US 12,447,899 B2
Vehicular cabin monitoring system with camera and near IR light emitter at interior rearview mirror assembly
Justin E. Sobecki, Rockford, MI (US); Austen C. Peterson, Hudsonville, MI (US); Gregory A. Huizen, Hudsonville, MI (US); James A. Ruse, Allegan, MI (US); Yuesheng Lu, Farmington Hills, MI (US); and Martin Solar, Erlenbach (DE)
Assigned to Magna Mirror of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US); and Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US); and Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/808,178.
Application 18/808,178 is a continuation of application No. 18/464,477, filed on Sep. 11, 2023, granted, now 12,065,081.
Application 18/464,477 is a continuation of application No. 17/905,119, granted, now 11,780,372, issued on Oct. 10, 2023, previously published as PCT/US2022/072238, filed on May 11, 2022.
Application 17/905,119 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/905,109, granted, now 11,639,134, issued on May 2, 2023, previously published as PCT/US2022/070882, filed on Mar. 1, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/363,598, filed on Apr. 26, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/267,316, filed on Jan. 31, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/262,642, filed on Oct. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/260,359, filed on Aug. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/201,757, filed on May 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/201,372, filed on Apr. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/200,451, filed on Mar. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/200,315, filed on Mar. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0409032 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 1/30 (2022.01); B60R 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); B60R 1/29 (2022.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01); B60R 11/04 (2006.01); G06V 20/59 (2022.01); G06V 40/20 (2022.01)
CPC B60R 1/30 (2022.01) [B60R 1/04 (2013.01); B60R 1/12 (2013.01); B60R 1/29 (2022.01); B60R 11/04 (2013.01); G06V 20/597 (2022.01); G06V 40/20 (2022.01); B60R 2001/1253 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0022 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0033 (2013.01)] 70 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular cabin monitoring system, the vehicular cabin monitoring system comprising:
a vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior rearview mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base, the mounting base configured to mount the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular cabin monitoring system;
wherein the interior rearview mirror head accommodates an electrochromic mirror reflective element;
a driver monitoring camera accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head, wherein the driver monitoring camera is operable to capture image data;
wherein the electrochromic mirror reflective element and the driver monitoring camera move in tandem with the interior rearview mirror head when, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, the interior rearview mirror head is adjusted by a driver of the equipped vehicle relative to the mounting base to set a rearward view of the electrochromic mirror reflective element for the driver;
a near infrared light emitter accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head, wherein the near infrared light emitter is electrically operable to emit near infrared light;
wherein the near infrared light emitter moves in tandem with the interior rearview mirror head when, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, the interior rearview mirror head is adjusted by the driver of the equipped vehicle relative to the mounting base to set the rearward view of the electrochromic mirror reflective element for the driver of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, near infrared light emitted by the near infrared light emitter, when electrically operated to emit near infrared light, illuminates at least the head of the driver of the equipped vehicle;
an electronic control unit (ECU) having electronic circuitry and associated software;
wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a processor operable to process image data captured by the driver monitoring camera;
wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, the vehicular cabin monitoring system views at least the head of the driver of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein, with the vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, and as the equipped vehicle travels along a road, image data captured by the driver monitoring camera is processed at the ECU to detect light emanating from at one least one headlamp of at least one trailing vehicle traveling along the road behind the equipped vehicle.