IP Library Patent Application 17699995
Patent Application
App. No. 17/699,995

IN-CABIN MONITORING SYSTEM

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
17/699,995
Abstract

An in-cabin monitoring system includes an electronic mirror provided inside a vehicle cabin, a camera that captures an image of an imaging target inside the vehicle cabin, and a light source that is provided in the electronic mirror and emits light into the vehicle cabin. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, and at least one light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed such that optical axes of the one or more light emitting diodes extend in directions different from a direction of an optical axis of an other light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes.

Claims (45)

1 . An in-cabin monitoring system comprising:

an electronic mirror provided inside a vehicle cabin;

a camera that captures an image of an imaging target inside the vehicle cabin; and

a light source that is provided in the electronic mirror and emits light into the vehicle cabin, wherein

the light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, and

at least one light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed such that an optical axis of the at least one light emitting diode extends in a direction different from a direction of an optical axis of an other light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes.

2 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein

the light source further includes a substrate on which the plurality of light emitting diodes are mounted, and

the at least one light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed on the substrate at an orientation different from an orientation of the other light emitting diode.

3 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 2 , wherein

the substrate includes a curved surface, and

the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed on the curved surface of the substrate.

4 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic mirror includes:

a casing including an opening; and

a liquid crystal panel provided in the opening, and

the camera and the light source are disposed inside the casing.

5 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 4 , wherein

the camera is disposed inside the casing with the camera fixed to a support member provided in the vehicle cabin,

the electronic mirror is rotatable relative to the support member, and

the light source rotationally moves along with rotation of the electronic mirror.

6 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein

the light source includes a plurality of light emitting diode groups each including one or more of the plurality of light emitting diodes, and

the plurality of light emitting diode groups are each supplied with power via a different power line.

7 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller that controls the camera, the electronic mirror, and the light source, wherein

the controller recognizes brightness of a plurality of regions of the imaging target based on an image captured by the camera and controls emission of light by the plurality of light emitting diodes in accordance with the brightness of the plurality of regions.

8 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller that controls the camera, the electronic mirror, and the light source, wherein

the controller causes, of the plurality of light emitting diodes, a light emitting diode of which the optical axis is oriented toward the imaging target to emit light more intensely than a light emitting diode of which the optical axis is not oriented toward the imaging target.

9 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller that controls the camera, the electronic mirror, and the light source, wherein

the controller causes, of the plurality of light emitting diodes, a light emitting diode of which the optical axis is not oriented toward the imaging target to emit light less intensely than a light emitting diode of which the optical axis is oriented toward the imaging target.

10 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller that controls the camera, the electronic mirror, and the light source, wherein

the controller causes, of the plurality of light emitting diodes, a light emitting diode closest to the imaging target to emit light more intensely than a light emitting diode farthest from the imaging target.

11 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller that controls the camera, the electronic mirror, and the light source, wherein

when one or more light emitting diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed close to fields of view of a lens in the camera, the controller lowers emission intensity of the one or more light emitting diodes disposed close to the fields of view of the lens.

12 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed outside fields of view of a lens in the camera.

13 . The in-cabin monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein

the light source includes a first light source and a second light source,

optical axes of at least one light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes included in the first light source extend in a direction of a driver's seat, and

optical axes of at least one light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes included in the second light source extend in a direction of a passenger seat.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066709/0702 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2022
From: MINO, YOSHITERU; TAKAHASHI, HIDEKI; HOTANI, TATSUKI; TAKENAKA, SHINJI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061219/0118 →