# US 10,769,434 B2 · Mirror assembly incorporating a scanning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,769,434 B2 - Document ID: US10769434B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/372,875 - Filed: 2016-12-08 - Published: 2017-06-22 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-22 - Assignees: Gentex Corporation - Applicants: Gentex Corporation - Inventors: Andrew D. Weller; Nigel T. Lock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769434B2 ## CPC - G06V 40/19: Sensors therefor - B60R 1/04: mounted inside vehicle {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} - B60R 1/12: Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks - B60R 16/0231: {Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P)} - G02F 1/15: based on an electrochromic effect - G02F 1/1533: {structural features not otherwise provided for} - G02F 1/157: Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06V 20/59: inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions - G06V 40/197: {Matching; Classification} - H04N 23/21: from near infrared [NIR] radiation - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - B60R 2001/1253: {with cameras, video cameras or video screens} - G02F 1/153: Constructional details - G02F 2001/15145: {the electrochromic layer comprises a mixture of anodic and cathodic compounds} - G02F 2001/1536: {additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell} - G02F 2201/58: Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The disclosure provides for a scanning apparatus. The scanning apparatus may be disposed in a vehicle mirror assembly. The mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic element comprising a first substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, and a second substrate comprising a third surface and a fourth surface. The mirror assembly further comprises an image sensor directed toward the fourth surface and configured to capture image data of an object through the electrochromic element. A light source is disposed proximate the fourth surface and configured to transmit an emission through the electrochromic element. The image sensor is configured to capture the image data to identify at least one passenger of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scanning apparatus comprising: an electrochromic element comprising: a first substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface; a second substrate comprising a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate form a cavity wherein a transflective dielectric coating comprising alternating layers of a plurality of high refractive index (H) materials and a plurality of low refractive index (L) materials is disposed on one of the third surface and the fourth surface; and an electrochromic medium contained in the cavity; an image sensor directed toward the fourth surface and configured to capture image data of an object through the electrochromic element; a light source directed toward the fourth surface and configured to transmit an emission comprising detection light an a near infrared spectrum comprising a wavelength of light from 800 nm to 940 nm through the electrochromic element, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture the image data to identify a subject in the image data; and a display disposed proximate the fourth surface, wherein the display is configured to present the image data output from the first surface, wherein the image data demonstrates the object in the image data configured to identify the subject and the image data output from the first surface is transmitted in a visible range of wavelengths comprising an average visible transmittance of at least 20% over a visible range of wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm, and wherein a near infrared transmittance of the detection light through the electrochromic element is greater than the average visible transmittance through the electrochromic element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first surface corresponds to a viewing side of the mirror assembly and the fourth surface is directed into a housing of the mirror assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The scanning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture the image data in a field of view directed outward from the first surface and through the electrochromic element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object corresponds to an eye of a passenger of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to emit light in a near infrared (NIR) range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The scanning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the image sensor and the light source, wherein the controller is configured to: process the image data to identify the subject in the image data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The scanning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to: communicate an authorization signal to a vehicle control module to control one or more vehicle functions based on the identity of the subject, wherein the subject corresponds to a passenger of an automotive vehicle. ### Claim 8 A method for identifying a vehicle passenger comprising: emitting detection light in a near infrared spectrum comprising a wavelength of light from 800 nm to 940 nm from a scanning apparatus; transmitting the detection light outward through an electrochromic element comprising a transflective dielectric coating; receiving the detection light as reflected light reflected from a subject proximate the scanning apparatus; transmitting the reflected light through the electrochromic element and the transflective dielectric element; capturing the reflected light in the form of image data; emitting display light demonstrating the image data and transmitting the display light over a range of visible wavelengths through the electrochromic element, wherein the range of visible wavelengths comprises an average visible transmittance of at least 20% over a visible range of wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm, and wherein a near infrared transmittance of the detection light through the electrochromic elements is greater than the visible transmittance through the electrochromic element; and processing the image data to generate an identification of the subject. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: authenticating an identity of the subject based on the identification. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: communicating the authentication to a vehicle control module, wherein the vehicle control module is configured to control a vehicle operation in response to the authentication. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising: controlling a reflectance of a mirror element with the electrochromic element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: controlling an electrical potential delivered to the electrochromic element thereby controlling the reflectance of the mirror element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the display light transmitted through the electrochromic element depicts a portion of the subject required for the identification. ### Claim 14 A vehicle passenger identification system comprising: an electrochromic element comprising: a first substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface; a second substrate comprising a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate form a cavity wherein a transflective dielectric coating comprising alternating layers of a plurality of high refractive index (H) materials and a plurality of low refractive index (L) materials is disposed on one of the third surface and the fourth surface; and an electrochromic medium contained in the cavity; an image sensor directed toward the fourth surface and configured to capture image data of an object through the electrochromic element, wherein the electrochromic element is configured to transmit an emission of near infrared light; and a video display configured to emit visible light disposed proximate to the fourth surface and configured to transmit the visible light over a range of visible wavelengths, wherein the range of visible wavelengths comprises an average visible transmittance of at least 20% over a visible range from 400 nm to 700 nm through the electrochromic element and wherein the visible transmittance through the electrochromic element comprises a shift in a green-red color coordinate (a*) and blue-yellow color coordinate (b*) of less than 5, wherein the image sensor is configured to capture the image data to identify at least one passenger of the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a first emitter disposed on a first side of the image sensor and a second emitter disposed on a second side of the image sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the near infrared light comprises a wavelength of approximately 800 nm to 940 nm.