# US 12,759,466 B2 · Vehicular driver monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,466 B2 - Document ID: US12759466B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/533,243 - Filed: 2023-12-08 - Published: 2024-06-13 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-09 - Assignees: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Applicants: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki; Austen C. Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759466B2 ## CPC - B60R 1/29: for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo - 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 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - B60R 2001/1253: {with cameras, video cameras or video screens} - B60R 2011/0085: {with adjustment by rotation in their operational position} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head adjustable about a mounting structure. A mirror reflective element and a camera are accommodated by the mirror head and the mirror reflective element and camera move together and in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted. A magnetic sensing device generates sensor data representative of an orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure. The system, based on the sensor data generated by the magnetic sensing device, determines orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure. With the mounting structure attached at the vehicle, image data captured by the camera is processed for monitoring of the driver of the vehicle, and image processing of image data is based at least in part on the determined orientation of the mirror head relative to the mounting structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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; 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); 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the camera views through the mirror reflector coating of the mirror reflective element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first pivot element comprises a ball member and the second pivot element comprises a socket element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure comprises the first pivot element and the mirror head comprises the second pivot element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 1, comprising a light emitter accommodated by the mirror head and movable together and in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is pivotally adjusted about the mounting structure, wherein the light emitter is operable, when electrically powered, to emit near infrared (NIR) light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the light emitter comprises a plurality of near infrared light emitting diodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 5, 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the ECU is accommodated by the mirror head. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the mirror head comprises a chin portion at a lower edge region of the mirror head, and wherein the camera is at least partially accommodated by the chin portion of the mirror head. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the camera does not view through the mirror reflector coating of the mirror reflective element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle comprises an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the camera views through the mirror reflector coating of the mirror reflective element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the mounting structure comprises the first pivot element of the pivot joint and the mirror head comprises the second pivot element of the pivot joint. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the light emitter comprises a plurality of near infrared light emitting diodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle comprises an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 17, comprising a light emitter accommodated by the mirror head and movable together and in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is pivotally adjusted about the mounting structure, wherein the light emitter is operable, when electrically powered, to emit near infrared (NIR) light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the light emitter comprises a plurality of near infrared light emitting diodes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 18, 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the mirror head comprises a chin portion at a lower edge region of the mirror head, and wherein the camera is at least partially accommodated by the chin portion of the mirror head. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The vehicular driver monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle comprises an in-cabin side of a windshield of the vehicle.