Monitoring device for detecting the presence of a driver in a driver's seat of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a monitoring device for detecting a driver in a driver's seat of a vehicle, the monitoring device comprising an infrared sensor unit, an infrared illumination unit, and a reflective layer for reflecting light in the infrared wavelength range, wherein: the infrared illumination unit is designed to illuminate the face of the driver with infrared radiation; a front side of the reflective layer is arranged facing the face of the driver; and the infrared sensor unit is designed to detect the infrared radiation from the face of the driver that is reflected by the reflective layer.

Description

[0001] Monitoring device for detecting the presence of a driver in a driver's seat of a vehicle

[0002] [1] The present invention relates to a monitoring device for detecting the presence of a driver in the driver's seat of a vehicle. Such monitoring devices are used in vehicles to provide information to the vehicle's electronics as to whether a driver has taken the driver's seat and, depending on this information, to display information to the driver, for example, that the driver has not yet fastened their seatbelt or whether the driver is distracted. Depending on the detected presence status of the driver, certain operations and settings of the vehicle can also be performed automatically by the electronics.

[0003] [2] Monitoring devices for detecting a driver in a driver's seat within the vehicle interior are already known from the prior art. These devices include, in particular, a lighting device for emitting electromagnetic radiation onto the driver's face and a corresponding sensor device for detecting the radiation reflected back or back from the driver's face, and in particular the position and orientation of the driver's face.

[0004] [3] A disadvantage of known monitoring devices for detecting the presence of the driver is the necessary integration of such devices, in particular the aforementioned lighting and sensor equipment, within the vehicle interior. Prior art solutions for driver monitoring are often designed in frame elements of display units or as completely separate units, which are located, for example, in the area of ​​the steering column, the A-pillar of the vehicle, or in the area of ​​the dashboard. A particular disadvantage of the aforementioned prior art is that the corresponding monitoring devices protrude, for example, from the steering column or the dashboard, thereby disrupting the desired appearance and aesthetics of the aforementioned interior elements and, in particular, posing an increased risk of injury to the occupants in the event of a crash.Another disadvantage is that, due to its exposure of the sensor installation above the steering column or dashboard, the monitoring device may be subject to external forces or may easily become dirty.

[0005] [4] Starting from the aforementioned prior art, the present invention aims to provide an improved monitoring device for detecting the presence of a driver in a driver's seat of a vehicle, wherein in particular the monitoring device is not visible to the driver in the driver's seat and thus does not disturb the appearance of the interior of the vehicle.

[0006] [5] According to the invention, the aforementioned problem is solved by providing a monitoring device for detecting the presence of a driver in a driver's seat of a vehicle, wherein the device comprises an infrared sensor device, an infrared illumination device, and a reflective layer for reflecting light in the infrared wavelength range. The infrared illumination device is designed to illuminate the driver's face with rays in the infrared wavelength range, the front of the reflective layer is arranged facing the driver's face, and the infrared sensor device is designed to detect the infrared rays from the driver's face reflected by the reflective layer.According to the invention, by forming a reflective layer for reflecting light in the infrared wavelength range, it is possible to arrange the infrared sensor device in the beam path of the infrared rays reflected via the reflective layer, thus eliminating the need to arrange the aforementioned sensor device directly in the field of vision of the driver or other occupants, or to direct it directly towards the driver's face.

[0007] [6] Preferably, the infrared sensor device can be arranged within a recess in the interior of the vehicle, in particular within a recess in the dashboard or steering column of the vehicle, wherein the infrared sensor device is arranged in the recess such that it is not visible, at least to the driver sitting in the driver's seat and preferably also to the other occupants in the vehicle. The aforementioned embodiment has the advantage that the infrared sensor device can be arranged within a recess below the dashboard and thus in the area of ​​the other vehicle electronics.A further advantage is that the infrared sensor device is not visible to the driver, who is in the driver's seat, and preferably not to the other occupants, so that the driver and preferably the other occupants of the vehicle have a clear field of vision over the dashboard through the windshield, such that the field of vision of the driver and preferably the other occupants is not disturbed by the infrared sensor device.

[0008] [7] Furthermore, it may be provided that the infrared lighting device is arranged within a recess in the interior of the vehicle, in particular within a recess in a dashboard or steering column, wherein the infrared lighting device is arranged in the recess in such a way that it is not visible to the driver sitting in the driver's seat, wherein the infrared lighting device is designed to emit the infrared rays onto the reflective layer and the reflective layer is arranged in such a way that it reflects the infrared rays emitted by the infrared lighting device onto the driver's face.By providing a recess in the dashboard, the infrared lighting device can be positioned in a non-visible viewing area within the recess below the dashboard, which has the advantage that the driver's field of vision is no longer disturbed or even restricted by the infrared lighting device.

[0009] [8] The infrared illumination device may be configured to project a defined dot grid and / or line pattern onto the driver's face. The projected dot grid and / or line pattern allows the orientation and distance of the driver's face relative to the infrared illumination device to be determined by observing distortions or changes in the grid or pattern reflected from the driver's face.

[0010] [9] According to the invention, it can also be provided that the infrared lighting device emits uniform infrared radiation in the direction of the driver's face.

[0011]

[0010] Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be provided with a detection device for detecting the position and / or orientation of the driver's face and / or for detecting the driver's gaze direction and / or for detecting the state of the driver's eyelids. The state of the eyelids includes detecting whether the driver's eyelids are closed or open. The corresponding configuration of the detection device has the advantage that, based on the state of the eyelids, it is possible, for example, to monitor whether a driver is fatigued and, if necessary, issue warning signals.

[0012]

[0011] Furthermore, according to the invention, at least one adjusting device can be provided for aligning the front of the reflective layer and / or the infrared sensor device and / or the infrared illumination device with the driver's face or in the driver's line of sight. The provision of a detection device and an adjusting device has the advantage that the position and orientation of the driver's face and / or the driver's line of sight can be detected continuously and dynamically, or at least at predefined time intervals, and the reflective layer or the infrared illumination device can be adjusted depending on the position and orientation of the driver's face and / or the driver's line of sight.This makes it possible to actively track the face and, in particular, to adjust the device to the driver's face in order to monitor it continuously or at least at certain intervals. According to the invention, manual adjustment of the device is thus avoided, thereby improving user comfort.

[0013]

[0012] It can be provided that the reflective layer is designed to be reflective for infrared radiation and transmissive for visible light radiation, at least in a partial area facing the face.

[0014]

[0013] In particular, it can be provided that the reflective layer comprises an optical short-pass filter coating, at least in a partial area facing the driver's face, which is designed to be transmissive for radiation in the visible light range and reflective for radiation in the near-infrared range. Preferably, the reflective layer can be designed to be transmissive for radiation in the wavelength range between 400 and 700 nm and reflective for radiation in the wavelength range above 850 nm.

[0015]

[0014] Alternatively, it can be provided that the reflective layer is designed to be reflective for infrared radiation and reflective for visible light radiation, at least in a partial area facing the driver's face.

[0016]

[0015] In particular, it can be provided that the reflective layer is designed as a layer of a projection surface of a head-up display device of the vehicle. This embodiment has the advantage that the functionality of an existing head-up display device can be extended to include the function of detecting a driver in a driver's seat without having to change the optics of the head-up display or the interior of the vehicle.

[0017]

[0016] Alternatively, it can be provided that the reflective layer is designed as a layer of a display device in the vehicle interior.

[0018]

[0017] The reflective layer can, for example, be designed as a cover layer of a combination display device for the driver / a cluster display.

[0019]

[0018] Preferably, the top layer can be designed as an antireflective coating which is reflective for radiation in the infrared wavelength range.

[0020]

[0019] It can also be provided that the reflective layer is designed as a layer of the vehicle's windshield. This embodiment has the advantage that the windshield, which is necessary in the vehicles, can be extended to include the functionality for detecting the driver without restricting the driver's field of vision.

[0021]

[0020] It can further be provided that the device according to the invention further comprises a projection layer which is arranged behind the reflective layer and a projection device for projecting photographic information in the visible light range onto a front or a back side of the projection layer.

[0022]

[0021] Furthermore, it can be provided that the device according to the invention has an optical guide element with a guide layer facing the reflective layer, which is reflective for infrared rays and transmissive for light rays in the visible light range, wherein a projection device for projecting image information in the visible light range onto the reflective layer is arranged behind the guide layer and the infrared illumination device for projecting the infrared rays onto the reflective layer is arranged in front of the guide layer.

[0023]

[0022] It can further be provided that the device has an optical guide element with a guide layer facing the reflective layer, which is transmissive for infrared rays and reflective for light rays in the visible light range, wherein a projection device for projecting image information in the visible light range onto the reflective surface is arranged in front of the guide layer and the infrared illumination device for projecting the infrared rays onto the reflective layer is arranged behind the guide layer.

[0024]

[0023] It can be provided that the projection device is selected from an element from the group of: an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector or a D LP projector.

[0025]

[0024] It can further be provided that the display device behind the reflective layer comprises an OLED panel or TFT panel or an LCD or a micro-LED panel of a rear lighting device, each for displaying light image information for the driver.

[0025] In the following, exemplary embodiments according to the invention are explained with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0026]

[0026] They show:

[0027] Figure 1A shows a first schematic view of a device according to the invention.

[0028] Monitoring device for detecting a driver in a driver's seat;

[0029] Figure 1B shows a second exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device for detecting a driver in a driver's seat;

[0030] Figure 1C shows a third exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device for detecting a driver in a driver's seat;

[0031] Figure 2A shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device according to the invention for detecting the potency of a driver;

[0032] Figure 2B shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device according to the invention;

[0033] Figure 3A shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device according to the invention; as well as

[0034] Figure 3B shows a seventh exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device according to the invention.

[0027] Figures 1A and 1B each show a schematic side view of the elements of a first and second exemplary monitoring device according to the invention for detecting a driver 2 on a driver's seat 4 of a vehicle 10. The device according to the invention each comprises an infrared sensor device 1, an infrared illumination device 3, and a reflective layer 50 for reflecting light in the infrared wavelength range. The infrared illumination device 3 is configured to illuminate the face 22 of the driver 2 with infrared rays 31, wherein a front face 51 of the reflective layer 50 faces the face 22 of the driver 2, and wherein the infrared sensor device 1 is configured to detect the infrared rays 33 of the face 22 of the driver 2 reflected by the reflective layer 50.As can be seen from Figures 1A and 1B, the driver's face can be 22.

[0035] 2 The front surface 51 of the reflective layer also reflects the infrared rays generated by the infrared lighting device 3 and directs them towards the face 22 of the driver 2.

[0036]

[0028] As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, according to the invention it can be provided to arrange the infrared sensor device 1 within a recess 71 of a dashboard 7 of the vehicle 10, wherein the infrared sensor device 1 is arranged in the recess 71 in such a way that it is not visible, at least for the driver 2 sitting on the driver's seat 4.It can also be provided, as is also shown in Figures 1A and 1B, that the infrared lighting device 3 is arranged within a recess 71 of the dashboard 7, wherein the infrared lighting device 3 is arranged in the recess 71 in such a way that it is not visible to the driver 2 sitting on the driver's seat 4, wherein the infrared lighting device 3 is furthermore directed to emit the infrared rays 31 onto the reflective layer 50 and the reflective layer 50 is arranged in such a way that it is reflected by the infrared lighting device.

[0037] 3 emitted infrared rays 31 are reflected onto the face 22 of the driver 2.

[0029] The arrangements shown in Figures 1A and 1B differ in that the monitoring device according to the invention shown in Figure 1A has the reflective layer 50 as a layer of a projection surface 80 for a head-up display device 8 of the vehicle 10 and thus separately from the actual windshield 70 of the vehicle 10. In contrast, Figure 1B shows a monitoring device according to the invention in which the reflective layer 50 is formed as a layer of a windshield 70 of the vehicle 10. Alternatively, it can be provided according to the invention that the reflective layer 50 is formed as a layer of a display device 90, such as a display, in the vehicle interior 101 of the vehicle 10.

[0038]

[0030] Figure 1C shows a third exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device for detecting a driver 2 in a driver's seat 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1C, both the infrared sensor device 1 and the infrared illumination device 3 are arranged within a recess 71 of the steering column 11 within the interior 101 of the vehicle 10. The infrared illumination device 3 and the infrared sensor device 1 are arranged in the recess 71 of the steering column 11 in such a way that they are not visible to the driver 2 when seated in the driver's seat 4. As can be seen in Figure 1C, the infrared illumination device 3 is designed to imitate the infrared radiation on the reflective layer 50 for the reflection of light in the infrared wavelength range.In the embodiment shown in Figure 1C, the reflective layer 50 is designed as a cover layer 510 of a combination display device 91 for the driver 2. The combination display device 91 can display driving-condition-dependent information, such as speed, as well as a navigation route for the driver 2. The combination display device 91 can be a projection display or a display unit 90 in the form of, for example, an OLED panel, a micro-LED panel, or a TFT panel. As can also be seen in Figure 1C, the infrared radiation 33 reflected by the driver 2's face 22 is initially directed onto the reflective layer 50 and is then directed or reflected by it in the direction of the infrared sensor 1.

[0039]

[0031] As can be seen from Figures 2A and 2B, the device according to the invention can further comprise a projection layer 53, which is arranged behind the reflective layer 50. The projection layer 53 can thus be arranged on a rear side 52 of the reflective layer 50 facing away from the driver 2, for example by being connected or bonded to the rear side.

[0040]

[0032] Furthermore, a projection device 12 can be configured for projecting photographic information in the visible light range onto a front surface 531 or a back surface 533 of the projection layer 53, as can be seen in Figures 2A and 2B. Consequently, the photographic information can be projected onto the front surface 531 of the projection layer 53 via the projection device 12, as shown in Figure 2A. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2A, the projection layer 53 is configured to be transmissive for infrared rays 31 and reflective for rays in the visible light range.

[0041]

[0033] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2B, a rear projection device 12 can be provided for projecting photographic information onto the back side 533 of the projection layer 53, wherein the projection layer 53 is designed to be transmissive for light rays in the visible light range.

[0042]

[0034] Figure 3A shows another exemplary embodiment of a monitoring device according to the invention, wherein the monitoring device shown in Figure 3A comprises an infrared sensor device 1, an infrared illumination device 3, and a reflective layer 50 for reflecting light in the infrared wavelength range. The infrared illumination device 3 is configured to illuminate the face 22 of the driver 2 with infrared rays. Furthermore, the front face 51 of the reflective layer 50 faces the face 22 of the driver 2, and the infrared sensor device 1 is configured to detect the infrared rays 33 of the driver 2's face 22 reflected by the reflective layer 50.

[0043]

[0035] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3A, the infrared lighting device 3 is arranged such that the rays emitted by it in the infrared wavelength range are emitted onto the front 51 of the reflective layer 50 and are reflected by the reflective layer 50 onto the face 22 of the driver 2.

[0044]

[0036] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3A, the device according to the invention has an optional optical guide element 14 with a guide layer 140 facing the reflective layer 50, wherein the guide layer 140 in the illustrated embodiment is reflective for infrared rays and transmissive for light rays in the visible light range, wherein a projection device 12 for projecting image information in the visible light range onto the reflective layer 50, behind which the guide layer 140 is arranged, and the infrared sensor device 1 for detecting the infrared rays reflected by the guide layer 140 is arranged in front of the guide layer 140.

[0045]

[0037] The light rays emitted by the projection device 12 in the visible light range for the projection of photographic information are transmitted through the optical guide element 14, or more precisely the guide layer 140, and subsequently strike the reflective layer 50, which in the illustrated embodiment has the preferred features that it is designed to be reflective for both infrared radiation and visible light radiation, so that the driver 2 can perceive the photographic information generated / emitted by the projection device 12 in the reflectively designed reflective layer 50.

[0046]

[0038] The intended embodiment further enables the infrared rays 33 reflected from the face 22 of the driver 2 to first be reflected via the reflective layer 50 and subsequently reflected again via the conductive layer 140 of the guiding element 14, and the rays reflected from the conductive layer 140 in the infrared light range can then be detected by the infrared sensor device 1.

[0047]

[0039] Figure 3B shows another exemplary embodiment of the monitoring device for detecting a driver 2, wherein the illustrated exemplary embodiment differs in particular in the design of the provided conductive layer 140 of the guiding element 14, namely in that the conductive layer 140 in Figure 3B is designed to be transmissive for infrared rays and reflective for light rays in the visible light range, wherein a projection device 12 for projecting image information in the visible light range onto the reflective layer 50 is arranged in front of the conductive layer 140 and the infrared sensor device 1 for detecting the infrared rays transmitted by the conductive layer 140 and the infrared radiation 33 of the face 22 of the driver 2 reflected by the reflective layer 50 is arranged behind the conductive layer 140.

[0048]

[0040] The aforementioned embodiment makes it possible to emit the information to be reproduced via the reflective layer 50 in the visible light range via a projection device 12 onto the conductive layer 140 of the guiding element 14, which is designed to be reflective in the visible light range, and then to reflect or deflect it onto the reflective layer 50.

[0049]

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is also advantageously provided that the infrared illumination device 3 for projecting the infrared rays 31 onto the reflective layer 50 is also arranged behind the conductive layer 140, wherein the rays emitted by the infrared illumination device 3 in the infrared wavelength range are transmitted through the conductive layer 140 so that they strike the reflective layer 50.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Monitoring device for detecting a driver (2) in a driver's seat (4) of a vehicle (10), comprising: - an infrared sensor device (1), - an infrared lighting device (3), and - a reflective layer (50) for reflecting light in the infrared wavelength range, wherein the infrared illumination device (3) is configured to illuminate the face (22) of the driver (2) with infrared rays (31); wherein a front side (51) of the reflective layer (50) is arranged facing the face (22) of the driver (2); and wherein the infrared sensor device (1) is configured to detect the infrared rays (33) of the driver's face (2) reflected by the reflective layer (50).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor device (1) is arranged within a recess (71) in the interior of the vehicle, in particular within a recess (71) of a dashboard (7) or a steering column (11) of the vehicle (10), wherein the infrared sensor device (1) is arranged in the recess (71) in such a way that it is not visible, at least to the driver (2) sitting on the driver's seat (4).

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the infrared illumination device (3) is arranged within a recess (71) in the interior of the vehicle, in particular within a recess (71) of an instrument panel (7) or a steering column (11), wherein the infrared illumination device (3) is arranged in the recess (71) such that it is not visible to the driver (2) sitting in the driver's seat (4), wherein the infrared illumination device (3) is configured to emit the infrared rays (31) onto the reflective layer (50) and the reflective layer (50) is configured is arranged so that it reflects the infrared rays (31) emitted by the infrared lighting device (3) onto the face (22) of the driver (2).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the infrared illumination device (3) is configured to illuminate the face (22) of the driver (2) uniformly with infrared radiation, to project a defined dot grid or line pattern onto the face (22) of the driver (2).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a detection device (9) for detecting the position and / or orientation of the face (22) of the driver (2) and / or for detecting the direction of gaze of the driver (2) and / or for detecting the condition of the eyelids of the driver (2).

6. Device according to claim 5, further comprising at least one adjusting device (6) for aligning the front side (51) of the reflective layer (50) and / or the infrared illumination device (3) towards the face of the driver (2) and / or in the direction of the driver's gaze (2).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reflective layer (50) is designed to be reflective for infrared radiation and transmissive for visible light radiation at least in a partial area facing the face (22) of the driver (2).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reflective layer (50) comprises at least in a partial area (530) facing the face (22) of the driver (2) an optical short-pass filter coating which is designed to be transmissive for radiation in the visible light range and reflective for radiation in the near-infrared range.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reflective layer (50) is designed to be reflective for infrared radiation and also reflective for visible light radiation, at least in a partial area (530) facing the face (22) of the driver (2).

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the reflective layer (50) is designed as a layer of a projection surface (80) for a head-up display device (8) of the vehicle (10).

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the reflective layer (50) is designed as a layer of a display device (90) in the vehicle interior (101) of the vehicle (10).

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the reflective layer (50) is designed as a cover layer (510) of a combination display device (91) for the driver (2).

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the cover layer (510) is designed as an anti-reflective coating which is designed to be reflective for radiation in the infrared range.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the reflective layer (50) is designed as a layer of a windshield (70) of the vehicle (10).

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a projection layer (53) which is arranged behind the reflection layer (50) and a projection device (12) for projecting photographic information in the visible light range onto a front (531) or a back (533) of the projection layer (53).

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising an optical guide element (14) with a guide layer (140) facing the reflective layer (50), which is reflective for infrared rays and transmissive for light rays in the visible light range, wherein a projection device (12) for projecting image information in the visible light range onto the reflective layer (50) is arranged behind the guide layer (140) and the infrared sensor device (1) for detecting the infrared rays reflected by the guide layer (140) is arranged in front of the guide layer (140).

17. Device according to claim 16, wherein the infrared illumination device (3) for projecting the infrared rays (31) onto the reflective layer (5) is arranged in front of the conductive layer (140).

18. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising an optical guide element (14) with a guide layer (140) facing the reflective layer (50), which is transmissive for infrared rays and reflective for light rays in the visible light range, wherein a projection device (12) for projecting image information in the visible light range onto the reflective layer (50) is arranged in front of the guide layer (140) and the infrared sensor device (1) for detecting the infrared rays transmitted by the guide layer (140) is arranged behind the guide layer (140).

19. Device according to claim 18, wherein the infrared illumination device (3) for projecting the infrared rays (31) onto the reflective layer (5) is arranged behind the conductive layer (140).

20. Device according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the projection device (12) is selected from the group consisting of: an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector or a DLP projector.

21. Device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the display device (90) behind the reflective layer (5) comprises an OLED panel, a micro-LED panel or TFT panel with a backlighting unit, each for displaying photographic information for the driver.

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