Wavelength selectivity enabling subject monitoring outside the subject's field of view
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an optical member positioned between an intended location of a viewer and an environment of interest to said viewer, wherein a visible light path from said viewer to objects in said environment has a substantially unitary magnification, at least a portion of said optical member being wavelength-selective with respect to reflectivity characteristics, such that said optical member is generally transmissive with respect to visible light and is substantially reflective with respect to a particular detection wavelength;
a detector for receiving light of said detection wavelength reflected by said optical member from said viewer within said intended location, said detector having a detector output that is responsive to said received light; and
a processor connected to said detector for processing said detector output, wherein optical properties along said visible light path from said viewer to said objects remain independent of said processing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detection system for monitoring a subject remains outside the normal field of view of the subject by using a wavelength selective optical member. In one application, an eye of a driver is repeatedly or continuously illuminated and imaged without effect on the field of view of the driver. A dichroic mirror may be used to provide the wavelength selectivity. For the application in which the system is used for a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, the dichroic mirror may be achieved by coating a portion or all of the windshield so as to pass visible light, while reflecting detection light. Other applications of the detection system include monitoring a subject engaged in a person-to-person interaction, wherein a dichroic mirror is defined by a divider between the two persons.
20 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an optical member positioned between an intended location of a viewer and an environment of interest to said viewer, wherein a visible light path from said viewer to objects in said environment has a substantially unitary magnification, at least a portion of said optical member being wavelength-selective with respect to reflectivity characteristics, such that said optical member is generally transmissive with respect to visible light and is substantially reflective with respect to a particular detection wavelength;
a detector for receiving light of said detection wavelength reflected by said optical member from said viewer within said intended location, said detector having a detector output that is responsive to said received light; and
a processor connected to said detector for processing said detector output, wherein optical properties along said visible light path from said viewer to said objects remain independent of said processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for eye detection comprising:
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a dichroic mirror which is generally transparent to visible light and which reflects light having a specific wavelength range;
a first light source for emitting first light to impinge said dichroic mirror such that said first light is reflected at a first illumination angle;
a second light source for emitting second light to impinge said dichroic mirror such that said second light is reflected at a second illumination angle greater than said first illumination angle, said first light and said second light having substantially equal intensity within said specific wavelength range; and
a detector located for receiving back-reflected light from said dichroic mirror as a consequence of reflection of said first and second light toward said dichroic mirror from a subject'"'"'s eyes;
wherein said subject'"'"'s eyes are detectable using the difference between back-reflected said first light and back-reflected said second light. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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a windshield with at least a portion having a coating which defines a dichroic mirror that is generally transparent to visible light and substantially reflective with respect to a driver-detection wavelength range;
a detector for receiving reflected light within said driver-detection wavelength range following reflection from said windshield; and
a processor connected to said detector for determining information regarding a driver of said motor vehicle on a basis of said reflected light received at said detector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for use in a motorized vehicle comprising:
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providing a windshield that is generally transparent with respect to visible light and provides reflection of first light within a driver-detection range of wavelengths;
providing a detector in a position to receive reflected said first light from said windshield without obstructing vision through said windshield; and
determining information regarding a driver of said motor vehicle on a basis of data acquired via said detector. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification