Optical occupant sensing techniques

A vehicle including a system for ascertaining the identity of an object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the system comprising

• a first image receiver arranged at a first location in the vehicle for obtaining a first two-dimensional view of a portion of the passenger compartment including the object;
• a second image receiver arranged at a second location in the vehicle for obtaining a second two-dimensional view of the same portion of the passenger compartment, said second image receiver being arranged relative to said first image receiver such that three dimensions of the portion of the passenger compartment are encompassed by said first and second images;
• and
• a processor coupled to said first and second image receivers and that receives images from said first and second image receivers and ascertains the identity of the object based on the images obtained from both said first image receiver and said second image receiver.

A method for ascertaining the identity of an object in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

• obtaining using a first imaging system, a first image of a portion of the passenger compartment covering first and second dimensions of the passenger compartment;
• obtaining using a first imaging system, a second image of the same portion of the passenger compartment covering the first dimension and a third dimension of the passenger compartment such that all three dimensions of the portion of the passenger compartment are encompassed by the first and second images obtained by the first and second imaging systems;
• and
• ascertaining using a processor, the identity of the object in the passenger compartment based on the first and second images obtained by the first and second imaging systems.