Occupant sensing system and method via imaging
First Claim
1. An occupant sensing system comprising:
- an illuminating element for selectively illuminating the interior of a vehicle;
an image sensor for acquiring a first image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources only and for acquiring a second image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources and said illuminating element; and
a controller for removing the effect of ambient sources by comparing said first and second images thereby producing a third image of the interior of the vehicle as illuminated by the illuminating element only, said controller determining the presence of an occupant by comparing said third image to a produced map of the interior of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant sensing system (12) and an associated method provide for the sensing of an occupant (14). An illuminating element (46) of the system (12)selectively illuminates the interior of a vehicle (8). An image sensor (50) acquires a first image of the interior of the vehicle (8) when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources only and acquires a second image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources and the illuminating element (46). A controller (34) removes the effect of ambient sources by comparing the first and second images to produce a third image of the interior of the vehicle (8) as illuminated by the illuminating element (46) only. The controller (34) determines the presence of an occupant (14) by comparing the third image to a produced map of the interior of the vehicle (8).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An occupant sensing system comprising:
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an illuminating element for selectively illuminating the interior of a vehicle;
an image sensor for acquiring a first image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources only and for acquiring a second image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources and said illuminating element; and
a controller for removing the effect of ambient sources by comparing said first and second images thereby producing a third image of the interior of the vehicle as illuminated by the illuminating element only, said controller determining the presence of an occupant by comparing said third image to a produced map of the interior of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for sensing an occupant comprising the steps of:
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acquiring a first image of the interior of the vehicle when the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by ambient sources only;
acquiring a second image of the interior of the vehicle when ambient sources and an illuminating element illuminate the interior of the vehicle;
removing the effect of ambient sources by comparing the first and second images thereby producing a third image of the interior of the vehicle as illuminated by the illuminating element only; and
determining the presence of an occupant by comparing the third image to a produced map of the interior of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification