Vehicular Occupant Sensing Using Infrared
First Claim
1. A vehicle including a system for obtaining information about an occupant in a compartment in the vehicle, comprising:
- illumination means for illuminating an area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated with infrared illumination, the infrared illumination being generated from at least one common source and being simultaneously directed from each of said at least one common source in multiple directions into the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated;
receiver means arranged for receiving infrared waves from the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated after illumination of the area of the compartment by said illumination means, said receiver means being arranged to generate images of the area of the compartment; and
processor means coupled to said receiver means for analyzing the received infrared waves and obtaining information about the occupant therefrom when the occupant is situated in the compartment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Vehicle including a system for obtaining information about an occupant in a compartment in the vehicle includes illuminating an area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated with infrared illumination, the infrared illumination being generated from at least one common source and being simultaneously directed from each common source in multiple directions into the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated. Infrared receivers receive infrared waves from the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated after illumination of the area of the compartment and generate images of the area of the compartment. A processor analyzes the received infrared waves and obtains information about the occupant therefrom when the occupant is situated in the compartment. One or more vehicular components may be controlled based on the obtained information.
58 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle including a system for obtaining information about an occupant in a compartment in the vehicle, comprising:
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illumination means for illuminating an area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated with infrared illumination, the infrared illumination being generated from at least one common source and being simultaneously directed from each of said at least one common source in multiple directions into the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated; receiver means arranged for receiving infrared waves from the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated after illumination of the area of the compartment by said illumination means, said receiver means being arranged to generate images of the area of the compartment; and processor means coupled to said receiver means for analyzing the received infrared waves and obtaining information about the occupant therefrom when the occupant is situated in the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for obtaining information about an occupant in a compartment in the vehicle, comprising:
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illuminating an area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated with infrared illumination, the infrared illumination being generated from at least one common source and being simultaneously directed from each of the at least one common source in multiple directions into the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated; receiving infrared waves from the area of the compartment in which the occupant is expected to be situated after illumination of the area of the compartment; generating images from the received infrared waves; and analyzing the images generated from the received infrared waves and obtaining information about the occupant therefrom when the occupant is situated in the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification