The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 19, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 14, 2003
David S. Breed, Miami Beach, FL (US);
Wilbur E. Duvall, Reeds Spring, MO (US);
Wendell C. Johnson, Kaneohe, HI (US);
Tie-qi Chen, Windsor, CA;
David S. Breed, Miami Beach, FL (US);
Wilbur E. DuVall, Reeds Spring, MO (US);
Wendell C. Johnson, Kaneohe, HI (US);
Tie-Qi Chen, Windsor, CA;
Automotive Technologies International Inc., Denville, NJ (US);
Abstract
Optical classification method for classifying an occupant in a vehicle by acquiring images of the occupant from a single camera and analyzing the images acquired from the single camera to determine a classification of the occupant. The single camera may be a digital CMOS camera, a high-power near-infrared LED, and the LED control circuit. It is possible to detect brightness of the images and control illumination of an LED in conjunction with the acquisition of images by the single camera. The illumination of the LED may be periodic to enable a comparison of resulting images with the LED on and the LED off so as to determine whether a daytime condition or a nighttime condition is present. The position of the occupant can be monitored when the occupant is classified as a child, an adult or a forward-facing child restraint.