In-vehicle camera system

1. A camera system for a vehicle, the camera system comprising:

a control interface configured to receive an input from a vehicle occupant and generate a first signal;

a plurality of cameras, including:

a first rear camera and a second rear camera, each configured to capture video of a rear seat area of an interior of the vehicle; and

a front camera configured to capture video of a vehicle driver;

a plurality of displays, including:

a first rear display and a second rear display configured to output video to the rear seat area of the interior of the vehicle;

a front display configured to output video to the vehicle driver; and

a controller in communication with the control interface, the plurality of cameras and the plurality of displays, and the controller being configured to:

receive the first signal from the control interface;

actuate the first rear camera to capture a first image;

actuate the second rear camera to capture a second image;

associate an identity of a rear seat occupant with one of the first image and the second image;

compare the first image and the second image;

generate a second signal based on whichever of the first rear camera and the second rear camera provides a more direct image of the rear seat occupant;

output the video to the front display from whichever of the first rear camera and the second rear camera provides a more direct image of the rear seat occupant based on the second signal;

actuate the front camera to capture video of the vehicle driver; and

output the video of the vehicle driver to whichever of the first rear display and second rear display is more visible to the rear seat occupant based on the second signal.

2. The camera system of claim 1 , further including:

a weight sensor configured to detect an applied weight and generate a weight signal, wherein the controller is configured to actuate at least one camera of the plurality of cameras based on the weight signal.

3. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of cameras is configured to be positioned on a headrest of the vehicle.

4. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the first rear camera is substantially directed toward the front of the vehicle, and wherein the second rear camera is substantially directed toward the back of the vehicle.

5. The camera system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a microphone configured to capture audio from the interior of the vehicle and to responsively generate an audio signal directed to the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to actuate at least one of the plurality of cameras based on the audio signal.

6. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the front display includes a head-up display projected on a windshield, and wherein the controller is configured to output the video to the head-up display.

7. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to display the video to the front display for a pre-determined time period.

8. A method for displaying an interior of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a vehicle occupant with a control interface and responsively generating a first signal;

receiving the first signal in a controller;

detecting occupants of the vehicle, including a rear seat occupant;

actuating, via the controller, a first rear camera to capture a first image;

actuating, via the controller, a second rear camera to capture a second image;

associating an identity of the rear seat occupant with one of the first image and the second image;

comparing the first image and the second image;

generating, via the controller, a second signal based on whichever of the first rear camera and the second rear camera provides a more direct image of the rear seat occupant;

capturing video of the rear seat occupant from whichever of the first rear camera and second rear camera provides the more direct image of the rear seat occupant based on the second signal;

displaying the video of the rear seat occupant to a vehicle driver;

actuating, via the controller, a front camera to capture video of the vehicle driver; and

displaying the video of the vehicle driver to whichever of a first rear display and a second rear display is more visible to the rear seat occupant based on the second signal.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detecting includes:

sensing a weight applied to a seat and responsively generating a weight signal;

receiving the weight signal in the controller, wherein the actuating the first rear camera and the second rear camera is based on the weight signal.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein

the first rear camera is substantially directed toward a front of the vehicle, and

the second rear camera is substantially directed toward a back of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the displaying the video of the rear seat occupant to the vehicle driver includes projecting the video on a windshield of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

capturing audio from the interior of the vehicle with a microphone and responsively generating an audio signal; and

actuating the first rear camera and second rear camera based on the audio signal.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the video of the rear seat occupant is only displayed for a pre-determined time period.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting at least one of the first rear camera and the second rear camera based on the position of the occupant.

15. A vehicle operated by a driver comprising:

a camera system including:

a control interface configured to receive an input from a vehicle occupant and generate a first signal;

a plurality of cameras, including:

a first rear camera and a second rear camera, each configured to capture video of a rear seat area of an interior of the vehicle; and

a front camera configured to capture video of a vehicle driver;

a plurality of displays, including:

a first rear display and a second rear display configured to output video to the rear seat area of the interior of the vehicle;

a front display configured to output video to the vehicle driver; and

a controller in communication with the control interface, the plurality of cameras and the plurality of displays, and the controller being configured to:

receive the first signal from the control interface;

actuate the first rear camera to capture a first image;

actuate the second rear camera to capture a second image;

associate an identity of a rear seat occupant with one of the first image and the second image;

compare the first image and the second image;

generate a second signal based on whichever of the first rear camera and the second rear camera provides a more direct image of the rear seat occupant;

output the video to the front display from whichever of the first rear camera and the second rear camera provides a more direct image of the rear seat occupant based on the second signal;

actuate the front camera to capture video of the vehicle driver; and

output the video of the vehicle driver to whichever of the first rear display and second rear display is more visible to the rear seat occupant based on the second signal.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform a method of displaying an interior of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a vehicle occupant and responsively generating a first signal;

receiving the first signal in a controller;

detecting additional occupants within the vehicle, including a rear seat occupant;

actuating, via the controller, a first rear camera to capture a first image;

actuating, via the controller, a second rear camera to capture a second image;

associating an identity of the rear seat occupant with one of the first image and the second image;

comparing the first image and the second image;

generating, via the controller, a second signal based on whichever of the first rear camera and the second rear camera provides a more direct image of the rear seat occupant;

capturing video of the rear seat occupant from whichever of the first rear camera and second rear camera provides the more direct image of the rear seat occupant based on the second signal;

displaying the video of the rear seat occupant to a vehicle driver;

actuating, via the controller, a front camera to capture video of the vehicle driver; and

displaying the video of the vehicle driver to whichever of a first rear display and a second rear display is more visible to the rear seat occupant based on the second signal.