Systems and methods for monitoring vehicle occupants

A method comprising:

• capturing, using a focal plane array (FPA) of an infrared imaging device, thermal images comprising pixels representing thermal radiation variations in at least a portion of an interior compartment of a vehicle, wherein the infrared imaging device is mounted in or on the vehicle so that the at least a portion of the interior compartment is within a field of view (FOV) of the infrared imaging device;
• analyzing the thermal radiation variations represented in the pixels of the thermal images;
• detecting one or more regions-of-interest (ROIs) in the thermal images based on the analysis of the thermal radiation variations;
• analyzing geometric and thermal properties of the one or more detected ROIs;
• determining, by a processor based on the analysis of the geometric and thermal properties of the detected ROIs, a count of one or more occupants present in the portion of the interior compartment and approximate sizes and/or positions of the one or more occupants;
• generating, by the processor, a control signal for an adjustable component of the vehicle based on the determination of the count and the approximate sizes and/or the positions of the one or more occupants;
• and
• providing the control signal to the adjustable component.

A vehicle-mountable infrared camera system comprising:

• an infrared imaging device configured to be mounted in an interior compartment of a vehicle, the infrared imaging device comprising a focal plane array (FPA) and configured to capture thermal images comprising thermal radiation variations in a portion of the interior compartment within a field of view (FOV);
• a processor configured to:
• analyze the thermal radiation variations represented in pixels of the thermal images;
• detect one or more regions-of-interest (ROIs) in the thermal images based on the analysis of the thermal radiation variations;
• analyze geometric and thermal properties of the one or more detected ROIs;
• determine, based on the analysis of the geometric and thermal properties, a count of one or more occupants present in the portion of the interior compartment and approximate sizes and/or positions of the one or more occupants;
• and
• generate a control signal for an adjustable component of the vehicle based on the determination of the count and the approximate sizes and/or the positions of the one or more occupants;
• and
• a network interface controller (NIC) configured to manage wired and/or wireless communications with the adjustable component of the vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the control signal to the adjustable component via the NIC.