Patent ID: 8059867

Claim:
A detection system for detecting objects on vehicle seats in a vehicle, the detection system comprising: an image capturing device having a predetermined viewing angle and being mounted to the vehicle to direct the viewing angle in a predetermined direction so that the viewing angle provides a predetermined angular field of view; a projecting mechanism having a single predetermined viewing angle that is larger than the predetermined viewing angle of the image capturing device to provide a single predetermined angular field of view that is wider than the predetermined angular field of view of the image capturing device, the projection mechanism being mounted to the vehicle to be disposed within the narrower field of view of the image capturing device and to direct the projecting mechanism viewing angle in a single predetermined direction different than that of the direction in which the predetermined viewing angle of the image capturing device is directed and so that vehicle seat portions otherwise outside the image capturing device predetermined field of view are within the wider field of view of the projecting mechanism and images thereof are projected to the image capturing device by the projecting mechanism, the projecting mechanism being configured so that the images within the wider field of view thereof are projected to the image capturing device without requiring warping correction; a safety device of the vehicle for protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of emergency conditions; and a controller that receives and analyzes image information from the image capturing device for actuation of the safety device, wherein the image capturing device comprises a camera, and the projecting mechanism comprises a prism, and wherein the controller is configured to approximate a portion of a profile of an object or occupant on a seat in the predetermined viewing angle of the projecting mechanism and which is hidden from view.