DE102013225064A1 - Method and device for operating a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

In the context of a method for operating a motor vehicle (1), the motor vehicle (1) is assigned a personal sensor (3) and a personalized motor vehicle key (5). The personal sensor (3) provides a measurement signal (MS_P) that is representative of a personal identification feature of a respective vehicle occupant. The personalized motor vehicle key (5) is designed to store the basic data (GD) of the respective vehicle occupant and to provide them. Depending on the measurement signal (MS_P) of the personal sensor and the basic data (GD) stored on and provided by the personalized motor vehicle key (5), an identification of the respective vehicle occupant is carried out, thus determining an identified vehicle occupant.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for operating a motor vehicle, in which a vehicle occupant is identified on the basis of a personal sensor and a personalized motor vehicle key.

Motor vehicles are usually equipped with a variety of sensors. One motivation is the fact that road users today spend a lot of time in a motor vehicle. This time can be used, for example, to monitor the health of a vehicle occupant with the aid of vital sensors. Monitoring the health of the vehicle occupant can help increase road safety.

In DE 101 26 224 A1 For example, a method and a device for characterizing the state of the driver of a motor vehicle are described in which physiological state variables of the driver are determined by a driver state monitor. Depending on the determined result, control units of the motor vehicle and the driver are acted upon in order to carry out suitable measures for maintaining a safe condition of the driver or of the motor vehicle. Brain currents, heart condition, blood pressure, heart rate, heart movement, skin temperature and conductivity of the skin are determined and optionally stored as physiological state variables. Other parameters may be the grip power of the driver on the steering wheel and his movements on the seat. After evaluating these parameters, suitable measures for influencing the vehicle and the driver can be initiated.

In DE 10 2007 046 037 B3 For example, a road safety enhancement device is described in which a driver health calculation module computes health data sensor signals, for example, a respective priority intervention situation. An intervention module translates the respective intervention situation into appropriate reaction and measures, and a vehicle control module, which reports vehicle data to the intervention module and sends commands to individual vehicle subsystems at the request of the intervention module, automatically initiates measures to minimize the dangers or necessary rescue measures.

In DE 38 26 943 A1 an evaluation device for sensor-determined physiological data of patients is described, which checks the determined physiological data for compliance with predetermined limits. In the case of deviation of the determined physiological data from the limit values, the evaluation device influences a motor vehicle control electronics which belongs to the motor vehicle and actuates, for example, the clutch, the brake or the like of the vehicle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a device that contributes to a vehicle occupant being identified simply and reliably in a motor vehicle.

The object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are characterized in the subclaims.

The invention is characterized by a method and a corresponding device for operating a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is assigned a personal sensor whose measurement signal is representative of a personal identification feature of a respective vehicle occupant. Furthermore, the motor vehicle is assigned a personalized motor vehicle key in which basic data of the respective vehicle occupant are stored and which is designed to provide this basic data. The basic data may include, for example, age, gender, height, first name and last name of the respective vehicle occupant. In addition, the basic data may also include a desired value of the personal identification feature of the respective vehicle occupant.

Depending on the measurement signal of the personal sensor and the basic data provided by the personalized motor vehicle key, an identification of the respective vehicle occupant is carried out and thus an identified vehicle occupant is determined. By doing so, it is possible to easily and reliably identify a vehicle occupant of a motor vehicle.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the person sensor is an optical sensor whose measurement signal image data of an image of a predetermined region of a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle comprises. In particular, this image data may include a face region of a vehicle occupant, such that the face of the vehicle occupant, which serves as a person identification feature using a biometric recognition method, for example, is recorded with a stereo camera. In this context, a biometric recognition method involves the measurement and evaluation of a biological characteristic of a person, in this example the face.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the motor vehicle is assigned at least one vital sensor whose measuring signal is representative of a respective physiological parameter of the respective vehicle occupant. Examples of physiological parameters are a pulse, a blood pressure, a temperature, a weight or a facial expression of the vehicle occupant. Thus, one or more vital sensors can be used to monitor a state of health of the respectively identified vehicle occupant and also to log it and, if appropriate, to provide it with a time stamp. A monitoring of the health status of the respective identified vehicle occupant in conjunction with a reliable assignment of the one or more measurement signals to the respectively identified vehicle occupant can contribute as a support or alternative to a medical precaution.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the vital sensor is a pulse sensor and the physiological parameter is a pulse. Preferably, the pulse sensor may be installed in the steering wheel of the motor vehicle. By a contact of the hands of the vehicle occupant with the steering wheel of the pulse can be determined. For example, a rest pulse can be determined in the morning before the first trip. Using additional vehicle data, such as an acceleration of the motor vehicle, pulse values for stress areas can also be determined.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the vital sensor is a weight sensor and the physiological parameter is a weight. Preferably, the weight sensor can be integrated in a seat of the motor vehicle. As a result, it is possible to detect a change in the weight of the respectively identified vehicle occupant and, for example, based on stored rules, information about a current body mass index (BMI) of the respectively identified vehicle occupant can be given. If, for example, the value of the BMI is greater than 25, the respectively identified vehicle occupant can be alerted to any existing overweight.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the vital sensor is a blood pressure sensor and the physiological parameter is a blood pressure. Exemplary positions of the blood pressure sensor are an area of an armrest of a door of the motor vehicle or in a seat of the motor vehicle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the vital sensor is an optical sensor and the physiological parameter is a facial expression. The optical sensor can be arranged for example in the front of the motor vehicle or else directly in a sun visor of the motor vehicle or for the rear vehicle occupants in a headrest, which is assigned to the respective front seat.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the personal sensor is additionally used as a vital sensor. In this case, the existing personal sensor is used for further purposes.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a respective profile of the measurement signal of the respective vital sensor is assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant. In this way, a contribution can be made to the monitoring of the health status of the respectively identified vehicle occupant.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the respective profile of the measurement signal of the respective vital sensor is assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant across driving cycles. Cross-driving cycle is to be understood in this context to the effect that there are several directly consecutive driving cycles or even several driving cycles in which at least some can not be directly consecutive. In this way, a contribution can be made to the monitoring of the health status of the respectively identified vehicle occupant over several driving cycles coherently or not coherently. This also allows long-term measurements of the state of health of the respectively identified vehicle occupant, whereby long-term changes of one or more physiological parameters can be assessed and corresponding tendencies can be identified.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the respective course of the measurement signal of the respective vital sensor, which is assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant, is provided at a communication interface. The communication interface may be, for example, a CAN bus communication interface or a wireless communication interface, such as WLAN. CAN bus stands for Controller Area Network and is a serial bus system that is especially designed for ISO 11898 internationally standardized. WLAN is an abbreviation for wireless local area network and refers to a local radio network, in particular according to a standard of IEEE 802.11 family , The communication interface is designed to send and receive data via appropriate communication networks and to provide them for storage units. In this way, the particular course of the measurement signal of the respective vital sensor assigned and provided to the respectively identified vehicle occupant can be, for example, on a mobile storage medium such as a flash memory are secured or stored externally to the motor vehicle in a back-end or a "cloud". In this context, the terms back-end and "cloud" designate one or more external servers in which data can be stored and queried. Flash memories are digital memory devices that store information in the form of electrical charges using special transistors.

According to a further advantageous refinement, one or more characteristic values of the respective physiological parameter are determined as a function of the respective profile of the measuring signal of the respective vital sensor and assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant. In this way, a partial evaluation already take place in the motor vehicle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the one or more determined characteristic values of the respective physiological parameter, which are assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant, are assigned across driving cycles. As a result, coherent or non-contiguous long-term measurements of the state of health of the respectively identified vehicle occupant are possible, which are carried out over several driving cycles, for example.

According to a further advantageous refinement, the one or more determined characteristic values of the respective physiological parameter, which are assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant, are provided at the communication interface. The provision of the characteristic values determined or enables the transmission and / or storage of the partially or completely evaluated measurement signals of the respectively identified vehicle occupant.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, depending on the respective profile of the measurement signal of the respective vital sensor, a danger signaling signal is provided for signaling a danger message. Cause of a danger message can be, for example, a limit value exceeding the respective course of the measurement signal of the respective vital sensor, such as at too high a pulse or blood pressure of the respective identified vehicle occupant. If a progression detected by a vital sensor is clearly excessive in relation to a comparison value, a danger message can be signaled. The comparison value is, for example, personal and can be stored with the basic data on the personalized vehicle key of the respectively identified vehicle occupant or also be queried by the back-end or the "cloud".

The provided hazard signaling signal can be used to be signaled by a signaling device within and / or outside the motor vehicle, in particular to indicate that a hazardous situation has been detected and increased attention is required.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, depending on the respective course of the measurement signal of the respective vital sensor, a danger message signal is provided at the communication interface. For example, in an emergency situation, an emergency call can be placed to notify appropriate auxiliary personnel. In parallel, if appropriate, the detected measurement signals and / or the one or more determined characteristic values can be provided at the communication interface and in particular for the precautionary information of the auxiliary personnel.

In another aspect, a system includes the apparatus for operating a motor vehicle and the personal sensor. The system may be in particular the motor vehicle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the system comprises at least one vital sensor.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings. Show it:

1 a motor vehicle with a device for operating a motor vehicle

2 a flowchart of a program that is executed in the device.

One in 1 illustrated motor vehicle 1 are a person sensor 3 and a personalized car key 5 associated with a measurement signal MS_P of the personal sensor 3 representative of a personal identification feature of a respective vehicle occupant. On the personalized car key 5 Basic data GD such as age, gender, height, first name and last name of the respective vehicle occupant are stored. In addition, the basic data may also include a desired value of the personal identification feature of the respective vehicle occupant.

Furthermore, in the motor vehicle 1 arranged one or more vital sensors whose measurement signal MS_V is representative of a respective physiological characteristic of the respective vehicle occupant. In this embodiment, as vital sensors, an optical sensor 7 , a pulse sensor 9 , a weight sensor 11 and a blood pressure sensor 13 in the motor vehicle 1 arranged. The physiological characteristic is in the case of the optical sensor 7 for example, a facial expression, in the case of the pulse sensor 9 for example, a pulse, in the case of the weight sensor 11 for example, a weight and in the case of the blood pressure sensor 13 for example, a blood pressure of the respective vehicle occupant. The person sensor 3 and the vital sensors 7 . 9 . 11 and 13 are preferably in a vehicle interior 6 so arranged for example near a vehicle occupant. If the vehicle occupant is a driver of the motor vehicle 1 , so for example, the optical sensor 7 in a front area of the motor vehicle 1 , For example, in a sun visor, be arranged. The pulse sensor 9 for measurement signal recording of the driver's pulse can be integrated in a vehicle steering wheel. The weight sensor 11 is preferably integrated in a seat. The blood pressure sensor 13 can be arranged for example in a region of an armrest.

Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 a control device 21 and a signaling device 25 on. The control device 21 has a communication interface 23 on, at which the measuring signal MS_V of the or the vital sensors 7 . 9 . 11 . 13 can be provided, and which is adapted to send or receive measurement signals and / or data packets. Furthermore, the control device 21 a key communication interface 24 on that for a communication with the personalized motor vehicle key 5 is trained. Communication with the personalized car key 5 can for example be done wirelessly by means of a transponder.

The control device 21 may include, for example, a data and program memory and a computing unit. It can be referred to as a device for operating a motor vehicle or as an on-board computer. The control device 21 is signal technology with the people sensor 3 and the one or more vital sensors coupled.

In 2 is shown a control flow, for example, with the in 1 shown components. This involves a program that is in the control device 21 is started, started in a step S1, in which variables are initialized if necessary. The start of the program, for example, timely to an engine start of the motor vehicle 1 respectively.

In a step S3, it is checked whether via the key communication interface 24 a communication with the personalized motor vehicle key 5 can be done. Is a communication with the personalized car key 5 possible, then the basic data GD of the respective vehicle occupant on the personalized motor vehicle key 5 are stored by the control device 21 from the personalized car key 5 queried and stored in the data and program memory.

In a next step S5, the measuring signal MS_P of the personal sensor 3 read in and cached.

In a step S7, depending on the measurement signal MS_P of the personal sensor 3 and the basic data GD on the personalized car key 5 verifies the identity of the respective vehicle occupant. In this connection, depending on the measuring signal MS_P of the personal sensor, for example 3 an actual value of the personal identification feature can be determined. By comparing the actual value of the personal identification feature and the target value, for example, together with the basic data GD of the respective vehicle occupant on the personalized motor vehicle key 5 a degree of agreement can be determined. The degree of agreement in this context may indicate a percentage agreement of the actual value and the target value, so that an identification of the respective vehicle occupant is classified as successful or unsuccessful in relation to a first threshold value specified in the program. If the identification of the respective vehicle occupant has been carried out successfully and thus an identified vehicle occupant has been determined, the respectively identified vehicle occupant is assigned a person identifier ID which represents the respectively identified vehicle occupant. In this case, the program is continued in a step S9. If the identification of the respective vehicle occupant and thus the determination of an identified vehicle occupant was unsuccessful, the program can be continued again in step S3.

In step S9, the measuring signal MS_V of the vital sensor or sensors is read in and buffered. In this context, monitoring of a health status of the respectively identified vehicle occupant begins.

The identification of the respective vehicle occupant by means of the personal sensor 3 and the personalized motor vehicle key 5 allows in this context, a motor vehicle independent monitoring of the health of the respective vehicle occupant. For example, after the respective Vehicle occupant has been identified, the health status of each identified vehicle occupant in different vehicles are recorded and logged and stored in the external memory.

In a step S11, a data packet DP1 is formed from the measurement signal or measurement signals MS_V of the or of the vital sensors and the determined personal identification ID read in step S9, whereby an assignment of the one or more measurement signals MS_V of the or the vital sensors to the respectively identified vehicle occupant takes place ,

Starting from step S9, alternatively or additionally, steps S10 and S12 may be performed. In step S10, depending on the measurement signal MS_V of the at least one vital sensor, one or more characteristic values K_phK of the physiological parameter are determined.

In step S12, the parameter (s) of the physiological parameter K_phK determined can be combined with the person identifier ID to form a data packet DP2, whereby the identified characteristic values of the physiological parameter K_phK are assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant.

In the optional step S13, the data packet (s) DP1 and / or DP2 may be provided at a communication interface B_KS and thereby enable storage in the external memory. The data packets DP1 and / or DP2 are not necessarily limited to a snapshot or a current driving cycle FZK, but may include information about the health status of the respectively identified vehicle occupant over a plurality of time intervals and / or driving cycles.

In a step S15 it is determined whether a dangerous situation GS exists or not. For example, it can be checked in step S15 whether the one or more measuring signals MS_V of the vital sensor (s) and / or the determined characteristic values K_phK of the physiological parameter exceed predetermined second threshold values in each case and are detected in this case for a dangerous situation GS. For example, if the pulse or blood pressure of the respectively identified vehicle occupant is too high, the dangerous situation GS can be classified as present. If a dangerous situation GS has been found to exist, the program is continued in a step S17, otherwise the further processing takes place in a step S19.

In step S17, a danger message signal B_GMS and / or a danger signaling signal B_GSS is provided. The hazard message signal B_GMS can be used, for example, to send an emergency call to the communication interface 23 be provided to inform needed auxiliary staff. The provided danger signaling signal B_GSS can alternatively or additionally be used to pass through the signaling device 25 to be signaled within and / or outside of the motor vehicle 1 , in particular to point out that a dangerous situation GS has been identified and increased attention is required. If a dangerous situation GS was detected in step S15, the program can be continued in an optional step S18.

In step S18, the combined data packet (s) DP1 and / or DP2 may be provided to the communication interface B_KS and / or sent therefrom to an external memory, possibly for the precautionary information of a required auxiliary personnel. After the provision of the data packet (s) DP1 and / or DP2, the program is continued in step S19.

In step S19, it is checked whether or not the drive cycle FZK has ended. If the drive cycle FZK is not completed, the program proceeds to step S9. The monitoring of the health status of the respectively identified vehicle occupant is continued accordingly. Alternatively, the program may be continued from step S19 if the respective drive cycle FZK has not been completed, in step S3. If, in step S19, the respective drive cycle FZK has been identified as completed, the program may be continued in an optional step S20. If step S20 does not exist, the program proceeds to step S23.

In step S20, after completion of the driving cycle FZK, a counter value of a counter CTR is incremented and it is checked whether the incremented counter value exceeds a predetermined counter threshold value. If the incremented counter value of the counter CTR is greater than the counter threshold value, the program is continued in a further step S21 and the counter value of the counter CTR is reset to a neutral value. If the incremented counter value of the counter CTR is not greater than the counter threshold value, the program is continued in step S23.

In the step 21 the data packet (s) DP1 and / or DP2 are provided at the communication interface B_KS. In this way, the data packet (s) DP1 and / or DP2 may or may not be contiguous Contain coherent and associated measurements of the health status of each identified vehicle occupant and thereby allow, for example, long-term measurements to support or alternative medical care. After the provision of the data packet (s) DP1 and / or DP2 at the communication interface B_KS in step S21, the program is continued in step S23.

The provision of the one or more data packets DP1 and / or DP2 at the communication interface B_KS described in step S13 and step S21 can also be performed after step S19.

In step S23, the program is ended.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

motor vehicle

3

people sensor

5

personalized car key

6

Vehicle interior

7

optical sensor

9

pulse sensor

11

weight sensor

13

Blood Pressure Sensor

21

control device

23

Communication Interface

24

Key communication interface

25

signaling device

ID

 people ID

DG

 basic data

MS_P

 Measuring signal person sensor

MS_V

 Measuring signal Vitalsensor

DP1

 Data packet 1

K_phK

 Characteristic physiological characteristic

DP2

 Data packet 2

B_KS

 Provision of communication interface

GS

 hazardous situation

B_GMS

 Provision of danger signal

B_GSS

 Provision of danger signaling signal

FZK

 driving cycle

CTR

 counter

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 10126224 A1 [0003]
• DE 102007046037 B3 [0004]
• DE 3826943 A1 [0005]

Cited non-patent literature

• ISO 11898 [0019]
• IEEE 802.11 family [0019]

Claims (19)

Method for operating a motor vehicle ( 1 ), wherein the motor vehicle ( 1 ) a personal sensor ( 3 ) whose measurement signal (MS_P) is representative of a person identification feature of a respective vehicle occupant, and wherein the motor vehicle ( 1 ) a personalized motor vehicle key ( 5 ) is assigned, are stored in the basic data (GD) of the respective vehicle occupant and which is adapted to provide the basic data (GD), - in which depending on the measurement signal (MS_P) of the person sensor ( 3 ) and the basic data (GD) generated by the personalized car key ( 5 ), an identification of the respective vehicle occupant is performed, and thus an identified vehicle occupant is determined. Method according to claim 1, in which - the personal sensor ( 3 ) an optical sensor ( 7 ) whose measurement signal (MS_P) image data of an image of a predetermined area of a vehicle interior ( 6 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which - the motor vehicle ( 1 ) at least one vitality sensor ( 7 . 9 . 11 . 13 ), whose measurement signal (MS_V) is representative of a respective physiological parameter of the respective vehicle occupant. The method of claim 3, wherein - the vital sensor is a pulse sensor ( 9 ) and the physiological characteristic is a pulse. Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, in which - the vital sensor is a weight sensor ( 11 ) and the physiological characteristic is a weight. Method according to one of claims 3 to 5, in which - the vital sensor is a blood pressure sensor ( 13 ) and the physiological characteristic is a blood pressure. Method according to one of claims 3 to 6, in which - the vital sensor is an optical sensor ( 7 ) and the physiological characteristic is a facial expression. Method according to one of claims 3 to 7, in which - the personal sensor ( 3 ) is additionally used as a vital sensor.  Method according to one of claims 3 to 8, in which - A respective course of the measurement signal (MS_V) of the respective vital sensor is assigned to each identified vehicle occupant.  The method of claim 9, wherein - The respective course of the measurement signal (MS_V) of the respective vital sensor is assigned to each identified vehicle occupant across driving cycles. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein - the respective course of the measurement signal (MS_V) of the respective vital sensor assigned to the respective identified vehicle occupant at a communication interface ( 23 ) (B_KS).  Method according to one of claims 3 to 11, in which - Depending on the respective course of the measurement signal (MS_V) of the respective vital sensor one or more characteristic values of the respective physiological parameter (K_phK) are determined and assigned to the respectively identified vehicle occupant.  The method of claim 12, wherein - The one or more determined characteristic values of the respective physiological characteristic (K_phK) assigned to the respective identified vehicle occupants are assigned across driving cycles. Method according to one of claims 12 or 13, in which - the or the determined characteristic values of the respective physiological parameter (K_phK) assigned to the respective identified vehicle occupant at the communication interface ( 23 ) (B_KS).  Method according to one of claims 3 to 14, in which - Depending on the respective course of the measurement signal (MS_V) of the respective vital sensor, a danger signaling signal (B_GSS) is provided for signaling a danger message. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which - depending on the respective profile of the measuring signal (MS_V) of the respective vital sensor, a danger message signal (B_GMS) is sent to the communication interface ( 23 ) provided. Device for operating a motor vehicle ( 1 ), - wherein the device is adapted to perform a method according to one of claims 1 to 16. System comprising a device according to claim 17, and - the personal sensor ( 3 ). The system of claim 18 - at least one vitality sensor ( 7 . 9 . 11 . 13 ).

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