SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE

• US 20150124068A1
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Madau, Dinu Petre, Mikolajczak, Matthew Mark, Morris, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,277,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/02 responsive to conditions relating to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/597 Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system for monitoring a driver of a vehicle is provided. The system includes an infrared flash to beam an infrared light at the driver; an infrared camera to capture the reflection from the beam; and a reflective infrared film adhered to a windshield of the vehicle. A method for implementing a driver monitoring system is provided. The method includes installation of an infrared reflective layer on a vehicle; installing an infrared camera and an infrared flash in a dashboard of the vehicle; and orientating either the infrared camera or the infrared flash in a direction facing the infrared reflective layer.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

an infrared flash to beam an infrared light at the driver;

an infrared camera to capture an image illuminated by the beam, including reflections; and

a reflective infrared film incorporated into a windshield of the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared flash is oriented to beam the infrared light at the reflective infrared film.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared camera is oriented to capture the image illuminated by the beam after the beam has reflected off the reflective infrared film.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared flash is oriented to beam the infrared light at the reflective infrared film, and

the infrared camera is oriented to capture the reflection from the beam after the beam has reflected off the reflective infrared film.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared camera is employed with a driver alertness detection system.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared camera is employed with an interface device.

7. A method for implementing a driver monitoring system, comprising:

adhesively attaching (or bonding to internal layer, or otherwise included in the glass manufacturing process) an infrared reflective layer on a vehicle;

installing an infrared camera and an infrared flash in a dashboard of the vehicle; and

orientating either the infrared camera or the infrared flash in a direction facing the infrared reflective layer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the infrared camera is oriented in the direction of the infrared reflective layer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the infrared flash is oriented in the direction of the infrared reflective layer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the infrared flash and the infrared camera is oriented at the infrared reflective layer.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is implemented along with a driver alertness system.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is implemented along with an interface device.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the infrared reflective layer is attached during an after-market process.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the infrared reflective layer is included in the windshield assembly during manufacture of the vehicle.

15. An infrared camera device, the device comprising:

an attachment unit to attach to a dashboard of a vehicle;

a infrared camera lens to capture a reflection of a driver of the vehicle, wherein

the infrared camera lens is oriented at a windshield of the vehicle.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle includes an infrared flash, and in response to the infrared flash generating an infrared light, the reflection of the driver is generated.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the infrared flash is attached to the dashboard.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the infrared flash is oriented in the direction of the windshield.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein an infrared reflective layer is included in the fabrication of the windshield.

20. The device according to claim 15, wherein the attachment unit'"'"'s angle relative to the dashboard is adjustable.