Vision-Based Seat Belt Detection System
First Claim
1. A seat belt detection system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a seat belt assembly, having a plurality of indicators distributed over predetermined portions of the seat belt assembly;
an image sensor, located within the vehicle as to be able to receive an image of at least a portion of the seat belt assembly;
an image processor, operable to analyze the image to identify said plurality of indicators for image analysis;
the image analysis matching the identified plurality of indicators to a predefined set of indicators that characterize at least one particular status for the seat belt assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a system and method that detects seat belt-related features using an image sensor. Reflective materials are optionally applied onto or embedded into the seat belt webbing, buckle, nest and handle to reflect patterns from infrared illumination to the image sensor. Software compounds these findings to result an overall ‘Belted’ and ‘Unbelted’ detection output. A temporal model software assists in stabilizing the decision in unsure situations by adding past images'"'"' decisions into the current decision. ‘Twisted belt’ and ‘Seat belt buckled behind back/seat’ situations can be also detected to notify the driver about unsafe occupant situations in the vehicle. The detection is applicable to safety belt detection for the driver seat, front passenger seat, back or any additional seats in vehicles.
48 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A seat belt detection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a seat belt assembly, having a plurality of indicators distributed over predetermined portions of the seat belt assembly; an image sensor, located within the vehicle as to be able to receive an image of at least a portion of the seat belt assembly; an image processor, operable to analyze the image to identify said plurality of indicators for image analysis;
the image analysis matching the identified plurality of indicators to a predefined set of indicators that characterize at least one particular status for the seat belt assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining whether a seat belt assembly is buckled, the seat belt assembly having a plurality of indicators distributed over predetermined portions of the seat belt assembly using image recognition, the method comprising:
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illuminating at least a portion of the seat belt assembly using a light source; receiving a reflected image from at least a portion of the seat belt assembly at an image sensor; identifying at least one of the plurality of indicators from the reflected image using an image processor; and comparing the identified at least one of the plurality of indicators to a predefined set of indicators that characterizes at least one particular status of the seat belt assembly. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification