Patent Publication Number: US-2016229363-A1

Title: Method and system for adjusting performance based on vehicle occupants

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/778,297, filed on Feb. 27, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a system for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a system having at least one operating output that is adjusted based on the number and location of occupants located in the vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some types of vehicle systems may be specifically calibrated or tuned based on an assumption that there are occupants always present in each seat of a vehicle. For example, a vehicle system may be tuned to accommodate the occupants seated in a driver seat, a passenger seat, second row seats, and third row seats (if available). However, tuning the vehicle system to accommodate every single occupant located in the vehicle may impact the performance of the vehicle system. Specifically, the performance of the vehicle system for one or a few of the occupants may be reduced in order to provide an adequate level of performance for all of the occupants located in the vehicle. 
     In one example, an active noise cancellation system (“ANC”) system may be used to attenuate the amount of unwanted sound in the vehicle. In particular, the ANC system may include a speaker for emitting a cancelling noise that attenuates engine sound. The ANC system is generally tuned to accommodate all of the occupants in the vehicle (e.g., occupants in the driver seat, the passenger seat, the second row seats, and the third row seats, if available). However, accommodating the occupants in the second row seats and the third row seats may reduce the amount of sound cancellation provided to the front row occupants. Therefore, even if there are no occupants present in the second row seats or the third row seats, the overall performance of the ANC system is still impacted, and the amount of noise cancellation provided to the front row occupants (e.g., the driver and the passenger) is still reduced. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a vehicle system that is able to adjust performance based on the occupants located in a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a vehicle having a system is provided. The system has at least one operating output. The system includes an occupant module and a vehicle system module. The occupant module receives at least one occupant signal indicative of occupants currently located within the vehicle, and determines a current number of occupants in the vehicle based on the occupant signal. The vehicle system module receives as input the current number of occupants and where they are located in the vehicle. The vehicle system module is configured to determine whether the current number of occupants located in the vehicle is less than a total number of occupants the vehicle is configured to seat. The vehicle system module is configured to adjust the at least one operating output of the system when the current number of occupants located in the vehicle is less than the total number of occupants the vehicle is configured to seat. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of embodiments, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which: 
       The FIGURE is a schematic illustration of a vehicle that includes a control system and a plurality of seats embodying features of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. As used herein, the term module refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, or a combinational logic circuit. 
     Referring now to the FIGURE, an exemplary embodiment is directed to a control system  10  for a vehicle  18 . The control system  10  includes one or more speakers  20 , a plurality of seatbelt switches or sensors  24 , a plurality of occupant sensors  26  that are each located within a corresponding seat  30 , an occupant control module  32 , an active noise cancellation (“ANC”) control module  34 , an audio control module  36 , and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) control module  38 . The occupant control module  32  is in communication with the ANC control module  34 , the audio control module  36 , and the HVAC control module  38 . In the exemplary embodiment, as shown in the FIGURE, the vehicle  18  includes four seats  30 , however it is to be understood that fewer or more seats may be included as well. In the embodiment as shown in the FIGURE, a driver seat  40 , a front passenger seat  42 , and two second row seats  44  are illustrated. In an alternative embodiment, the vehicle  18  may also include third-row seats (not shown) as well. 
     Each seat  30  includes one of the occupant sensors  26  located along a bottom portion  50  within the seat  30 . The occupant sensors  26  indicate the presence of an occupant within the seat  30  based on pressure or electrical capacitance. Each seat  30  is associated with one of the seatbelt sensors  24 . Each seatbelt sensor  24  indicates if a seatbelt (not shown) corresponding to the seat  30  is latched. It should be noted that while the FIGURE illustrates both seatbelt sensors  24  and occupant sensors  26  corresponding to the seats  30 , only one set of sensors (e.g., either the seatbelt sensors  24  or the occupant sensors  26 ) may be utilized. 
     The occupant control module  32  receives as input at least one occupant signal  54 . The occupant signal  54  indicates the presence of an occupant or individual seated within one of the seats  30 . The occupant signal  54  also indicates which specific seat  30  is occupied (e.g., the driver seat  40 , the passenger seat  42 , or one of the second row seats  44 ). Specifically, for example, if four occupants are present within an interior cabin  52  of the vehicle  18 , then the occupant control module  32  would receive four occupant signals  54 . One of the four occupant signals  54  would indicate the presence of an occupant in the driver seat  40 , another one of the four occupant signals  54  would indicate the presence of an occupant in the passenger seat  42 , and the remaining two occupant signals  54  would indicate the presence of occupants in the two second row seats  44 . In one embodiment, the occupant signal  54  may be generated by one of the occupant sensors  26 . Alternatively, in another embodiment, the occupant signal  54  may be generated by one of the seatbelt sensors  24 . Although the occupant sensors  26  and the seatbelt sensors  24  are discussed, it is understood that any other approach may be used as well to determine the occupant signal  54  as well. 
     The occupant control module  32  includes control logic for determining a current number of occupants that are located within the interior cabin  52  of the vehicle  18  based on the occupant signals  54  received by either the occupant sensors  26  or the seatbelt sensors  24 . The occupant control module  32  also determines which specific seats  30  currently have an occupant present based on the occupant signals  54 . For example, the occupant control module  32  may receive two occupant signals  54 , where one of the occupant signals  54  indicates an occupant is present within the driver seat  40 , and the other occupant signal  54  indicates an occupant is present in the passenger seat  42 . Based on the two occupant signals  54 , the occupant control module  32  generates a control signal  60 . The control signal  60  indicates the number of occupants in the vehicle  18  (e.g., in this present example, there are two occupants), as well as specific seats  30  that currently have an occupant seated (e.g., the driver seat  40  and the passenger seat  42 ). 
     The control signal  60  is sent to one or more control modules. The control modules are used for operating a vehicle system. The vehicle system is generally any type of system that is specifically calibrated or tuned based on the number of occupants currently present in the vehicle  18 . The vehicle system may also be tuned based on the specific seat or seats  30  that are currently occupied by an individual. Some examples of such vehicle systems include, but are not limited to, an ANC system used to attenuate unwanted noise, an HVAC system, an audio system, a transmission control module (“TCM”), an engine control module (ECM), heated seats, a suspension system, or an interior lighting system. In the embodiment as shown in the FIGURE, the occupant control module  32  sends the control signal  60  to the ANC control module  34 , the audio control module  36 , and the HVAC control module  38 . It should be noted that while the FIGURE illustrates the ANC control module  34 , the audio control module  36 , and the HVAC control module  38 , the control signal  60  may be sent to fewer control modules, or other control modules (not shown) as well. 
     The control signal  60  is used to adjust or modify at least one operating output of the vehicle system based on a current number of occupants present in the vehicle  18 . The at least one operating output of the vehicle system refers to any output generated by the vehicle system that is specifically calibrated based on the number of occupants present in the vehicle  18  and the specific seat or seats  30  that are occupied by an individual. Some examples of operating outputs include, but are not limited to, a cancelling sound emitted by the speakers  20  in the ANC system, a multi-zone control of the HVAC system (which is described in detail below), surround sound settings of the audio system, and lighting of the interior lighting system. For example, if the control signal  60  indicates there are no occupants located in the second row seats  44 , then interior lights (not shown) corresponding to the second row seats  44  may be disabled. Specifically, for example, interior lighting located along an interior door handle (not shown) may be disabled. 
     The control module or modules (e.g., ANC control module  34 , the audio control module  36 , and the HVAC control module  38 ) may adjust at least one operating output of the vehicle system if the current number of occupants located in the vehicle  18  is less than a total number of occupants the vehicle  18  is configured to seat. For example, in the embodiment as shown in the FIGURE, the total number of occupants the vehicle  18  is configured to seat would be four. However, it is understood that the total number of occupants may be more or less, depending on the number of seats  30  provided. The control module or modules may also adjust at least one operating output of the vehicle system based on the specific seating position of the current occupants present in the vehicle  18  as well. 
     The control module or modules may have various settings saved in memory. The various settings represent different configurations of the operating output that are based on the current number of occupants and the specific seating position of the current occupants present in the vehicle  18 . The control module or modules select one of the various settings of the operating output based on the current number of occupants located and the specific seating position of the current occupants present. In one embodiment, the control module may have a setting based on occupants present in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , the second row seats  44 , and the third row seats (not shown), another setting based on occupants present in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , and the second row seats  44 , another setting based on occupants present in the driver seat  40  and the front passenger seat  42 , and a setting based on one occupant present in the driver seat  40 . 
     In one embodiment, the vehicle system is the ANC system, and the ANC control module  34  may have various settings saved in memory related to the cancelling sounds that are emitted from the speaker  20  to attenuate powertrain noise. The ANC control module  34  may adjust the cancelling sounds emitted from the speakers  20  by selecting a specific setting saved in memory that corresponds to the current number of occupants and the specific seating position of the current occupants present in the vehicle  18 . 
     The ANC system may reduce amount of sound cancellation provided to one of the occupants in the vehicle  18  in order to provide sound cancellation to the remaining occupants in the vehicle  18 . For example, if occupants are located in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , the second row seats  44 , and third row seats (not shown), then the level of sound cancellation provided to occupants located in the driver seat  40 , the passenger seat  42  and the second row seats  44  may be reduced in order to provide a level noise cancellation to the occupants in the third row seats. Another setting of sound cancellation may be based on whether occupants are located in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , and the second row seats  44 . With this setting, the level of sound cancellation provided to occupants located in the driver seat  40  and the front passenger seat  42  may be reduced in order to provide acceptable noise cancellation to the occupants in the second row seats  44 . Another setting may be based on whether there are occupants located in the driver seat  40  and the front passenger seat  42 . With this setting, the level of sound cancellation provided to the occupant in the driver seat  40  may be reduced in order to provide an acceptable level of noise cancellation to the occupant in the passenger seat  42 . Finally, there may be a setting based on whether only one occupant is located in the driver seat  40 . 
     In another embodiment, the vehicle system is the audio system, and the audio control module  36  may have various settings such as surround sound based on the specific occupants located in the vehicle  18 . Specifically, the surround sound may be adjusted to accommodate only one or a portion of the total number of occupants in the vehicle  18 . Adjusting the surround sound based on only one or a portion of the total number of occupants may result in enhanced performance of the surround sound system and an improved overall experience to the occupant or occupants in the vehicle  18 . For example, one setting of the surround sound saved in memory of the audio control module may be based on whether there are occupants located in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , the second row seats  44 , and third row seats (not shown). Another setting of the surround sound may be based on whether there are occupants are located in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , and the second row seats  44 . Another setting may be based on whether there are occupants located in the driver seat  40  and the front passenger seat  42 . Finally, there may be a setting based on whether there is only one occupant located in the driver seat  40 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the vehicle system is the HVAC system, and the HVAC control module  38  may have various settings related to a multi-zone control saved in memory. The multi-zone control refers to a level of control that may be provided to one or more occupants of the vehicle  18  to adjust various settings of the HVAC system. Some examples of the settings include, but are not limited to, air temperature, fan speed, or mode (e.g., vent, floor, bi-level, defrost, etc.). Specifically, the multi-zone control may refer to a single-zone mode of operation where a driver may only adjust the settings of the HVAC system, a dual zone mode of operation where a driver and a front passenger may adjust the settings of the HVAC system, a tri-zone mode of operation where a driver, a passenger, and at least one of the second row occupants may adjust the HVAC settings, or a quad-zone mode of operation where a driver, a passenger, and both the second row occupants may adjust the HVAC settings (or instead of both second row occupants, the third row passengers may adjust the HVAC settings). 
     For example, if the control signal  60  indicates an occupant present in only the driver seat  40 , then the HVAC system is adjusted to operate in a single-zone mode of operation. If the control signal  60  indicates occupants present in the driver seat  40  and the front passenger seat  42 , then the HVAC system is adjusted to operate in the dual-zone mode of operation. If the control signal  60  indicates occupants present in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , and one of the second row seats  44 , then the HVAC system is adjusted to operate in the tri-zone mode of operation. If the control signal  60  indicates occupants present in the driver seat  40 , the front passenger seat  42 , and both the second row seats  44 , then the HVAC system is adjusted to operate in the quad-zone mode of operation. 
     The control system  10  as described above may provide improved or enhanced system performance based on the location of the occupants currently located in the vehicle  18 . Some types of vehicle systems currently available may be specifically calibrated or tuned based on an assumption that there are occupants present in each seat of a vehicle. However, the performance of the vehicle system for one or more occupants (e.g., the occupants in the driver seat and the front passenger seat) may be reduced in order to provide an adequate level of performance for all of the occupants. The control system  10  provides improved performance to one or more occupants located in the vehicle  18  if the occupant or occupants currently located within the vehicle  18  is less than the total number of occupants the vehicle  18  is configured to seat. 
     For example, the ANC system may be able to provide a more quiet and refined driving experience for one occupant (e.g., the occupant in the driver seat  40 ) or for the occupants in just the front row seats (e.g., the occupants in the driver seat  40  and the front passenger seat  42 ) when compared to providing noise cancellation to all of the vehicle occupants when there are no occupants in the rear seats. Because the ANC system may be able to provide a greater level of noise cancellation to just the occupant located in the driver seat  40  (or the occupants in the driver seat  40  and the front passenger seat  42 ), the vehicle  18  may be able to operate an engine (not shown) more efficiently (e.g., more loudly). In particular, the vehicle powertrain modules (e.g., the transmission control module (“TCM”) and the engine control module (“ECM”)) may be tuned more aggressively for fuel economy or vehicle performance if the ANC system provides enhanced sound cancellation for the front seat occupants only. 
     In yet another example, if the vehicle system is the audio system, the audio control module  36  may adjust surround sound settings to provide an improved level of sound to just one or a few occupants in the vehicle  18 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the application.