Airbag Control Using Face Detection to Adjust Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag systems may cause secondary injuries due to deployment regardless of passenger wear, such as glasses, and lack precise control over unfolding angle, speed, and pressure based on passenger face information.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing an imaging device with cameras and lights to extract face information, including glasses wear and distance, to adjust airbag unfolding angle, speed, and pressure for optimal deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional airbag systems deploy the airbag based on weight sensors without considering face information, then the airbag deployment is simple and fast, but secondary injuries may occur due to lack of precise control over unfolding angle, speed, and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the airbag control into multiple independent components: weight sensor for basic detection, imaging device for face information, and a controller that processes both inputs. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity in basic operation while adding sophisticated face-based control capabilities through modular integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device acts as an intermediary between the passenger and the airbag deployment system. It captures face information (glasses detection, face position, distance) and translates it into control parameters (unfolding angle, speed, pressure) that modify the airbag deployment characteristics to prevent secondary injuries.
2Speed
If the airbag unfolds regardless of passenger wear (glasses), then the deployment response is fast, but secondary injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of face information including glasses wear status before airbag deployment occurs. The imaging device continuously monitors the passenger's face, and the controller pre-calculates appropriate deployment parameters based on detected conditions, enabling safe deployment even at high speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes airbag deployment parameters (unfolding angle, speed, pressure) based on detected face information. When glasses are detected, the controller adjusts these parameters to reduce impact force and prevent secondary injuries, while maintaining fast response time through real-time parameter modification.
3Measurement precision
If face information processing is added to the airbag control system, then control precision over unfolding parameters is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with an imaging-based optical system. The imaging device captures face information optically, and the controller processes images to detect glasses, face position, and distance, then translates these into airbag control parameters. This substitution enables precise measurement without significant time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for controlling an airbag are provided. The apparatus includes an imaging device that includes cameras and lights and an image processor that performs an image processing for an image obtained by the imaging device. A collision sensor senses a collision of a vehicle and an airbag driver operates the airbag. A controller extracts face information of a passenger from the image of which the image processing is performed by the image processor, determines airbag control information based on the extracted face information, and then operates the airbag driver based on the determined airbag control information when the collision of the vehicle is predicted.