Development of Occupant Detection System Using Far-Infrared Ray (FIR) Camera

摘要

In recent years, to reduce the risk of airbag-related injuries, smart airbag systems, which deploy airbags depending upon occupant position and crash information, are increasingly being developed. For occupant detection, various methods using weight/pressure sensors, ultrasonic sensors or image sensors, are proposed, but it is difficult to sense precisely a passenger's size and position. FIR cameras, which offer thermographic images, are useful for detection of the human body. The authors have developed low cost FIR cameras using polycrystalline sintered zinc sulfide (ZnS) lenses, which are based on Sumitomo Electric's material technology, and also developed an algorithm for detecting automobile occupants. In this paper, the authors present an overview of the newly developed FIR camera and the occupant detection algorithm.