Occupant detection system

• US 20080080741A1
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Aoki, Hiroshi, Yokoo, Masato, Hakomori, Yuu, Mita, Hirofumi
• Application Number:
  US11/878,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20080080741A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

The disclosed occupant detection system may include a photographing device, an information extracting device, a detection processing device, an integration processing device, and a determination processing device. The photographing device takes 3D images of a vehicle'"'"'s driver. The information extracting device extracts information about at least one of a position or movement of the driver'"'"'s head or hand. The detection processing device detects whether or not the at least one of the position or movement of the driver'"'"'s head or hand is in a preset specified state. The integration processing device adds up the time in which the at least one of the position or movement of the driver'"'"'s head or hand is not in the specified state. The determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished when the time added up exceeds a preset reference value.

Claims

1. An occupant detection system comprising:

a photographing device for taking three-dimensional images of a driver on a vehicle seat within a predetermined moving range;

an information extracting device for extracting information about at least one of a position of the head of the driver, a movement of the head of the driver, a position of a hand of the driver, and a movement of the hand of the driver based on the three-dimensional images taken by the photographing device;

a detection processing device for detecting whether or not at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is in a preset specified state based on the information extracted by the information extracting device;

an integration processing device for adding up time in which the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is not in the specified state based on the detection from the detection processing device when the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is out of the specified state; and

a determination processing device for determining that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device exceeds a preset reference value and that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device is equal to or less than the preset reference value.

2. The occupant detection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an actuation signal outputting device, wherein the actuation signal outputting device is adapted to output an actuation signal to one or more warning devices for alerting the driver when a vehicle collision is predicted and to vary an output mode of the actuation signal to the one or more warning devices between times when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished and when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished.

3. The occupant detection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control signal outputting device, wherein the control signal outputting device is adapted to output a control signal for controlling start time of braking to a braking device for applying braking forces to vehicle according to a pedaling force of the driver and to vary an output mode of the control signal to the braking device between times when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished and when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished.

4. The occupant detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information extracting device extracts information about at least two of the position of the head of the driver, the movement of the head of the driver, the position of the hand of the driver, and the movement of the hand of the driver;

wherein the detection processing device detects whether or not the at least two of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand are in their respective preset specified states.

5. The occupant detection system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the integration processing device adds up time in which the at least two of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand are not in their respective specified states when the at least two of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand are out of their respective specified states.

6. The occupant detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information extracting device extracts information about at least one of the positions of both hands of the driver and the movements of both hands of the driver;

wherein the detection processing device detects whether or not the at least one of the positions of both hands of the driver or the movements of both hands of the driver are in a preset specified state;

wherein the integration processing device adds up time in which the at least one of the positions of both hands of the driver or the movements of both hands of the driver are not in the specified state when the at least one of the positions of both hands of the driver or the movements of both hands of the driver are out of the specified state.

7. A warning system comprising:

an occupant detection system comprising;

a photographing device for taking three-dimensional images of a driver on a vehicle seat within a predetermined moving range,

an information extracting device for extracting information about at least one of a position of the head of the driver, a movement of the head of the driver, a position of a hand of the driver, and a movement of the hand of the driver based on the three-dimensional images taken by the photographing device,

a detection processing device for detecting whether or not at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is in a preset specified state based on the information extracted by the information extracting device,

an integration processing device for adding up time in which the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is not in the specified state based on the detection from the detection processing device when the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is out of the specified state, and

a determination processing device for determining that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device exceeds a preset reference value and that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device is equal to or less than the preset reference value;

one or more warning devices for alerting the driver; and

an actuation signal outputting device which is adapted to output an actuation signal to the one or more warning devices when a vehicle collision is predicted and to vary an output mode of the actuation signal to the one or more warning devices between times when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished and when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished.

8. A braking system for a vehicle comprising:

an occupant detection system comprising;

a photographing device for taking three-dimensional images of a driver on a vehicle seat within a predetermined moving range,

an information extracting device for extracting information about at least one of a position of the head of the driver, a movement of the head of the driver, a position of a hand of the driver, and a movement of the hand of the driver based on the three-dimensional images taken by the photographing device,

a detection processing device for detecting whether or not at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is in a preset specified state based on the information extracted by the information extracting device,

an integration processing device for adding up time in which the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is not in the specified state based on the detection from the detection processing device when the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is out of the specified state, and

a determination processing device for determining that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device exceeds a preset reference value and that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device is equal to or less than the preset reference value;

a braking device for applying braking forces to the vehicle according to a pedaling force of a driver; and

a control signal outputting device which is adapted to output a control signal for controlling start time of braking to the braking device and to vary an output mode of the control signal to the braking device between times when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished and when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished.

9. A vehicle comprising:

an engine/running system;

an electrical system;

an actuation control device for conducting actuation control of the engine/running system and the electrical system; and

an occupant detecting device for detecting information about a driver on a vehicle seat, wherein the occupant detecting device comprises;

a photographing device for taking three-dimensional images of a driver on a vehicle seat within a predetermined moving range,

an information extracting device for extracting information about at least one of a position of the head of the driver, a movement of the head of the driver, a position of a hand of the driver, and a movement of the hand of the driver based on the three-dimensional images taken by the photographing device,

a detection processing device for detecting whether or not at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is in a preset specified state based on the information extracted by the information extracting device,

an integration processing device for adding up time in which the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is not in the specified state based on the detection from the detection processing device when the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is out of the specified state, and

a determination processing device for determining that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device exceeds a preset reference value and that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device is equal to or less than the preset reference value.

10. A vehicle comprising:

an engine/running system;

an electrical system;

an actuation control device for conducting actuation control of the engine/running system and the electrical system; and

a warning system comprising;

an occupant detection system, wherein the occupant detection system comprises;

a photographing device for taking three-dimensional images of a driver on a vehicle seat within a predetermined moving range,

an information extracting device for extracting information about at least one of a position of the head of the driver, a movement of the head of the driver, a position of a hand of the driver, and a movement of the hand of the driver based on the three-dimensional images taken by the photographing device,

a detection processing device for detecting whether or not at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is in a preset specified state based on the information extracted by the information extracting device,

an integration processing device for adding up time in which the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is not in the specified state based on the detection from the detection processing device when the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is out of the specified state, and

a determination processing device for determining that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device exceeds a preset reference value and that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device is equal to or less than the preset reference value;

one or more warning devices for alerting the driver; and

an actuation signal outputting device which is adapted to output an actuation signal to the one or more warning devices when a vehicle collision is predicted and to vary an output mode of the actuation signal to the one or more warning devices between times when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished and when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished.

11. A vehicle comprising:

an engine/running system;

an electrical system;

an actuation control device for conducting actuation control of the engine/running system and the electrical system; and

a braking system comprising;

an occupant detection system, wherein the occupant detection system comprises;

a photographing device for taking three-dimensional images of a driver on a vehicle seat within a predetermined moving range,

an information extracting device for extracting information about at least one of a position of the head of the driver, a movement of the head of the driver, a position of a hand of the driver, and a movement of the hand of the driver based on the three-dimensional images taken by the photographing device,

a detection processing device for detecting whether or not at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is in a preset specified state based on the information extracted by the information extracting device,

an integration processing device for adding up time in which the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is not in the specified state based on the detection from the detection processing device when the at least one of the position of the driver'"'"'s head, the position of the driver'"'"'s hand, the movement of the driver'"'"'s head, and the movement of the driver'"'"'s hand is out of the specified state, and

a determination processing device for determining that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device exceeds a preset reference value and that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished when the time added up by the integration processing device is equal to or less than the preset reference value;

a braking device for applying braking forces to the vehicle according to a pedaling force of a driver; and

a control signal outputting device which is adapted to output a control signal for controlling start time of braking to the braking device and to vary an output mode of the control signal to the braking device between times when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is diminished and when the determination processing device determines that the driver'"'"'s attention is not diminished.