Camera Mirror Display Calibration for Driver Gaze Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver distraction detection systems in vehicles face reliability issues due to inaccuracies in determining the position of cameras relative to the driver, which affects the ability to identify and respond to distracted driving events effectively.
Innovation Solution
A camera mirror system incorporating first and second exterior cameras, displays, and interior cameras with a controller that initiates a calibration procedure using patterns to establish accurate camera positions and distances for monitoring driver activity, including gaze and pose, within the vehicle cabin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single interior camera is used for driver monitoring, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of driver gaze and pose deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The driver monitoring function is segmented into multiple interior cameras positioned at different locations within the vehicle cabin. Each camera captures a specific field of view, and the controller integrates data from multiple cameras to achieve comprehensive and precise driver monitoring, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-camera two-dimensional view to a multi-camera three-dimensional spatial understanding of the driver's position, gaze direction, and pose. By adding spatial dimensions through multiple camera perspectives, the system achieves higher measurement precision without excessive complexity increase.
2Ease of operation
If camera positions are not calibrated, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of driver distraction detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration action automatically during vehicle startup or when triggers are activated. The calibration process establishes accurate camera position and orientation data before normal operation begins, ensuring reliable driver distraction detection without requiring manual setup by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process is designed to be self-executing, where the system automatically calibrates the interior cameras using visible features in the cabin environment. This self-service calibration maintains reliability while preserving ease of operation, as no manual intervention is required.
3Measurement precision
If multiple interior cameras are positioned to cover overlapping fields of view, then the measurement precision of driver activity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple interior cameras are designed with universal functionality to perform the same driver monitoring tasks from different positions. Each camera is configured to capture driver activity within its field of view, and the controller universally processes data from all cameras using the same algorithms, achieving high measurement precision while managing complexity through functional uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera mirror system for a vehicle includes, among other things, first and second exterior cameras that are configured to provide capture images outside of the vehicle that correspond to legally prescribed views. The system further includes first and second displays within a vehicle cabin that are configured to depict the captured images respectively from the first and second exterior cameras. The system further includes first and second interior cameras that are configured to capture driver images within the vehicle cabin. The first and second interior cameras respectively have first and second interior fields of view that overlap one another in a vehicle driver region within the vehicle cabin, the first display is in the second interior field of view, and the second display is in the first interior field of view. The system further includes a controller that is in communication with the first and second displays and the first and second interior cameras. The controller is configured to monitor a driver activity in the vehicle driver region using the first and second interior cameras. The controller is configured to initiate a calibration procedure in response to a calibration event. The calibration procedure includes first and second displays that respectively depict first and second patterns, and the first and second interior cameras detect respectively the second and first patterns to calibrate the first and second cameras in relation to the vehicle driver region to establish a distance between each of the first and second interior cameras and the second and first patterns respectively.