US 11,904,779 B2
Interior camera system for a self driving car
Kimberly Toth, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Giulia Guidi, Mountain View, CA (US); and Choon Ping Chng, Los Altos, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Moutain View, CA (US)
Filed by WAYMO LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/100,090.
Application 18/100,090 is a continuation of application No. 17/239,972, filed on Apr. 26, 2021, granted, now 11,587,334.
Application 17/239,972 is a continuation of application No. 16/718,462, filed on Dec. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,017,248, issued on May 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0150440 A1, May 18, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/00 (2006.01); B60R 11/04 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G08B 21/24 (2006.01); H04N 5/58 (2006.01); G06V 20/59 (2022.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); G06V 10/141 (2022.01)
CPC B60R 11/04 (2013.01) [G05D 1/0088 (2013.01); G06V 10/141 (2022.01); G06V 20/59 (2022.01); G08B 21/24 (2013.01); H04N 5/58 (2013.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); B60R 2300/103 (2013.01); B60R 2300/105 (2013.01); B60R 2300/8006 (2013.01); G05D 2201/0213 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An interior sensing system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode, the interior sensing system comprising:
an image sensor disposed within an interior area of the vehicle, the image sensor being configured to capture images of a zone within the interior area of the vehicle;
an infrared unit configured to illuminate the zone within the vehicle during image capture by the image sensor; and
a processor operatively coupled to the image sensor and the infrared unit, the processor configured to:
actuate the infrared unit in response to an amount of ambient light within the interior area of the vehicle;
initiate image capture by the image sensor; and
based on imagery captured by the image sensor of the zone within the vehicle, either (i) cause a system of the vehicle to perform a selected action, or (ii) determine how to present information within the interior area of the vehicle.