Patent · US Expired

Vehicle control system and method

US6302545A · kind A · utility

452Cited by
62References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 8, 1999
Grant dateOct 16, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 8, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N2013/0081
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle control system and method includes structure and steps for capturing an image of a front seat of the vehicle and outputting image data corresponding thereto. A processor is provided which receives the image data output form the imaging device, compares the received image data with stored image data, and outputs a vehicle equipment control signal based on the comparison. Preferably, the vehicle equipment control signal controls one or more of airbag activation, mirror reflectance, vehicle lights activation, and vehicle intruder alarms. Preferably, the imaging device comprises a single chip camera disposed adjacent the vehicle rearview mirror.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.