Method and apparatus for detecting the head pose of a vehicle occupant
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting a pose of a human subject'"'"'s head, comprising:
- a symmetrically arranged array of electrodes including at least first and second electrodes disposed in relation to the subject'"'"'s head;
an AC voltage source;
switch means for selectively coupling said AC voltage source to said first electrode to generate an electric field that interacts with the subject'"'"'s head; and
means for determining a capacitive coupling between said first and second electrodes while said AC voltage source is coupled to said first electrode, and detecting the pose of the subject'"'"'s head based on the determined capacitive coupling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Driver distraction in a motor vehicle is assessed by capacitively detecting the driver'"'"'s head pose relative to the forward direction of vehicle motion. A symmetrical array of sensor electrodes is disposed in the cockpit ceiling above the driver'"'"'s head, and pairs of electrodes disposed along varying axes of rotation with respect to the forward direction are successively activated for capacitance measurement. The capacitance measurements are combined to form a signal whose strength depends on the degree of alignment between the driver'"'"'s head (i.e., the head pose) and the respective axes of rotation, and the driver'"'"'s head pose is calculated to assess driver distraction.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting a pose of a human subject'"'"'s head, comprising:
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a symmetrically arranged array of electrodes including at least first and second electrodes disposed in relation to the subject'"'"'s head; an AC voltage source; switch means for selectively coupling said AC voltage source to said first electrode to generate an electric field that interacts with the subject'"'"'s head; and means for determining a capacitive coupling between said first and second electrodes while said AC voltage source is coupled to said first electrode, and detecting the pose of the subject'"'"'s head based on the determined capacitive coupling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting a pose of a human subject'"'"'s head, comprising the steps of:
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providing a symmetrically arranged array of electrodes in relation to the subject'"'"'s head, including at least first and second electrodes; selectively coupling an AC voltage source to said first electrode to generate an electric field that interacts with the subject'"'"'s head; determining a capacitive coupling between said first and second electrodes while said AC voltage source is coupled to said first electrode; and detecting a pose of the subject'"'"'s head based on the determined capacitive coupling. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification