Occupant monitoring device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide technology that makes it possible to execute, independently from a vehicle, a consistent operation for supporting an occupant. This occupant monitoring device comprises: a circuit board that detects an abnormality in an occupant on the basis of a captured image obtained through imaging by an imaging unit; an electric power supply that is always insulated from electric power from a vehicle, the electric power supply supplying electric power to the circuit board; a reporting unit that, when the circuit board has detected that there is an abnormality in the occupant, reports the abnormality to at least either one of the occupant or the outside of the vehicle; and a housing that secures the circuit board, the power supply, and the reporting unit, the housing being attached to the vehicle.

Description

Occupant Monitoring Device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an occupant monitoring device.

[0002] In recent years, occupant monitoring devices that monitor the state of occupants such as a driver, such as a driver monitoring system (DMS), have become widespread. Various technologies for such occupant monitoring devices have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent No. 7234641

[0004] The occupant monitoring device described in Patent Document 1 has a backup power supply that supplies power in place of the vehicle when the power from the vehicle is abnormal. However, this backup power supply is charged by power from the vehicle when the power from the vehicle is normal.

[0005] Therefore, if the vehicle is not configured to supply power to the occupant monitoring device, the occupant monitoring device cannot be operated. Also, even if the vehicle is provided with a connector or the like for supplying power to the occupant monitoring device, the occupant monitoring device is connected to the connector, so there is a problem that it can only be installed near the connector.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that can perform consistent assistance operations for an occupant independently of the vehicle.

[0007] The occupant monitoring device according to the present disclosure includes an imaging unit that images an occupant of a vehicle, a circuit board that detects abnormalities in the occupant based on the image captured by the imaging unit, a power supply that is always isolated from power from the vehicle and supplies power to the circuit board, a notification unit that notifies at least one of the occupant and someone outside the vehicle of the abnormality when the circuit board detects an abnormality in the occupant, and a housing that secures the circuit board, power supply, and notification unit and is attached to the vehicle.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, an occupant monitoring device includes a circuit board that detects an occupant abnormality, a power supply that is always isolated from power from the vehicle and supplies power to the circuit board, and a notification unit that notifies the occupant of the abnormality when the circuit board detects an abnormality. With this configuration, it is possible to perform consistent support operations for the occupant independently of the vehicle.

[0009] The objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an occupant monitoring device according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of an occupant monitoring device according to embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of installation of an occupant monitoring device according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an occupant monitoring device according to modified example 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an occupant monitoring device according to modified example 2.

[0011] <Embodiment 1> Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an occupant monitoring device according to Embodiment 1, and Fig. 2 is a side view showing the configuration. As shown in Fig. 1, the occupant monitoring device includes an imaging unit 1, a light source 2, a circuit board 3, a power source 4, a notification unit 5, a housing 6, a housing holding unit 7, and an infrared-transmitting member 8.

[0012] The imaging unit 1 captures an image of a vehicle occupant. The vehicle according to the first embodiment is a construction machinery vehicle or an agricultural machinery vehicle, as shown in Fig. 3, but may be a vehicle equivalent to these or a general automobile. Note that construction machinery vehicles include, for example, hydraulic excavators, forklifts, and wheel loaders, and agricultural machinery vehicles include, for example, tractors and combine harvesters.

[0013] 1 is, for example, an imaging camera, and includes a lens 1a and an imaging element 1b. The imaging element 1b receives infrared rays from the outside of the occupant monitoring device via the lens 1a and an infrared-transmitting member 8, and performs imaging based on the infrared rays to generate a captured image made up of electrical signals.

[0014] The light source 2 irradiates light such as infrared rays onto the vehicle occupant via the infrared-transparent member 8. The infrared rays irradiated onto the occupant and reflected therefrom are incident on the lens 1a of the imaging unit 1 via the infrared-transparent member 8. Although not shown, an optical lens for changing the angle of the infrared rays irradiated from the light source 2 may be provided between the light source 2 and the infrared-transparent member 8.

[0015] The circuit board 3 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a printed circuit board or FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits). The imaging unit 1 is mounted on the circuit board 3, and the circuit board 3 detects an abnormality in the occupant based on an image captured by the imaging unit 1. For example, the circuit board 3 performs image processing to extract the occupant's line of sight and posture from the captured image, and detects an abnormality when it determines, based on the line of sight and posture, that the occupant is in a state where he or she cannot operate the vehicle normally, such as when the occupant is unwell or dozing.

[0016] In the first embodiment, the circuit board 3 is also equipped with the light source 2. The circuit board 3 controls the brightness of the light emitted from the light source 2 based on the brightness of the captured image, for example.

[0017] The power supply 4 supplies power to the circuit board 3, and the circuit board 3 appropriately supplies the power received from the power supply 4 to the imaging unit 1 and the light source 2. The power supply 4 is always insulated from power from the vehicle and is configured so that power is not supplied from the vehicle.

[0018] The power supply 4 may be a built-in battery. However, in such a configuration, the occupant monitoring device becomes unusable when the battery power runs out. Therefore, the power supply 4 may include, for example, an interface that receives power from a replaceable battery (i.e., external to the vehicle), or an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) that receives power from a portable rechargeable battery (i.e., external to the vehicle). The power supply 4 may also include, for example, a rechargeable battery and a power generation unit such as a solar panel or a manual generator that can generate power for the rechargeable battery.

[0019] When the circuit board 3 detects an abnormality in the occupant, the notification unit 5 notifies at least one of the occupant and the outside of the vehicle of the abnormality. For example, the notification unit 5 may include at least one of an audio output device that uses sound, a lighting device that uses light, and a communication device that uses wireless communication. In this specification, for example, "at least one of A, B, C, ..., and Z" means any one of all combinations of one or more types extracted from the group A, B, C, ..., and Z.

[0020] The housing 6 fixes the circuit board 3, the power supply 4, and the notification unit 5. As shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 6 may fix the circuit board 3, the power supply 4, and the notification unit 5 by abutting them against a frame 6 a, or may fix them using an adhesive or the like.

[0021] The housing 6 is attached to the vehicle. The housing 6 may be indirectly attached to the vehicle by a housing holder 7 or the like, or may be directly attached to the vehicle by fitting or the like. In FIG. 3, the housing 6 is attached to the ceiling of the vehicle and in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle, but it may also be attached to the ceiling of the vehicle or in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle. The housing 6 is not limited to the part of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3, and may be attached to substantially any part of the vehicle. It is preferable that the housing 6 is attached to the vehicle with the imaging range 1f of the imaging unit 1 facing toward the driver's seat.

[0022] 1 and 2 is provided on the back surface of the housing 6, which is located on the opposite side of the imaging unit 1 with respect to the circuit board 3, and the back surface is detachably attached to the vehicle. The housing holding portion 7 is, for example, an adhesive tape or a suction cup.

[0023] The infrared-transmitting member 8 is a member that transmits infrared rays, and is provided so as to cover an opening provided on the imaging unit 1 side of the housing 6 .

[0024] Summary of First Embodiment According to the occupant monitoring device of the first embodiment configured as described above, the power supply 4 is always isolated from power from the vehicle, detects an occupant abnormality, and, if an occupant abnormality is detected, notifies at least one of the occupant and an external party to the vehicle of the abnormality. This configuration allows consistent support operations for the occupant to be performed independently of the vehicle in terms of power, control, and the like. This allows the occupant monitoring device to operate even if the vehicle is not configured to supply power to the occupant monitoring device. Furthermore, since the occupant monitoring device can be attached to virtually any part of the vehicle, it is particularly effective in construction machinery vehicles or agricultural machinery vehicles that are not configured to supply power to the occupant monitoring device.

[0025] In the first embodiment, the power source 4 includes an interface that receives power from an external source other than the vehicle, or a power generation unit that can generate power. With this configuration, the occupant monitoring device can be used for a long period of time.

[0026] In the first embodiment, the housing holder 7 detachably mounts the housing 6 to the vehicle. With this configuration, the occupant monitoring device can be mounted at a position different from the position where the device is already mounted on the vehicle, or in a vehicle different from the vehicle where the device is already mounted.

[0027] <Modification 1> Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an occupant monitoring device according to Modification 1. In Fig. 4, the circuit board 3 includes a control board 3a on which the imaging unit 1 is mounted and a light source board 3b on which the light source 2 is mounted. This configuration increases the degree of freedom in the shape and design of the occupant monitoring device. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the control board 3a and the light source board 3b are electrically connected by a connecting member 3c such as a wire, and the control board 3a and the light source board 3b are arranged to face each other, thereby reducing the size of the occupant monitoring device as viewed in the thickness direction (the left-right direction in Fig. 4).

[0028] <Modification 2> In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing holder 7 is detachably attached to the vehicle at the back side of the housing 6, which is located on the opposite side of the imaging unit 1 with respect to the circuit board 3. However, this is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 5, the housing holder 7 may be detachably attached to the vehicle at the side of the housing 6, which is located in the extension direction of the circuit board 3. Alternatively, by combining the configurations of FIGS. 2 and 5, the housing holder 7 may be detachably attached to the vehicle at both the back side and the side of the housing 6. This configuration increases the degree of freedom in attaching the occupant monitoring device. Note that, although FIG. 5 shows that the housing holder 7 is detachably attached to the vehicle at multiple side surfaces of the housing 6, it may also be detachably attached to the vehicle at one side surface of the housing 6.

[0029] The contents of the embodiments can be modified or omitted as appropriate.

[0030] The above description is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned.

[0031] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Imaging unit, 2 Light source, 3 Circuit board, 3a Control board, 3b Light source board, 4 Power supply, 5 Notification unit, 6 Housing, 7 Housing holding unit

Claims

1. An occupant monitoring device comprising: an imaging unit that images an occupant of a vehicle; a circuit board that detects abnormalities in the occupant based on an image obtained by imaging by the imaging unit; a power source that is always insulated from power from the vehicle and supplies power to the circuit board; a notification unit that, when the circuit board detects an abnormality in the occupant, notifies at least one of the occupant or a person outside the vehicle of the abnormality; and a housing that fixes the circuit board, the power source, and the notification unit and is attached to the vehicle.

2. An occupant monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the power source includes an interface for receiving power from an external source other than the vehicle.

3. An occupant monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power source includes a power generation unit capable of generating electric power.

4. An occupant monitoring device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a light source that irradiates light to the occupant, and the circuit board includes a control board on which the imaging unit is mounted and a light source board on which the light source is mounted.

5. An occupant monitoring device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a housing holding section for removably attaching at least one of a back surface of the housing that is positioned on the opposite side of the circuit board from the imaging section, and a side surface that is positioned in the extension direction of the circuit board, to the vehicle.

6. An occupant monitoring device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vehicle includes a construction machinery vehicle or an agricultural machinery vehicle, and the housing is attached to at least one of the ceiling of the vehicle and the front side of the driver's seat of the vehicle.

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