Method of depth estimation from a single camera

• US 20070146482A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kiscanin, Branislav
• Application Number:
  US11/318,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

The invention relates to an occupant monitoring system for an automobile. One embodiment of the invention includes a monitoring system configured to detect an occupant'"'"'s head position when the occupant is seated in the automobile.

Claims

1. An occupant monitoring system for monitoring a position of an occupant'"'"'s head in an automobile, the system comprising:

at least one light source positioned to provide light to illuminate a portion of the passenger'"'"'s head;

a camera spaced apart from the light source, the camera being positioned to capture an image of the light illuminating the occupant'"'"'s head and output a signal corresponding to the image; and

a processor configured to receive the signal and determine the position of the occupant'"'"'s head relative to the camera based on the illuminated portion of the occupant'"'"'s head in the image.

2. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is an infrared light emitting diode (LED).

3. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is a laser diode.

4. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the light produced by the light source is defined by a horizontal line projected across an occupant'"'"'s face.

5. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines the distance of the occupant'"'"'s head from the camera by determining a vertical position of the illuminated portion of the occupant'"'"'s head in the image and comparing it to one of an empirical correlation, experimental data, and a look-up table.

6. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein automobile includes a driver'"'"'s side and a passenger side, the occupant monitor system being positioned on the driver'"'"'s side of the automobile and configured to monitor the position of a driver'"'"'s head.

7. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the camera is positioned along a first axis and the light source is positioned along a second axis, the first axis positioned at angle equal to at least 10 degrees relative to the second axis.

8. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the image includes a vertical axis and a transverse axis, the processor being configured to analyze the image and determine a position on the vertical axis corresponding to the illuminated portion of the occupant'"'"'s head.

9. The occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a distance between the camera and the occupant'"'"'s head.

10. A method of determining the position of an occupant'"'"'s head in an automobile, the method including the steps of:

providing at least one light source, a camera, and a processor;

actuating the light source to illuminate a portion of the occupant'"'"'s head;

actuating the camera to capture an image including the occupant'"'"'s head and the illuminated portion of the occupant'"'"'s head and output a signal corresponding to the image;

determining the position of the occupant'"'"'s head relative to the camera based on a position of the illuminated portion of the occupant'"'"'s head in the image.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one light source is one of an infrared light emitting diode and a laser diode.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one light source and the camera are controlled by the processor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one light source is configured to project a horizontally extending band of light onto the occupant'"'"'s head.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the processor determines the distance of the occupant'"'"'s head from the camera.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the steps of actuating the light source, actuating the camera, and determining the position of the occupant'"'"'s head relative to the camera are repeated in a predetermined time period.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined time period is less than one second.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of adjusting the deployment of an airbag positioned adjacent to the occupant based on the position of the occupant'"'"'s head determined in the previous step.

18. A driver monitoring system for an automobile for determining a head position of a driver of the automobile, the monitoring system including:

an illuminator positioned to illuminate a portion of the driver'"'"'s head;

a camera spaced apart from the illuminator, the camera positioned to capture an image of the driver'"'"'s head and the illuminated portion of the driver'"'"'s head, the image including a vertical axis and a horizontal axis; and

a processor configured to analyze the image and determine a distance of the driver'"'"'s head from the camera by determining a measurement along the vertical axis of the illuminated portion of the driver'"'"'s head in the image and inputting it into an empirically determined equation.

19. The driver monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the illuminator is one of an infrared light emitting diode and a laser diode.

20. The driver monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the monitoring system is configured to determine the driver'"'"'s head position at least once per second.