Patent ID: 8093544
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A passenger detecting apparatus installed on a ceiling of an automobile for detecting a state of a passenger residing within a compartment of said automobile, comprising: light emitting means for emitting light rays in a substantially horizontal direction; beam forming means for transforming the light rays emitted from said light emitting means into a collimated light beam or alternatively a converged light beam in a substantially horizontal direction; downward reflecting means for reflecting said light beam in a direction toward a region covering a lower seat disposed within said compartment, wherein said downward reflecting means does not rotate; light receiving means for receiving said light beam scattered upon striking on the passenger to thereby detect the state of said passenger; and a substrate disposed substantially horizontally, wherein said light emitting means includes a light emitting element mounted on said substrate and so disposed as to emit a light beam substantially vertically relative to said substrate; and an optical system for bending the direction of a light beam emitted from said light emitting element to a substantially horizontal direction.