US 12,136,295 B2
Vehicular driver monitoring system
Mark E. Kramer, Zeeland, MI (US); Niall R. Lynam, Holland, MI (US); David P. O'Connell, Ada, MI (US); and Vernon R. Nise, Caledonia, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/491,858.
Application 18/491,858 is a continuation of application No. 18/155,146, filed on Jan. 17, 2023, granted, now 11,798,319.
Application 18/155,146 is a continuation of application No. 17/663,227, filed on May 13, 2022, granted, now 11,562,599, issued on Jan. 24, 2023.
Application 17/663,227 is a continuation of application No. 17/445,631, filed on Aug. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,348,374, issued on May 31, 2022.
Application 17/445,631 is a continuation of application No. 16/564,334, filed on Sep. 9, 2019, granted, now 11,100,315, issued on Aug. 24, 2021.
Application 16/564,334 is a continuation of application No. 15/494,647, filed on Apr. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,410,049, issued on Sep. 10, 2019.
Application 15/494,647 is a continuation of application No. 15/131,594, filed on Apr. 18, 2016, granted, now 9,632,590, issued on Apr. 25, 2017.
Application 15/131,594 is a continuation of application No. 14/556,340, filed on Dec. 1, 2014, granted, now 9,317,742, issued on Apr. 19, 2016.
Application 14/556,340 is a continuation of application No. 13/097,576, filed on Apr. 29, 2011, granted, now 8,904,308, issued on Dec. 2, 2014.
Application 13/097,576 is a continuation of application No. 11/861,904, filed on Sep. 26, 2007, granted, now 7,937,667, issued on May 3, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/896,134, filed on Mar. 21, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/902,280, filed on Feb. 20, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/901,514, filed on Feb. 13, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/900,282, filed on Feb. 8, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/879,619, filed on Jan. 10, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/850,700, filed on Oct. 10, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/847,502, filed on Sep. 27, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2024/0046706 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06V 40/20 (2022.01); B60K 35/00 (2024.01); B60K 35/10 (2024.01); B60K 35/22 (2024.01); B60K 35/28 (2024.01); B60K 35/60 (2024.01); B60K 35/81 (2024.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01); B60R 11/02 (2006.01); G01C 21/26 (2006.01); G01C 21/36 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01); G06F 3/04842 (2022.01); G06F 3/16 (2006.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); G06V 20/58 (2022.01); G06V 20/59 (2022.01); H04M 1/60 (2006.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01); H04N 23/63 (2023.01)
CPC G06V 40/28 (2022.01) [B60K 35/00 (2013.01); B60K 35/10 (2024.01); B60R 1/12 (2013.01); B60R 11/02 (2013.01); B60R 11/0235 (2013.01); B60R 11/0241 (2013.01); G01C 21/265 (2013.01); G01C 21/3611 (2013.01); G01C 21/3614 (2013.01); G01C 21/3644 (2013.01); G01C 21/3664 (2013.01); G01C 21/3688 (2013.01); G06F 3/01 (2013.01); G06F 3/017 (2013.01); G06F 3/16 (2013.01); G06V 20/58 (2022.01); G06V 20/588 (2022.01); G06V 20/59 (2022.01); G06V 20/597 (2022.01); H04M 1/6091 (2013.01); H04N 7/183 (2013.01); H04N 23/63 (2023.01); B60K 35/22 (2024.01); B60K 35/28 (2024.01); B60K 35/60 (2024.01); B60K 35/81 (2024.01); B60K 2360/126 (2024.01); B60K 2360/135 (2024.01); B60K 2360/143 (2024.01); B60K 2360/1438 (2024.01); B60K 2360/146 (2024.01); B60K 2360/1526 (2024.01); B60K 2360/173 (2024.01); B60K 2360/21 (2024.01); B60K 2360/777 (2024.01); B60R 2001/1253 (2013.01); B60R 2001/1284 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0026 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0033 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0063 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0075 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0085 (2013.01); B60R 2300/105 (2013.01); B60R 2300/207 (2013.01); B60R 2300/303 (2013.01); B60R 2300/802 (2013.01); B60R 2300/806 (2013.01); B60R 2300/8093 (2013.01); G01C 21/362 (2013.01); G01C 21/3629 (2013.01); G01C 21/3632 (2013.01); G01C 21/367 (2013.01); G01C 21/3682 (2013.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01); G06F 3/04842 (2013.01)] 51 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular driver monitoring system, the vehicular driver monitoring system comprising:
an interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driver monitoring system;
wherein the interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly comprises a prismatic mirror reflective element;
wherein the prismatic mirror reflective element comprises a prismatic glass substrate, the prismatic glass substrate having a planar front glass surface and a transflector-coated planar rear glass surface;
wherein the transflector-coated planar rear glass surface of the prismatic glass substrate is spaced from the planar front glass surface of the prismatic glass substrate by a thickness dimension of the prismatic glass substrate;
wherein the transflector-coated planar rear glass surface of the prismatic glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element (i) transmits visible light and (ii) reflects visible light;
wherein the transflector-coated planar rear glass surface of the prismatic glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element transmits near infrared light;
wherein the interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing;
wherein a circumferential perimeter glass edge circumscribes a periphery of the prismatic glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element, the circumferential perimeter glass edge spanning the thickness dimension of the prismatic glass substrate spacing the planar front glass surface from the transflector-coated planar rear glass surface;
wherein no portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front glass surface of the prismatic glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element;
wherein a portion of the mirror casing circumscribes the circumferential perimeter glass edge circumscribing the periphery of the prismatic glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element;
a camera disposed at the interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly;
wherein the camera comprises a CMOS image sensor;
wherein the CMOS image sensor comprises a photosensor array that senses both visible light and near infrared illumination;
wherein the camera is disposed behind the prismatic mirror reflective element and views through the transflector-coated planar rear glass surface of the prismatic glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element into an interior cabin of the equipped vehicle;
wherein supplemental sources of near infrared illumination are disposed at the interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly, and wherein the supplemental sources of near infrared illumination disposed at the interior prismatic rearview mirror assembly are operable to emit near infrared light to illuminate at least a driver-side front seating area within the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle;
wherein presence of the camera disposed behind the prismatic mirror reflective element and viewing through the transflector-coated planar rear glass surface of the prismatic glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element is not readily apparent to an occupant of the equipped vehicle;
wherein the camera is operable to capture image data;
a processor that processes image data captured by the camera;
wherein the camera at least (a) views the driver-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle and (b) views a passenger-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera, a driver of the equipped vehicle seated at the driver-side front seating area within the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle is monitored.