Optical Monitoring of Vehicle Interiors
First Claim
1. A vehicle, comprising:
- a structure including a plurality of sides defining an interior space for containing one or more objects; and
at least one transducer arranged on a first one of said sides of said structure and arranged to transmit waves toward an opposite, second side of said structure whereby any objects contained in said interior space of said structure are situated between said first and second sides, said at least one transducer being arranged to receive waves reflected from any objects between said first and second sides; and
a processor coupled to said at least one transducer and arranged to obtain information about any objects from which waves have been reflected and received by said at least one transducer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interior monitoring system of a vehicle wherein at least one transducer is arranged on a first side of the structure of the vehicle and transmits waves toward an opposite, second side of the structure so that any objects contained in the interior space of the structure are situated between the first and second sides. Each transducer receives waves reflected from any objects between the first and second sides. A processor is coupled to each transducer and obtains information about any objects from which waves have been reflected and received thereby. Each transducer may be arranged to transmit infrared waves into the interior space, e.g., infrared waves in an eye-safe range.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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a structure including a plurality of sides defining an interior space for containing one or more objects; and
at least one transducer arranged on a first one of said sides of said structure and arranged to transmit waves toward an opposite, second side of said structure whereby any objects contained in said interior space of said structure are situated between said first and second sides, said at least one transducer being arranged to receive waves reflected from any objects between said first and second sides; and
a processor coupled to said at least one transducer and arranged to obtain information about any objects from which waves have been reflected and received by said at least one transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for monitoring an interior space of a vehicle, comprising:
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mounting at least one transducer on a structure including a plurality of sides defining the interior space for containing one or more objects, the at least one transducer being mounted on a first one of the sides of the structure and oriented to transmit waves toward an opposite, second side of the structure;
transmitting waves from the at least one transducer such that the transmitted waves reflect from objects present in the interior space between the first and second sides;
receiving waves at the at least one transducer during use of the vehicle; and
when waves are received, determining whether any objects are present in the interior space based on analysis of the waves and when one or more objects are determined to be present, obtaining information about the object or objects based on analysis of the received waves. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification