Method and system for monitoring driver
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a driver comprising steps of:
- Step (A);
capturing an inner cabin image of a cabin;
Step (B);
performing a face detection of the driver on said inner cabin image to obtain a face detection result;
Step (C);
storing said inner cabin image and said face detection result corresponding to said inner cabin image;
Step (D);
repeating said above-mentioned steps, and when an accumulated number of stored said inner cabin images reaches a predetermined value, executing steps of;
Step (E);
capturing said inner cabin images at a plurality of adjacent storing time points and corresponding said face detection results thereof;
Step (F);
determining whether at least one corresponding said inner cabin image catches a face of said driver according to each captured said face detection result;
if no, outputting a warning signal to alert said driver; and
if yes, executing a step of;
Step (G);
determining whether said faces of two continuous and corresponding said inner cabin images are shown within a reasonable face region according to each captured said face detection result to define a face region correction process;
said face region correction process including taking a positional coordinate of the face, taking said positional coordinate having a highest existing probability, and deciding a position of said reasonable face region; and
,(1) if said faces of two continuous and corresponding said inner cabin images are within said reasonable face region, then performing a nose detection of said driver on presently-stored said inner cabin image;
obtaining a positional coordinate of a nose of said driver;
comparing said positional coordinate of said nose with said reasonable face region to obtain a head deflection angle of said driver to define a nose detection process;
determining whether said head deflection angle is lower than a predetermined threshold, and returning to said Step (E); and
(2) if said faces of two continuous and corresponding said inner cabin images are not within said reasonable face region, then outputting said warning signal to alert said driver.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for monitoring a driver is disclosed. Firstly, an inner cabin image of a vehicle'"'"'s cabin is continuously captured. Next, a face detection of a driver for the inner cabin image is performed to obtain a face detection result. Next, the inner cabin image and the face detection result corresponding to the inner cabin image are stored. When the system observes that either the face of the driver is not detected or the face is not shown within a reasonable face region of at least two continuous inner cabin images according to each face detection result, the system outputs a warning signal to alert the driver. The invention determines a driving state of a driver in a cabin with a method of analyzing a position of a face or a head and using an image extractor having large capture range and a low resolution.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for monitoring a driver comprising steps of:
-
Step (A);
capturing an inner cabin image of a cabin;Step (B);
performing a face detection of the driver on said inner cabin image to obtain a face detection result;Step (C);
storing said inner cabin image and said face detection result corresponding to said inner cabin image;Step (D);
repeating said above-mentioned steps, and when an accumulated number of stored said inner cabin images reaches a predetermined value, executing steps of;Step (E);
capturing said inner cabin images at a plurality of adjacent storing time points and corresponding said face detection results thereof;Step (F);
determining whether at least one corresponding said inner cabin image catches a face of said driver according to each captured said face detection result;if no, outputting a warning signal to alert said driver; and if yes, executing a step of; Step (G);
determining whether said faces of two continuous and corresponding said inner cabin images are shown within a reasonable face region according to each captured said face detection result to define a face region correction process;
said face region correction process including taking a positional coordinate of the face, taking said positional coordinate having a highest existing probability, and deciding a position of said reasonable face region; and
,(1) if said faces of two continuous and corresponding said inner cabin images are within said reasonable face region, then performing a nose detection of said driver on presently-stored said inner cabin image;
obtaining a positional coordinate of a nose of said driver;
comparing said positional coordinate of said nose with said reasonable face region to obtain a head deflection angle of said driver to define a nose detection process;
determining whether said head deflection angle is lower than a predetermined threshold, and returning to said Step (E); and(2) if said faces of two continuous and corresponding said inner cabin images are not within said reasonable face region, then outputting said warning signal to alert said driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17)
-
-
9. A system for monitoring a driver comprising:
- an image extractor for continuously capturing an inner cabin image;
an image signal process unit coupled to said image extractor for performing a face detection of the driver on said inner cabin image to obtain a face detection result;a control unit coupled to said image signal process unit and a memory, controlling to store said inner cabin image and corresponding said face detection result thereof in said memory, wherein when said control unit observes that a face is not shown in one said inner cabin image or said face is not shown within a reasonable face region of at least two continuous said inner cabin images according to each said face detection result stored in said memory, said control unit outputs a control signal, said control unit compares said positional coordinate of said nose with said reasonable face region to obtain a head deflection angle of said driver, and wherein when said control unit determines that a face is shown in one said inner cabin image according to said face detection result, said control unit takes a positional coordinate of the face and then takes said positional coordinate having a highest existing probability to decide a position of said reasonable face region; and an alerter for receiving said control signal and then outputting a warning signal to alert said driver said control unit controls said alerter to output said warning signal when said head deflection angle is higher than or equal to a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
- an image extractor for continuously capturing an inner cabin image;
Specification