DE102023104806A1 - METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SEATING POSITION OF A USER IN A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

Examples relate to a method (10) for determining and outputting a seating position (21a) of a user in a vehicle (20). The method (10) comprises the steps: determining (11) a position (23a) of at least a first user device (23) assigned to the user outside the vehicle (23) using an electromagnetic transceiver (22); determining (12) an entry position (23b) of the user device (23) into the vehicle (20) with further use of the electromagnetic transceiver (22); determining (13) the seating position (21c) of the user based on the determined entry position (23b); and outputting (14) the determined (13) seating position (21c) of the user.

Description

Technical area

Embodiments relate to a method for determining and outputting a seat position of a user in a vehicle. Furthermore, a computer program product with program code for carrying out the method is proposed.

background

In modern motor vehicles, comfort and seat settings are sometimes stored in user profiles so that they can be automatically adjusted on a seat when the user is sitting in that seat. This can prevent the user from having to make the settings manually each time, especially if they frequently change vehicles or seats. Various methods are known for identifying the current seat user.

Currently, for example, ultra-wide band (UWB) technology is used for detecting the position of mobile devices (e.g. smartphones) and exchanging small amounts of data. This technology is currently used with a focus on vehicle access. Currently, automatic personalization of comfort functions (seat settings, climate settings, audio settings, etc.) is offered to the driver, as only the driver can be clearly recognized based on the key (or digital key) and a seating position in the vehicle, the driver's seat, can be precisely assigned to him.

There are methods to record the position of a user device in the vehicle. For example, Zhang, Dongyu in “Ultra-Wideband Ranging for In-Vehicle Smartphone Positioning” (2021-05-13; University of Calgary, Calgary, AB; http://hdl.handle.net/1880/113426 ) concepts that can improve position detection in the vehicle using UWB ranging.

US 2019 0 176 837 A1 proposes personalization for vehicles based on the location of body parts. The personalization system for the vehicle includes an image capture device configured to capture a plurality of images of one or more occupants in the vehicle and a control circuit configured to estimate a plurality of Z-heights of a plurality of body parts of each of the one or more occupants from a reference position in the vehicle based on the plurality of images captured by the image capture device, determine an associative relationship between the plurality of Z-heights of the plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle and a plurality of in-vehicle systems based on defined user preferences, and control the plurality of in-vehicle systems to direct an output from a corresponding in-vehicle system to a specific body portion of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle based on the estimated plurality of Z-heights and the determined associative relationship.

Detecting a position of user devices using UWB in the vehicle can require complex systems to determine the position accurately enough. For example, existing vehicles may only have antennas that can cover an outside area of the vehicle, e.g. for digital key access. Detecting users using a camera can be critical or not possible, e.g. due to data protection regulations.

Summary

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide improved concepts for determining seating positions of users in vehicles.

This object is achieved according to the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent patent claims, the following description and in conjunction with the figures.

Accordingly, a method for determining and outputting a seat position of a user in a vehicle is proposed. The method comprises the steps of determining a position of at least one first user device assigned to the user outside the vehicle using an electromagnetic transceiver and determining an entry position of the user device into the vehicle using the electromagnetic transceiver. Furthermore, the seat position of the user is determined based on the determined entry position and the determined seat position of the user is output.

For example, the position of the user device can be determined using radio position detection. Advantageously, it is sufficient to determine this position exclusively outside the vehicle, so that there is no need to determine the position of the user device inside the vehicle. For example, existing antennas or transceivers in the vehicle can be used, which cover the outdoor area and no additional antennas or transceivers need to be installed for indoor use.

According to the method, it is recorded at which entry position the user device enters the vehicle. In most cases, the user who owns the device carries the user device with him, so that the entry position of the device can be equated with the entry position of the user. Furthermore, according to the method, the assumption is made that the user usually sits down in a seat at the entry position or (e.g. if several users get in at the same entry position) at least near the entry position. For example, in some cases it can be assumed that the user sits down in the seat closest to the entry position and thus this seat can be output as the seat position based on the determined entry position. By using this assumption, the method can enable the user's seat position to be determined particularly efficiently.

In contrast to other concepts that enable the recognition of the occupants based on the position of a cell phone or user device assigned to the user in the vehicle, the procedure determines or estimates the user's seating position based on the entry position. Position determination in the interior according to other concepts, on the other hand, can have disadvantages. The positioning detection of the cell phone in the vehicle interior is sometimes not as precise and reliable as outside; the cell phone can be placed in different places or positions in the vehicle (e.g. charging location, storage in the center armrest, on the passenger seat) and thus cannot be clearly assigned to a seating position in the vehicle (e.g. second row of seats on the left or right). Thus, when the position of the user device is detected in the vehicle interior, the seat next to the user could, for example, be incorrectly given as the seating position if the user device is on the seat next to the user.

One advantage of the proposed concept is that it can be evaluated through which vehicle door (e.g. entry position) the cell phone (e.g. user device assigned to the user) entered the interior of the vehicle and thus the cell phone can be assigned to a seating position in the vehicle. The method thus offers an algorithm for improving the assignment of the cell phone or user device to the user's seating position in the vehicle.

According to one aspect of the method, determining the seat position includes selecting a seat in the vehicle that, out of several seats in the vehicle, is the shortest distance from the determined entry position. Experience shows that the user usually remains seated on the seat directly next to the vehicle door through which he or she entered.

According to one aspect of the method, it is provided that the user's seat position is also determined using seat occupancy information from the vehicle. For example, the seat position can be determined taking into account a temporal correlation between the entry position and the seat recognized as occupied. Seat occupancy detection can be carried out using a belt contact and/or pressure sensor in the seat mat and/or camera detection. For example, anonymized camera detection can be sufficient for the assessment of seat occupancy using a camera, which makes it easier to meet data protection requirements and does not require the user to be identified using image recognition. According to this aspect, the user's seat position can be determined as a seat in the vehicle that is the shortest distance from the determined entry position of all occupied seats in the vehicle. This allows the user's seat position to be determined more reliably. For example, the user can enter through a vehicle door at the back right, but then slide all the way to the left. If it is now determined that the user has boarded the vehicle with his or her user device at the rear right, but only the rear left seat is occupied, the rear left seat can be determined and displayed as the user's seating position.

According to one aspect of the method, the position of the user device is determined exclusively outside the vehicle. For example, the position can be determined outside the vehicle up to the entry position. As already mentioned, this can, for example, enable more precise position determination than inside the vehicle. Furthermore, antennas for position detection inside the vehicle can be dispensed with.

According to one aspect, the method further comprises assigning the entry position to a vehicle door of the vehicle. Consequently, for example, the seat closest to the vehicle door can be selected as the user's seating position. If the user enters the vehicle with the user device, for example, through an entry position that is assigned to the passenger door of the vehicle, the passenger seat can be output as the seating position for this user.

According to one aspect, the method further comprises checking whether a vehicle door at the determined ted entry position is open and assigning the entry position to the vehicle door at the determined entry position in the event that the vehicle door is open. For example, a less precise position detection of the user device may then be sufficient. If, for example, it is not possible to clearly differentiate between the front door and the rear door for an entry position, the entry position can be assigned to the vehicle door that is currently open when the other door is closed. This can reduce the requirement for the accuracy of the position detection of the user device.

According to one aspect of the method, it is provided that an electromagnetic transceiver is used which is designed to determine the position of the user device with a position accuracy of at least 50 cm (or at least 30 cm, at least 20 cm or at least 10 cm). In other words, according to the method, a position indication with a deviation of up to 30 cm can be sufficient to reliably determine the user's sitting position. Since the method can also function with relatively inaccurate position determination of the user device, a tolerance of more than 10 cm (or more than 20 cm) can be provided when determining the position. The requirement for the accuracy of the transceiver can thus be reduced and the method can be made more cost-effective, for example. For example, for a particularly precise position determination, it is optionally provided that an ultra-wide-band transceiver is used as the electromagnetic transceiver.

Often several users travel together in one vehicle. It can therefore be advantageous if the respective seating position can be determined for several users and thus, for example, automatic settings can be made according to the respective user profile.

According to one aspect, the method therefore further comprises determining an entry position of a further user device that is assigned to a further user and that is moved into the vehicle (e.g. enters the vehicle) after the first user device. If the same or a sufficiently similar entry position was determined for both user devices (e.g. the same vehicle door), a seat in the vehicle that has the shortest distance from the determined entry position of all the seats in the vehicle is output as the seat position of the further user and a seat in the vehicle that has the second shortest distance from the determined entry position of all the seats in the vehicle (e.g. normally accessible) is output as the seat position of the first user. This feature is based on the experience that a first passenger who gets into the vehicle slides one seat further in order to free up the seat for a subsequent passenger who gets into the vehicle through the same door, which is positioned directly at the vehicle door, for example. Normally accessible seats are those seats that can be reached in the usual way, for example without having to climb over seat backs. For example, existing sensors in the vehicle (e.g. sensor for "backrest folded") can be evaluated to determine the accessibility of a seat at the time the user or user device gets in (e.g. in a case where three users get in through one vehicle door, e.g. the passenger door).

Determining the same entry position may include determining a sufficiently similar entry position, in particular through the same vehicle door (e.g., the similar entry positions are assigned to the same vehicle door). For example, the two or more entry positions may possibly be in different positions (e.g., up to 30 cm or up to 60 cm apart), but through the same vehicle door (e.g., both user devices may enter the vehicle through a rear right vehicle door).

The aspect described can, for example, cover the use case when several passengers get in and slide through the rear row of seats. It can be assumed, for example, that the last user to get in will take the seat directly by the door, while the previous users sit next to him in sequence. For example, several (e.g. three) user devices can be identified that get in one after the other. The last user device is then assigned the seat that is closest to the entry position, the second-to-last user device is assigned the seat that is second closest to the entry position, and the xth user device is assigned the seat that is x closest to the entry position (e.g. row of seats with several seats; e.g. two-door car with folding seat). For example, in a two-door car, three users can get in through the passenger door and the first user can be assigned the seat at the back left, the second user the seat at the back right, and the third user the passenger seat as a seating position.

According to a further aspect of the method, settings are automatically made for the output seat position according to a user profile of the user assigned to the user device. The seat information can be used, for example, for automatic settings of music, comfort, seat adjustment, air conditioning, etc. Advantageously, The seat position for one or more users can be output directly in the vehicle and used immediately for automatic adjustment according to the user profile.

A further aspect relates to a computer program product or non-volatile storage medium with a program code to carry out the method described above or below when the computer program is executed on a processor, a computer, or programmable hardware. Such a program can advantageously be executed on an on-board computer or a backend (e.g. a server or cloud service coupled to the vehicle) to carry out the proposed method. This makes it possible, for example, to retrieve a user profile from the vehicle (e.g. online; e.g. to control user settings in a rental car) and set it at the seat recognized for the user.

Character description

• 1 ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Ermitteln und Ausgeben einer Sitzposition eines Nutzers in einem Fahrzeug;
• 2 ein schematisches Beispiel von einem Nutzer mit Nutzergerät, der durch eine Fahrzeugtür in das Fahrzeug steigt und dessen Sitzposition verfahrensgemäß ermittelt wird; und
• 3 ein schematisches Beispiel von zwei Nutzern mit Nutzergeräten, die durch eine selbe Fahrzeugtür in das Fahrzeug steigen und deren Sitzposition verfahrensgemäß ermittelt wird.

Examples of embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

• 1 a flow chart of a method for determining and outputting a seating position of a user in a vehicle;
• 2 a schematic example of a user with a user device who enters the vehicle through a vehicle door and whose seat position is determined according to the method; and
• 3 a schematic example of two users with user devices who enter the vehicle through the same vehicle door and whose seating position is determined according to the procedure.

Description

Various embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thickness dimensions of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity. In the following description of the accompanying figures, which only show some exemplary embodiments, like reference numerals may designate like or comparable components.

An element that is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there may be intervening elements. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning that one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong.

1 shows a flow chart of a method 10 for determining and outputting a seating position of a user in a vehicle. The method 10 comprises determining 11 a position of at least a first user device, which is assigned to the user, outside the vehicle using an electromagnetic transceiver and determining 12 an entry position of the user device into the vehicle using the electromagnetic transceiver. This is followed by determining 13 the seating position of the user based on the determined entry position and outputting 14 the determined seating position of the user.

Based on current technology, such as that used in a digital key for a vehicle with a mobile device (explained below using the example of a smartphone), UWB technology or a similar short-range radio communication technology can be used to recognize/authenticate all other people in the vehicle (driver and passengers) and then offer them automatic personalization of the comfort functions at their exact seat. To achieve this, the following steps are required with the disclosure described here: 1. The user (e.g. passenger) has an account with a one-time, unique ID number. The personal settings of the comfort functions for each seating position (driver, front passenger, rear seats) are saved on this ID number, e.g. in the backend; 2. This unique ID number is saved on the user device, e.g. smartphone; 3. As soon as the user is near the vehicle, the position of the smartphone is recognized via UWB and the unique ID number is exchanged; 4. The position detection in front of the vehicle (outside area) is so good that one can conclude, especially from the coupled information, e.g. "passenger door open" and smartphone coming from the outside of the vehicle to the inside area near this door (or just disappearing and/or no longer being detected from the outside of the vehicle if the UWB position detection inside the vehicle is not good enough or not available), that the user with this ID number has taken a seat in the corresponding seat position (in this case the passenger seat). This information can optionally be verified with further information from the occupant detection to see whether a person is actually sitting in the seat position; 5. The vehicle automatically downloads the personal settings for comfort functions saved for this ID number from baking. d/smartphone and applies these settings to the corresponding seat. One aspect of the idea is to link the information "door open/closed" with the precise position detection of a smartphone in order to recognize which door the smartphone entered the vehicle through and to determine the seat position.

2 shows a schematic example of a user with user device 23 who gets into a vehicle 20 through a vehicle door and whose seat position 21c is determined according to method 10. The user moves in the outside area of the vehicle 20 from a starting position 23a to an entry position 23b. The path of the user with the user device 23 and the entry position 23b are determined based on position detection of the user device 23, assuming that the user is carrying his user device 23 with him. The position detection of the user device 23 can take place according to method 10 using a transceiver 22 of the vehicle 20 (e.g. UWB transceiver).

The vehicle 20 has, for example, four seats 21a-21d. The entry position 23b can be closest to the seat 21c at the rear left. For example, the entry position 23b can be assigned to the vehicle door (not shown) at the rear left. Based on the determined entry position 23b, it is assumed that the user with the user device 23 sits on the seat 21c directly at the entry position 23b. Therefore, in this case, the left rear seat 21c is output as the seating position of the user of the user device 23 14.

Further details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above or below. 2 The embodiment shown may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects described in connection with the proposed concept or with one or more of the above (eg 1 ) or below (e.g. 3 ) described embodiments.

3 shows a schematic example of the vehicle 20 from 2 with two users with assigned user devices 23, 30, who enter the vehicle 20 through the same vehicle door and whose seating position 21c, 21d is determined according to method 10.

By means of radio position detection, the position of the user devices 23, 30 outside the vehicle 20 can be determined precisely with the transceiver 22 (e.g. with an accuracy deviation of less than 20 cm). This makes it possible to determine the starting position 23a of the first user device 23 and the starting position 30a of the second user device 30. Both user devices 23, 30 can enter the vehicle at entry positions 23b, 30b that are close to one another (e.g. less than 50 cm apart). For example, both entry positions 23b, 30b can be assigned to the right rear vehicle door. For example, when the two user devices 23, 30 enter, the passenger door can be closed and the right rear vehicle door can be open, so that it can be assumed with a high degree of certainty that both user devices 23, 30 entered the vehicle 20 through the right rear vehicle door.

For example, the vehicle can have two seats on the right 21d and on the left 21c at the rear. If the first user device 23 enters the vehicle 20 before the second user device 30, it can be assumed that the first user slips through and makes room for the second user. The information can thus be determined and output that the user of the first user device 23 uses the left seat 21c as a seating position and the user of the second user device 30 uses the right seat 21d as a seating position.

In the event that, for example, a middle seat is still available in the rear area of the vehicle 20, a seat occupancy detection system can be used to determine the seat positions more precisely. If, for example, the middle seat and the right seat 21d are occupied, it can be assumed that the first user has slipped through to the middle seat and the second user is sitting on the right seat 21d.

Further details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above or below. 3 The embodiment shown may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects described in connection with the proposed concept or with one or more of the above (eg 1-2 ) or embodiments described below.

Examples refer to a procedure for identifying and authenticating drivers and passengers in the vehicle. Steps in the procedure can be: 1. The user (passenger) has an account with a one-time, unique ID number. The personal settings of the comfort functions for each seat position (driver, passenger, rear seats) are then stored on this ID in the backend; 2. This unique ID number is stored on the smartphone; 3. As soon as the user is near the vehicle, the position of the smartphone is detected via UWB and the unique ID is Number exchanged. 4. The position detection in front of the vehicle is so good that from the information e.g. "passenger door open" and the smartphone comes from the vehicle outside to the interior near this door (or just disappears from the vehicle outside or is no longer detected if the UWB position detection in the vehicle interior is not good enough) you can conclude that the user with this ID number has taken a seat in the corresponding seat position (in this case the passenger seat). This information can be verified again with the information from the occupant detection to see whether a passenger is actually sitting in the seat position; 5. The vehicle automatically loads the personal settings for comfort functions saved for this ID number from the backend/smartphone and applies these settings to the corresponding seat. Cases with multiple users can also be covered: For example, two smartphones get in through one of the rear doors (e.g. rear left). It can then be assumed that the smartphone or user device or user that got in first will “slip through” and thus be assigned to the seat at the back right and the second smartphone or user device or user will then be assigned to the seat at the back left.

The method enables radio-based assignment of seat positions to user devices in the vehicle, whereby radio position detection outside the vehicle is sufficient to determine the seat positions.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was 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 accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 20190176837 A1 [0005]

Cited non-patent literature

• Zhang, Dongyu in “Ultra-Wideband Ranging for In-Vehicle Smartphone Positioning” (2021-05-13; University of Calgary, Calgary, AB; http://hdl.handle.net/1880/113426 [0004]

Claims (10)

Method (10) for determining and outputting a seating position (21a) of a user in a vehicle (20), the method (10) comprising: - determining (11) a position (23a) of at least a first user device (23) assigned to the user outside the vehicle (23) using an electromagnetic transceiver (22); - determining (12) an entry position (23b) of the user device (23) into the vehicle (20) with further use of the electromagnetic transceiver (22); - determining (13) the seating position (21c) of the user based on the determined entry position (23b); and - outputting (14) the determined seating position (21c) of the user. Procedure (10) according to Claim 1 , wherein determining (13) the seat position (21c) comprises selecting a seat (21c) of the vehicle (20) which, of a plurality of seats (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) of the vehicle (20), has the shortest distance to the determined entry position (23b). Procedure (10) according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the determination (13) of the seat position (21c) of the user is further carried out using seat occupancy information of the vehicle (20). Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the determination (11) of the position of the user device (23) takes place exclusively outside the vehicle (20). Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - assigning the entry position (23b) to a vehicle door of the vehicle (20). Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - checking whether a vehicle door is open at the determined entry position (23b); and - assigning the entry position (23b) to the vehicle door at the determined entry position (23b) in the event that the vehicle door is open. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an electromagnetic transceiver (22) is used which is designed to determine the position (23a, 23b) of the user device (23, 30) with a position accuracy of at least 30 cm. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an ultra-wide-band transceiver is used as the electromagnetic transceiver (22). Method (10) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 or 3 until 8 , further comprising: - determining an entry position (30b) of a further user device (30) which is assigned to a further user and which is moved into the vehicle (20) after the first user device (23); and in the event that the same entry position (23b, 30b) was determined for both user devices (23, 30) - outputting a seat (21d) of the vehicle (20) which, of all the seats (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) of the vehicle (20), has the shortest distance to the determined entry position (23b, 30b) as the seat position (21d) of the further user; and - outputting a seat (21c) of the vehicle (20) which, of all seats (21c, 21d) of the vehicle (20) normally accessible from the entry position (23b, 30b), has the second shortest distance to the determined entry position (23b, 30b) as the seat position (21c) of the first user. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein settings are automatically made for the output (14) seating position (21c) according to a user profile of the user assigned to the user device (23).

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