Vehicle occupant photo-sensor matrix by which an image of monitored space recorded and compared with a reference image, uses several micro-lasers for space illumination

摘要

Sensor detects presence and position of object or person inside vehicle. It has light source (6) designed to illuminate space monitored. A photo-sensor (10) is designed to record image of monitored space, and processor (4) compares recorded image with at least a reference image. The light source includes several micro-lasers independently driven and each associated with an optical system (6) so as to transmit a beam (18) in a predetermined direction. The processor (4) records partial images visualized by the photo-sensor (10) and reconstitutes, by active triangulation, from these partial images a global three dimensional image. The parallel luminous sources and the photo-sensor matrix are placed on the same support in the same housing (12). The light source drive (8) and synchronizing unit are integrated on the same support as the light sources and photo-sensors. The illuminator (6) emits a beam in a field about 90 by 90 degrees, with a solid angle of pi radians. Each of the light sources is associated with a convergent lens of corresponding size.