Vehicular cabin monitoring system using radar system

A vehicular radar sensing system, the vehicular radar sensing system comprising:

• a radar sensor disposed at a dashboard of a vehicle, wherein the radar sensor senses within the interior cabin of the vehicle;
• wherein the radar sensor transmits radio signals and receives radio signals;
• wherein radar data is captured based on the received radio signals;
• an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software;
• wherein captured radar data is provided to the ECU;
• wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises at least one data processor;
• wherein the ECU is operable to process captured radar data provided to the ECU;
• a reflector disposed at a headliner of the vehicle, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of radar-reflective portions;
• wherein each radar-reflective portion of the plurality of radar-reflective portions of the reflector reflects radio signals transmitted by the radar sensor toward a respective region of interest of a plurality of regions of interest within the interior cabin of the vehicle;
• wherein the received radio signals include radio signals that reflect off the plurality of radar-reflective portions of the reflector toward the radar sensor;
• and
• wherein the vehicular radar sensing system, via processing at the ECU of captured radar data, determines presence of an occupant of the vehicle at a region of interest of the plurality of regions of interest within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

A vehicular radar sensing system, the vehicular radar sensing system comprising:

• a radar sensor disposed at an interior cabin of a vehicle, wherein the radar sensor senses within the interior cabin of the vehicle;
• wherein the radar sensor transmits radio signals and receives radio signals;
• wherein radar data is captured based on the received radio signals;
• an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software;
• wherein captured radar data is provided to the ECU;
• wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises at least one data processor;
• wherein the ECU is operable to process captured radar data provided to the ECU;
• a reflector disposed at the interior cabin of the vehicle, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of radar-reflective portions;
• wherein each radar-reflective portion of the plurality of radar-reflective portions of the reflector reflects radio signals transmitted by the radar sensor toward a respective region of interest of a plurality of regions of interest within the interior cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the plurality of regions of interest comprises at least one seat of the vehicle;
• wherein the reflector comprises an active reflector, and wherein the active reflector adjusts one or more radar-reflecting elements of a plurality of radar-reflective elements of the reflector to adjust a reflecting direction of the transmitted radio signals incident at the one or more radar-reflective elements;
• wherein the received radio signals include radio signals that reflect off the plurality of radar-reflective portions of the reflector toward the radar sensor;
• and
• wherein the vehicular radar sensing system, via processing at the ECU of captured radar data, determines presence of an occupant of the vehicle at a region of interest of the plurality of regions of interest within the interior cabin of the vehicle.