DE102018204103B4 - Method and device for operating an assistance system in a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for operating an assistance system (3) in a motor vehicle (1), comprising the following steps:- detecting (S1) at least one odor profile using a respective odor sensor (4, 5), wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorous substances;- carrying out (S8) one or more assistance functions depending on the detected at least one odor profile. wherein at least two odor sensors (4, 5) are assigned to different vehicle seats (6) of the motor vehicle (1), so that an odor profile of a user sitting on the respectively assigned vehicle seat (6) can be recognized, wherein at least one of the odor sensors (4) is arranged in a backrest, a headrest, or a seat surface, wherein seat occupancy is recognized by comparing the odor profile assigned to the respective vehicle seat (6) with a predetermined reference odor profile of ambient air, wherein the one or more assistance functions are carried out depending on the recognized seat occupancy, wherein the reference odor profile is detected by a reference odor sensor (7).

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to motor vehicles, in particular with assistance systems for supporting a driver and/or other vehicle occupants during a journey.

Technical background

Assistance systems in motor vehicles respond to the state of the driver or other vehicle occupants in a variety of ways and control vehicle functions accordingly. For example, a drowsiness assistant can detect driver fatigue by evaluating steering movements and/or monitoring the eye area and issue warnings or adjust vehicle functions accordingly.

Vehicle seats often also contain sensors that detect seat occupancy or the contour, height, and other factors of a person sitting there, and control corresponding functions of the vehicle seat and/or the vehicle. Sensors can also detect the temperature of the vehicle seat or other vital parameters of vehicle occupants, such as ECG sensors for monitoring heart rate, and operate vehicle functions accordingly.

The sensors used to date for detecting vital parameters only cover part of the possibilities, and it is therefore the object of the present invention to detect a more comprehensive detection of the state of health of a driver and/or other vehicle occupants in a motor vehicle and to take this into account for the execution of assistance functions while in the vehicle.

The printed matter DE 10 2015 210 055 A1 discloses a method for controlling the interior ventilation system of a motor vehicle, in which the spatial position of the motor vehicle is determined and, depending on the spatial position, a driver-independent closing of at least one element controlling the supply of fresh air into the passenger compartment takes place.

The printed matter DE 69221263 T2 discloses a system for air conditioning a vehicle having a passenger compartment in which at least one seat is provided, which has a seating area for a person sitting thereon, the air conditioning system comprising: a first duct having a first opening open to the passenger compartment near the seating area of the seat; a second duct having a second opening open to the passenger compartment at a position higher than the position at which the first opening is provided; means for creating forced air flows between the first opening and the second opening for air conditioning an area exclusively around the seat in such a way that the air flow is discharged from one of the first and second openings and received by the other opening; and heat exchange means for achieving heat exchange of the air flows after flowing through said area with an air conditioning medium for regulating the temperature of the air subjected to air conditioning at said area. The climate control system is designed independently for a variety of seats and may include sensors for detecting bad odors or smoke and agents that react to the odor detected by the sensors.

The printed matter DE 19841814 A1 discloses a filter device for removing pollutant and/or odor components from a flowing gas mixture using an adsorption filter. A device is provided that provides data for controlling the operation of the filter device, dependent on the current loading state of the adsorption filter, and includes a sensor device with at least one sensor array detector, at least one measuring point associated with the sensor array detector, which is formed on the adsorption filter, and an electronic evaluation device that processes the sensor signals.

The printed matter US2013/0054090 A1 discloses an emotion-based vehicle system for safe driving, comprising: a multi-emotion sensor node configured to detect emotion information of a user in a vehicle and state information of the vehicle; an emotion recognition processing device configured to analyze the detection information provided by the multi-emotion sensor node to generate emotion recognition information for detecting the user's emotions; and a safety driving service device configured to provide an emotion-based safety driving service depending on the emotion recognition information. In one embodiment, the driver seat sensor node includes an odor sensor.

The printed matter WO 2017/134255 A1 discloses a sensor module comprising at least a first sensor configured to measure relative humidity, the sensor module being configured for mounting in a vehicle seat.

The printed matter DE 10 2009 021 959 A1 discloses a device for driver-dependent adaptation of a vehicle's driving envelope, comprising a first means for authenticating an authorized driver and a second means for setting a driving envelope that can be specified for the authorized, authenticated driver. The first and second means are connectable to each other for data and/or information exchange. For authentication, the first means can detect a body odor of the authorized driver.

The printed matter US 2016/0191511 A1 discloses a system comprising: a memory storing a user account including a body chemistry profile of the user; a processor receiving body chemistry states from a wearable device of the user, comparing the body chemistry states measured at the wearable device with the body chemistry profile of the user, determining a similarity score based on the comparison, and authenticating the user based on the similarity score.

Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved by the method for operating an assistance system in a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and by the assistance system, the vehicle seat and the motor vehicle according to the independent claims.

Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

• - Erfassen mindestens eines Geruchsprofils mithilfe eines jeweiligen Geruchssensors, wobei das mindestens eine Geruchsprofil durch Konzentrationen von mindestens zwei Geruchsstoffen definiert ist;
• - Durchführen einer oder mehrerer Assistenzfunktionen abhängig von dem erfassten mindestens einen Geruchsprofil

wobei mindestens zwei Geruchssensoren verschiedenen Fahrzeugsitzen des Kraftfahrzeugs zugeordnet sind, so dass ein Geruchsprofil eines Benutzers, der auf dem jeweils zugeordneten Fahrzeugsitz sitzt, erkennbar ist, wobei mindestens einer der Geruchssensoren in einer Rückenlehne, einer Kopfstütze oder einer Sitzfläche angeordnet ist, wobei eine Sitzbelegung durch Vergleich des dem betreffenden Fahrzeugsitz zugeordneten Geruchsprofils mit einem vorgegebenen Referenzgeruchsprofil einer Umgebungsluft erkannt wird, wobei die eine oder die mehreren Assistenzfunktionen abhängig von der erkannten Sitzbelegung durchgeführt werden, wobei das Referenzgeruchsprofil durch einen Referenzgeruchssensor erfasst wird, wobei insbesondere ein zeitlicher Verlauf des Referenzgeruchsprofils erfasst wird.According to a first aspect, a method for operating an assistance system in a motor vehicle is provided, comprising the following steps:

• - detecting at least one odor profile using a respective odor sensor, wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorous substances;
• - Carrying out one or more assistance functions depending on the recorded at least one odor profile

wherein at least two odor sensors are assigned to different vehicle seats of the motor vehicle, so that an odor profile of a user sitting on the respectively assigned vehicle seat can be recognized, wherein at least one of the odor sensors is arranged in a backrest, a headrest or a seat surface, wherein seat occupancy is recognized by comparing the odor profile assigned to the respective vehicle seat with a predetermined reference odor profile of ambient air, wherein the one or more assistance functions are carried out depending on the recognized seat occupancy, wherein the reference odor profile is detected by a reference odor sensor, wherein in particular a temporal profile of the reference odor profile is detected.

One idea of the above method is to evaluate the body odor, i.e., odorous substances emitted via the skin or breath of a vehicle occupant, in particular a driver of the motor vehicle, and to draw conclusions about the physiological state or a change in the state of the user based on the odor profile or a change in the odor profile. These changes can be, for example, emerging fatigue or a change in stress level due to a previous stressful situation. The odor profile or the change in the odor profile can be used to draw conclusions about a vehicle occupant's state of well-being or a change in their state of well-being, in particular a change in their stress level, in a previously determined manner. The odor composition, i.e., the composition of the odorous substances in the odor profile, can also be used to identify a specific user, in order to implement individual presetting or individual execution of vehicle functions tailored to the user.

In the broader sense, odor sensors are defined as sensors capable of detecting one or more chemical substances released by the human body into the ambient air. These chemical substances may include conscious, unconscious, or imperceptible odorants.

The evaluation of the odors emitted by the occupants of a motor vehicle, such as odorous substances emitted through the skin, compared to the odorous substances emitted through the breath, can be used to specify or determine the well-being of a vehicle occupant using additional measures beyond the existing methods. It can be provided that the at least one odor profile is assigned to a specific user using a predefined user reference odor profile, wherein the one or more assistance functions can be individually performed or adapted depending on the specific user. In particular, information about the user reference odor profile is stored in the assistance system and/or received from outside the vehicle.

Furthermore, the odor profile can be recorded over time, whereby depending on the recorded temporal course of the odor profile a change in the odor profile is detected and this is assigned to a change in the user's well-being, whereby one or more assistance functions are carried out depending on the change in well-being.

Furthermore, it can be provided that after the one or more assistance functions have been carried out, depending on the at least one odor profile detected, the execution of the one or more assistance functions is terminated or the execution of the one or more assistance functions is adjusted. In this way, the success of a measure can be checked in order to continue to apply the assistance function in question if this has changed the well-being of the vehicle occupant. For example, when a massage function is activated as an assistance function, the massage function can continue to be applied in the event of a corresponding change in the odor profile if a change/improvement in the well-being is detected as a result of the change in the odor profile of the vehicle occupant in question, or accordingly, the massage function can no longer be applied in the event of a corresponding change in the odor profile if, as a result, no change in the odor profile or no change/improvement in the well-being is detected.

• - um mindestens ein Geruchsprofil mithilfe eines jeweiligen Geruchssensors zu erfassen, wobei das mindestens eine Geruchsprofil durch Konzentrationen von mindestens zwei Geruchsstoffen definiert ist;
• - um eine oder mehrere Assistenzfunktionen abhängig von dem erfassten mindestens einem Geruchsprofil durchzuführen,

wobei mindestens zwei Geruchssensoren verschiedenen Fahrzeugsitzen des Kraftfahrzeugs zugeordnet sind, so dass ein Geruchsprofil eines Benutzers, der auf dem jeweils zugeordneten Fahrzeugsitz sitzt, erkennbar ist, wobei mindestens einer der Geruchssensoren in einer Rückenlehne, einer Kopfstütze oder einer Sitzfläche angeordnet ist, wobei eine Sitzbelegung durch Vergleich des dem betreffenden Fahrzeugsitz zugeordneten Geruchsprofils mit einem vorgegebenen Referenzgeruchsprofil einer Umgebungsluft erkannt wird, wobei die eine oder die mehreren Assistenzfunktionen abhängig von der erkannten Sitzbelegung durchgeführt werden, wobei das Referenzgeruchsprofil durch einen Referenzgeruchssensor erfasst wird, wobei insbesondere ein zeitlicher Verlauf des Referenzgeruchsprofils erfasst wird.According to a further aspect, an assistance system is provided in a motor vehicle, wherein the assistance system is designed:

• - to detect at least one odor profile using a respective odor sensor, wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorous substances;
• - to perform one or more assistance functions depending on the at least one odor profile detected,

wherein at least two odor sensors are assigned to different vehicle seats of the motor vehicle, so that an odor profile of a user sitting on the respectively assigned vehicle seat can be recognized, wherein at least one of the odor sensors is arranged in a backrest, a headrest or a seat surface, wherein seat occupancy is recognized by comparing the odor profile assigned to the respective vehicle seat with a predetermined reference odor profile of ambient air, wherein the one or more assistance functions are carried out depending on the recognized seat occupancy, wherein the reference odor profile is detected by a reference odor sensor, wherein in particular a temporal profile of the reference odor profile is detected.

According to a further aspect, a motor vehicle is equipped with the above assistance system and with the above vehicle seat and/or with an odor sensor associated with the vehicle seat, in particular in the roof lining.

Furthermore, the above motor vehicle can be provided with a reference odor sensor for detecting an odor profile of ambient air supplied into an interior of the motor vehicle.

Short description of the drawings

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem Assistenzsystem und einem oder mehreren Geruchssensoren; und
• 2 ein Flussdiagramm zur Veranschaulichung eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben in dem Assistenzsystem.

Embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. They show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with an assistance system and one or more odor sensors; and
• 2 a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the assistance system.

Description of embodiments

1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1 with an interior 2. The motor vehicle 1 comprises an assistance system 3 for carrying out various assistance functions in order to support the driver or other vehicle occupants during a journey of the motor vehicle 1. The assistance functions can comprise all functions relevant to a journey and/or operation of the motor vehicle 1, such as driving experience settings, comfort functions, in particular massage functions, lumbar adjustment functions, climate functions, seat position settings, lighting functions, steering wheel settings, button assignments, entertainment system settings (preferred radio stations, etc.) and the like.

It can be designed to activate one, several, or all assistance functions when the driver's condition changes. For example, the driver may become fatigued or the driver's stress level may change, e.g., due to a previous stressful situation, such as a near-accident.

The condition of a vehicle occupant can be determined, for example, by evaluating the odor emitted by the vehicle occupant in question. For this purpose, a first odor sensor 4 is installed near a vehicle seat 6, e.g., in the roof lining and/or in the seat surface. and/or the backrest and/or the headrest of the vehicle seat 6. The first and second odor sensors 4, 5 are capable of detecting an odor profile of the vehicle occupant sitting on the respective vehicle seat 6 and transmitting corresponding information to the assistance system 3.

Furthermore, a reference odor sensor 7 can be provided in a ventilation system of the motor vehicle 1, which is designed to detect an odor profile of the ambient air supplied to the interior 2 of the motor vehicle 1 as a reference odor profile. The reference odor sensor 7 can also be arranged in the interior 2 of the motor vehicle in order to detect the reference odor profile of the interior air.

In particular, the odor sensors 4, 5, and 7 should be of the same type in order to obtain comparable odor profiles. In an alternative embodiment, the odor sensors 4, 5 are designed differently, with the reference odor sensor 7 being designed to cover at least the odors of the other odor sensors 4, 5.

The odor sensors 4, 5, 7 can each be designed as electronic noses, i.e., as combined sensors for detecting an odor profile from several (at least two) odorous substances in the air of the vehicle interior. The odor sensors 4, 5, 7 are also suitable for detecting the concentrations of various odorous substances and providing information about an odor profile.

The detected odor profiles can be analyzed and recorded in the assistance system 3, and by comparing them with reference odor profiles of different users, a specific user can be identified as a vehicle occupant. One or more of the assistance functions can then be individually adapted to the identified user.

Furthermore, by evaluating a temporal history of a change in an odor profile, i.e., a change in the concentration of at least one odorous substance, a change in the well-being of the relevant vehicle occupant can be detected. If a specific change in the odor profile is detected by comparison with predefined reference patterns, fatigue or the occurrence of a stress condition of the driver or another vehicle occupant can be inferred. Accordingly, depending on the odor profile or a change in the odor profile, assistance functions can generate warnings, execute interior functions for a vehicle occupant, such as activating or adjusting a massage function in a vehicle seat, emitting odorous substances from a corresponding odor source, or controlling interior lighting with regard to light color, light intensity, and/or spatial distribution, or intervene in the driving or handling characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 in some other way.

In the assistance system 3, a method is carried out as described in the flow chart of the 2 is explained in more detail.

In step S1, one or more odor profiles are first recorded by one or more of the odor sensors 4, 5, in particular assigned to a respective vehicle seat, and a reference odor profile is recorded by the reference odor sensor 7.

The odor profiles are analyzed in step S2, and by comparing them with odor profiles of the ambient air, it is checked whether the respective vehicle seat 6 assigned to the respective odor sensor 4, 5 is occupied. This can be achieved by detecting a difference between the respective odor profile and the reference odor profile. If it is determined that at least one of the corresponding vehicle seats 6 is occupied (alternative: yes), the method continues with step S3. Otherwise (alternative: no), the method returns to step S1.

In step S3, the odor profiles assigned to the various vehicle seats 6, i.e., the odor profiles detected by odor sensors 4, 5 arranged on or near the respective vehicle seat 6, can be compared with predefined user reference odor profiles stored in the assistance system 3. If this comparison reveals that a detected odor profile corresponds to, is similar to, or is assigned to a known user reference odor profile assigned to a specific user (alternative: yes), a user sitting on the corresponding vehicle seat 6 is identified. The method then continues with step S4.

If it is determined in step S3 that a detected odor profile cannot be assigned to a known user (alternative: No), the method continues directly with step S5. If necessary, a detected odor profile can be stored as a user reference odor profile for later user recognition.

In step S4, one or more assistants assigned to a user thus recognized are ency functions are executed or parameters of at least one assistance function are individually adapted to the recognized user.

In step S5, a continuous recording of one or more odor profiles is started based on the detection of the odor profiles by the odor sensors 4, 5 assigned to the vehicle seat 6 identified as occupied. This results in one or more temporal progressions of odor profiles.

In step S6, for each vehicle seat 6 identified as occupied, a check is carried out to determine whether a temporal change in the corresponding odor profile has occurred. If this is the case (alternative: yes), the method continues with step S7. Otherwise, the system returns to step S5 or, alternatively, to step S1.

In step S7, the temporal change of the relevant odor profile is analyzed and assigned to a change in the well-being of the user sitting on the relevant vehicle seat.

The state of well-being may correspond to the occurrence of fatigue or a change in the stress state of the vehicle occupant sitting on the assigned vehicle seat 6.

In step S8, depending on a detected change in well-being, one or more assistance functions assigned to the relevant vehicle seat 6 can be activated or warnings can be issued. In particular, the vehicle ventilation can be activated as an assistance function depending on the odor profile in order to reduce any odor nuisance to other vehicle occupants.

In step S9, after the assistance functions have been performed, a change in the vehicle occupant's well-being can be detected. This can be done based on a change in one of the odor profiles or by other means (detection of eye movements, body temperature, and the like).

The method can then continue with step S10 (alternative: No) if no change in well-being was achieved by performing the assistance function. Otherwise (alternative: Yes), the method continues with step S11.

In step S10, the executed assistance function is changed or changed and the system returns to step S9.

In step S11, a check is made to determine whether the further change in well-being has resulted in an acceptable well-being. If this is the case (alternative: yes), the method continues with step S1; otherwise (alternative: no), the method jumps to step S10.

Thus, depending on the further change in well-being caused by the execution of the assistance function in step S8, the execution of the assistance function can be terminated, the assistance function can be changed, the assistance function can be supplemented, or the assistance function can be changed or adapted by step S10.

Experiences indicating which change in well-being a specific assistance function led to in step S8 can be saved and taken into account when step S8 is activated again. If it is determined that the triggered assistance function did not lead to an acceptable change in well-being, this will not be assigned to the corresponding change in well-being again. Likewise, an identified change in well-being can be assigned an assistance function that led to an acceptable change in well-being. This means that the choice of the assistance function to be activated when a change in well-being occurs can depend on the success of a previous activation of the assistance function. For example, if the triggering change in well-being occurs again, a previously selected assistance function can no longer be activated or can be carried out with changed parameters and/or settings.

For example, if a massage function is activated as an assistance function in step S8, the massage function can continue to be applied in the event of a corresponding change in the odor profile (triggering the activation of the massage function) if, as a result of a further change in the odor profile of the vehicle occupant in question, a change/improvement in well-being is detected. Similarly, the massage function can no longer be applied in the event of a corresponding further change in the odor profile if, as a result, no further change in the odor profile or no change/improvement in well-being is detected.

This allows the success of a previously triggered assistance function to be assessed depending on the further temporal progression of the odor profile and, as a result, the assistance function in question can be switched off, changed, retained or adapted.

List of reference symbols

1

motor vehicle

2

Interior

3

Assistance system

4

first odor sensor

5

second odor sensor

6

vehicle seat

7

Reference odor sensor

Claims (7)

A method for operating an assistance system (3) in a motor vehicle (1), comprising the following steps: - detecting (S1) at least one odor profile using a respective odor sensor (4, 5), wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorous substances; - performing (S8) one or more assistance functions depending on the detected at least one odor profile. wherein at least two odor sensors (4, 5) are assigned to different vehicle seats (6) of the motor vehicle (1), so that an odor profile of a user sitting on the respectively assigned vehicle seat (6) can be recognized, wherein at least one of the odor sensors (4) is arranged in a backrest, a headrest, or a seat surface, wherein seat occupancy is recognized by comparing the odor profile assigned to the respective vehicle seat (6) with a predetermined reference odor profile of ambient air, wherein the one or more assistance functions are carried out depending on the recognized seat occupancy, wherein the reference odor profile is detected by a reference odor sensor (7). Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the at least one odor profile is assigned to a specific user with the aid of a user reference odor profile, wherein the one or more assistance functions are individually carried out or adapted depending on the specific user, wherein in particular the user reference odor profile is stored in the assistance system (3), retrieved from a data carrier and/or received from outside the vehicle. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 2 , wherein the at least one odor profile is recorded as a temporal progression of the concentrations of the odorous substances (S5), wherein depending on the temporal progression of the odor profile a change in the odor profile is detected and this is assigned to a change in the well-being of a user (S7), wherein depending on the change in well-being the one or more assistance functions are carried out (S8). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein after the execution of the one or more assistance functions depending on the detected at least one odor profile, the execution of the one or more assistance functions is terminated or the execution of the one or more assistance functions is adjusted depending on a change in the odor profile. An assistance system (3) in a motor vehicle (1), wherein the assistance system (3) is configured: - to detect at least one odor profile using a respective odor sensor (4, 5), wherein the at least one odor profile is defined by concentrations of at least two odorous substances; - to perform one or more assistance functions depending on the detected at least one odor profile, wherein at least two odor sensors (4, 5) are assigned to different vehicle seats (6) of the motor vehicle (1), so that an odor profile of a user sitting on the respectively assigned vehicle seat (6) can be detected, wherein at least one of the odor sensors (4) is arranged in a backrest, a headrest, or a seat surface, wherein seat occupancy is detected by comparing the odor profile assigned to the respective vehicle seat (6) with a predetermined reference odor profile of ambient air, wherein the one or more assistance functions are performed depending on the detected seat occupancy, wherein the reference odor profile is detected by a reference odor sensor (7). Motor vehicle (1) with an assistance system (3) according to Claim 5 and with a vehicle seat (6) according to claim 8 and/or with an odor sensor (5) associated with a vehicle seat (6), in particular in the roof lining above the vehicle seat (6). Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 6 with a reference odor sensor (7) for detecting a reference odor profile of ambient air supplied into an interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1).

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