SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A VEHICLE DRIVER

• US 20120150387A1
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Watson, William Todd, Muresan, Adrian Valentin, Krause, Joseph Kae, Tang, Yipeng
• Application Number:
  US13/315,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20120150387A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/3015 Optical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/597 Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness

Abstract

A system and method configured to receive and improve the quality of image data used to determine the condition of a vehicle driver is provided. The system and method includes a camera positioned to detect image data of the vehicle driver, a lighting system positioned to illuminate an interior of the vehicle, and a controller configured to receive the detected image data and to make a determination of the quality of the image data, alter the lighting system based on the determined image data quality, and determine a condition of the driver based on the received image data.

Claims

1. A system configured to receive and improve the quality of image data used to determine the condition of a vehicle driver comprising:

a camera positioned to detect image data of the vehicle driver;

a lighting system positioned to illuminate an interior of the vehicle;

a controller configured to receive the detected image data and to make a determination of the quality of the image data; and

wherein the controller is further configured to alter the lighting system based on the determined image data quality; and

wherein the controller is configured to determine a condition of the driver based on the received image data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to send an output signal to a vehicle component based on the determined condition of the driver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive input from non-image sensors;

and wherein depending on the determined image data quality, the controller is configured to determine a condition of the driver based both the image data of the vehicle driver and the input from the non-image sensors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein altering the vehicle lighting system comprises increasing the intensity of at least one light source in the lighting system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein altering the vehicle lighting system comprises adjusting the frequency of the image data detected at the camera.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition of the driver is determined by deriving a condition signal associated with a biological or physiological condition of a vehicle driver from the image data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the condition signal associated with a biological or physiological condition of the vehicle driver is related to at least one of:

the heart rate of the vehicle occupant; and

the breathing rate of the vehicle occupant.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the output signal prompts display data to be presented on a display device located in the vehicle interior.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the output signal prompts audible data to be emitted from a sound system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the image data quality is a measure of signal to noise ratio.

11. A system configured to receive and improve the quality of data used to determine a condition of a vehicle driver comprising:

a camera positioned to detect image data of the vehicle driver;

a lighting system positioned to illuminate an interior of the vehicle;

a controller configured to receive the detected image data and to make a determination of the quality of the image data; and

wherein the controller is further configured to receive input from non-image sensors; and

wherein depending on the determined image data quality the controller is configured to determine a condition of the driver based both the image data of the vehicle driver and the input from the non-image sensors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to send an output signal to a vehicle component based on the determined condition of the driver.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to alter the lighting system based on the image data quality determination.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the non-image sensor is at least one of pressure sensor, electric field transducer, piezoelectric sensor, ultrasonic transducer, or microphone.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the condition of the driver is determined by deriving a condition signal associated with a biological or physiological condition of a vehicle driver from the image data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the condition signal is associated with a biological or physiological condition of the vehicle driver is related to at least one of:

the heart rate of the vehicle occupant; and

the breathing rate of the vehicle occupant;

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the output signal prompts display data to be presented on a display device located in the vehicle interior.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the output signal prompts audible data to be emitted from a sound system.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the output signal prompts an alteration of light emitted from the lighting system.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the image data quality is a measure of signal to noise ratio.