Reconfigurable reflective surfaces for interior sensing

A system for controlling signal propagation in a wireless vehicle interior sensing system, the method comprising:

• a transmitter implemented in an interior of a vehicle and configured to transmit wireless signals;
• a plurality of configurable reflective surfaces implemented in the vehicle and configured to reflect at least a portion of the wireless signals transmitted by the transmitter
• a first receiver configured to receive the wireless signals, wherein the wireless signals include wireless signals conveyed via a line of sight between the transmitter and the first receiver, and the portion of wireless signals reflected using the plurality of configurable reflective surfaces;
• and
• a control system coupled to the transmitter, the first receiver, and the plurality of configurable reflective surfaces, wherein the control system is configured to:
• compare data generated based on receiving the wireless signals conveyed via the line of sight to data generated based on the portion of the wireless signals reflected using the plurality of configurable reflective surfaces;
• determine a sensing state based on the comparing, wherein to determine the sensing state, the control system is configured to determine a presence in the interior of the vehicle;
• and
• adjust operating parameters of the transmitter based on the sensing state, wherein the operating parameters of the transmitter include controlling a direction of beams of wireless signals transmitted by the transmitter.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instruction that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to carry out the following operations:

• causing transmission of wireless signals using a transmitter implemented in an interior of a vehicle and reception of the wireless signals at a first receiver, wherein the wireless signals as received by the first receiver include wireless signals conveyed via a line of sight between the transmitter and the first receiver and wireless signals reflected using a plurality of configurable reflective surfaces;
• comparing data generated based on receiving the wireless signals conveyed via the line of sight to data generated based on the portion of the wireless signals reflected using the plurality of configurable reflective surfaces;
• determining a sensing state based on the comparing, wherein the sensing state includes a number of occupants in the interior of the vehicle;
• and
• adjusting operating parameters of the transmitter and the plurality of configurable reflective surfaces based on the sensing state, wherein the operating parameters of the transmitter include controlling a direction of beams of wireless signals transmitted by the transmitter, and wherein the operating parameters of the plurality of configurable reflective surfaces include a frequency selectivity of the reflective surfaces.