Driver monitoring device

• US 10,160,426 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nagai, Fumiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Nakhjavan, Shervin
• Application Number:
  US15/324,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20170210357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/14 operated upon collapse of driver deadman's devices for electrically propelled vehicles B60L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0088 Adaptive recalibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/223 Posture, e.g. hand, foot, or seat position, turned or inclined
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/597 Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/197 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A driver monitoring device is provided. The driver monitoring device includes a detection unit that detects an unbalanced posture of a driver based on an image of a driver'"'"'s seat of a vehicle captured by a camera; a determination unit that determines whether or not the unbalanced posture of the driver detected by the detection unit is a habitual posture of the driver; and a notification unit that notifies the driver of the unbalanced posture in different manners in accordance with whether the unbalanced posture determined is the habitual posture of the driver or the unbalanced posture determined is other than the habitual posture of the driver.

Claims

1. A driver monitoring device comprising:

a detection unit that detects an unbalanced posture of a driver based on an image of a driver'"'"'s seat of a vehicle captured by a camera;

a determination unit that determines whether or not the unbalanced posture of the driver detected by the detection unit is a habitual posture of the driver; and

a notification unit that notifies the driver of the unbalanced posture in different manners in accordance with whether the unbalanced posture determined is the habitual posture of the driver or the unbalanced posture determined is other than the habitual posture of the driver;

wherein

when the unbalanced posture of the driver is detected by the detection unit continuously from immediately after a start of driving longer than a posture unbalance determination threshold time, the determination unit determines that the unbalanced posture is the habitual posture of the driver.

2. The driver monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein:

when the determination unit determines that the unbalanced posture is the habitual posture of the driver, the notification unit outputs posture information at a predetermined timing; and

when the determination unit determines that the unbalanced posture is other than the habitual posture of the driver, the notification unit immediately alerts the driver.

3. The driver monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein:

the posture information includes at least information about a proper driving posture or information about an effect of the unbalanced posture.

4. The driver monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein:

the predetermined timing is when the vehicle is stopped.

5. The driver monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein:

the notification unit outputs the posture information dividedly at a plurality of times at each which the vehicle is stopped.

6. The driver monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein:

the notification unit outputs the posture information contents of which are changed in accordance with how the driver'"'"'s habitual posture is unbalanced.

7. The driver monitoring device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a setting unit that allows the driver to set a frequency at which the posture information is outputted.

8. The driver monitoring device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an opening degree calculation unit that calculates a degree of opening of an eye of the driver; and

a vehicle stopping unit that, when the driver'"'"'s posture is not improved after the driver is alerted by the notification unit with the driver'"'"'s eye opening degree calculated by the opening degree calculation unit having been continuously smaller than an opening degree threshold exceeding an opening degree determination threshold time, outputs a signal for safely stopping the vehicle to a vehicle control device.