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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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.

Abstract: An electronic controller of a restraint control system for a vehicle comprises an electronic control unit including a first serial interface. The electronic controller also comprises a communications controller including a second serial interface and a plurality of PSI5 (Peripheral Sensor Interface 5) digital communications interfaces. Each of the first and second serial interfaces are Serial Peripheral Interfaces (SPI) in direct communications with one another, and the digital communications interfaces are each configured to communicate with a remote sensor. The communications controller is configured to transmit a voltage sync pulse to each of the remote sensors via the PSI5 digital communications interfaces in response to a synchronization command received from the electronic control unit via the serial interconnection. The voltage sync pulses on each of the PSI5 interfaces may be staggered and non-overlapping to reduce EMI production and to reduce the current load of the electronic controller.

Abstract: A squib driver circuit for deployment of a deployable restraint in a vehicle. The safety restraint may have a minimum firing voltage. The voltage regulator may regulate the input voltage to be the minimum firing voltage at the input terminal. The squib driver circuit may be formed on a single chip. The squib driver circuit may include a high side driver and a low side driver. An input terminal for receiving an input voltage used to fire the deployable restraint. The high side driver may supply current from the input terminal to the deployable restraint. The low side driver may supply current from deployable restraint to the electrical ground.

Abstract: Waveguide and/or antenna structures for use in RADAR sensor assemblies and the like. In some embodiments, an antenna module may comprise a waveguide and an antenna structure, such as one or more slots/slits operably coupled with the waveguide groove. The antenna structure may be positioned and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide therethrough. A plurality of tapering surfaces may be formed along the antenna structure. Each of the plurality of tapering surfaces may be formed so as to alternate between opposing sides of the antenna structure and be spaced apart from each adjacent tapering surface of the plurality of tapering surfaces.

Abstract: A system for diagnosing a squib loop in a restraint control module. The system may include a first amplifier, a capacitor, a second amplifier. The first amplifier may have a first input connected to a first side of the squib and a second input connected to a second side of the squib. The output of the first amplifier may generate an output voltage corresponding to the voltage drop across the squib. The capacitor may be connected in series with the output of the first amplifier and the output of the first amplifier may be connected to a first side of the capacitor. The second amplifier having a first input connected to a second side of the capacitor. A second input of the second amplifier may be connected to a reference voltage. The second amplifier may be configured with a feedback loop to generate a gain output.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, a radar system with blockage detection is provided. The radar system includes a first antenna for receiving first signals and a second antenna for receiving second signals. Input circuitry processes the first signals to generate first input signals and processes the second signals to generate second input signals. A processor computes a correlation between the first input signals and the second input signals, determines a correlation variance related to variation in the correlation, and generates a determination as to whether the radar system is blocked using the correlation variance.

Abstract: A system for testing a subject transistor with constant power. The system may include an amplifier, a measurement voltage source, and a exercise voltage source. The amplifier may have an output connected to a gate of the subject transistor. The amplifier may have a first input and a second input. The measurement voltage source may be connected to the first input of the amplifier for use in measuring characteristics of the subject transistor. The exercise voltage source may be connected to the first input of the amplifier for exercising the subject transistor. The second input of the amplifier may be connected to a source of the subject transistor through a resistor.

Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing a squib loop in a restraint control module using a transient response is disclosed in the present application. The system may be used with a low energy actuator (LEA) which is primarily an inductive device. A diagnostic current may be applied to the squib loop for a diagnostic test period and the voltage between the feed line terminal and the return line terminal or the voltage between the return line terminal and the feed line terminal can be monitored at a specific time or times during the test period for the expected response (e.g. peak voltage, rise rate, etc). The current may also be reversed to check the correct polarity of a diode in the LEA.