A system comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive first data values from a first sensor which detects infrared light. The infrared sensor is disposed in a line of sight to a vehicle front passenger foot well. The controller is further programmed to activate a front passenger knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that an object is present in the front passenger foot well and is in motion. The controller is yet further programmed to deactivate the knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that there is no motion in the front passenger foot well.

Method for controlling a vehicle including a smartphone-engaging coupling element. Data about operational status of the vehicle is transferred from one or more vehicle-resident systems to a smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element. Commands are received by the vehicle from the smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element, which commands being based in part on data previously transferred from the vehicle-resident system(s) to the smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element. A vehicular system, e.g., seat positioning system, mirror positioning system, passenger compartment temperature control system, route guidance or navigation system, changes its operation in accordance with the commands received by the vehicle from the smartphone when the smartphone is engaged with the coupling element.

A method for sensing occupancy status within an automotive vehicle uses a radar sensor system, the radar sensor system includes an antenna system, at least one sensor and processing circuitry. The method comprises illuminating, using the antenna system, at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with continuous wave (CW signals), the CW signals being frequency modulated in time. At least one sensor signal (y(t,f.sub.1 . . . y(t,f.sub.n)) reflected as a result of the CW signals, is received using at least one sensor the at least one sensor defining a plurality of receive channels (1 . . . i), each channel having a different frequency (f.sub.1 . . . f.sub.i). Processing circuitry is operable for applying, for each receive channel (1 . . . i), DC offset removal to the corresponding sensor signal (y(t,f.sub.1 . . . y(t,f.sub.n)) to generate a modified signal (y(t, f.sub.1) . . . y(t,f.sub.n)); and generating, based on the modified signals (y(t, f.sub.1) . . . y(t,f.sub.n)) one or more occupancy status signals, the occupancy status signal indicating a property related to said at least one occupiable position.

A system comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive data values from a sensor to detect infrared light. The sensor is in a line of sight to a vehicle foot well. The controller is further programmed to activate a knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the data values, that an object is present in the foot well. The controller is yet further programmed to deactivate the knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the data values, that there is no object in the foot well.

A system comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores instruction executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive first data values from a first sensor which detects infrared light. The infrared sensor is disposed in a line of sight to a vehicle front passenger foot well. The controller is further programmed to activate a front passenger knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that an object is present in the front passenger foot well and is in motion. The controller is yet further programmed to deactivate the knee bolster upon determining, based at least in part on the first data values, that there is no motion in the front passenger foot well.

A system for passing electrical signals through a living body has a transmitter on one side of a body for feeding thereto a predetermined electrical signal on at least two separate channels on respective different frequencies and a receiver on the other side of the body for receiving the signal on each of the channels. An evaluating unit connected to the receiver evaluates the received signals and selecting from them one signal for further processing.

A system comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller comprises a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to make readings of an infrared sensor positioned to sense objects and motion in a rear passenger foot well. The controller determines if there is an object present in the foot well using the readings. The controller then determines if there is motion in the foot well using the readings. The controller then activates a knee bolster when motion is determined, and deactivates a knee bolster when motion is not determined.

A detection device for detecting an object is disclosed. The detection device is located on and/or above an inner panel part of a motor vehicle in the region of an exit opening implemented in the inner panel part, wherein the detection device has a detection region, in which the object is detectable in an acquisition direction of the detection device, wherein the acquisition direction extends at least essentially in parallel to an opening plane of the exit opening.

A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes a camera disposed within a cabin of a vehicle. Image data captured by the camera is transferred to and is processed at an electronic control unit (ECU). A light emitter that, when electrically operated to emit nonvisible light, illuminates at least a portion of the interior cabin that is viewed by the camera with nonvisible light. The vehicular cabin monitoring system, via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera and transferred to the ECU, determines illuminance of nonvisible light at a region of interest within the illuminated portion of the interior cabin that is viewed by the camera. The vehicular cabin monitoring system, responsive to determining that the illuminance of nonvisible light at the region of interest is greater than a threshold illuminance, reduces intensity of nonvisible light emitted by the light emitter.

A centralized occupancy detection system enables monitoring of multiple seats, or more generally, multiple stations, with a single sensor. One illustrative vehicle includes: one or more stations each configured to accommodate an occupant of the vehicle, a radar-reflective surface, and a radar transceiver configured to use the radar-reflective surface to detect an occupant of at least one of the stations. Another illustrative vehicle includes: multiple stations to each accommodate an occupant of the vehicle, and a radar transceiver configured to examine each of the multiple stations to determine whether that station has an occupant.