FACE DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20090310818A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Chung, Eui Yoon, Lee, Byoung Joon
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/22 of ferrous surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/80 After-treatment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a face detection system for a vehicle. At least one first lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a left side of a driver'"'"'s face. At least one second lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a right side of the driver'"'"'s face. An image capturing unit separately captures the driver'"'"'s face onto which the infrared light is radiated from the first and second lighting units. A control unit acquires left and right images of the face from the image capturing unit, and obtains a difference image between the acquired left and right images, thus determining whether the driver is inattentive in looking ahead. The system stably performs the face detection function with no or less effect by external optical environments as well as reduced computational load.

Claims

1. A face detection system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one first lighting unit for radiating infrared light onto a left side of a driver'"'"'s face;

at least one second lighting unit for radiating infrared light onto a right side of the driver'"'"'s face

an image capturing unit for separately capturing the driver'"'"'s face onto which the infrared light is radiated from the first lighting unit or units and the second lighting unit or units; and

a control unit for acquiring left and right images of the face from the image capturing unit, and obtaining a difference image between the acquired left and right images, thus determining whether the driver is inattentive in looking ahead.

2. The face detection system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires left and right binary images by binarizing the acquired left and right images, and obtains the difference image from the binary images.

3. The face detection system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit acquires a mirrored image by mirroring one of the left and right binary images, and obtains the difference image by performing subtraction between the mirror image and a remaining binary image.

4. The face detection system according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit or units and the second lighting unit or units are sequentially operated.

5. The face detection system according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit or units and the second lighting unit or units are near-infrared light emitting diodes, and are installed ahead of, above a driver'"'"'s seat, or both.

6. The face detection system according to claim 5, wherein the first lighting unit or units are installed to be symmetrical to the second lighting unit or units with respect to a front side of the driver'"'"'s face.

7. The face detection system according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing unit is a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera equipped with an infrared pass filter.