Vehicular driver monitoring system

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

• an interior rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein the interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head adjustably disposed at a mounting base that is configured to attach the interior rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driver monitoring system;
• wherein the interior rearview mirror head accommodates an interior rearview mirror reflective element;
• a megapixel camera accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head;
• wherein the megapixel camera comprises an imaging sensor having an at least 2.3 megapixel imaging array of photosensors arranged in columns and rows of photosensors;
• wherein the imaging sensor has a quantum efficiency (QE) of at least 22% for near-infrared (near-IR) light having a wavelength of 940 nm;
• a near-infrared illumination source accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head;
• wherein the near-infrared illumination source, when powered, emits near-infrared light;
• an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in the equipped vehicle at a location remote from and distanced from the interior rearview mirror head that accommodates the megapixel camera and the near-infrared illumination source;
• wherein image data captured by the megapixel camera accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head is serialized by a serializer that is part of electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head and is provided as digital serial data via a wired connection connecting electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head of the interior rearview mirror assembly with electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU);
• wherein the wired connection comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a coaxial cable and (ii) shielded twisted pair cabling;
• wherein electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU) comprises circuitry operable to process image data captured by the megapixel camera that is provided as digital serial data via the wired connection between electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head and electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU);
• wherein digital serial data provided via the wired connection from the interior rearview mirror head to the electronic control unit (ECU) is deserialized at the electronic control unit (ECU) and is processed at a data processor that is part of the electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU);
• wherein data communication between electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head and electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU) is bidirectional;
• wherein the interior rearview mirror reflective element and the megapixel camera and the near-infrared illumination source move in tandem with the interior rearview mirror head when, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, the interior rearview mirror head is adjusted by a driver of the equipped vehicle to set a rearward view of the interior rearview mirror reflective element for the driver;
• and
• wherein, with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle and with the interior rearview mirror head adjusted by the driver to set the rearward view of the interior rearview mirror reflective element for the driver, (i) the megapixel camera views at least the eyes of the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is seated at a front driver seat region of the equipped vehicle and (ii) the near-infrared illumination source, when powered to emit near-infrared light, illuminates at least the eyes of the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is seated at the front driver seat region of the equipped vehicle.

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

• an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly;
• wherein the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior rearview mirror head adjustably disposed at a mounting base that is configured to attach the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driver monitoring system;
• wherein the interior rearview mirror head accommodates an interior rearview mirror electrochromic reflective element;
• a megapixel camera accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head;
• wherein the megapixel camera comprises a backside Illumination (BSI) imaging sensor having an at least 2.3 megapixel imaging array of photosensors arranged in columns and rows of photosensors;
• wherein the backside Illumination (BSI) imaging sensor has a quantum efficiency (QE) of at least 22% for near-infrared (near-IR) light having a wavelength of 940 nm;
• a near-infrared illumination source accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head;
• wherein the near-infrared illumination source, when powered, emits near-infrared light;
• an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in the equipped vehicle at a location remote from and distanced from the interior rearview mirror head that accommodates the megapixel camera and the near-infrared illumination source;
• wherein image data captured by the megapixel camera accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head is serialized by a serializer that is part of electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head and is provided as digital serial data via a wired connection connecting electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head of the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly with electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU);
• wherein the wired connection comprises a coaxial cable;
• wherein electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU) comprises circuitry operable to process image data captured by the megapixel camera that is provided as digital serial data via the wired connection between electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head and electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU);
• wherein digital serial data provided via the wired connection from the interior rearview mirror head to the electronic control unit (ECU) is deserialized at the electronic control unit (ECU) and is processed at a data processor that is part of the electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU);
• wherein data communication between electronic circuitry accommodated by the interior rearview mirror head and electronic circuitry of the electronic control unit (ECU) is bidirectional;
• wherein the interior rearview mirror electrochromic reflective element and the megapixel camera and the near-infrared illumination source move in tandem with the interior rearview mirror head when, with the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly attached at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle, the interior rearview mirror head is adjusted by a driver of the equipped vehicle to set a rearward view of the interior rearview mirror electrochromic reflective element for the driver;
• and
• wherein, with the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly attached at the interior portion of the equipped vehicle and with the interior rearview mirror head adjusted by the driver to set the rearward view of the interior rearview mirror electrochromic reflective element for the driver, (i) the megapixel camera views at least the eyes of the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is seated at a front driver seat region of the equipped vehicle and (ii) the near-infrared illumination source, when powered to emit near-infrared light, illuminates at least the eyes of the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is seated at the front driver seat region of the equipped vehicle.