Single Camera Occupant Head Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current occupant monitoring systems in vehicles face challenges in accurately determining the position of a driver's head, particularly in varying lighting conditions and head positions, which can impact the effectiveness of safety features like airbag deployment.
Innovation Solution
An occupant monitoring system comprising a light source to illuminate the driver's head, a camera to capture images of the illuminated area, and a processor to determine the head's position by analyzing the vertical displacement of the light band in the images, using empirical equations to calculate the distance from the camera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are positioned within the passenger compartment to monitor occupants, then occupant position tracking capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by using sequential images captured at different time points, and a spatial dimension by incorporating depth information through time-of-flight measurement. This allows accurate 3D position tracking using a single camera location, eliminating the need for multiple cameras while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary time-of-flight measurement mechanism that captures depth information along with 2D image data. This intermediary depth map serves as a bridge between the single camera input and the 3D position calculation, enabling accurate occupant tracking without requiring multiple cameras.
2Measurement precision
If traditional image processing methods are used without depth information, then system simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision of head position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges 2D image data from the camera with 1D time-of-flight depth measurements to create a 3D representation of the occupant. By combining these different types of data (visual information with depth information), the system achieves accurate head position measurement without requiring complex multi-camera setups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the problem from 2D image coordinate analysis to 3D spatial coordinate analysis by incorporating depth parameter information. This parameter change from 2D to 3D space, enabled by time-of-flight measurement, allows accurate head position determination even with a single camera.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides accurate and reliable head position detection, enabling improved vehicle safety features by accurately determining the distance of the driver's head from the camera, enhancing the precision of airbag deployment and other safety systems.
Implementation Method 1
a camera spaced apart from the light source, the camera being positioned to capture an image of the light illuminating the occupant's head
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an occupant monitoring system (10) for an automobile. One embodiment of the invention includes a monitoring system (10) configured to detect an occupant's head position when the occupant is seated in the automobile.