EP1636774B1 - Distress call device for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A distress call device for a motor vehicle is disclosed, comprising a sensor mechanism (1), for recording the accelerations acting on the vehicle and the occupants, an analytical unit (2) and a transmission unit (3), for the automatic initiation of an emergency call. According to the invention, such a distress call device shall be provided with means for estimation of the type and degree of injuries to the occupants, the estimation based on a model (4, 5, 6) for the occupants. The information obtained as above on the type and extent of injuries is then automatically transmitted with the distress call to a rescue centre such that suitable assistance can be rapidly deployed.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to an emergency call device for a motor vehicle with a sensor system for detecting accelerations acting on the vehicle or on the occupants, with an evaluation unit and with a transmitting unit for the automatic transmission of an emergency call.

German Offenlegungsschrift 199 17 207 describes an emergency call device for a motor vehicle which automatically sends out an emergency call message to a rescue coordination center in the event of an accident. The motor vehicle is equipped with a sensor system for detecting translational accelerations, rotational angular accelerations, shape changes of the vehicle body, braking processes and / or steering movements. Critical driving situations and in particular accidents can be automatically detected by evaluating the sensor data, so that then automatically an emergency call message can be issued. With the emergency message, the geographical position of the crashed vehicle is transmitted to the rescue center. According to the German published patent application 199 17 207, the emergency message should also contain information for the initiation of suitable assistance measures. As examples of such additional information here are the vehicle registration number, the type of vehicle, the number of vehicle occupants, possibly acute illnesses of vehicle occupants, the accident or the severity of accidents and the extent of injury to the vehicle occupants called.

It remains unclear how the nature and extent of injury to individual vehicle occupants can be determined.

Advantages of the invention

With the present invention, a possibility for automatic and relatively reliable estimation of the type and extent of injury to the vehicle occupants is proposed, so that appropriate emergency measures can be taken very quickly.

According to the invention, the estimation of the type and extent of the injuries is based on a model for each individual vehicle occupant. Based on the model, it is calculated how the accelerations acting on the vehicle affect the respective occupant or a dummy, i. which movements the respective occupant performs and by what these movements are possibly limited. In doing so, interactions with substantially rigid vehicle parts, e.g. Body, head restraints and steering wheel, as well as interactions with existing vehicle restraint such as airbags, harness systems and belt tensioners. The extent of the injuries can then be easily estimated for each individual occupant using the procedures known from the legislation for calculating the injury severity AIS and MAIS. The accuracy of this estimate, i. how detailed the injuries occurring to the individual parts of the body can be determined depends on how well the model fits the constitution of the respective occupant, e.g. the size, weight, proportions, physical condition, etc.

In the event of an accident, the emergency call device according to the invention automatically sends an emergency call, which includes the most detailed possible description or estimation of the injuries of the individual vehicle occupants. The rescue center can use this information to initiate targeted relief measures. Thus, knowing the number of vehicle occupants or the number of those likely to be injured, it is possible to estimate how many rescue vehicles will be needed. Based on the information on the nature and severity of the injuries, it is possible to immediately send an emergency physician specialized in the respective injury pattern. If an operation is urgently required, appropriate preparations can be made as soon as the emergency call is received to finding a suitable medical team and donor organ.

Basically, the model used to estimate the type and extent of injury to vehicle occupants may be a standard model that includes the body of an occupant, for example, in the form of five or eight coupled mass elements for the head, trunk, thigh, lower leg and feet. As part of a standard model, average values for the sizes and weights of the individual mass elements are assumed.

However, the estimation of the nature and extent of the injuries can be substantially improved if an individualized model is used for each vehicle occupant, adapted in at least some features to the constitution of the vehicle occupant. In this context, it proves to be advantageous if an interior sensor is provided which provides suitable information about the vehicle occupants.

If such an interior sensing system comprises means for detecting the seat occupancy, then in the case of an accident, the rescue center can be informed automatically which vehicle seats are occupied or how many occupants are in the accident vehicle. For vehicle seats that are safely unoccupied, an estimate of the nature and extent of the injuries can be dispensed with.

To detect the seat occupancy, for example, sensor mats, so-called occupant-classification mats, are used, which are installed in the individual vehicle seats and detect the pressure distribution in the seat. These sensor mats can not only determine if a vehicle seat is occupied. The sensor mats also allow an estimate of the weight of each occupant and allow conclusions about the current sitting posture. For weight measurement, other sensors can be used, such as absolute measuring sensors. All this information can be used to modify the occupant model. By evaluating the pressure distribution in the vehicle seat can also be detected whether mounted here a child seat is. The interior sensing may also include means for automatic child seat recognition based on transponder technology. In this case, the child seat must be equipped with a transponder that sends back a detection signal when an antenna to be checked sends out a signal. By evaluating the detection signal, it can be determined, on the one hand, whether a child seat is located on a specific vehicle seat and, on the other hand, what kind of child seat it is, ie a child seat for a toddler or an already larger child. Accordingly, the model can then be modified to estimate the nature and extent of the injuries.

In a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the interior sensing comprises a stereo video camera. By evaluating the video data, it is possible to make reliable statements about the type of seat occupancy and the course of the accident, since all vehicle occupants can be detected with a sensor and their trajectories and their interactions with the restraints can be tracked even during the accident. By analyzing the detected occupants, important inputs to the occupant model, such as the occupant model, may be included. the proportions of the different body parts, are determined. In addition, the nature and extent of the injuries can be determined by evaluating the video images.

As mentioned above, the more information about the constitution of each occupant, the better the estimation of the nature and extent of the injuries. Therefore, it is of particular advantage if the motor vehicle is equipped with means for reading in personal data of at least one user, for example for identification of the driver. In this case, personal data, such as information on the size, age, blood type or illness of the user, may also be taken into account in the assessment of the nature and extent of the injuries and, if necessary, transferred to the rescue center.

Essential for the most realistic and detailed estimation of the type and extent of the injuries is not only the quality of the occupant model but Also, how exactly the accident can be detected. If the motor vehicle is equipped with restraint means, it proves to be advantageous in this context if the information about the type of restraint used and / or the time of triggering is taken into account in the estimation of the type and extent of injury to the occupants.

An advantageous development of the emergency call device according to the invention is not only able to set off an automatic emergency call with information about the nature and extent of injury to the vehicle occupants, but can support a first responder at the scene by information on meaningful emergency measures. This information is read from a database based on the previously determined type and extent of injury to the occupants and made available via an optical and / or acoustic output system. This can be a database stored in the control unit of the motor vehicle or even an external database, in which case means for bidirectional communication with this external database must be provided.

Advantageously, the emergency call device according to the invention can also establish communication with the rescue coordination center, which can then advise the first responder. In this context, it proves to be particularly advantageous if the motor vehicle has a camera system, for example, for interior sensing, which can be easily removed after the accident, so that the first responder of the rescue center can send detailed pictures of the injured. The Rescue Coordination Center can then provide the first responders with even more targeted support:

drawings

• Fig. 1 zeigt das Blockschaltbild einer erfindungsgemäßen Notrufeinrichtung,
• Fig. 2 zeigt das Modell eines Insassen vor einem Unfall und
• Fig. 3 zeigt das in Fig. 2 dargestellte Modell eines Insassen während eines Unfalls.

As already discussed in detail above, there are various ways to advantageously design and develop the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, on the one hand subordinate to the claim 1 Claims and on the other hand, reference is made to the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings.

• 1 shows the block diagram of an emergency call device according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 shows the model of an occupant before an accident and
• FIG. 3 shows the model of an occupant during an accident as shown in FIG.

Description of the embodiment

The emergency call device for a motor vehicle shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a block diagram comprises a sensor system 1 for detecting accelerations which act on the vehicle or on the occupants. This may also be, for example, the sensors of the airbag control unit. The acceleration signals are evaluated by an evaluation unit 2 in order to detect dangerous situations and in particular also the occurrence of an accident. In this case, a transmitting unit 3 is activated, which then automatically sends an emergency call, which contains, for example, information about the position of the accident vehicle.

If an accident occurs, the acceleration signals that have been detected by the sensor 1, also used to estimate the nature and extent of injury to the vehicle occupants to transmit this information together with the emergency, so also automatically, to a rescue center.

To estimate the nature and extent of the injuries, it is calculated according to the invention how the accelerations detected by the sensor system 1 during the accident affect a model for the respective vehicle occupant. In the embodiment shown here are three models 4, 5 and 6 provided a model 4 for the driver, a model 5 for the passenger and a model 6 for other occupants.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, five coupled mass elements 21 to 25 are shown as the standard model 20 for the front passenger. The mass element 21 represents the head of the passenger, which is followed by the mass element 22 for the hull. With the three other mass elements 23 to 25, which are arranged accordingly, the behavior of the thighs, lower legs and feet of the passenger is to be simulated. Fig. 2 shows the situation before an accident. The passenger assumes a relaxed sitting posture on the passenger seat 26. The body - mass element 22 - and the thigh mass element 23 - enclose an angle of about 90 °, while the thigh - mass element 23 - and the lower leg - mass element 24 - include a significantly larger angle. Before the passenger is the dashboard 27. Fig. 3 shows how the passenger or his model 20 behaves in a frontal collision. The entire person is moved forward towards the dashboard 27. The hull - mass element 22 - performs a tilting movement against the dashboard 27, so that the angle between the hull - mass element 22 - and thigh mass element 23 decreases as well as the angle between thighs - mass element 23 - and lower leg - mass element 24th

wobei t₂-t₁ ein Zeitintervall von ca. 15 ms bis 30 ms ist und a die auf die betroffene Person einwirkende Beschleunigung ist. Durch Kombination dieses HIC-Wertes mit personenbezogenen Informationen, wie z.B. der tatsächlichen Größe und des tatsächlichen Gewichts der betroffenen Person, kann für diese Person eine individuelle Wahrscheinlichkeit ermittelt werden, mit der eine Kopfverletzung der ermittelten Schwere eintritt. Dazu stehen der Auswerteeinheit 2 medizinische Daten zur Verfügung, die angeben, mit welcher Wahrscheinlichkeit bestimmte Verletzungen bei einer bestimmten Verzögerung eines Körperteils mit einem bestimmten Gewicht auftreten. Für die Berechnung der Verletzungsschwere im Brust- oder Abdomenbereich können auch andere Formeln verwendet werden.With the help of such a model and the detected acceleration signals, the movements and in particular the delays of the individual body parts during an accident can be determined relatively accurately. The extent of an injury, the severity of injury, can be determined using a calculation method known from the legislation. For example, the severity of the head injury of an average man who is approximately 1.80m tall and weighs 75kg is considered to be HIC (Head Injury Criteria). $$\mathrm{HIC}={\left[1/{\mathrm{t}}_2-{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="t"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">t</figure-callout>}}_1{\displaystyle \underset{{\mathrm{t}}_1}{\overset{{\mathrm{t}}_2}{\int }}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{t}}\right]}^{2.5}\left({\mathrm{t}}_2-{\mathrm{t}}_1\right)$$

where t ₂ -t _{1 is} a time interval of about 15 ms to 30 ms and a is the acceleration acting on the affected person. By combining this HIC value with personal information, such as the actual size and weight of the subject, an individual likelihood of head injury to the identified severity can be determined for that individual. For this purpose, the evaluation unit 2 medical data are available, which indicate the probability of certain injuries occurring at a certain delay of a body part with a certain weight. Other formulas may be used to calculate the injury severity in the chest or abdomen area.

In the embodiment described here, the motor vehicle is equipped with an interior sensor 7, with the information about the seat occupancy and the vehicle occupants can be obtained in addition to other operating parameters. A component of the interior sensor 7 form sensor mats, which are installed in the individual vehicle seats and with which the pressure distribution in the respective seat can be detected. This not only determines if a seat is occupied. The pressure distribution in the seat also allows conclusions about the weight of an occupant and provides information about its seating position at the beginning of a crash. The interior sensing 7 may include other sensors such as e.g. absolutely measuring weight sensors and a camera.

The information captured by the interior sensing 7 information are used on the one hand to adapt the model 4, 5 or 6 to the respective occupants and are made available to the other of the transmitting unit 3, so that in the event of an accident, an emergency call is placed, the automatically information about the number of vehicle occupants includes and possibly even information about which vehicle seats are occupied.

Since it can always be assumed that the driver's seat is occupied, by default an estimate of the nature and extent of the driver's injuries is carried out. In the case of vehicle seats which are certainly unoccupied, such an estimate is dispensed with. Can not be determined clearly in a vehicle seat whether or not it is filled, the nature and extent of injury to a potential occupant is determined. However, this information is then transferred to the rescue center with reference to the allocation uncertainty.

Beispiel 1:

2 Verletzte Fahrer Verletzungsschwere MAIS 3 Kopf HIC 500, leichte Brustverletzungen Beifahrer Verletzungsschwere MAIS 4 Kopf HIC 800, Kontakt mit Armaturenbrett, starke Brustverletzungen, sehr wahrscheinlich Quetschung der Leber

Beispiel 2:

2 bis 4 Verletzte Fahrer leichte Verletzungen Beifahrer mittlere Verletzungen Rücksitz links leichte Verletzungen, unklar ob Person vorhanden Rücksitz rechts keine Verletzungen, unklar ob Person vorhanden

The following are two examples of an emergency call that includes seat occupancy information.

Example 1:

2 injured drivers injury severity MAIS 3 head HIC 500, minor chest injuries passenger injury severity MAIS 4 head HIC 800, contact with dashboard, severe chest injuries, most likely contusion of the liver

Example 2:

2 to 4 injured driver minor injuries passenger medium injuries rear seat left minor injuries, unclear if person present rear seat right no injuries, unclear if person present

The interior sensor 7 in the embodiment described here also includes an automatic child seat recognition based on transponder technology. For this purpose, the individual vehicle seats are equipped with receiving antennas, which can be installed together with the sensor mats, for example. In addition, an antenna is provided which emits a test signal. If a child seat is present with a transponder that has received the test signal, this transponder sends back a detection signal, which is collected by the receiving antenna of the vehicle seat on which the child seat is installed. The detection signal, in addition to the information that a child seat is present, also include information about the nature of the child seat, so for example, whether it is a child seat for a toddler or an older child. This can be used to determine the age or size and weight of the transported child. If there is information about the mass of the transported child, they may also be used for occupant modeling and thus for estimating the nature and extent of any injury. In addition, the result of such an automatic child seat recognition can be transmitted in the event of an accident together with the emergency call to the rescue center.

In the embodiment described here, the motor vehicle is also equipped with a system for occupant identification 8, with the aid of which, for example, the driver identified with respect to the motor vehicle to prove his access authorization. The occupant identification system 8 accesses a database 9 which, in addition to identification features of the persons authorized to access, also contains other personal information, such as age, blood type or any illnesses. This personal information is also used to refine the relevant model 4, 5 or 6 or to assess the severity of the injury.

In addition, the assessment of the nature and extent of occupant injuries can be improved by knowledge of the restraints used, such as seatbelt pretensioners and airbags, and the timing of their activation. This information is provided here by the airbag control unit 10.

A CAN bus 11 provides information on other constraints that affect the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants, such as driving. Information about the positions and positions of the individual vehicle seats or information on whether the glove box was open at the beginning of a crash.

The information determined by the evaluation unit 2 on the nature and extent of the occupant injuries are evaluated in a downstream logic module 12 to support a first responder by detailed information and possibly also instructions. For this purpose, personal information from the database 9 is also made available to the logic module 12. About a voice output 13 and possibly also a picture output the first responders the injuries of the individual occupants can be described exactly and also Advice on first aid will be given. For this purpose, the logic module 12 accesses a database, not shown here, in which suitable treatment steps for different injuries are stored. Such a database can be stored in the control unit of the vehicle.

In addition, in the exemplary embodiment described here, a communication with an external database or the rescue center can be set up so that it can assist the first responder in an advisory capacity. For this purpose, the emergency call device comprises a removable stereo video camera 14, with which all occupants are detected in the vehicle. This stereo video camera 14 can be removed after an accident to provide the rescue center with detailed pictures of the injured. However, any other type of camera system can be used.

Claims (10)

1. Distress call device for a motor vehicle, having

   - a sensor system (1) for sensing accelerations acting on the vehicle or on the vehicle occupants,

   - an evaluation unit (2), and

   - a transmitter unit (3) for automatically outputting a distress call,

   characterized in that means for estimating the type and degree of injuries to the vehicle occupants are provided, a model (4, 5, 6) for the vehicle occupants being used as the basis for the estimation, and in that the information which is acquired in this way about the type and degree of the injuries is transmitted, together with the distress call, to a rescue control centre.
2. Distress call device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a passenger compartment sensing device (7) is provided, and in that the information which is sensed by the passenger compartment sensing device is taken into account in the estimation of the type and degree of injuries to the vehicle occupants and in particular in the modelling of the vehicle occupants.
3. Distress call device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the passenger compartment sensing device (7) comprises a means for sensing the occupation of seats.
4. Distress call device according to one of Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the passenger compartment sensing device (7) comprises sensor mats and/or weight sensors which make absolute measurements and have the purpose of sensing the occupation of seats.
5. Distress call device according to one of Claim 2 to 4, characterized in that the passenger compartment sensing device (7) comprises an automatic child's seat detection means.
6. Distress call device according one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the passenger compartment sensing device comprises at least one video camera (14), preferably a removable stereo video camera.
7. Distress call device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, the motor vehicle being equipped with means (8) for reading in person-related data of at least one user, characterized in that this person-related data is taken into account in the estimation of the type and degree of the injuries to the vehicle occupants and in particular in the modelling of the vehicle occupants.
8. Distress call device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, the motor vehicle being equipped with restraint means, characterized in that information about the type of restraint means used and/or the triggering time is taken into account in the estimation of the type and degree of injuries to the vehicle occupants.
9. Distress call device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an optical and/or audio output system (13) is provided with which information about appropriate immediate measures can be made available to a helper, in particular a first aider, the output system (13) reading out the corresponding information from a database on the basis of the previously determined type and degree of injuries to the vehicle occupants.
10. Distress call device according to Claim 9, characterized in that means are provided for bidirectional communication with an external database and/or a further helper.

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