Occupant monitoring device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10564522-B2
Application number	US-201816196363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2018
Priority date	Nov 21, 2017
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

An occupant monitoring device images a driver in a vehicle by an imager, projects light toward a driver seat side by an illuminator, controls operation of the imager and the illuminator by a controller, monitors the driver, based on a captured image by the imager, and outputs a monitoring result. A main board on which the controller is mounted is contained in a housing, and a sub-board is held by a lid body configured to close an opening of the housing. The main board and the sub-board are electrically connected so that the imager and the illuminator mounted on the sub-board face the driver seat side. A water preventing cover covers the sub-board, the lid body, and the housing from the driver seat side, the water preventing cover having a transmitting portion configured to transmit projected light from the illuminator and reflected light from the driver.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An occupant monitoring device comprising:
an imager configured to image an occupant of a vehicle;
an illuminator configured to project light toward an occupant side; and
a controller configured to control operation of the imager and the illuminator, and monitor the occupant, based on an image captured by the imager to output a monitoring result,
wherein the occupant monitoring device further comprises:
a first board on which the controller is mounted;
a second board on which the imager and the illuminator are mounted;
a housing configured to contain the first board;
a lid body configured to close an opening of the housing and hold the second board on a side opposite to the first board so that the imager and the illuminator face the occupant side;
connection wiring penetrating the lid body, and electrically connecting the first board and the second board; and
a water preventing cover configured to cover the second board, the connection wiring, the lid body, and the housing from the occupant side, and transmit projected light from the illuminator and reflected light from the occupant.

2. The occupant monitoring device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the opening of the housing is a containing port of the first board opened upward,
wherein the first board is contained in the housing with a plate surface thereof oriented horizontally,
wherein the second board is held by the lid body with a plate surface thereof oriented vertically so that the second board is located above a center of the first board, and
wherein the water preventing cover also covers the second board from above.

3. The occupant monitoring device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the water preventing cover has:
a horizontal portion covering an upper surface of the lid body;
an upper protruding portion protruding upward continuously from the horizontal portion to cover the second board; and
a hanging portion hanging continuously from the horizontal portion to cover a gap between respective side surfaces of the lid body and the housing, the respective side surfaces facing the occupant side.

4. The occupant monitoring device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the water preventing cover has a transmitting portion configured to transmit the projected light and the reflected light, and
wherein the transmitting portion is formed into a flat plate shape.

5. The occupant monitoring device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the transmitting portion is a separate body from the other portions of the water preventing cover, and is fitted in a through hole formed in the water preventing cover.

6. The occupant monitoring device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the housing has a heat radiator configured to radiate heat generated from the controller and retained in the first board, and
wherein the heat radiator is provided on a side opposite to the second board with respect to the first board, and is not covered with the water preventing cover.

Assignees

• Hirota Satoshi
• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Hirota Satoshi

Classifications

• G03B17/08 Primary

  Waterproof bodies or housings · CPC title

• G03B17/55

  with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft · CPC title

• B60R2300/8006

  for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo · CPC title

• G03B15/03

  Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units · CPC title

• H04N5/2252

  Electricity · mapped topic