3D Gaze Monitoring for Driver Distraction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occupant state monitoring systems, such as those described in JP-A No. 2009-023565 and JP-T No. 2021-518010, struggle to accurately monitor a driver's gaze point in three dimensions, leading to difficulties in detecting distracted states.
Innovation Solution
An occupant state monitoring apparatus that includes an imager, storage, and calculation controller to calculate three-dimensional gaze coordinates and compare them with vehicle member coordinates to determine the occupant's state, particularly detecting distracted driving by analyzing gaze direction relative to vehicle interior elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional monitoring systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of gaze point deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an imager as an intermediary device to capture images of the occupant's eyes and calculate gaze coordinates. This intermediary system bridges the gap between simple monitoring and precise three-dimensional gaze detection, enabling accurate measurement without requiring overly complex direct sensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional image analysis to three-dimensional gaze coordinate calculation by incorporating depth information and spatial relationships. The calculation controller computes gaze coordinates in three-dimensional space by analyzing the position of gaze points on the cornea and the orientation of the eyeball, adding a dimensional aspect that significantly improves measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If three-dimensional gaze coordinates are calculated, then measurement precision improves, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gaze detection process into distinct computational steps: first detecting the position of the gaze point on the cornea, then determining the orientation of the eyeball, and finally calculating the three-dimensional gaze coordinates. This segmentation of the measurement process makes the complex task more manageable and systematically solvable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image capture to create a visual copy of the occupant's eye structure, allowing the calculation controller to analyze and measure gaze coordinates without physically interfering with the eye. This optical copying approach simplifies the measurement process while maintaining high precision.
3Reliability
If gaze coordinates are compared with vehicle member coordinates, then reliability of state determination improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calculation controller serves multiple functions: it calculates gaze coordinates, stores vehicle member coordinates, performs comparisons, and determines occupant states. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into a single controller, improving reliability while managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different coordinate systems and comparison criteria for different vehicle members (steering wheel, dashboard, windshield). Each vehicle member has its own coordinate characteristics and threshold values for determining distracted driving, allowing localized optimization of the determination process rather than a single universal approach.
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant state monitoring apparatus includes an imager, a storage, and a calculation controller. The imager is configured to capture an image of an occupant who is in a vehicle. The storage is configured to store vehicle member coordinates that are position information of a vehicle member of the vehicle. The calculation controller is configured to calculate, based on the image, gaze coordinates representing a position at which the occupant gazes, and determine a state of the occupant based on the gaze coordinates and the vehicle member coordinates.