DE102021100261A1 - Method and control unit for increasing the comfort of the passenger cabin of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A control unit (101) for a vehicle (100) with an occupant cabin (105) for a number of occupants (111, 121) is described. The control unit (101) is set up to recognize a snoring occupant (111) in the occupant cabin (105) on the basis of occupant data from one or more occupant sensors (106, 116, 126) of the vehicle (100). Furthermore, the control unit (101) is set up, in response to this, to cause at least one actuator (104, 114, 124) of the vehicle (100) to bring about a measure in relation to the detected snoring occupant (111).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a corresponding control unit for increasing comfort, in particular for reducing noise, in the occupant cabin of a vehicle.

An autonomously driving vehicle can allow the occupants, particularly the driver, of the vehicle to attend to other things during a trip. In particular, an occupant, in particular the driver, can be allowed to sleep. This can lead to uncomfortable situations for the sleeping occupant and/or for one or more other occupants of the vehicle.

The present document deals with the technical task of increasing the comfort for one or more occupants of a vehicle, in particular an autonomously driving vehicle.

The object is solved by each of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described inter alia in the dependent claims. It is pointed out that additional features of a patent claim dependent on an independent patent claim without the features of the independent patent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent patent claim can form a separate invention independent of the combination of all features of the independent patent claim, which can be made the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application or a subsequent application. This applies equally to the technical teachings described in the description, which can form an invention independent of the features of the independent patent claims.

According to one aspect, a control unit for a (motor) vehicle with an occupant cabin for multiple occupants is described. The vehicle can be designed to drive autonomously, in particular according to SAE level 3 or higher, or according to SEA level 4 or higher.

The control unit is set up to detect a snoring occupant in the occupant cabin based on occupant data from one or more occupant sensors of the vehicle (in particular while the vehicle is driving autonomously). For example, the one or more occupant sensors may include a camera configured to capture image data related to one or more occupants in the passenger cabin. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more occupant sensors may include a microphone configured to capture a microphone signal related to noises in the occupant cabin. A snoring occupant can be reliably detected by taking occupant data (in particular image data and/or microphone signals) into account.

The control unit may be set up to identify the snoring occupant using a machine-learned classifier. The classifier can be set up to determine, based on the occupant data of the one or more occupant sensors of the vehicle, whether an occupant of the vehicle is snoring or not. The classifier may have been trained in advance. By using a machine-learned classifier, in particular by using artificial intelligence, a snoring occupant can be identified in a particularly reliable manner.

The control unit is also set up, in response to the detected snoring occupant, to cause at least one actuator of the vehicle to bring about a measure in relation to the detected snoring occupant. Exemplary actuators are a loudspeaker, a structure-borne noise converter and/or a shaker on a seat of the snoring occupant. The measure can be aimed in particular at reducing the volume (audible to an occupant) and/or intensity of the snoring noise of the snoring occupant. In this way, the comfort for the snoring occupant and/or for one or more other occupants of the vehicle can be increased.

The control unit can be set up to bring about the output of an audio signal via a loudspeaker of the vehicle as a measure in relation to the snoring occupant. The audio signal can be aimed at getting the snoring occupant to stop snoring by means of an auditory stimulus. Alternatively or additionally, the audio signal can be designed to cause counter-sound to dampen the snoring noise. In this way, noise generation in a vehicle can be reliably reduced.

As an alternative or in addition, the control unit can be set up to bring about at least one mechanical impulse, in particular a sequence of mechanical impulses, on the seat of the snoring occupant as a measure in relation to the snoring occupant. The one or more mechanical impulses can be aimed at causing the snoring occupant to stop snoring through an auditory stimulus. So the noise can winding in a vehicle can be reliably reduced.

The control unit can be set up to recognize a reaction of the snoring occupant to the action taken on the basis of the occupant data. For example, it can be recognized that the snoring occupant continues to produce a (unchanged loud) snoring noise even after the measure taken.

Furthermore, the control unit can be set up to adapt the measure in relation to the snoring occupant as a function of the identified reaction of the snoring occupant. In particular, the control unit can be set up to adapt the intensity of the measure depending on the detected reaction of the snoring occupant, in particular to increase it (e.g. if the snoring occupant continues to make a snoring noise) or to reduce it (e.g. if the snoring occupant at least partially hears the snoring noise). reduced).

Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can be set up to adapt the stimulus, in particular the type of stimulus, which is caused by the measure on the snoring occupant, depending on the recognized reaction of the snoring occupant. Exemplary types of stimuli are an auditory stimulus, a haptic stimulus, a visual stimulus, an olfactory stimulus, etc.

Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can be set up to adjust the perception channel of the measure depending on the recognized reaction of the snoring occupant. Exemplary perception channels are an auditory, a haptic, an optical and/or an olfactory perception channel.

By adapting the intensity, the type of stimulus and/or the perception channel of the measure effected, the development of noise in a vehicle can be reduced in a particularly reliable manner.

As a measure, the control unit can be set up to generate counter-noise in the passenger cabin, which dampens the snoring noise generated by the snoring passenger in at least a partial area (e.g. in at least one audio or listening zone) of the passenger cabin.

For example, the passenger compartment of the vehicle may have a first audio zone and a separate second audio zone. The controller may be configured to determine that the snoring occupant is located in the first audio zone.

Furthermore, using one or more microphones, microphone signals relating to a snoring noise generated by the snoring occupant can be detected or determined. Depending on the microphone signals, one or more loudspeakers of the vehicle can then be caused to generate counter-noise in the second audio zone in order to dampen the snoring noise in the second audio zone. In this way, the comfort for an occupant of the vehicle can be increased in a particularly pronounced manner.

The control unit can be set up to determine a position of the snoring occupant within the occupant cabin on the basis of the occupant data. For example, it can be determined in which seat position and/or in which audio zone the snoring occupant is located. The measure in relation to the snoring occupant can then be effected as a function of the determined position. In this way, the comfort for occupants of the vehicle can be further increased.

According to a further aspect, a (road) motor vehicle (in particular a passenger car or a truck or a bus) is described which comprises the control unit described in this document.

According to a further aspect, a method for increasing the comfort of one or more occupants of an occupant cabin of a (motor) vehicle is described. The method includes detecting, based on occupant data from one or more occupant sensors of the vehicle, a snoring occupant in the passenger compartment. Furthermore, the method comprises, in response thereto, bringing about at least one measure in relation to the detected snoring occupant using one or more actuators of the vehicle.

According to a further aspect, a software (SW) program is described. The SW program can be set up to be executed on a processor (e.g. on a vehicle's control unit) and thereby to carry out the method described in this document.

According to a further aspect, a storage medium is described. The storage medium can comprise a SW program which is set up to be executed on a processor and thereby to carry out the method described in this document.

In the context of the document, the term "automated driving" can be understood as driving with automated longitudinal or lateral guidance or autonomous driving with automated longitudinal and lateral guidance. Automated driving can be, for example, driving on the freeway for a longer period of time or driving for a limited time as part of parking or manoeuvring. The term "automated driving" includes automated driving with any degree of automation. Exemplary degrees of automation are assisted, partially automated, highly automated or fully automated driving. These degrees of automation were defined by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) (see BASt publication "Research compact", issue 11/2012). With assisted driving, the driver constantly performs longitudinal or lateral guidance, while the system takes over the other function within certain limits. With semi-automated driving (TAF), the system takes over longitudinal and lateral guidance for a certain period of time and/or in specific situations, whereby the driver has to constantly monitor the system, as with assisted driving. With highly automated driving (HAD), the system takes over longitudinal and lateral guidance for a certain period of time without the driver having to constantly monitor the system; however, the driver must be able to take control of the vehicle within a certain period of time. With fully automated driving (VAF), the system can automatically handle driving in all situations for a specific application; a driver is no longer required for this application. The four levels of automation mentioned above correspond to SAE levels 1 to 4 of the SAE J3016 standard (SAE - Society of Automotive Engineering). For example, highly automated driving (HAF) corresponds to level 3 of the SAE J3016 standard. Furthermore, SAE J3016 also provides SAE Level 5 as the highest degree of automation, which is not included in the BASt definition. SAE Level 5 corresponds to driverless driving, in which the system can automatically handle all situations like a human driver throughout the journey; a driver is generally no longer required.

It should be noted that the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be used both alone and in combination with other methods, devices and systems described in this document. Furthermore, any aspects of the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with one another in many different ways.

• 1a ein beispielhaftes Fahrzeug mit einer Insassenkabine;
• 1b beispielhafte Audiozonen in einem Fahrzeug; und
• 2 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines beispielhaften Verfahrens zur Reduzierung von Geräuschen in der Insassenkabine eines Fahrzeugs.

The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. show it

• 1a an example vehicle with a passenger compartment;
• 1b exemplary audio zones in a vehicle; and
• 2 FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example method for reducing noise in a vehicle passenger compartment.

As explained at the outset, the present document deals with increasing the comfort of one or more occupants of a vehicle. In this context shows 1a an example vehicle 100 having an occupant cabin or interior 105 for accommodating multiple occupants. The occupant cabin can be designed, for example, to accommodate 2, 3, 4, 5 or possibly more occupants.

The vehicle 100 may include one or more environment sensors 102 configured to capture environment data (i.e., sensor data) relating to the environment of the vehicle 100 . Exemplary surroundings sensors 102 are a camera, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, etc. A control unit 101 of the vehicle 100 can be set up to detect one or more objects in the surroundings of the vehicle 100 on the basis of the surroundings data. In particular, the control unit 101 can be set up to create an environment model of the environment of the vehicle 100 .

Control unit 101 may also be set up to control one or more longitudinal and/or lateral guidance actuators 103 (e.g. a drive motor, a braking device and/or a steering device) of vehicle 100 as a function of the environmental data, as a function of the one or more detected objects and / or to operate depending on the environment model, in particular to drive the vehicle 100 at least partially automated, e.g. according to SAE level 3 or more, or according to SAE level 4 or more.

The vehicle 100 may further include one or more occupant sensors 106, particularly microphones, configured to capture occupant data, i.e. sensor data, relating to an occupant of the occupant cabin 105. For example, the occupant data may indicate sounds made by the occupant. The control unit 101 may be configured to recognize and/or determine whether the occupant snores while the vehicle 100 is traveling based on the occupant data. Snoring can be detected, for example, based on the analysis of a microphone signal captured by a microphone.

The vehicle 100 may further include one or more actuators 104 configured to bring about a measure related to the snoring of the occupant of the vehicle 100 . An exemplary actuator 104 is a speaker configured to generate an audio signal, eg, to cause the snoring occupant to be awakened and/or to cause the snoring occupant to stop snoring. Another exemplary actuator 104 is a shaker that is set up to cause a mechanical impulse on the seat of the snoring occupant, eg to wake up the occupant and/or to cause the occupant to stop snoring.

The control unit 101 can be set up to cause the one or more actuators 104 to bring about at least one measure when a snoring occupant is detected in the vehicle 100 . The measure can in particular be designed to wake up the snoring occupant or at least cause the occupant to stop snoring. The intensity of the measure can be increased over time (e.g. in one or more stages), especially if it is recognized that a measure with a certain intensity has no effect on the snoring detected. By effecting one or more countermeasures for the detected snoring of an occupant of a vehicle 100, the comfort for the occupants of the vehicle 100 can be increased.

The vehicle 100 can, as exemplified in 1b shown, have several different audio zones 110, 120 for different occupants 111, 121 or for different groups of occupants of the vehicle 100. For example, different audio zones 110, 120 can be provided for the driver and for the passenger of the vehicle 100.

The vehicle 100 may include one or more microphones 116, 126 (as occupant sensors 106) configured to detect microphone signals related to noise in the respective audio zone 110, 120. In particular, the vehicle 100 may include one or more first microphones 116 for a first audio zone 110 and one or more second microphones 126 for a second audio zone 120 . Based on the first microphone signals from the one or more first microphones 116, the noises in the first audio zone 110 can be detected. Based on the second microphone signals from the one or more second microphones 126, the noises in the second audio zone 120 can be detected.

Furthermore, the vehicle 100 can include one or more loudspeakers 114, 124 (as actuators 104), which are set up to generate audio signals in the respective audio zone 110, 120. The one or more speakers 114, 124 can be used to generate an anti-sound to attenuate a noise, e.g., a snoring noise, in an audio zone 110, 120.

For example, based on the first microphone signal from the one or more first microphones 116 it can be detected that the first occupant 111 in the first audio zone 110 is snoring. Furthermore, on the basis of the second microphone signals of the one or more second microphones 126 it can be determined how the snoring noise of the first occupant 111 can be heard by a second occupant 121 in the second audio zone 120 . Furthermore, the one or more (second) loudspeakers 124 in the second audio zone 120 can be caused (on the basis of the second microphone signals of the one or more second microphones 126) as a countermeasure to the detected snoring occupant 111 in the first audio zone 110 an anti-sound in the second To generate audio zone 120 through which the snoring noise in the second audio zone 120 is at least dampened. In this way, the comfort for the occupants 111, 121 of the vehicle 100 can be increased.

A vehicle 100 or a control unit 101 for a vehicle 100 is thus described, which is set up to detect seat and/or audio zone-related snoring in a vehicle 100 . Snoring can be detected, for example, using AI (artificial intelligence) audio classification.

At least one technical countermeasure can be taken in response to the detected snoring. A user and/or occupant 111, 121 of vehicle 100 can be enabled to select the countermeasure (via a user interface of vehicle 100).

The one or more countermeasures can be intensified in stages. For example, a local, pleasant audio signal (in the audio zone 110 of the snoring occupant 111) can be generated as a countermeasure in a first stage. In a second stage, an unpleasant noise can possibly be generated as a countermeasure. Furthermore, in a third stage, as a countermeasure, a shaker 104 can be used to stimulate the back of the snoring occupant 111 . For example, the excitation can be a single pulse or the excitation can be a multiple pulse with a certain (relatively high) frequency. In this way, the comfort for the occupants 111, 121 of the vehicle 100 can be increased.

2 shows a flow chart of a (possibly computer-implemented) exemplary method 200 for increasing the comfort of one or more occupants 111, 121 in an occupant cabin 105 of a (motor) vehicle 100. The method 200 includes the detection 201, based on occupant data from one or more occupant sensors 106, 116, 126 (e.g. from one or more microphones 116, 126) of the vehicle 100, a snoring occupant 111 in the occupant cabin 105, e.g. in the first audio zone 110 of the occupant cabin 105 of the vehicle 100.

The method 200 also includes, in response to the detected snoring occupant 111, the effecting 202 of at least one measure in relation to the detected snoring occupant 111 using one or more actuators 104, 114, 124 of the vehicle 100. The measure can be based in particular on it be designed to dampen the snoring noise of the snoring occupant 111 that is audible to another occupant 121 or to reduce its intensity. To this end, a measure may be effected on the snoring occupant 111 to cause the snoring occupant 111 to reduce the intensity of the snoring sound. Alternatively or additionally, active noise canceling (ANC) can be used as a measure in order to dampen the snoring noise that can be heard by another occupant 121 .

The comfort for occupants 111, 121 of a vehicle 100 can be increased by the measures described in this document. In this way, a snoring occupant 111 can be enabled to sleep in the occupant cabin 105 without snoring (so that a situation that the occupant 111 may find embarrassing can be avoided). Furthermore, noise exposure to one or more other occupants 121 of the vehicle 100 may be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are only intended to illustrate the principle of the proposed methods, devices and systems by way of example.

Claims (10)

Control unit (101) for a vehicle (100) having an occupant cabin (105) for a plurality of occupants (111, 121); wherein the control unit (101) is set up - to detect a snoring occupant (111) in the occupant cabin (105) on the basis of occupant data from one or more occupant sensors (106, 116, 126) of the vehicle (100); and - in response to causing at least one actuator (104, 114, 124) of the vehicle (100) to effect an action in relation to the detected snoring occupant (111). Control unit (101) according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit (101) is set up to bring about, as a measure in relation to the snoring occupant (111), - the output of an audio signal via a loudspeaker (114, 124) of the vehicle (100); and/or - at least one mechanical impulse, in particular a sequence of mechanical impulses, on a seat of the snoring occupant (111). Control unit (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (101) is set up - Recognize a reaction of the snoring occupant (111) to the action taken on the basis of the occupant data; and - adjust the measure in relation to the snoring occupant (111) depending on the detected reaction of the snoring occupant (111). Control unit (101) according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit (101) is set up - to adapt, in particular to increase or reduce, an intensity of the measure depending on the detected reaction of the snoring occupant (111); and/or - adapting a stimulus, in particular a type of stimulus, which is brought about by the measure on the snoring occupant (111) as a function of the recognized reaction of the snoring occupant (111); and/or - adapt a perception channel of the measure depending on the recognized reaction of the snoring occupant (111). Control unit (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (101) is set up to generate counter-noise in the occupant cabin (105) as a measure, through which a snoring noise generated by the snoring occupant (111) occurs in at least one partial area (120 ) of the passenger cabin (105) is dampened. Control unit (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the passenger compartment (105) of the vehicle (100) has a first audio zone (110) and a separate second audio zone (120); and - the control unit (101) is arranged - to determine that the snoring occupant (111) is located in the first audio zone (110); - by means of one or more microphones (116, 126) microphone signals in relation to one of the detecting snoring sound produced by snoring occupants (111); and - depending on the microphone signals, causing one or more loudspeakers (124) of the vehicle (100) to generate an anti-sound in the second audio zone (120) in order to dampen the snoring noise in the second audio zone (120). Control unit (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more occupant sensors (106, 116, 126) comprise - a camera that is set up to capture image data relating to one or more occupants (111, 121) in the occupant cabin (105); and or - A microphone (116, 126) which is set up to detect a microphone signal in relation to noises in the passenger cabin (105). Control unit (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - The control unit (101) is set up to recognize the snoring occupant (111) using a machine-learned classifier; and - the classifier is set up to determine on the basis of the occupant data of the one or more occupant sensors (106, 116, 126) of the vehicle (100) whether an occupant (111, 121) of the vehicle (100) snores or not. Control unit (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (101) is set up - to determine a position of the snoring occupant (111) within the occupant cabin (105) on the basis of the occupant data; and - bring about the action in relation to the snoring occupant depending on the determined position. Method (200) for increasing the comfort of one or more occupants (111, 121) of an occupant cabin (105) of a vehicle (100); the method (200) comprising - detecting (201), based on occupant data from one or more occupant sensors (106, 116, 126) of the vehicle (100), a snoring occupant (111) in the occupant cabin (105); and - In response thereto, effecting (202) at least one measure in relation to the detected snoring occupant (111) using one or more actuators (104, 114, 124) of the vehicle (100).

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