Automated Driver Dazzling Detection and Sun Visor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for mitigating driver dazzling, such as smart windows and electric sun visors, require manual operation, diverting the driver's attention from the road and thus do not effectively ensure driving safety.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that automatically detect the driver's facial and eye areas, identify the area affected by direct sunlight, and determine if dazzling impacts driving ability, then block direct sunlight from the detected direction using a system comprising an image photographer, eye area detector, facial area detector, incident area detector, and a blocking apparatus driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If smart windows or electric sun visors are used to block direct sunlight, then driver protection from dazzling is improved, but the driver must manually operate these devices which diverts attention from the road and reduces driving safety
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the driver's own facial image captured by the camera to automatically detect dazzling conditions and control the sun visor, eliminating the need for manual driver intervention. The driver's face serves as both the detection target and the basis for automated control decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated optical-detection-based system. The camera captures facial images, the processor analyzes them to detect dazzling conditions, and the sun visor is automatically controlled based on this analysis, substituting the driver's manual action with an automated vision-based control system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual operation of sun visors is required to block direct sunlight, then blocking effectiveness is improved, but driving safety deteriorates due to driver attention diversion
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures the driver's facial image, analyzes it to detect dazzling conditions, and automatically adjusts the sun visor accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the blocking action is triggered automatically when needed, maintaining driving safety while effectively blocking direct sunlight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the driver's manual mechanical operation with an automated system that uses optical detection (camera) and electronic processing to control the sun visor. This substitution eliminates the need for the driver to divert attention from the road while maintaining effective sunlight blocking.
3Reliability
If automated detection of driver's dazzling is implemented, then driving safety is improved by eliminating manual operation, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera serve multiple functions: it captures images for both facial recognition (to identify the driver) and dazzling detection (to analyze sunlight incidence on the face). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors and lowers overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the facial recognition function and the dazzling detection function into a single integrated process using the same camera and processor. By combining these functions, the patent avoids duplicating hardware components and reduces system complexity while maintaining automated safety features.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for detecting whether dazzling is affecting the drivers driving ability when the eye area is included in the area to which the direct sunlight is incident is provided. More particularly of the technique detects a facial area and an eye area of a driver's image, and an area to which direct sunlight is incident in the facial area, and then determines whether dazzling is effecting the drivers driving ability when the eye area is included in the area to which the direct sunlight is incident to detect a direction of incidence of the direct sunlight and then, automatically blocks the direct sunlight in the direction to which light is incident via a blocking apparatus.