Eye position detecting system and method therefor
First Claim
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1. An eye position detecting system for detecting an eye position in a face image taken by a camera, comprising:
- (a) inputting means for inputting face image signals as light density gradation data;
(b) binarizing means for binarizing the inputted face image signals;
(c) deciding means for obtaining a one eye detection area on a dark side in the face image when the inputted light density gradation data are not uniform on the right and left sides of the face image behond a predetermined density level, said deciding means having;
(1) discriminating means for discriminating density change points in a vertical direction on the basis of the binarized image signals to check whether the light density is not uniform on the right and left sides in the face image;
(2) determining means for determining a threshold value only on the dark side of the face image; and
(3) setting means for setting only one eye detection area on the dark side in the face image when the number of the discriminated density change points exceeds the determined threshold value.
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Abstract
The invention detects the position of an eye in image of a driver'"'"'s face quickly and with high reliability, even if the density of the driver'"'"'s face image is not uniform on the right and left sides due to direct sunlight. Only one eye detection area is obtained on the dark side of the face image when the density of the face image is not uniform on the right and left sides. One eye window is detected in the one eye detection area, and an iris center is detected within the eye window to discriminate an inattentive driver who is dozing.
126 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An eye position detecting system for detecting an eye position in a face image taken by a camera, comprising:
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(a) inputting means for inputting face image signals as light density gradation data; (b) binarizing means for binarizing the inputted face image signals; (c) deciding means for obtaining a one eye detection area on a dark side in the face image when the inputted light density gradation data are not uniform on the right and left sides of the face image behond a predetermined density level, said deciding means having; (1) discriminating means for discriminating density change points in a vertical direction on the basis of the binarized image signals to check whether the light density is not uniform on the right and left sides in the face image; (2) determining means for determining a threshold value only on the dark side of the face image; and (3) setting means for setting only one eye detection area on the dark side in the face image when the number of the discriminated density change points exceeds the determined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of detecting an eye position in a face image, comprising the steps of:
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(a) irradiating the face with infrared rays; (b) taking face images by a camera in synchronism with the infrared rays; (c) obtaining a one eye detection area on a dark side in the face image when the face image is not uniform in light density between right and left sides beyond a predetermined density level, the step including the steps of (1) determining a threshold level; (2) binarizing the face image signal on the basis of the determined threshold level; (3) detecting density change points in a vertical direction on the basis of the face image signals to check whether face light density is not uniform on the right and left sides in the face image; and (4) obtaining only one eye detection area on one dark side of the face image when the number of the density change points exceeds a predetermined value; (d) obtaining one eye window in the one eye detection area in the face image; and (e) detecting an iris center within the detected eye window to determine an inattentive driver on the basis of change in lightness at the detected iris. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification