CAMERA ASSEMBLY FOR A FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

1 . A camera assembly for a facial recognition system of a motor vehicle, the camera assembly comprising:

a cosmetic panel adapted to be attached to the motor vehicle, the cosmetic panel having an outboard side and an inboard side facing the motor vehicle, with the cosmetic panel being opaque to visible light and transmissive to an infrared light; and

a single infrared camera adapted to be disposed adjacent to the inboard side of the cosmetic panel for generating an image signal in response to the single infrared camera receiving the infrared light transmitted through cosmetic panel.

2 . The camera assembly of claim 1 wherein the cosmetic panel includes a peripheral edge defining a perimeter and an intermediate portion spaced from the perimeter, with the single infrared camera attached to the intermediate portion such that the cosmetic panel covers the infrared camera.

3 . The camera assembly of claim 2 further comprising a header for attaching the single infrared camera to the intermediate portion of the cosmetic panel.

4 . The camera assembly of claim 3 further comprising an infrared illuminator disposed adjacent to the single infrared camera for emitting the infrared light through the intermediate portion of the cosmetic panel, such that an object facing the outboard side of the cosmetic panel reflects the infrared light through intermediate portion to the infrared camera.

5 . The camera assembly of claim 4 wherein the cosmetic panel comprises a single-piece panel having an opacity that blocks visible light and a translucence for transmitting the infrared light.

6 . The camera assembly of claim 5 wherein the cosmetic panel comprises a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) material.

7 . The camera assembly of claim 5 wherein the cosmetic panel comprises a composite including at least one of germanium and silicon.

8 . A motor vehicle comprising:

a body;

a door attached to the body and movable between open and closed positions;

a lock device coupled to at least one of the door and the body, with the lock device movable to a locked state for holding the door in the closed position and an unlocked state where the door is movable to the open position;

an actuator for moving the lock device between the locked and unlocked states; and

a facial recognition system comprising:

a camera assembly including:

a cosmetic panel adapted to be attached to one of the door and the body, the cosmetic panel having an outboard side and an inboard side facing one of the door and the body, with the cosmetic panel being opaque to visible light and transmissive to an infrared light; and

a single infrared camera adapted to be disposed adjacent to the inboard side of the cosmetic panel for generating an image signal in response to the single infrared camera receiving the infrared light transmitted through cosmetic panel;

a processor coupled to the infrared camera;

a memory including instructions such that the processor is programmed to:

determine an image in response to the processor receiving the image signal from the infrared camera;

compare the image to at least one authorized image stored in the memory; and

generate an actuation signal in response to the processor determining that the image corresponds with the at least one authorized image;

wherein the actuator moves the lock device to the unlocked state in response to the actuator receiving the actuation signal from the processor.

9 . The motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the body comprises at least one of an A-pillar, a B-pillar, and a C-pillar, with the camera assembly attached to one of the A-pillar, the B-pillar, and the C-pillar.

10 . The motor vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a motor coupled to the processor, and the motor moves the door to the open position in response to the motor receiving the actuation signal from the processor.

11 . The motor vehicle of claim 9 wherein the cosmetic panel includes a peripheral edge defining a perimeter and an intermediate portion spaced from the perimeter, with the single infrared camera attached to the intermediate portion such that the cosmetic panel covers the infrared camera.

12 . The motor vehicle of claim 11 wherein the camera assembly further comprises a header for attaching the single infrared camera to the intermediate portion of the cosmetic panel.

13 . The motor vehicle of claim 12 wherein the camera assembly further comprises an infrared illuminator disposed adjacent to the single infrared camera for emitting the infrared light through the intermediate portion of the cosmetic panel, such that an object facing the outboard side of the cosmetic panel reflects the infrared light through intermediate portion to the infrared camera.

14 . The motor vehicle of claim 13 wherein the cosmetic panel comprises a single-piece panel having an opacity that blocks visible light and a translucence for transmitting the infrared light.

15 . The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the cosmetic panel comprises a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) material.

16 . The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the cosmetic panel comprises a composite including at least one of germanium and silicon.

17 . A method of operating a camera assembly of a facial recognition system for a motor vehicle, the camera assembly including a cosmetic panel having an outboard side and an inboard side facing the motor vehicle, and the camera assembly further including a single infrared camera adapted to be disposed adjacent to the inboard side of the cosmetic panel, the method comprising:

transmitting, using the cosmetic panel, an infrared light to the infrared camera;

blocking, using the cosmetic panel, a visible light from the infrared camera; and

generating, using the infrared camera, an image signal in response to the single infrared camera receiving the infrared light transmitted through cosmetic panel.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:

attaching, using a header, the single infrared camera to an intermediate portion of the cosmetic panel that is spaced from a perimeter of the cosmetic panel; and

covering, using the cosmetic panel, the infrared camera.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising emitting, using an infrared illuminator, the infrared light through the intermediate portion of the cosmetic panel, such that an object facing the outboard side of the cosmetic panel reflects the infrared light through intermediate portion to the infrared camera.

20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising:

determining, using a processor, an image in response to the processor receiving the image signal from the infrared camera;

comparing, using the processor, the image to at least one authorized image stored in a memory;

generating, using the processor, an actuation signal in response to the processor determining that the image corresponds with the at least one authorized image; and

moving the locked device to the unlocked state in response to the lock device receiving the actuation signal from the processor.