US-12623516-B2 - Driver monitoring system with an electro-optic sun visor

US12623516B2US 12623516 B2US12623516 B2US 12623516B2US-12623516-B2

Abstract

A monitoring system for an automobile includes at least one illumination source that is configured to project a first illumination type towards a driver location. At least one imaging device is configured to capture the first illumination type at the driver location. A visor assembly includes a stowed position and an articulated position. The visor assembly in the articulated position obscures at least part of the first illumination type from the driver location. An electro-optic device is located in the visor assembly and is configured to switch between a transmissive state and a darkened state. The first illumination type passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state and the darkened state, and a second illumination type passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state but is blocked in the darkened state.

Inventors

Steven J. Veenman

Assignees

GENTEX CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231205

Claims (16)

1 . A monitoring system for an automobile comprising: an illumination source located in a rearview mirror assembly and configured to project a first illumination type within an infrared or a near-infrared spectrum towards a driver location; an imaging device configured to capture the first illumination type at the driver location; a visor assembly including an outer perimeter and having a front surface opposite a rear surface, the visor assembly moveable relative to the imaging device between a stowed position and an articulated position, the articulated position obscuring at least part of the first illumination type from the driver location; and an electro-optic device located in the visor assembly on a first side of the visor assembly that is closest to the rearview mirror assembly but spaced from the second side of the visor assembly that is opposite the first side and at least partially defining the front and rear surfaces, the electro-optic device configured to switch between a transmissive state and a darkened state, wherein the first illumination type passes through the portions of the front and rear surfaces defined by the electro-optic device in the transmissive state and the darkened state and a second illumination type passes through the portions of the front and rear surfaces defined by the electro-optic device in the transmissive state but is blocked in the darkened state.
2 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the second illumination type includes illumination in a visible spectrum.
3 . The monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the electro-optic device is configured to be automatically inactive in the transmissive state when the visor assembly is in the stowed position.
4 . The monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the electro-optic device is configured to be automatically electrically-activated in the darkened state when the visor assembly is in the articulated position.
5 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic device is spaced from the second side of the visor assembly furthest from the rearview mirror assembly by at least ⅛ of a distance between the first side and the second side.
6 . The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is located in the rearview mirror assembly.
7 . A monitoring system for an automobile comprising: an illumination source located in a rearview mirror assembly and configured to project a first illumination type within an infrared or a near-infrared spectrum towards a driver location; an imaging device configured to capture the first illumination type at the driver location; a visor assembly including an outer perimeter, the visor assembly including a stowed position and an articulated position, the articulated position obscuring at least part of the first illumination type from the illumination source in the rearview mirror assembly; and an electro-optic device located in the visor assembly on a first side of the visor assembly that is closest to the rearview mirror assembly but spaced from the second side of the visor assembly that is opposite the first side, the electro-optic device is configured to switch between a transmissive state and a darkened state, wherein the first illumination type passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state and the darkened state and a second illumination type within a visible spectrum passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state but is blocked in the darkened state.
8 . The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the electro-optic device is configured to be inactive in the transmissive state when the visor assembly is in the stowed position.
9 . The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the electro-optic device is configured to be electrically-activated in the darkened state when the visor assembly is in the articulated position.
10 . The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the imaging device is located in the rearview mirror assembly.
11 . The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the electro-optic device is spaced from the second side of the visor assembly furthest from the rearview mirror assembly by at least ⅛ of a distance between the first side and the second side.
12 . The monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the electro-optic device is spaced from the second side of the visor assembly furthest from the rearview mirror assembly by at least ¼ of a distance between the first side and the second side.
13 . A monitoring system for an automobile comprising: an illumination source located in a rearview mirror assembly and configured to project a first illumination type within an infrared or near-infrared spectrum towards a driver location; an imaging device configured to capture the first illumination type at the driver location; a visor assembly including an outer perimeter, the visor assembly including a stowed position and an articulated position, the articulated position obscuring at least part of the first illumination type from the driver location; a sensor configured to detect if the visor assembly is in the stowed position or the articulated position; and an electro-optic device located in the visor assembly on a first side of the visor assembly that is closest to the rearview mirror assembly but spaced from the second side of the visor assembly that is opposite the first side, the electro-optic device is configured to switch between a transmissive state and a darkened state, wherein the first illumination type passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state and the darkened state and a second illumination type within a visible spectrum passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state but is blocked in the darkened state.
14 . The monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the electro-optic device is spaced from the second side of the visor assembly furthest from the rearview mirror assembly by at least ⅛ of a distance between the first side and the second side.
15 . The monitoring system of claim 14 , wherein the electro-optic device is spaced from the second side of the visor assembly furthest from the rearview mirror assembly by at least ¼ of a distance between the first side and the second side.
16 . The monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the imaging device is located in the rearview mirror assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/433,518, filed on Dec. 19, 2022, entitled “DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM WITH AN ELECTRO-OPTIC SUN VISOR,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to a monitoring system, and more particularly to a monitoring system within a vehicle with an electro-optic sun visor. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a monitoring system for an automobile includes an illumination source that is configured to project a first illumination type towards a driver location. An imaging device is configured to capture the first illumination type at the driver location. A visor assembly includes a stowed position and an articulated position. The visor assembly in the articulated position obscures at least part of the first illumination type from the driver location. An electro-optic device is located in the visor assembly and is configured to switch between a transmissive state and a darkened state. The first illumination type passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state and the darkened state, and a second illumination type passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state but is blocked in the darkened state. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a monitoring system for an automobile includes an illumination source configured to project a first illumination type within an infrared or a near-infrared spectrum towards a driver location. An imaging device is configured to capture the first illumination type at the driver location. A visor assembly includes a stowed position and an articulated position, the articulated position obscuring at least part of the first illumination type from the driver location. An electro-optic device is located in the visor assembly and configured to switch between a transmissive state and a darkened state. The first illumination type passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state and the darkened state and a second illumination type within the visible spectrum passes through the electro-optic device in the transmissive state but is blocked in the darkened state. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a monitoring system for an automobile includes an illumination source configured to project a first illumination type towards a driver location. An imaging device is configured to capture the first illumination type at the driver location. A visor assembly includes a stowed position and an articulated position, the articulated position obscuring at least part of the first illumination type from the driver location. A sensor is configured to detect if the visor assembly is in the stowed position or the articulated position. An electro-optic device is in operable communication with the sensor and located in the visor assembly. A filter is located in the visor assembly, the filter is configured to transmit the first illumination type and block a second illumination type. These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings: FIG. 1 is an interior perspective view of an automobile with a monitoring system that includes a visor assembly in a stowed position according to one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is an interior perspective view of an automobile with a monitoring system that includes a visor assembly in an articulated position according to one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a visor assembly in a transmissive state according to one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a visor assembly in a darkened state according to one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a control system of a monitoring system according to one aspect of the present disclosure; and FIG. 6 is a method flow chart of a process of utilizing a driver monitoring system that includes a visor assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a monitoring system within a vehicle with an electro-optic sun visor. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the descr