Vehicular driver monitoring system

A vehicular driver monitoring system, the vehicular driver monitoring system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head pivotally adjustable about a mounting structure via a pivot joint, wherein the mounting structure is configured to attach at an interior portion of a cabin of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driver monitoring system;
• wherein the mirror head accommodates a mirror reflective element;
• wherein the mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate and a mirror reflector coating disposed at the glass substrate;
• a camera accommodated by the mirror head, wherein, with the mounting structure attached at the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the camera views within the cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the camera views through the mirror reflective element;
• a light emitter accommodated by the mirror head and operable, when electrically powered, to emit near infrared (NIR) light, wherein the light emitter is disposed within the mirror head and behind the mirror reflective element, and wherein the light emitter, when electrically powered, emits near infrared light that passes through the mirror reflective element;
• wherein the camera, the light emitter and the mirror reflective element move together and in tandem with the mirror head when, with the mounting structure attached at the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the mirror head is pivotally adjusted about the mounting structure to provide a rearward view for a driver of the vehicle;
• an electronic control unit (ECU) accommodated by the mirror head;
• wherein image data captured by the camera is transferred to the ECU;
• wherein the ECU comprises electronic circuitry and associated software, and wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera and transferred to the ECU;
• a magnetic sensing device that comprises (i) a magnetic hall effect sensor disposed at a first pivot element of the pivot joint and (ii) a magnet disposed at a second pivot element of the pivot joint;
• wherein, as the mirror head is pivotally adjusted about the mounting structure, the magnetic hall effect sensor and the first pivot element pivot relative to the magnet and the second pivot element;
• wherein the magnetic sensing device, based on movement of the magnetic hall effect sensor relative to the magnet, generates sensor data representative of an orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure;
• wherein the vehicular driver monitoring system, based on sensor data generated by the magnetic sensing device, determines orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure;
• and
• wherein, with the mounting structure attached at the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle, image data captured by the camera is transferred to and is processed at the ECU for monitoring of the driver of the vehicle, and wherein image processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera and transferred to the ECU is based at least in part on the determined orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure.

A vehicular driver monitoring system, the vehicular driver monitoring system comprising:

• an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror head pivotally adjustable about a mounting structure via a pivot joint, wherein the mounting structure is configured to attach at an interior portion of a cabin of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driver monitoring system;
• wherein the mirror head accommodates a mirror reflective element;
• wherein the mirror reflective element comprises a glass substrate and a mirror reflector coating disposed at the glass substrate;
• a camera accommodated by the mirror head, wherein, with the mounting structure attached at the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the camera views within the cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the camera does not view through the mirror reflector coating of the mirror reflective element;
• wherein the camera and the mirror reflective element move together and in tandem with the mirror head when, with the mounting structure attached at the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the mirror head is pivotally adjusted about the mounting structure to provide a rearward view for a driver of the vehicle;
• an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the vehicle remote from the mirror head;
• wherein image data captured by the camera is transferred to the ECU;
• wherein the ECU comprises electronic circuitry and associated software, and wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera and transferred to the ECU;
• a magnetic sensing device that comprises (i) a magnetic hall effect sensor disposed at a first pivot element of the pivot joint and (ii) a magnet disposed at a second pivot element of the pivot joint;
• wherein, as the mirror head is pivotally adjusted about the mounting structure, the magnetic hall effect sensor and the first pivot element pivot relative to the magnet and the second pivot element;
• wherein the magnetic sensing device, based on movement of the magnetic hall effect sensor relative to the magnet, generates sensor data representative of an orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure;
• wherein the vehicular driver monitoring system, based on sensor data generated by the magnetic sensing device, determines orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure;
• and
• wherein, with the mounting structure attached at the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle, image data captured by the camera is transferred to and is processed at the ECU for monitoring of the driver of the vehicle, and wherein image processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera and transferred to the ECU is based at least in part on the determined orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure.