Driver attentiveness detection method and device
First Claim
1. A method for detecting decreased attentiveness of a vehicle driver, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting eye configurations of the vehicle driver;
analyzing the detected eye configurations by comparing the detected eye configurations with previously stored models of eye configuration samples, the stored models of eye configuration samples being indicative of eyes that look inside or outside a predetermined field of view;
determining whether the detected eye configurations are looking inside the predetermined field of view or outside the predetermined field of view using the analysis;
indicating when the vehicle driver has been determined to be looking outside the predetermined field of view to a predetermined extent, wherein the field of view extends to an imaginary end surface, positioned at a predetermined distance (L) from the driver, the predetermined distance having a greater value at high vehicle speeds than at low vehicle speeds; and
upon indicating that the driver is looking outside the predetermined field of view to the predetermined extent, generating an output signal activating at least one of a driver alert system or an automatic brake system,wherein the predetermined extent includes a buffer time of the vehicle driver looking outside the predetermined field of view reaching a buffer threshold,wherein the buffer time is initiated when it is determined that the vehicle driver has been continuously looking inside the predetermined field of view for an initialization buffer time equaling an initialization buffer threshold, andwherein the step of generating the output signal is suspended while the vehicle is traveling at a speed below 60 km/h.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A driver attentiveness detection device and method using at least one digital camera device (2) and a control unit (5). The camera device (2) is arranged to detect eye configurations of a vehicle driver (4). The control unit (5) compares the detected eye configurations with previously stored models of eye configuration samples (13, 14, 15, 16) which are indicative of eyes that look inside or outside a predetermined field of view (6). The control unit (5) further determines whether the detected eye configurations are looking inside or outside the predetermined field of view from the comparison, and is also arranged to indicate when the vehicle driver (4) has been determined to be looking outside the predetermined field of view (6) to a predetermined extent.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting decreased attentiveness of a vehicle driver, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting eye configurations of the vehicle driver; analyzing the detected eye configurations by comparing the detected eye configurations with previously stored models of eye configuration samples, the stored models of eye configuration samples being indicative of eyes that look inside or outside a predetermined field of view; determining whether the detected eye configurations are looking inside the predetermined field of view or outside the predetermined field of view using the analysis; indicating when the vehicle driver has been determined to be looking outside the predetermined field of view to a predetermined extent, wherein the field of view extends to an imaginary end surface, positioned at a predetermined distance (L) from the driver, the predetermined distance having a greater value at high vehicle speeds than at low vehicle speeds; and upon indicating that the driver is looking outside the predetermined field of view to the predetermined extent, generating an output signal activating at least one of a driver alert system or an automatic brake system, wherein the predetermined extent includes a buffer time of the vehicle driver looking outside the predetermined field of view reaching a buffer threshold, wherein the buffer time is initiated when it is determined that the vehicle driver has been continuously looking inside the predetermined field of view for an initialization buffer time equaling an initialization buffer threshold, and wherein the step of generating the output signal is suspended while the vehicle is traveling at a speed below 60 km/h. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A driver attentiveness detection device comprising at least one digital camera device and a control unit, the camera device being arranged to detect eye configurations of a vehicle driver, the control unit is configured to compare the detected eye configurations with stored models of eye configuration samples, wherein the stored models of eye configuration samples are indicative of eyes that look inside or outside a predetermined field of view, the control unit further being configured to determine whether the detected eye configurations are looking inside the predetermined field of view or outside the predetermined field of view, wherein the field of view extends to an imaginary end surface, positioned at a predetermined distance (L) from the driver, the predetermined distance having a greater value at high vehicle speeds than at low vehicle speeds, wherein the control unit furthermore is configured to indicate by generating an output signal when the vehicle driver has been determined to be looking outside the predetermined field of view to a predetermined extent, wherein the predetermined extent includes a buffer time of the vehicle driver looking outside the predetermined field of view reaching a buffer threshold, wherein the control unit is configured to initiate the buffer time when it is determined that the vehicle driver has been continuously looking inside the predetermined field of view for an initialization buffer time equaling an initialization buffer threshold, and wherein the device is configured to suspend the generation of the output signal while the vehicle is traveling at a speed below 60 km/h.
Specification