WO2020075035A1

WO2020075035A1 - Sound equipment to monitor and detect the presence of a subject inside a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2020075035A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/058512
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Guida
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-10-09
Filing date: 2019-10-07
Publication date: 2020-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-09
Also published as: IT201800009289A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method to detect the presence of a subject, preferably a child, in the passenger compartment (2) of a vehicle (1), the method comprising the following phases: Installation of at least a first microphone (6) inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said microphone being suitable for detecting a sound; Installation of at least a second microphone (5) outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said second microphone being suitable for detecting a sound; And wherein there is provided an operation of analysis of said sound coming from said first and second microphone so as to identify the potential presence of an inner sound (B) generated exclusively inside the passenger compartment, Generation of a signal of alarm when said potential inner sound (B), generated inside the passenger compartment, exceeds a predetermined threshold and, at the same time, occurring one or more predetermined operative conditions of the vehicle.

Description

SOUND EQUIPMENT TO MONI TOR AND DE TECT THE PRESENCE OF A SUBJECT INSIDE A MOTOR VEHICLE

Technical field

The present invention relates to the technical field of accessories for motor vehicles.

In particular, the invention relates to an innovative equipment enabling not to forget accidentally a subject, for example a child or a pet, inside one's own car, even in the event of an unauthorized access of the latter .

Brief outline of prior art

Nowadays, unfortunately, it is common to hear of news concerning the death of children who were accidentally forgotten inside a car.

Unfortunately, as unlikely as it may seem, it can accidentally happen more frequently than one might think. In fact, hectic life and worries for work-related reasons can distract the person who transports the child on the car for example to the point of going to work forgetting the child in the car.

Obviously, the thing endangers the child's life especially in summertime when as the hours go by the car under the sun becomes a real oven with inner temperatures that can easily exceed 50 °C.

Some solutions to the problem concern the use of a weight sensor arranged on the child seat on which the child is arranged in the car.

For example, the Italian patent number 0001408654 is known, which describes a system for detecting the presence of a child through the use of a weight sensor that detects the presence of the child arranged in his child seat inside the car and a sensor that detects the condition of engine on or off.

However, this solution is specifically directed to children which are arranged voluntarily on the child seat by the parent .

Unfortunately, it may happen that infants (or children) a little bit older, such as four or five years old, get in the car voluntarily and for fun (even when it is parked near the house within a private garden) and then they remain long locked and in danger of their life.

Moreover, it happened that children remained locked within a school bus because they fell asleep during the journey or doing it as a joke which became a tragedy.

In addition, even the accidental or voluntary introduction of a pet which may not be obviously arranged onto a seat equipped with sensor can be risky and current solution does not contribute to solve this problem.

Therefore, it has not been resolved yet and it is felt the need for resolving said problem directed to subjects that voluntarily or involuntarily get in the car compartment and they are not necessarily arranged on child seats .

For example, the problem may occur even to old, disabled persons, in particular adult persons with mental diseases (such as old persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease) which could get voluntarily in the car thus remaining locked dangerously inside.

In all these events, obviously, the solution with a sensor on the child seat is not functional.

It is also known the publication US2018/0108369 corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.

In this case, the described system is complex since it is based on microphones controlled by a neural net which is instructed to recognize the effective type of sound and where this sound comes.

This means a technologically complex and expensive solution .

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide an assembly, which is capable of resolving at least in part said technical disadvantages.

In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide an assembly and relative method of operation thereof capable of detecting the presence of a subject, preferably a child, inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle in effective manner and with a constructively simple solution, without needing the presence of weight sensors arranged on a child seat.

These and other aims are therefore achieved with the present assembly to detect the presence of a subject, preferably a child, inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, for example a car, according to claim 1.

This assembly comprises:

At least a first element for acquiring the sound (6) which can be installed in use inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said element for acquiring the sound being suitable for detecting a sound;

At least a second element for acquiring the sound (5) which can be installed in use outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said second element for acquiring the sound being suitable for detecting a sound;

A processing unit (10) configured for receiving the sound (A, A' , B) intercepted by said first and second element (5, 6) and programmed for processing an analysis of said sound so as to identify a potential sound (B) whose source is inside the passenger compartment (2);

Said processing unit (10) sending a command signal for generating an alarm when said potential inner sound (B) exceeds a predetermined threshold and, at the same time, occurring one or more predetermined operative conditions of the vehicle in which said assembly is operating in use.

In this manner, all the aforementioned technical inconveniences are readily resolved.

In particular, when a potential sound generated inside the vehicle is detected, the system is capable of analysing the loudness thereof and compare this data with one or more operative condition of the vehicle.

In the event of operative conditions of the vehicle defined as risky and contextual detection of an inner sound, this indicates the probable presence of a subject inside the vehicle and therefore the alarms are activated.

Therefore, this system operates through the detection and analysis of the sound and it is not bound to traditional weight sensors. In this manner, it is very functional .

Advantageously, said first and second elements for acquiring the sound (5, 6) are in the form of microphones.

Advantageously, at least two outer microphones and two inner microphones can be provided.

Advantageously, said processing unit is a powertrain control unit.

Advantageously, a stand-by system can be further provided .

It is also described here a motorcar comprising an assembly as previously claimed.

It is also described here a method to detect the presence of a subject, preferably a child, in the passenger compartment (2) of a vehicle (1), the method comprising the following phases:

Installation of at least a first element for acquiring the sound (6) inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said first element being suitable for detecting a sound;

Installation of at least a second element for acquiring the sound (5) outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said second element being suitable for detecting a sound;

And wherein there is provided an operation of analysis of said sound coming from said first and second element for acquiring the sound so as to identify the potential presence of an inner sound (B) generated exclusively inside the passenger compartment;

Generation of a signal of alarm when said potential inner sound (B) , generated inside the passenger compartment, exceeds a predetermined threshold and, at the same time, occurring one or more predetermined operative conditions of the vehicle.

Advantageously, said first and second element for acquiring a sound are in the form of microphones.

Advantageously, there is provided a phase of control of the operative conditions of the vehicle and in the event that said operative conditions correspond to the conditions classified as risky conditions, then the analysis of the sound is activated.

Advantageously, there is further comprised an analysis for checking a potential random activation of pre-existing sensors of the vehicle.

Advantageously, said analysis for checking a potential random activation of pre-existing sensors of the vehicle concerns the sensor present on the seat which activates the alarm indicating the missed fastening of the safety belts.

Advantageously, the said subject can be a child or an infant in general.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of interest for the present invention is that of an assembly to detect the presence of a subject inside the passenger compartment (2) of a vehicle (1) which comprises:

At least a first element for acquiring the sound (6) which is installed in use inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said element for acquiring the sound being suitable for detecting a sound;

At least a second element for acquiring the sound (5) which is installed in use outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said second element for acquiring the sound being suitable for detecting a sound;

According to this preferred embodiment, there is comprised a processing unit (10) configured for receiving the sound (A, A' , B) intercepted by said first and second element (5, 6) and programmed for processing an analysis of said sounds;

This analysis provides a comparison, such as a difference, between the sound detected by the second element for acquiring the sound (5) and the sound detected by said first element for acquiring the sound (6) so as to identify a potential sound (B) whose source is inside the passenger compartment (2) .

In this way, it is deleted the outer noise, defined as noise.

Said processing unit (10) sending a command signal for generating an alarm when said potential detected inner sound (B) exceeds a predetermined threshold and, at the same time, occurring one or more predetermined operative conditions of the vehicle in which said assembly is operating in use. This solution is particularly advantageous with respect to prior art US2018/0108369 since it is constructively simpler.

The microphone arranged outside can be for example of directional type and/or arranged away from the passenger compartment so as to detect only the outer noise while the inner microphone detects the outer noise (unless there is an element of reduction of walls) and a potential noise whose inner source is inside the passenger compartment. The outer sound is transformed to a complementary sound wave which, being subtracted from the sound detected from the inner microphone, only the sound originated inside remains, therefore cleaned from any noise .

This technology, by using a simple comparison between sounds detected by two microphones arranged in different areas, is capable of obtaining a predetermined required sound cleaned from the other sound considered to be noises, such as the sound inside the passenger compartment which is originated only by an element arranged inside the passenger compartment.

Differently from cited prior art, no complex neurological nets are necessary.

Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present assembly and relative method according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given only by way of non limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein :

Figure 1 schematizes a car and the presence of microphones which are arranged inside and outside the passenger compartment; Figure 2 always schematizes a passenger compartment with inner and outer microphones and depicts the sound A coming from outside the passenger compartment and detected by the outer microphone and the sounds A' and B inside the passenger compartment and detected by the inner microphone;

Figure 3 schematizes the loudness of sounds in a chart ;

Figure depicts a flow chart of operation of the invention .

Description of some preferred embodiments

Therefore, figure 1 schematizes a vehicle, for example a car.

The car, as per prior art, is equipped with a passenger compartment 2 where controls and seats of driver and passengers are arranged.

Obviously, the car per se is not the subject of the patent application and therefore any types of car can be provided without exceeding the scope of the invention.

According to the invention, as per schemati zation of figure 1, systems for acquiring the sound are provided, for example microphones (5, 6) .

For example, one or more microphones 6 can be arranged, therefore installed, within the passenger compartment .

The person skilled in the art can freely select convenient points for installing the microphones so that they can acquire a sound.

In the same way, a predetermined number or microphones 5 are installed outside the passenger compartment .

The purpose of using microphones 6 within the passenger compartment and microphones 5 outside the passenger compartment is to determine univocally and quite precisely a sound whose source comes exclusively from the interior of the passenger compartment.

In this way, as described thereinafter, it is possible to check if a subject (person or animal) is present accidentally in the passenger compartment and this subject emits sound while trying to get out.

Microphones are necessary both inside and outside the passenger compartment since it is necessary to isolate the only sound which is generated inside, that is with source within the passenger compartment, thus eliminating the sound coming from outside which can be identified as noise .

To do that, a technique of using microphones inside and outside the passenger compartment can be used as described thereinafter.

In fact, if microphones were used only within the passenger compartment, they would almost certainly intercept a sound in which it is present the noise from the outside of the passenger compartment, such as noise of the road of other cars, sirens, etc.

Through microphones inside the passenger compartment and outside the passenger compartment it is possible to compare sounds detected by inner and outer microphones and it is possible to extrapolate a sound originating from the inside of the passenger compartment, therefore cleaned from outer noises.

Substantially, this comparison can provide algebraically a difference between the outer sound (sound detected by the outer microphone) and the inner sound (sound detected by the inner microphone) in order to detect the potential sound with inner origin only.

These systems to cancel noise, known per se, are capable of cancelling the effects of a sound wave by opposing a second identical opposed wave, the so-called complementary wave. Noise cancelling headphones are based on this principle and they are equipped with an electronic system capable of analyzing sound waves coming from the outside .

As mentioned, this technology is well known per se and used for example in the field of radio communication in aeronautics. The helmet of pilots of helicopters is equipped with a microphone arranged in front of the mouth to receive the voice emitted by the pilot and a microphone arranged behind the head or in any case distant from the mouth. In order to prevent the microphone arranged in front of the mouth from detecting the background noise of the helicopter in motion, which completely suffocates the sound of the voice, the sound of the voice is cleaned from the background noise through the comparison that provides precisely an algebraic difference of the sounds detected by the two distinct microphones. The microphone near the mouth detects background noise and voice while the microphone arranged behind the head substantially detects only the background noise. The algebraic difference makes the microphone near the mouth transmit only the voice, having been cleaned from the background noise formulating a difference between the sounds detected by the two distinct microphones.

In a simplistic hypothesis, assuming that there is nobody inside the passenger compartment, the sound detected by the inner microphones is substantially the sound coming from the outside but reduced by the walls of the passenger compartment that have certain factor of reduction of the sound depending on the structure of the vehicle .

Obviously, each wall will have its value of reduction . Therefore, as schematized in figure 2, the sound detected inside by microphones 6 has a certain loudness A' , corresponding to the sound A which is reduced by a certain factor.

Nevertheless, the sound detected by outer microphones 5 has a loudness greater and equal to A.

Known the factor of reduction due to the walls of the passenger compartment and other potential factors which can affect the reduction itself, such as loudness of sounds, frequency of sounds, it is inferable that the outer sound A is equal to the inner sound A' minus the factor of reduction.

This principle for analyzing sounds, well known per se over the prior art in other fields, enables to understand if an additional source of sound adds to the outer sound and to the inner sound reduced by the walls, for example emitted by any subjects present inside the passenger compartment.

Therefore, through this technique of comparison, it is possible to determine the sound detected by microphones inside the passenger compartment and cleaned by the outer sound or "noise".

Figure 2 always depicts the sound A' which comes from the outside and the sound B which is emitted by a source inside the passenger compartment, such as a child who got into the passenger compartment and got trapped.

In a simplistic hypothesis, the microphone 6 detects A' and B while the outer microphone 5 detects A.

Known A and A' , the single sound B can be isolated, as schematized in the chart of figure 3.

As mentioned, this technique for analyzing sounds is well known per se for other purposes and alone is no specific subject of the invention.

There has been described a simplified hypothesis considering that the sound B originated inside the passenger compartment does not pass through the wall outwards. As mentioned, being prior art per se, method and electronic systems capable of cleaning sound from predetermined noises will not described further and the person skilled in the art may use the system believed more suitable and available on the market.

However, it is used in the assembly and the method subject of the invention.

The system is capable of detecting, comparing and managing electric signals coming from microphones and those ones resulting from the comparison by means of electronic circuits or even processors and/or other programmable devices which work by means of suitable software .

Therefore, it is possible to use different techniques for analyzing sounds to extrapolate a source of sound inside the passenger compartment, thus isolating it from other noises.

According to the invention, in the hypothesis to insulate the potential inner source of sound, if said sound "inside" the passenger compartment exceeds a certain predetermined threshold, this implies that there is a subject inside the passenger compartment, for example a child, an adult or a pet in danger.

At this point, a cross check between said threshold and functional parameters of the vehicle occur to activate the alarm.

The system subject of the invention is equipped with a suitably programmed processing control unit.

This control unit could be for example the same suitably programmed powertrain control unit of the car or it could be a suitably programmed control unit which can be sold together with the set of microphones, the whole ready for the installation in the car.

The control unit is connected to microphones and acquires sounds coming from the outer and inner microphones .

The control unit analyzes these sounds by using the outer sound to "clean" the sound detected by the inner microphone and understand if a further sound B coming from the subject inside the vehicle is added.

The ways in which an alarm can be generated, when the detected inner sound exceeds a certain threshold, can be different and variable.

First of all, the operating conditions of the vehicle must be set and compared with the result of the analysis of sound.

Detecting an inner sound B whose source is inside the passenger compartment, with the engine off and/or closed doors and windows, may indicate the fact that a subject is present inside the vehicle because it has accidentally got in or has been forgotten inside the vehicle and is in a condition of danger.

In the same way, an inner sound with engine off, handbrake on and without keys in the dashboard can be another indication of condition of danger.

An inner sound detected with the engine on is clearly an indication that, most likely, nobody got in accidentally or was forgotten inside the passenger compartment .

Therefore, some functional parameters of the vehicle are crossed with the results of the analysis of sound and the alarm is activated only when the inner sound exceeds a certain threshold and a predetermined operating condition of the vehicle occurs.

Substantially, if the following conditions occur:

Detected inner sound B = True; Inner sound exceeding a certain threshold = True;

Functional parameters of the vehicle = Checked

Then the alarm is activated.

The levels of alarm can be different and modifiable at will, without exceeding the scope of the present inventive concept.

Therefore, the block diagram of figure 4 summarizes the operation.

The suitably programmed control unit 10 receives the sounds detected by the outer and inner microphones and processes this information, according to a software for analyzing sound, in order to extrapolate the only sound coming from a source arranged inside the passenger compartment .

Then a comparison of the possible loudness value of this sound with a predetermined minimum threshold occurs.

If the sound is below a predetermined minimum threshold, the system will not carry on and will not generate an alarm.

If the sound exceeds a certain predetermined threshold, then the control unit 10 will check some functional parameters relating to the vehicle.

The choice of functional control parameters can be changed by different manufacturers according to needs.

For example, it is possible to check the condition of the doors (closed or open) and the condition of the engine (on/off) .

A condition of engine off, closed doors and inner noise over a certain threshold activate a condition of alarm.

A condition of sound over a certain threshold but, for example, open doors or engine on can be interpreted by the system as a non-alarm condition.

Obviously, as mentioned, the functional parameters of the vehicle can be selected freely.

Even the levels of alarm can be selected and programmed freely and can include sound alarms and/or subsequent sending of SMS or alert calls to preset numbers. Last but not least, the e-Call system or other emergency system can be activated automatically.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the control unit can first of all check the operating conditions of the vehicle (therefore, as mentioned above, it checks whether the engine is on or off and/or the insertion of key or other freely selectable conditions in the step of project). If these operating conditions correspond to those selected as operating conditions of potential risk (for example engine off and closed doors), then the system for acquiring sound and its relative analysis are activated, thus activating the alarm sequences in the event that an inner sound over a certain threshold is detected.

The system for acquiring sounds can be activated for example after a certain time preset by the positive detection of the condition of activation.

This configuration enables energy savings since acquisition and analysis of sound occurs only under certain conditions of potential risk.

However, alternatively, it could be possible a continuous and contextual activation both of the sound acquisition and of the verification of the operating conditions of the vehicle or first a check of the sounds and then a subsequent check of the operating conditions, as indicated in the diagram of figure 4.

For relatively long periods of standby, the central unit can also be deactivated. In this case an integrative circuit comparison and threshold may remain on, when it detects a difference between the inner and outer signals over a predetermined threshold, but also simply when the inner microphone detects a noise, even in this case higher than one preset threshold, it can send a signal of activation to the central unit which from that moment will be activated to perform its functions. The analysis of inner and outer sounds can also be addressed to certain frequencies and decibel values through the use of special filter systems.

The present invention, although preferably addressed to the protection of children, can obviously be equally used for any subject, person or animal, for example disabled persons, but also possible animals.

In the present description, the term passenger compartment of a vehicle does not mean only the driving area and the area where the passengers sit but also includes the possible luggage compartment even if it is physically separated from the seating area of the passengers and of the driver.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, microphones are used for acquiring the sound.

However, in the present invention it is possible also the use in general of elements for acquiring sounds.

For example, it is possible to use solutions where the sound, instead of being detected through a microphone, is detected through sound-sensitive transducers or other detectors of loudness that work through the analysis of shock waves generated by the sound that advances.

Finally, it is known the fact that other sensors are present in the car, such as those present in sensors for activating the signal relative to seat belts (generally weight sensors) .

Therefore, the present system can be combined with these sensors so that the system of central analysis can possibly detect a random activation of these sensors. This condition is indicative of the presence of a subject trapped in a car and moving randomly. Cross-checking this data with the operating conditions of the vehicle verifies whether there is a presence in the passenger compartment of a subject in general.

This further solution can be combined with the previously described solution or work independently.

Claims

An assembly for detecting the presence of a subj ect in the passenger compartment (2) of a vehicle (1), the assembly comprising:

At least a first element for acquiring the sound ( 6) which is installed in use inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said element for acquiring the sound being suitable for detecting a sound;

Characterized by the fact that there is comprised a processing unit (10) configured for receiving the sound (A, A' , B) intercepted by said first and second element (5, 6) and programmed for processing an analysis of said sounds, said analysis providing a comparison between the sound detected by the second element for acquiring the sound (5) and the sound detected by said first element for acquiring the sound (6) so as to identify a potential sound (B) whose source is inside the passenger compart ent (2 } ;

Said processing unit (10) sending a command signal for generating an alarm when said potential detected inner sound (B) exceeds a predetermined threshold and, at the same time, occurring one or more predetermined operative conditions of the vehicle in which said assembly is operating in use.

2. An assembly, according to claim 1, wherein said first and second elements for acquiring the sound (5, 6) are in the form of microphones .

3. An assembly, according to claim 2, wherein at least two outer microphones and two inner microphones are provided .

4. An assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said element for acquiring the sound is installed at a distance with respect to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

5. An assembly, according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is a powertrain control unit.

6. An assembly, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a stand-by system is further comprised,

7. A motorcar comprising an assembly as previously claimed .

8. A method for detecting the presence of a subject, in the passenger compartment (2) of a vehicle (1), the method comprising the following phases:

And wherein there is provided an operation of analysis of said sounds acquired from said first and second element for acquiring the sound so as to identify the potential presence of an inner sound (B) generated exclusively inside the passenger compartment, said analysis comprising a comparison between the sound detected by the second element for acquiring the sound (5) and the sound detected by said first element for acquiring the sound (6) so as to identify the only inner sound (B) generated exclusively inside the passenger compartment;

Generation of a signal of alarm when said potential inner sound (B) , generated inside the passenger compartment, exceeds a predetermined threshold and, at the same time, occurring one or more predetermined operative conditions of the vehicle .

9. A method, according to claim 8, wherein said comparison provides a difference between the sound detected by the first element for acquiring the sound and the sound detected by the second element for acquiring the sound.

10. A method, according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said first and second elements for acquiring the sound are in the form of microphones.

11, A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims from 8 to 10 wherein there is, first, comprised a phase of check of the operative conditions of the vehicle and, in the event that said operative conditions correspond to the conditions classified as risky conditions, then the analysis of the sound is activated.

12. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims from 8 to 11, wherein there is further comprised an analysis for checking a potential random activation of pre-existing sensors of the vehicle.

13. A method, according to claim 12, wherein said analysis for checking a potential random activation of pre-existing sensors of the vehicle concerns the sensor present on the seat which activates the alarm indicating the missed fastening of the safety belts.

14. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the said subject is a child.