Patent ID: 6947575
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: B60R,G06T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for determining a characteristic of an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: means for collecting a first two-dimensional image of an occupant location while the occupant location is subject to a first lighting condition, the first lighting condition including lighting from ambient light; means for providing a pattern of light onto the occupant location, the pattern of light having an intensity that is less than an intensity of the ambient light; means for collecting a second two-dimensional image of the occupant location while the occupant location is subject to the first lighting condition and the provided pattern of light; means for generating a third image of the occupant location indicative of a difference between the first and second two-dimensional images; and means for analyzing the pattern of light in the third image to determine a three-dimensional characteristic of the occupant.