US-12623621-B2 - Rear occupant alert device and method therefor

US12623621B2US 12623621 B2US12623621 B2US 12623621B2US-12623621-B2

Abstract

A rear occupant alert device according to an embodiment comprises a first object detection unit; a second object detection unit; and a control unit configured to control operations of the first and second object detection units, wherein the first object detection unit includes a passive infrared sensor (PIR) sensor, wherein the second object detection unit includes a radar module, and the control unit is configured to control a movement of an object inside a vehicle through the first object detection unit, and to control a movement of an object through the second object detection unit when the movement of the object is not detected through the first object detection unit.

Inventors

Jae Yeon Choi

Assignees

LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230126
Priority Date: 20220127

Claims (17)

1 . A rear occupant alert device comprising: a first object detection unit; a second object detection unit; and a control unit configured to control operations of the first and second object detection units, wherein the first object detection unit includes a passive infrared sensor (PIR) sensor, wherein the second object detection unit includes a radar module, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the first object detection unit when a signal notifying that a vehicle is turned off and a driver exits is received through an ECU of the vehicle, detect a movement of an object inside the vehicle according to the driving of the first object detection unit, drive the second object detection unit in response to non-detected movement of the object inside the vehicle through the first object detection unit, and re-detect a movement of the object inside the vehicle through the second object detection unit, and wherein the second object detection unit remains in an off state until the movement of the object inside the vehicle is not detected through the first object detection unit.
2 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 1 , further comprising: a power supply unit configured to control power supplied to the second object detection unit, and wherein the power supply unit is configured to supply a driving power to the second object detection unit when the movement of the object is not detected through the first object detection unit based on a control signal of the control unit.
3 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 1 , further comprising: a first communication unit configured to transmit object detection information to an ECU of the vehicle when the movement of the object is detected through the first object detection unit or the second object detection unit.
4 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 3 , further comprising: a second communication unit configured to transmit the object detection information to a pre-registered terminal when the movement of the object is detected through the first object detection unit or the second object detection unit.
5 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 4 , further comprising: a temperature detection unit configured to detect temperature information inside the vehicle, and wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the detected temperature information together with the object detection information.
6 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 5 , wherein the control unit is configured to output a signal for controlling the vehicle when the detected temperature information is out of a preset threshold range.
7 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 6 , wherein the signal for controlling the vehicle includes at least one of an air conditioner control signal and a vehicle window control signal.
8 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 4 , wherein the control unit allows vehicle control result information to be transmitted through the second communication unit.
9 . The rear occupant alert device of claim 1 , wherein the second object detection unit does not operate under a condition in which the movement of the object is detected through the first object detection unit.
10 . A method for alerting a rear occupant comprising: detecting that a vehicle is turned off and a driver exits; driving a passive infrared sensor (PIR) sensor based on a detection signal of the vehicle being turned off and the driver exiting; detecting a movement of an object inside the vehicle according to the driving of the PIR sensor; driving a radar module in response to non-detected movement of the object inside the vehicle through the PIR sensor; and re-detecting a movement of the object inside the vehicle through the driven radar module, wherein the radar module remains in an off state until the movement of the object inside the vehicle is not detected through the PIR sensor.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein if the movement of the object inside the vehicle is detected through any one of the PIR sensor and the radar module, transmitting movement detection information to at least one of an ECU of the vehicle and a pre-registered terminal.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: supplying driving power for driving the radar module when the movement of the object is not detected through the PIR sensor.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: detecting temperature information inside the vehicle, and wherein the detected temperature information is transmitted together with the movement detection information.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising: comparing the detected temperature information with a preset threshold range; and controlling a state of the vehicle before transmission of the movement detection information when the detected temperature information is out of a preset threshold range.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the controlling the state of the vehicle includes controlling at least one of an air conditioner of the vehicle and a window of the vehicle.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: transmitting vehicle control result information together with the temperature information and the movement detection information.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the radar module does not operate under a condition in which the movement of the object is detected through the PIR sensor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is the National Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2023/001216, filed on Jan. 26, 2023, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to Patent Application No. 10-2022-0012608, filed in the Republic of Korea on Jan. 27, 2022, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application. TECHNICAL FIELD An embodiment relates to a rear occupant alert device, and in particular, to a rear occupant alert device capable of low-power operation, a vehicle including the same, and a method of controlling the same. BACKGROUND ART A vehicle refers to a device capable of transporting people or goods to a destination while driving on a road or track. The vehicle may move to several positions using one or more wheels installed on a vehicle body. Such vehicles may include a three-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle, a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle, a construction machine, a bicycle or a train running on a rail disposed on a track. In modern society, the vehicle is a most common mean of transportation, and the number of people using the vehicle is increasing. Accordingly, problems such as neglecting infants in vehicles may occur due to carelessness. Recently, when the driver gets out of the vehicle, a rear occupant alert device (ROA) is being developed to detect whether the rear occupant, especially the territories, remain inside the vehicle and guides a detection result. The rear occupant alert device generates a driver's seat cluster alert and an alert sound when the driver gets out of the vehicle and a rear occupant is detected. If the driver does not recognize the infant or child in a rear seat and completely gets out of the vehicle and locks the door, the rear occupant alert device activates the sensor mounted on the vehicle ceiling to detect movement inside the vehicle. Thereafter, when the rear occupant alert device detects the movement of the rear occupant, it performs at least one of the following actions: sounding a horn, flashing emergency lights, and sending a text message. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent accidents that may occur by neglecting the infant or child. DISCLOSURE Technical Problem The embodiment provides a rear occupant alert device capable of low-power driving, a vehicle including the same, and a method of controlling the same. In addition, the embodiment provides a rear occupant alert device that can directly control a vehicle based on whether an occupants is detected and an internal condition of a vehicle, a vehicle including the same, and a method of controlling the same. Technical problems to be solved by the proposed embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments proposed from the following descriptions belong. Technical Solution A rear occupant alert device according to an embodiment comprises a first object detection unit; a second object detection unit; and a control unit configured to control operations of the first and second object detection units, wherein the first object detection unit includes a passive infrared sensor (PIR) sensor, wherein the second object detection unit includes a radar module, and the control unit is configured to detect a movement of an object inside a vehicle through the first object detection unit, and to detect a movement of an object through the second object detection unit when the movement of the object is not detected through the first object detection unit. In addition, the rear occupant alert device further comprises a power supply unit configured to control power supplied to the second object detection unit, and the power supply unit is configured to supply a driving power to the second object detection unit when the movement of the object is not detected through the first object detection unit based on a control signal of the control unit. In addition, the rear occupant alert device further comprises a first communication unit configured to transmit object detection information to an ECU of a vehicle when the movement of the object is detected through the first object detection unit or the second object detection unit. In addition, the rear occupant alert device further comprises a second communication unit configured to transmit the object detection information to a pre-registered terminal when the movement of the object is detected through the first object detection unit or the second object detection unit. In addition, the rear occupant alert device further comprises a temperature detection unit configured to detect temperature information inside the vehicle, and the control unit is configured to transmit the detected temperature information together with the object detection information. In addition, the control unit is configured to output a signal for controlling the vehicle when the detected t