermining a set of predefined gestures; Defining a gesture detection area, which the vehicle seat ( 60 ) assigned; for each controllable adjustment of the vehicle seat ( 60 ), Specifying an association of at least one predefined gesture and an area within the gesture detection area as a gesture area; Capturing depth images for the gesture detection area by at least one depth camera ( 10 ); Recognize, based on the depth images and on the predefined gestures, a gesture as a recognized gesture; Determining the area in which the recognized gesture is executed as a recognized gesture area; and controlling a setting of the vehicle seat ( 60 ), which is associated with the recognized gesture and the recognized gesture area, by a control unit ( 50 ). The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: Recognize, from the depth images, a shoulder height of the user; Determining a substantially horizontal plane substantially at the detected shoulder height; Defining an upper gesture area above the determined level and a lower gesture area below the determined level; Determining that a gesture is detected in a third gesture area when the gesture is executed across a boundary between the upper and lower gesture areas; Determining a speed at which the detected gesture is executed; Making an optical, audible and / or haptic feedback to the user to indicate confirmation that a gesture has been detected or to indicate that a gesture has not been detected, or that an end of the adjustment range has been reached; and where controlling the setting: when the determined speed is above a first predetermined threshold, after completion of the gesture, to be controlled with an amount of attitude change corresponding to the determined speed, and when the determined speed is below the predetermined threshold, begins during the execution of the gesture and continues until the completion of the gesture.

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