IP Library › Granted Patent US 12668197
Granted Patent B2
US 12668197 · App. 18/650,235 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Vehicular cabin monitoring system

Inventors: Shrestha Priya (Bihar, IN); Krishnanand Hindoddi (Karnataka, IN); Veeranagouda Salmani (Karnataka, IN)
Assignee: Magna Eletronics Inc.
B60R11/04B60R2001/1223
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668197
App. No.
18/650,235
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes a radiation sensing device disposed at an interior portion of an interior cabin of a vehicle and capturing sensor data representative of electromagnetic radiation present at the radiation sensing device. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes a data processor operable to process sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device. The vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on processing at the ECU of sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device, determines an electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle. The vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on the determined electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle being greater than a threshold electromagnetic radiation level, generates an alert to a driver of the vehicle.

Claims (49)

1 . A vehicular cabin monitoring system, the vehicular cabin monitoring system comprising:

a radiation sensing device disposed at an interior portion of an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular cabin monitoring system, wherein the radiation sensing device is operable to capture sensor data representative of electromagnetic radiation present at the radiation sensing device;

an electronic control unit (ECU);

wherein sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device is transferred to the ECU;

wherein the ECU comprises electronic circuitry and associated software, and wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a data processor operable to process sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device;

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on processing at the ECU of sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device, determines an electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on the determined electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle being greater than a threshold electromagnetic radiation level, generates an alert to a driver of the vehicle; and

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on processing at the ECU of sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device, determines a baseline electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the threshold electromagnetic radiation level comprises a multiple of the determined baseline electromagnetic radiation level.

2 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system adjusts the threshold electromagnetic radiation level.

3 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the threshold electromagnetic radiation level is adjusted based on a geographical location of the vehicle.

4 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the threshold electromagnetic radiation level is adjusted based on determination of an age categorization of an occupant present in the vehicle that is one selected from the group consisting of (i) a child, (ii) a pet animal and (iii) an elderly person.

5 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein determination of the age categorization of the occupant present in the vehicle is performed by an occupant monitoring system of the vehicle.

6 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the generated alert comprises a progressive alert, and wherein a level of the progressive alert is adjusted based on the determined electromagnetic radiation level.

7 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the generated alert comprises a message displayed at a display device of the vehicle.

8 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the generated alert comprises an audio tone played within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

9 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation sensing device is accommodated within an overhead console module of the vehicle.

10 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation sensing device is accommodated within an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

11 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the determined electromagnetic radiation level is a level of infrared radiation within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

12 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the determined electromagnetic radiation level is a level of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radar sensor within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

13 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system is operable to determine radiation emitted by a mobile device within the interior cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on the determined radiation emitted by the mobile device being greater than a threshold radiation level, generates the alert to the driver of the vehicle.

14 . A vehicular cabin monitoring system, the vehicular cabin monitoring system comprising:

a radiation sensing device disposed at an interior portion of an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular cabin monitoring system, wherein the radiation sensing device is operable to capture sensor data representative of electromagnetic radiation present at the radiation sensing device;

wherein the radiation sensing device is accommodated within an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle;

an electronic control unit (ECU);

wherein sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device is transferred to the ECU;

wherein the ECU comprises electronic circuitry and associated software, and wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a data processor operable to process sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device;

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on processing at the ECU of sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device, determines an electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on the determined electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle being greater than a threshold electromagnetic radiation level, generates an alert to a driver of the vehicle; and

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system adjusts the threshold electromagnetic radiation level based on a geographical location of the vehicle.

15 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 14 , wherein the generated alert comprises a progressive alert, and wherein a level of the progressive alert is adjusted based on the determined electromagnetic radiation level.

16 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 14 , wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on processing at the ECU of sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device, determines a baseline electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the threshold electromagnetic radiation level comprises a multiple of the determined baseline electromagnetic radiation level.

17 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 14 , wherein the determined electromagnetic radiation level is a level of infrared radiation within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

18 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 14 , wherein the determined electromagnetic radiation level is a level of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radar sensor within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

19 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 14 , wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system is operable to determine radiation emitted by a mobile device within the interior cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on the determined radiation emitted by the mobile device being greater than a threshold radiation level, generates the alert to the driver of the vehicle.

20 . A vehicular cabin monitoring system, the vehicular cabin monitoring system comprising:

a radiation sensing device disposed at an interior portion of an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular cabin monitoring system, wherein the radiation sensing device is operable to capture sensor data representative of electromagnetic radiation present at the radiation sensing device;

an electronic control unit (ECU);

wherein sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device is transferred to the ECU;

wherein the ECU comprises electronic circuitry and associated software, and wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a data processor operable to process sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device;

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on processing at the ECU of sensor data captured by the radiation sensing device, determines an electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on the determined electromagnetic radiation level within the interior cabin of the vehicle being greater than a threshold electromagnetic radiation level, generates an alert to a driver of the vehicle;

wherein the threshold electromagnetic radiation level is adjusted based on determination of an age categorization of an occupant present in the vehicle; and

wherein the generated alert comprises a progressive alert, and wherein a level of the progressive alert is adjusted based on the determined electromagnetic radiation level.

21 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 20 , wherein the age categorization of the occupant present in the vehicle is one selected from the group consisting of (i) a child, (ii) a pet animal and (iii) an elderly person.

22 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 21 , wherein determination of the age categorization of the occupant present in the vehicle is performed by an occupant monitoring system of the vehicle.

23 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 20 , wherein the radiation sensing device is accommodated within one selected from the group consisting of (i) an overhead console module of the vehicle and (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

24 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 20 , wherein the determined electromagnetic radiation level is a level of infrared radiation within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

25 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 20 , wherein the determined electromagnetic radiation level is a level of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radar sensor within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

26 . The vehicular cabin monitoring system of claim 20 , wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system is operable to determine radiation emitted by a mobile device within the interior cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular cabin monitoring system, based on the determined radiation emitted by the mobile device being greater than a threshold radiation level, generates the alert to the driver of the vehicle.