Abstract: A driver monitoring system of a vehicle includes: an infrared (IR) camera configured to capture an image of a driver on a driver's seat within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; an IR light source that is disposed between the IR camera and the driver, that is optically coaxial with the IR camera, and that is configured to output IR light to the driver; a gaze module configured to determine a gaze of the driver based on the image from the IR camera; and a monitor module configured to determine whether a location where the gaze of the driver intersects a vertical plane in front of the driver is within an area on the vertical plane.

Abstract: A radar sensor module includes a substrate, at least one transmit antenna formed on a surface of the substrate, and at least one receive antenna formed on the surface of the substrate. A radome is disposed over the surface of the substrate and the at least one transmit antenna and the at least one receive antenna, such that a gap is located between the surface of the substrate and an underside of the radome in which a portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna can propagate. At least one trench is formed in the underside of the radome and is electromagnetically coupled to the gap, the at least one trench being sized, shaped and positioned with respect to the gap such that the portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna is substantially prevented from propagating toward the receiving antenna.

Abstract: An example system includes an infrared emitter to output infrared light towards a target, where the infrared light reflects from the target to produce reflected infrared light, and a detector to receive the reflected infrared light and to provide a signal based on the reflected infrared light. The system also includes a lighting system that includes a light emitter to output visible light, a mirror configured (i) to allow the visible light to pass through the mirror and to reflect the reflected infrared light onto the detector, or (ii) to allow the reflected infrared light to pass through the mirror and onto the detector and to reflect the visible light, and one or more optical elements configured to affect the visible light and the reflected infrared light.

Abstract: An example system includes a light source coated with a phosphor layer, a laser emitter to output a laser beam, and a controller to control a direction of the laser beam so that the laser beam hits a location on the phosphor layer. The laser beam excites the location on the phosphor layer to produce a spotlight at the location.

Abstract: A driver monitoring system of a vehicle includes: a camera configured to capture an image of a driver on a driver's seat within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a gaze module configured to determine a gaze vector based on a direction of pupils of the driver in the image; an area module configured to determine an area on a vertical plane in front of the driver based on a road in front of the vehicle; a location module configured to determine a location on the vertical plane where the gaze vector intersects the vertical plane; and a monitor module that determines whether the location on the vertical plane where the gaze vector intersects the vertical plane is within the area on the vertical plane.

Abstract: Waveguides and related assemblies for use, for example, in RADAR sensor assemblies and the like. In some embodiments, the waveguide may comprise a conductive member having a first plurality of posts arranged in a first row thereon. A second plurality of posts may be arranged in a second row on the conductive member to define a waveguide between the first plurality of posts and the second plurality of posts. One or more platforms may be provided to project at least a subset of the first plurality of posts and the second plurality of posts beyond at least a portion of the conductive member adjacent to the one or more platforms. A second conductive member, such as a cover, may be coupled to the conductive member such that the first and second pluralities of posts extend between the conductive member and the cover.

Abstract: A non-contact body temperature detection system of a vehicle includes: a thermography camera configured to generate an image of a user within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a head detection module configured to determine a first area of the image including a head of the user; an eye detection module configured to determine a second area of the first area of the image including an eye of the user; a tear duct detection module configured to determine a third area of the second area of the image including a tear duct of the user; a temperature module configured to determine a body temperature of the user based on pixels of the third area of the image; and an indicator module configured to indicate whether the user has an elevated body temperature when the body temperature of the user is greater than a temperature threshold.

Abstract: A system comprising a radar device and a mobile device. The radar device may be configured to operate when a vehicle is turned off, detect a presence of a person in the vehicle, determine an age range of the person detected and generate an alert signal in response to a presence signal and determining that the age range of the person detected corresponds to a child. The mobile device may be configured to communicate the presence signal to the radar device and determine a movement of the mobile device. The radar device may determine a distance of the mobile device from the vehicle in response to the presence signal. The radar device may suppress the alert signal when the distance of the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the vehicle and the mobile device is moving.

Abstract: Antenna structures and assemblies for use in RADAR sensor assemblies and the like. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a feed waveguide comprising one or more feeding slots and a parallel plate waveguide operably coupled with the feed waveguide such that each of the one or more feeding slots of the feed waveguide is configured to inject electromagnetic energy into the parallel plate waveguide. A plurality of radiating slots may be formed in a plurality of rows and/or columns extending away from the feed waveguide to deliver electromagnetic energy out of the antenna assembly.

Abstract: A method for detecting seatbelt positioning comprises: capturing, by a camera, a source image including a plurality of pixels each having a corresponding brightness level; determining a range of brightness levels of a group of the plurality of pixels located within at least one region of the source image; generating an adjusted image by adjusting the corresponding brightness levels of the group of the pixels located within the region of the source image based on the range of the brightness levels of the group of the plurality of pixels located within the at least one region of the source image; converting the adjusted image to a black-and-white image; and scanning across the black-and-white image to detect a plurality of transitions between black and white segments corresponding to a predetermined pattern of the seatbelt, and using detections of the plurality of transitions to indicate a detection of the seatbelt.

Abstract: A driver monitoring system of a vehicle includes: an infrared (IR) camera configured to, via a windshield, capture an image of a driver on a driver's seat within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and an IR light source configured to transmit IR light directly toward the driver and the driver's seat.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a radar component and a temperature sensor. The radar component may be configured to detect a presence of a person in a vehicle and determine an age range of the person detected. The temperature sensor may be configured to determine an ambient temperature in the vehicle and operate independently from a heating and cooling system of the vehicle. The apparatus may be configured to operate when the vehicle is turned off. A processor may be configured to determine an urgency level in response to the age range of the person detected and the ambient temperature. The processor may be configured to generate escalating actions in response to the urgency level.

Abstract: A system includes: a first camera configured to capture first images of a driver on a driver's seat within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a second camera configured to capture second images in front of the vehicle; a driver module configured to determine a driver and a present rank of the driver; a module configured to detect a condition based on at least one of (a) a first image, (b) a second image, and (c) a parameter measured by a sensor; a reinforcement module configured to: display the present rank within the passenger cabin; generate an output within the passenger cabin in response to the detection of the condition; when no conditions are detected, increment a rank period of the driver; selectively increase the present rank of the driver; and generate an alert within the passenger cabin in response to the increasing of the present rank.

Abstract: Waveguide and/or antenna assemblies for RADAR sensor assemblies/modules, particularly those for vehicles. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a waveguide block defining one or more waveguides, each waveguide defined by a waveguide groove. In some embodiments, at least a portion of at least one waveguide groove is non-straight, such as meandering/oscillating back and forth. An antenna structure may be operably coupled with the one or more waveguides, which structure may comprise an array of one or more slots. In some embodiments, a single, elongated slot of the one or more slots may extend along an axis of each waveguide groove for delivering electromagnetic radiation from a corresponding waveguide of the one or more waveguides therethrough.

Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicle includes a headlight configured to emit a light beam along an optical path and into an environment. The illumination system includes an optical element having a body comprising four sides. The optical element is positioned along the optical path and configured to redirect the light beam. The illumination system includes a front lens positioned along the optical path and configured to receive the light beam from the optical element and collimate the light beam as the light beam passes into the environment. The optical element is configured to move around an optical element axis to translate the light beam relative to an azimuth plane of the environment.

Abstract: A restraint control system of a vehicle includes: a position module configured to determine positions of seats within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a restraint control module configured to, in response to detection of a collision of the vehicle: select which ones of the restraints of the vehicle to activate based on the positions of the seats; activate the selected restraints of the vehicle; and not activate non-selected ones of the restraints.

Abstract: A driver monitoring system of a vehicle includes: a camera configured to capture an image of a driver on a driver's seat within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a gaze module configured to determine a gaze vector based on a direction of pupils of the driver in the image; an area module configured to determine an area on a vertical plane in front of the driver based on a road in front of the vehicle; a location module configured to determine a location on the vertical plane where the gaze vector intersects the vertical plane; and a monitor module that determines whether the location on the vertical plane where the gaze vector intersects the vertical plane is within the area on the vertical plane.

Abstract: A sensing system includes a sensor with transmitters and detectors. A light source is optically coupled to a light guide disposed in the field of view of the sensor. The light guide is generally planar and the light source illuminates the light guide from an edge, or side, to illuminate the length of the light guide. A housing for the sensing system has a surface configured to reflect or diffract light from the light source towards the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A radar sensor includes a housing, cover, and a plurality of transmit and receive antennas. The housing includes a cavity retaining a processing board. The cover defines a radome having a recess into the cavity with two separate and connected areas. The transmit and receive antennas are positioned on the processing board, adjacent to, and separated by a gap from, the recess. The transmit antennas are configured to transmit RF signals through the first area of the recess. The receive antennas are configured to receive RF signals returning through the second area of the recess.

Abstract: An electronic system for a vehicle includes: a first module including: a first circuit board having a predetermined form factor; a first module on the first circuit board and including a plurality of pins; a first electrical connector disposed on a first surface of the first circuit board and including a plurality of pins; and a plurality of electrical conductors connecting the pins of the first electrical connector with the pins of the first module, respectively; and a second module including: a second circuit board having the predetermined form factor; a second module on the second circuit board and including a plurality of pins; a second electrical connector disposed on a first surface of the second circuit board and including a plurality of pins, the second electrical connector coupled to the first electrical connector.