Abstract: Various implementations relate to an operator monitoring system (OMS). Certain implementations include an OMS coupled to a rotatable portion of a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle. For example, the OMS may include an imaging unit, such as a camera, that is coupled to a central hub portion of the steering wheel assembly. The imaging unit has a field of view directed toward one or more occupants in the vehicle and is configured to capture an image signal corresponding to an imaging area in the field of view. The imaging area can be configured to encapsulate an expected position of one or more vehicle occupants. The OMS also includes one or more processing units in electrical communication with the imaging unit that receives and processes the image signal from the imaging unit to determine an occupant state and, in some implementations, provide feedback based on the determined occupant state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system of detecting seat belt operation in a vehicle includes at least one light source configured to emit a predetermined wavelength of light onto structures within the vehicle, wherein at least one of the structures is a passenger seat belt assembly having a pattern that reflects the predetermined wavelength at a preferred luminance. At least one 3-D time of flight camera is positioned in the vehicle to receive reflected light from the structures in the vehicle and provide images of the structures that distinguish the preferred luminance of the pattern from other structures in the vehicle. A computer processor connected to computer memory and the camera includes computer readable instructions causing the processor to reconstruct 3-D information in regard to respective images of the structures and calculate a depth measurement of the distance of the reflective pattern on the passenger seat belt assembly from the camera.

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.