Occupant monitoring systems and methods
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant imaging system disposed within a vehicle, the system comprising an automotive clock spring disposed within a steering wheel assembly, the automotive clock spring comprising a rotor to which a rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly is coupled, a stator disposed radially adjacent the rotor and statically coupled within a steering column of the steering assembly, and at least one set of electrical wires coupled between the rotor and the stator, the system comprising:
- at least one imaging unit coupled to the rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly, the imaging unit having a field of view extending toward one or more vehicle occupants;
a first processing unit disposed within the rotor of the automotive clock spring, the first processing unit electrically receiving image signals captured by the imaging unit, selecting at least a portion of the image signals, and communicating the selected image signals to a second processing unit, where selecting a portion of the image signals comprises identifying and selecting one or more portions of an image related to one or more occupant information parameters; and
the second processing unit disposed within the stator of the automotive clock spring within the steering column of the steering assembly, the second processing unit electrically coupled to the first processing unit via the set of electrical wires, wherein the selected image signals are electrically communicated through the set of electrical wires,wherein the second processing unit comprises a plurality of input connections, a plurality of output connections, and a network interface controller connecting the second processing unit to a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);
wherein the second processing unit is configured to analyze the selected image signals to determine an occupant information parameter.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various implementations include a vehicle occupant imaging system that is disposed within a vehicle. The system includes an automotive clock spring, at least one imaging unit, and a first processing unit. The automotive clock spring includes a rotor to which a rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly is coupled, a stator coupled to a stationary portion of the vehicle, and a set of wires extending between the rotor and stator. The imaging unit is coupled to the rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly. The first processing unit is disposed within the rotor and is configured for electrically receiving image signals captured by the imaging unit and selecting at least a portion of the image signals for communicating to a second processing unit disposed outside of the rotor. The selected image signals are electrically communicated to the second processing unit via the set of electrical wires.
152 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant imaging system disposed within a vehicle, the system comprising an automotive clock spring disposed within a steering wheel assembly, the automotive clock spring comprising a rotor to which a rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly is coupled, a stator disposed radially adjacent the rotor and statically coupled within a steering column of the steering assembly, and at least one set of electrical wires coupled between the rotor and the stator, the system comprising:
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at least one imaging unit coupled to the rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly, the imaging unit having a field of view extending toward one or more vehicle occupants; a first processing unit disposed within the rotor of the automotive clock spring, the first processing unit electrically receiving image signals captured by the imaging unit, selecting at least a portion of the image signals, and communicating the selected image signals to a second processing unit, where selecting a portion of the image signals comprises identifying and selecting one or more portions of an image related to one or more occupant information parameters; and the second processing unit disposed within the stator of the automotive clock spring within the steering column of the steering assembly, the second processing unit electrically coupled to the first processing unit via the set of electrical wires, wherein the selected image signals are electrically communicated through the set of electrical wires, wherein the second processing unit comprises a plurality of input connections, a plurality of output connections, and a network interface controller connecting the second processing unit to a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); wherein the second processing unit is configured to analyze the selected image signals to determine an occupant information parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle occupant imaging system disposed within a vehicle, the vehicle comprising system comprising an automotive clock spring disposed within a steering wheel assembly, the automotive clock spring comprising a rotor to which a rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly is coupled, a stator disposed radially adjacent the rotor and statically coupled within a non-rotating portion of the steering assembly, and at least one set of electrical wires coupled between the rotor and the stator, the system comprising:
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at least one imaging unit coupled to the rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly, the imaging unit having a field of view extending toward one or more vehicle occupants; and a first processing unit disposed within the rotor of the automotive clock spring and for electrically receiving image signals captured by the imaging unit, selecting at least a portion of the image signals related to occupant information parameters, and communicating at least one of the selected image signals to a second processing unit, the second processing unit disposed within the stator of the automotive clock spring of the vehicle, the second processing unit analyzing the at least one of the selected image signals to determine an occupant information parameter, and analyzing the occupant information parameter to determine an occupant state; the second processing unit comprising a plurality of input connections, a plurality of output connections, and a network interface controller connecting the second processing unit to a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); wherein the second processing unit is connected to a plurality of vehicle components via the input connections and the output connections; and wherein the second processing unit is connected to a power source and provides power to the first processing unit via the set of electrical wires coupled between the rotor and stator and provides power to at least one of the vehicle components via the input connections and the output connections.
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22. A vehicle occupant imaging system disposed within a vehicle, the system comprising:
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at least one imaging unit coupled to a rotatable portion of a steering wheel assembly, the imaging unit having a field of view extending toward one or more vehicle occupants, the rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly being rotatable about a steering column; an automotive clock spring disposed within the steering wheel assembly, the automotive clock spring comprising a rotor to which the rotatable portion of the steering wheel assembly is coupled, a stator disposed radially adjacent the rotor, and at least one set of electrical wires coupled between the rotor and the stator; a first processing unit disposed adjacent the imaging unit and configured for electrically receiving image signals captured by the imaging unit and selecting at least a portion of the image signals for communicating to a second processing unit; the second processing unit being disposed in the rotor of the automotive clock spring, the second processing unit being electrically coupled to the first processing unit and a third processing unit disposed outside of the rotor in the vehicle, the second processing unit configured to analyze the selected image signals to determine an occupant information parameter and communicate at least one of the occupant information parameter and the selected image signals to the third processing unit; and the third processing unit disposed within the stator of the automotive clock spring, the third processing unit configured to analyze at least one of the selected image signals and the occupant information parameter to determine an occupant state, the third processing unit comprising a plurality of input connections, a plurality of output connections, and a network interface controller connecting the third processing unit to a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); a light source, the light source configured for being in electrical communication with the third processing unit via at least one pair of the input connections and the output connections, wherein the third processing unit is configured for controlling an amount of light emitted from the light source; and wherein the third processing unit is configured for being electrically coupled to a power source disposed within the vehicle, wherein power from the power source is available to the first processing unit and the light source via the set of electrical wires coupled between the rotor and stator.
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Specification