Patents by Inventor Austen C. Peterson
Austen C. Peterson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240124014Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly within a cabin of a vehicle and viewing a driver operating of the vehicle. Image data captured by the camera is transferred to and is processed at an electronic control unit (ECU). The vehicular driver monitoring system, via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera, determines posture of the driver operating the vehicle. The vehicular driver monitoring system, based at least in part on a comparison between the determined posture of the driver and a proper posture stored in memory, determines improper posture of the driver. The proper posture stored in memory is determined based at least in part on a determined head position of the driver relative to the interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson
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Publication number: 20240075878Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head that accommodates a prismatic mirror reflective element. A camera is accommodated by the mirror head. The mirror reflective element is adhesively attached at a mirror back plate of the mirror head. An optically clear adhesive (OCA) and a neutral density (ND) filter are disposed between the mirror back plate and a mirror reflector coating disposed at a rear side of the mirror reflective element. The camera views through (i) the OCA, (ii) the ND filter, (iii) the mirror reflector coating of the mirror reflective element, and (iv) the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. With the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at an interior portion of a vehicle, image data captured by the camera is processed at an electronic control unit (ECU) for a cabin monitoring function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventor: Austen C. Peterson
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Publication number: 20240042930Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head adjustable about a mounting base configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head and moves in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted relative to the mounting base to adjust a driver's rearward view. At least one near infrared light emitter is accommodated by the mirror head and is operable to emit near infrared light toward a head region of the driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by the driver monitoring camera is processed to determine driver attentiveness and/or driver drowsiness. The vehicular vision system may adjust processing of the captured image data to accommodate adjustment of the mirror head when the driver adjusts the mirror head to adjust his or her rearward view.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
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Patent number: 11890990Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head accommodating an interior mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element has a mirror transflector that transmits near infrared light incident thereon, transmits visible light incident thereon and reflects visible light incident thereon. A camera is disposed within the mirror head and views through the mirror transflector. The camera includes an imaging sensor having a quantum efficiency (QE) of at least 15% for near infrared light having a wavelength of 940 nm. First, second and third near infrared illumination sources are disposed within the mirror head and operable to emit near infrared light that passes through the mirror transflector. The near infrared illumination sources are at respective locations at the mirror reflective element and, when powered, illuminate respective seat regions for a driver-monitoring function or an occupant-detection function.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2023Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Ian A McCabe, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20240025344Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attaching at an interior portion of an equipped vehicle and having a having a mirror head accommodating a driver monitoring camera and first and second near infrared light emitters. When the equipped vehicle is a left hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the first near infrared light emitters is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the left hand drive vehicle when the first near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for a driver monitoring function. When the equipped vehicle is a right hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the right hand drive vehicle when the second near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for the driver monitoring function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Patent number: 11851080Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera disposed in a cabin of a vehicle and viewing a driver operating of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and provides captured image data to an electronic control unit (ECU). The vehicular driver monitoring system, via processing captured image data at the ECU, determines posture of the driver operating the vehicle. Responsive to the determined posture of the driver being indicative of at least a threshold degree of improper posture, the vehicular driver monitoring system generates an alert to the driver that the driver has improper posture.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson
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Publication number: 20230339404Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2022Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Publication number: 20230331158Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head accommodating an interior mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element has a mirror transflector that transmits near infrared light incident thereon, transmits visible light incident thereon and reflects visible light incident thereon. A camera is disposed within the mirror head and views through the mirror transflector. The camera includes an imaging sensor having a quantum efficiency (QE) of at least 15% for near infrared light having a wavelength of 940 nm. First, second and third near infrared illumination sources are disposed within the mirror head and operable to emit near infrared light that passes through the mirror transflector. The near infrared illumination sources are at respective locations at the mirror reflective element and, when powered, illuminate respective seat regions for a driver-monitoring function or an occupant-detection function.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Ian A. McCabe, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 11780370Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head so as to move in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted relative to the mounting base to adjust a driver's rearward view. At least one near infrared light emitter is accommodated by the mirror head and is operable to emit near infrared light toward a head region of the driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by the driver monitoring camera is processed to determine driver attentiveness and/or driver drowsiness. The vehicular driver monitoring system adjusts processing of the captured image data to accommodate adjustment of the mirror head when the driver adjusts the mirror head to adjust his or her rearward view.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.Inventors: Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
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Patent number: 11780372Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignees: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Publication number: 20230158955Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base. The mirror head includes a prismatic mirror reflective element having a wedge-shaped, reflector-coated glass substrate having a front side and a rear side separated by a thickness of the glass substrate, with the thickness of the glass substrate varying between a lower edge region of the glass substrate and an upper edge region of the glass substrate. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head and views through the prismatic mirror reflective element. A refraction-compensating element is disposed between a lens of the driver monitoring camera and the rear side of the glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element. The refraction-compensating element is a wedge-shaped element that offsets refraction of light that passes through the wedge-shaped, reflector coated glass substrate of the prismatic mirror reflective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2022Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Zhongyao Liu, Justin E. Sobecki, Jonathan D. Conger, Steven V. Byrne, Austen C. Peterson
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Publication number: 20230137004Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having an interior mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element has a mirror transflector that transmits near-IR light incident thereon, transmits visible light incident thereon and reflects visible light incident thereon. The mirror assembly includes a camera disposed within the mirror head and viewing through the mirror transflector. The camera includes an imaging sensor having a quantum efficiency (QE) of at least 15% for near-infrared (near-IR) light having a wavelength of 940 nm. The mirror assembly further includes first, second and third near-IR illumination sources disposed within the mirror head and operable to emit near-IR light that passes through the mirror transflector. The near-IR illumination sources are at respective angles relative to a planar front surface of the mirror reflective element and, when powered, illuminate respective in-cabin regions for a driver monitoring function or an occupant detection function.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Ian A. McCabe, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
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Patent number: 11639134Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head having an interior mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element has a mirror transflector that transmits near-IR light incident thereon, transmits visible light incident thereon and reflects visible light incident thereon. The mirror assembly includes a camera disposed within the mirror head and viewing through the mirror transflector. The camera includes an imaging sensor having a quantum efficiency (QE) of at least 15% for near-infrared (near-IR) light having a wavelength of 940 nm. The mirror assembly further includes first, second and third near-IR illumination sources disposed within the mirror head and operable to emit near-IR light that passes through the mirror transflector. The near-IR illumination sources are at respective angles relative to a planar front surface of the mirror reflective element and, when powered, illuminate respective in-cabin regions for a driver monitoring function or an occupant detection function.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Ian A. McCabe, Rodney K. Blank, Niall R. Lynam
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Publication number: 20230131471Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen, James A. Ruse, Yuesheng Lu, Martin Solar
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Publication number: 20230078512Abstract: A vehicular accessory system includes an overhead console configured to mount at an interior portion of a vehicle, and an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head mounted via mounting structure at the overhead console. The overhead console includes a base portion configured to attach at the interior portion of the vehicle to mount the overhead console at the interior portion and an extending portion that, with the overhead console mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, extends from the base portion along and spaced from a headliner of the vehicle. The overhead console includes a light source that, with the overhead console mounted at the interior portion of the vehicle, and when electrically operated to emit light, light emitted by the light source illuminates a surface at the interior portion of the vehicle above the overhead console.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Austen C. Peterson, Yuesheng Lu
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Publication number: 20230017715Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head so as to move in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted relative to the mounting base to adjust a driver's rearward view. At least one near infrared light emitter is accommodated by the mirror head and is operable to emit near infrared light toward a head region of the driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by the driver monitoring camera is processed to determine driver attentiveness and/or driver drowsiness. The vehicular driver monitoring system adjusts processing of the captured image data to accommodate adjustment of the mirror head when the driver adjusts the mirror head to adjust his or her rearward view.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
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Patent number: 11465561Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head so as to move in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted relative to the mounting base to adjust a driver's rearward view. A forward viewing camera is accommodated by the mounting base so as to have a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield. A processor is operable to process image data captured by the driver monitoring camera to determine (i) driver attentiveness, (ii) driver drowsiness and/or (iii) driver gaze direction. The processor adjusts processing of the image data captured by the driver monitoring camera to accommodate adjustment of the mirror head when the driver adjusts the mirror head to adjust his or her rearward view.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
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Publication number: 20220242438Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera disposed in a cabin of a vehicle and viewing a driver operating of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and provides captured image data to an electronic control unit (ECU). The vehicular driver monitoring system, via processing captured image data at the ECU, determines posture of the driver operating the vehicle. Responsive to the determined posture of the driver being indicative of at least a threshold degree of improper posture, the vehicular driver monitoring system generates an alert to the driver that the driver has improper posture.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Austen C. Peterson
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Publication number: 20210323473Abstract: A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head so as to move in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted relative to the mounting base to adjust a driver's rearward view. A forward viewing camera is accommodated by the mounting base so as to have a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield. A processor is operable to process image data captured by the driver monitoring camera to determine (i) driver attentiveness, (ii) driver drowsiness and/or (iii) driver gaze direction. The processor adjusts processing of the image data captured by the driver monitoring camera to accommodate adjustment of the mirror head when the driver adjusts the mirror head to adjust his or her rearward view.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Austen C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen