JP3808454B2 - Seat usage status judging device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining the use status of a seat, such as whether a person is sitting in the seat or whether luggage is placed, and in particular, in an automobile or the like, an airbag apparatus is used according to the use status of the seat. The present invention relates to a device that controls the operation of an occupant protection device such as a seat belt device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an automobile in which an airbag is incorporated as an occupant protection device, the airbag operates in the event of a vehicle collision even when no passenger is present in the passenger seat. This operation is meaningless, and it is necessary to replace the operated device even if it is repaired, and there is an unnecessary repair cost. Therefore, it is desirable to stop the operation of the airbag when there is no occupant. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the use situation of the passenger seat when the airbag for the passenger seat is activated. In addition, it is required that the airbag is not deployed when the child seat on which the infant rides is mounted rearward. For this reason, it is desirable that the orientation of the child seat can be detected when the airbag is deployed. A known example of a passenger seat use state determination device that can identify a rear-facing child seat is a distance sensor.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As a well-known example of a passenger seat presence / absence detection device in a passenger seat, there is an example using a load sensor in JP-A-7-186880. However, such load sensors cannot distinguish between passengers and luggage, and there are problems such as unnecessary repair costs when the airbag is activated when luggage is loaded on the passenger seat. .
[0004]
As a known example of a passenger seat use state determination device capable of identifying a rear-facing child seat, there is an example using a distance sensor in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-19006.
[0005]
However. In this method, it is difficult to distinguish the case where the occupant turns forward and the rear facing child seat.
[0006]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a seat use state determination device that determines whether there is a passenger in the passenger seat, determines the direction of the child seat, and determines whether an object on the passenger seat is a passenger or a baggage. The purpose is to do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The seat usage status determination apparatus according to the present invention includes an image input unit that captures a range including at least a part of a seat and obtains image information, and a plurality of distance measurement lights that illuminate the seat position and the periphery of the seat position. A distance measuring unit that calculates a distance to a photographing target based on a spot position of the distance measuring illumination included in the image of the image input unit, and a use situation of the seat from the distance calculated by the distance measuring unit And a control signal output unit for controlling the operation of the protection means against the protection means for protecting the occupant from a collision with the vehicle internal structure under a predetermined condition based on the determination of the situation determination section It is equipped with.
[0008]
Further, the distance measuring illumination also serves as an image input illumination that performs illumination for a time required to capture an image.
[0009]
In addition, the seat usage status determination apparatus includes the image input unit configured in a matrix with N × N pixels.
[0010]
Further, the image input unit, the distance measurement unit, and the control signal output unit are integrated on one semiconductor chip.
[0011]
Further, the image input unit includes an optical wavelength selection filter that transmits only light of a specific wavelength.
[0012]
In addition, an operation failure determination unit that determines operation failure of the image input unit when the power is turned on is provided.
[0013]
In addition, the malfunction determination unit has a function of comparing an input image when the distance measurement illumination is irradiated with an input image when the distance measurement illumination is not irradiated.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a seat usage status determining apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an image input unit, 2 is a data conversion unit that converts an image captured by the image input unit 1 into collation data, and 3 is all or some of the pixels of the image captured by the image input unit 1. A pixel average value calculation unit 4 that calculates an average value is used for each of the seats stored in advance in the model storage unit 5 based on the matching data of the data conversion unit 2 and the pixel average value of the pixel average value calculation unit 3. A situation determination unit that compares the template data according to the situation and the threshold value to determine the seat usage status, 5 is a template storage unit that previously stores the template data corresponding to each usage status of the seat, and 6 is the status It is a control signal output unit that outputs a signal related to airbag control based on the seat usage status determined by the determination unit 4.
[0015]
Next, the operation will be described. The image input unit 1 including the image sensor captures an image including at least a part of the sitting position of the passenger seat. The data conversion unit 2 converts the image captured by the image input unit 1 into verification data. The pixel average value calculation unit 3 calculates the average value of all or some of the pixels of the image captured by the image input unit 1. The situation determination unit 4 uses model data corresponding to each use situation of the seat stored in advance in the model storage unit 5 based on the comparison data of the data conversion unit 2 and the pixel average value of the pixel average value calculation unit 3 and its data. Collation is performed based on the threshold value to determine the seat usage status. One or a plurality of model data belong to each seat usage situation. The control signal output unit 6 outputs a signal related to the control of the airbag (not shown) based on the seat usage status determined by the status determination unit 4.
[0016]
The passenger seat states in the present embodiment are 5 for passenger-free, passenger-occupied, child seat forward (hereinafter referred to as CRS forward), child seat rearward (hereinafter referred to as CRS backward), and child standing (hereinafter referred to as standing child). Types are assumed (FIGS. 2A to 6A), and a plurality of template images correspond to each state (FIGS. 2B to 6B). In the figure, 7 is a passenger seat, 8 is a passenger seat instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as instrument panel), 9 is a seated passenger (adult), 10 is a child seat, 11 is a seated child, and 12 is standing up. Indicates a child (standing child). In the model storage unit 5, a model image is stored as model data expressed as a vector converted by the data conversion unit 2.
[0017]
Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the input image captured by the image input unit 1 is divided by the data conversion unit 2 in, for example, the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the average pixel value for each divided image is used as an element, as shown in FIGS. In this way, it is converted into two vector data in the vertical and horizontal directions. In addition, the average value of all or some of the pixels is calculated by the pixel average value calculation unit 3.
[0018]
Next, the vector representation of the input image obtained by the data conversion unit 2 is collated with model data that is a vector representation of the usage status of the five types of seats stored in the model storage unit 5 by the situation determination unit 4. The similarity with the input image is calculated. FIG. 7 (c) shows, for example, one of the template data corresponding to the case where there is an occupant among the template data of each use situation of the seat stored in the model storage unit 5 (the left diagram in FIG. 7 (c)). FIG. 7 shows a matching process between the input image vector data corresponding to the case where there is no occupant (the right figure in FIG. 7 (c)), and shows that matching is performed in the vertical direction or in the horizontal direction. At the same time, the situation determination unit 4 changes the determination threshold value corresponding to each model data stored in the model storage unit 5 according to the average value of the pixels calculated by the pixel average value calculation unit 3.
[0019]
The similarity between the vector data can be calculated by using, for example, inner product calculation, and the similarity between the template data and the vector data of the input image is obtained as, for example, the sum of the similarities in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The use status of the seat to which the template data that has the maximum value among the similarity to each template data obtained in this way and exceeds the determination threshold is used as the output of the situation determination unit 4.
[0020]
Finally, the control signal output unit 5 has a table as shown in FIG. 8, for example, in order to determine whether or not the airbag can be deployed. Refer to this table in the category determined by the situation determination unit 4 and deploy the airbag. Outputs a signal related to the control (ON or OFF).
[0021]
As described above, the airbag deployment control can be determined from the image obtained by photographing the situation of the passenger seat.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the division of the input image in the data conversion unit 2 is the same width in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, but the division width may be different, and the division direction may be the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. Either one of them may be used. In the present embodiment, the control signal output unit 5 outputs ON or OFF as a signal related to airbag deployment control. However, the airbag deployment pressure level or a plurality of airbags such as side airbags may be used. If a bag is provided, a signal for controlling the number of airbags to be deployed may be output.
[0023]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the pixel average value calculation unit 3 has shown an example in which the pixel values of all or some of the pixels are simply averaged. For example, for the pixel value of the center pixel of the image sensor, May be weighted average by multiplying a large coefficient and applying a small coefficient to the pixel values of surrounding pixels.
[0024]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a seat usage status determining apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The image input unit 1, the distance measurement unit 13, the situation determination unit 4, and the control signal output unit 6 include four parts. The image input unit 1 captures an image including at least a part of the passenger seat in the imaging range. The distance measuring unit 13 includes a plurality of distance measuring lights (hereinafter referred to as distance measuring lights). The image input unit 1 captures an image with the distance measurement illumination applied by the distance measurement unit 13 at a certain time, and captures an image when the distance measurement illumination is not applied at the next time, and the distance measurement unit 13 performs these two images. The position of the spot light by the distance measuring illumination is specified by taking the difference of. Furthermore, the distance measurement unit 13 stores in advance the spot light position when no occupant is present, and if there is a deviation in the spot light position, the distance to the spot light can be calculated by the principle of triangulation. is there.
[0025]
As an example of occupant detection according to the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the seating position of the passenger seat is viewed from directly above and nine ranging illuminations are emitted as shown in FIG. For example, in the case of no occupant, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), among the spotlights of the distance measuring illumination, the instrument panel proximity position distance measuring illumination 14, the passenger seat surface position distance measuring illumination 15, and the intermediate position measurement between them. It arrange | positions so that the distance illumination 16 may shine. In the example of FIG. 10, the distance measuring spot light is irradiated to each position in three points parallel to the lateral direction of the seat. If ranging lighting is arranged in this way, when there is an occupant, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the passenger seat surface position ranging lighting 15 and the intermediate position ranging lighting on the thigh, abdomen or arm of the occupant 9 No. 16 hits and the position of the spot light shifts when compared with the case of no occupant. The spot light shift is photographed by the image input unit 1, and the distance measurement unit 13 calculates the distance to the spot light position based on the position shift. The situation determination unit 3 can determine the presence or absence of a passenger in the passenger seat by comparing with the distance when no passenger is present. The control signal output unit 6 outputs a signal relating to whether or not the airbag can be deployed based on the determination of the situation determination unit 3.
[0026]
In addition, when the standing child 12 is in close contact with the instrument panel 8, as shown in FIG. 10C, the instrument panel near-position distance measuring light 14 hits the head or torso of the standing child, as compared with the case of no occupant. The position of the spot light is shifted. This spot light deviation is photographed by the image input unit 1 as in the case of the occupant in FIG. 10B, and the distance measuring unit 13 calculates the distance to the spot light position based on this position deviation, The determination unit 3 can determine the state of the occupant. The control signal output unit 6 outputs a signal relating to whether or not the airbag can be deployed based on the determination of the situation determination unit 3.
[0027]
Further, when the standing child 12 is away from the instrument panel 8 and in the vicinity of the passenger seat 7, as shown in FIG. 10 (d), the intermediate position measuring light 16 hits the head or the trunk of the standing child and there is no occupant. The position of the spot light shifts when compared. This spot light deviation is photographed by the image input unit 1 as in the case of the occupant in FIG. 10B, and the distance measuring unit 13 calculates the distance to the spot light position based on this position deviation, The determination unit 3 can determine the state of the occupant. The control signal output unit 5 outputs a signal relating to whether or not the airbag can be deployed based on the determination of the situation determination unit 3.
[0028]
In the second embodiment, the detection of the presence of the passenger and the standing child has been described, but it goes without saying that the CRS forward and CRS backward can be detected in the same manner.
[0029]
Further, in the second embodiment, a case has been described where the number of ranging illuminations is three for each position, a total of nine, but each position may be one or two, or may be four or more. In addition, the same number of distance measuring lights may not be used for each position. For example, the number of instrument panel near position distance measuring lights, front passenger seat surface position distance measuring lights, and intermediate position distance measuring lights are three, two, Two may be used.
[0030]
Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a seat usage status determining apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the figure, 17 is an LED, 19 is a lens for condensing LED light, 20 is LED light, 21 is a piezoelectric element whose length changes with voltage, 22 is an image sensor constituting an image input unit, and 23 is a situation A microprocessor 18 that performs determination and the like is a case that houses these electronic elements.
[0031]
Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. When performing distance measurement, a signal is sent from the microprocessor 23 and a voltage is applied to the piezo element 21. The length of the piezo element 21 changes depending on the voltage, the position of the LED 17 on the piezo element 21 changes, and the position of the LED 17 moves to the focal position of the lens 19. If the LED 17 is at the focal position of the lens 19, the LED light 20 becomes a small spot as shown in FIG. 12A, and the spot position can be imaged by the image sensor 22. On the other hand, when inputting an image, a signal is sent from the microprocessor 23 and a voltage is applied to the piezo element 21. The length of the piezo element 21 changes depending on the voltage, the position of the LED 17 on the piezo element 21 changes, and the position of the LED 17 moves to a position deviated from the focus of the lens 19. If the LED 17 is located at a position deviated from the focal point of the lens 19, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the LED light 20 diffuses and irradiates a large area. Imaging can be performed by the sensor 22.
[0032]
Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a seat usage status determining apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the figure, 22 is an image sensor, 23 is a microprocessor, 24 is an analog / digital conversion circuit, 25 is a pixel, and the image sensor 22 is configured in an array of 32 × 32.
[0033]
Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. The image sensor 22 captures an image with 32 × 32 arrayed pixels 25, converts it into 32 × 32 analog electrical signals, and sends the output to the analog / digital conversion circuit 24. The analog / digital conversion circuit 24 converts the 32 × 32 analog electrical signals sent from the image sensor 22 into 32 × 32 digital electrical signals and sends the output to the microprocessor 23. The microprocessor 23 takes in 32 × 32 digital electric signals sent from the analog / digital conversion circuit 24 and determines the use situation of the seat. For this reason, since the microprocessor only needs to process 32 × 32 digital electric signals, a small and inexpensive microprocessor can be used, and an inexpensive seat use state determination device can be realized.
[0034]
Embodiment 5 FIG.
In the fourth embodiment, the image sensor 22, the microprocessor 23, and the analog / digital conversion circuit 24 are individually assembled to configure the seat usage state determination device. However, in the present embodiment, the image sensor 22, the microprocessor 23, the analog / Digital conversion circuit 24 is integrated on one chip. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a seat usage status determining apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In the figure, 22 is an image sensor (image input unit), 23 is a microprocessor (distance measuring unit, control signal output unit), 24 is an analog / digital conversion circuit, 26 is an image sensor 22, microprocessor 23, analog / digital conversion. This is a semiconductor substrate in which the circuit 24 is integrated on one chip.
[0035]
Next, the operation will be described. The image sensor 22 captures an image, converts it into an analog electrical signal, and sends the output to the analog / digital conversion circuit 24. The analog / digital conversion circuit 24 converts the analog electric signal sent from the image sensor 22 into a digital electric signal, and sends the output to the microprocessor 23. The microprocessor 23 takes in the digital electric signal sent from the analog / digital conversion circuit 24 and determines the seat usage status.
[0036]
Embodiment 6 FIG.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a seat usage status determining apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. If you smoke in the car, the cigarette dust adheres to the optical system and the image input sensitivity decreases, which may lead to an erroneous determination of the seat usage status. The present embodiment solves such a problem.
In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes an image sensor, 27 denotes a light wavelength selection filter that transmits only light having a wavelength of light that passes through the tobacco dust, and 28 denotes an imaging lens.
[0037]
Next, the operation will be described. Since the optical wavelength selection filter that transmits only the light having the wavelength of the light transmitted through the cigarette dust is attached in front of the image pickup lens 28, the change in the light transmittance due to the cigarette light of the image pickup lens 28 is eliminated, and the image sensor The input image is not affected by the tobacco dust, and the seat usage status can be accurately determined.
[0038]
Embodiment 7 FIG.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing detection of an operation failure of the image sensor of the seat usage status determination apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. This malfunction detection of the image sensor is performed by the microprocessor 23 constituting the malfunction determination unit. In the figure, step S100 is power-on of the occupant detection device, step S110 is a defect inspection start process for the image sensor, step S120 is a process for determining whether or not a signal of each pixel is being output, and step S130 is unnecessary. The warning signal output process as step S140 is a seat use state determination start process as a normal operation.
[0039]
Next, the operation of each block will be described. First, when the power is turned on in step S100, the defect determination of the image sensor in step S110 is started, and in step S120, it is determined whether or not the output signal of each pixel of the image sensor is output with a normal value. If not output, a warning is given as an operation failure in step S130. On the other hand, if it is output as a normal value in the determination process in step S120, it is determined that the operation is normal, and the use state of the seat is determined in step S140 to start occupant detection.
[0040]
Embodiment 8 FIG.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing detection of an operation failure of the image sensor of the seat usage status determination apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. In the figure, 17 is an LED, 22 is an image sensor, and 23 is a microprocessor. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing detection of an operation failure of the image sensor of the seat usage status determination apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. The detection of malfunction of the image sensor is performed by the microprocessor 23. In the figure, step S110 is a defect inspection start process of the image sensor, step S150 is an image signal acquisition process when the LED is irradiated, step S160 is an image signal acquisition process when the LED is not irradiated, and step S170 is an LED. Is a comparison process of the image signal when the irradiation is performed and the image signal when the irradiation is not performed. Step S180 is a warning signal output process as a malfunction when it is determined that the result of comparison in step S170 is not normal, and step S190 is compared in step S170. As a result, the seat usage status determination start process is shown as normal operation when it is determined to be normal.
[0041]
Next, the operation of the block will be described. The microprocessor 23 compares the image acquired by the image sensor 22 when the LED 17 is irradiated with the image acquired by the image sensor 22 when the LED 17 is not irradiated. By comparing the comparison of the two images with the microprocessor 23 to determine whether the image sensor 22 is normal or not, a defect inspection of the image sensor is possible. In other words, a clear and strong image can be obtained by the image sensor 22 if there is irradiation by the LED 17. When there is no irradiation by the LED 17, a blurred and weak image is obtained by the image sensor 22. If the image sensor 22 is normal, the microprocessor 23 can determine acquisition of an image according to each condition (whether or not the LED 17 is irradiated).
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an image input unit that captures a range including at least a part of a seat and obtains image information, a model storage unit that stores a plurality of model images corresponding to the use state of the seat, and the image The image information obtained by input is compared with each model image stored in the model storage unit, and the determination threshold value is changed based on the pixel value of the input image to determine the use status of the seat. And a control signal output unit for controlling the operation of the protection means against the protection means for protecting the occupant from a collision with the vehicle internal structure under a predetermined condition based on the determination of the situation determination section. Since the determination result is not affected by the illumination state of the passenger seat by changing the determination threshold based on the pixel value of the input image, there is an effect that erroneous determination can be prevented.
[0043]
And a data conversion unit that converts the input image captured by the image input unit into vector data, and the model storage unit is a vector obtained by converting a plurality of model images corresponding to the use situation of the seat by the data conversion unit. The data is stored, and the situation determination unit compares the vector data corresponding to the input image converted by the data conversion unit with the vector data of each template image stored in the template storage unit, and By determining the use situation of the seat by changing the determination threshold based on the pixel value of the input image, the determination result is not affected by the lighting state of the passenger seat, so that an erroneous determination can be prevented There is.
[0044]
The image input unit includes an image input unit that captures a range including at least a part of the seat and obtains image information, and a plurality of distance measurement lights that illuminate the seat position and the periphery of the seat position. A distance measuring unit that calculates a distance to an imaging target based on a spot position of the included illumination for distance measurement, a situation determining unit that determines a use situation of the seat from the distance calculated by the distance measuring unit, and the situation A control signal output unit for controlling the operation of the protection means is provided for the protection means for protecting the occupant from a collision with the vehicle internal structure under a predetermined condition based on the determination by the determination unit. An occupant can always be detected even if the vehicle is present in the vehicle, so that the occupant detection accuracy is improved.
[0045]
In addition, the distance measurement illumination also serves as an image input illumination that performs illumination for the time required to capture an image, so that there is an effect that it is possible to realize a small and inexpensive seat usage determination device.
[0046]
In addition, since the seat usage status determination device includes the image input unit configured in a matrix with N × N pixels, it is possible to realize a small and inexpensive seat usage status determination device. is there.
[0047]
In addition, since the image input unit, the distance measurement unit, and the control signal output unit are integrated on one semiconductor chip, there is an effect that a small and inexpensive seat use state determination device can be realized.
[0048]
In addition, since the image input unit includes the optical wavelength selection filter that transmits only light of a specific wavelength, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a highly durable seat use state determination device.
[0049]
In addition, since the operation failure determination unit that determines the operation failure of the image input unit when the power is turned on is provided, there is an effect that the reliability of the seat use state determination device can be improved.
[0050]
In addition, since the malfunction determination unit has a function of comparing the input image when the distance measurement illumination is irradiated and the input image when the distance measurement illumination is not irradiated, the reliability of the seat usage status determination device can be improved. There is an effect that can be done.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a model image and a passenger seat state when no occupant is stored in the model storage unit according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a model image and a passenger seat state in the case where there is an occupant stored in the model storage unit of the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a model image and a state of a passenger seat in the case of CRS forward stored in the model storage unit of the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a model image and a state of a passenger seat in the case of CRS backwards stored in the model storage unit according to the first embodiment.
6 is a diagram showing a model image and a state of a passenger seat in the case of a standing child stored in the model storage unit of Embodiment 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a matching process between an input image and a template image in the data conversion unit and the situation determination unit according to the first embodiment.
8 is a diagram showing an example of a table for determining whether or not an airbag can be deployed stored in the deployment signal output unit of the first embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a position where a light spot of a distance measurement illumination of a distance measurement unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention hits.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a diagram showing an example of changes in LED spot light in Embodiment 3. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image input part, 2 Data conversion part, 3 Pixel average value calculation part, 4 Situation determination part, 5 Model storage part, 6 Control signal output part, 13 Distance measurement part, 14 Instrument panel proximity position ranging illumination, 15 Passenger seat Surface position measurement illumination, 16 Intermediate position measurement illumination, 17 LED, 18 Case, 19 LED lens, 20 LED light, 21 Piezo element, 22 Image sensor, 23 Microprocessor, 24 Analog / digital converter, 25 pixels , 26 Semiconductor substrate, 27 Optical wavelength selection filter, 28 Imaging lens.

Claims (7)

An image input unit that captures a range including at least a part of the seat and obtains image information, and a plurality of distance measurement lights that illuminate the seat position and the periphery of the seat position are included in the image of the image input unit A distance measuring unit that calculates a distance to a subject to be photographed based on the spot position of the distance measuring illumination, a situation determining unit that determines a use situation of the seat from the distance calculated by the distance measuring unit, and the situation determining unit And a control signal output unit for controlling the operation of the protection means for the protection means for protecting the occupant from a collision with the vehicle internal structure under a predetermined condition based on the determination of Judgment device. 2. The seat use state determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance measurement illumination also serves as an image input illumination that performs illumination for a time during which an image is captured. The seat usage status determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat usage status determination device includes the image input unit configured in a matrix with N × N pixels. 4. The seat usage status determining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input unit, the distance measuring unit, and the control signal output unit are integrated on a single semiconductor chip. 5. The seat usage status determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input unit includes an optical wavelength selection filter that transmits only light of a specific wavelength. 6. The seat usage status determination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation failure determination unit that determines an operation failure of the image input unit when the power is turned on. The seat use state determination device according to claim 6, wherein the malfunction determination unit has a function of comparing an input image when the distance measurement illumination is irradiated with an input image when the distance measurement illumination is not irradiated. .

Images