Driver Drowsiness Detection Using Personalized Image Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle monitoring systems struggle to accurately detect driver drowsiness due to variations in driver reactions and attitudes, leading to either false warnings or missed alerts.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a camera and computer to perform image analysis, with a learning phase to determine specific parameters and thresholds for each driver, and a monitoring phase to assess drowsiness levels in real-time, using multiple implementations of an algorithm to account for individual variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If predetermined thresholds are used for all drivers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of drowsiness detection deteriorates due to individual variations in driver reactions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplexity of monitoring systemVSAvoidreliability of drowsiness detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a learning phase before actual monitoring to establish personalized thresholds for each driver. During this preliminary action, the system collects data on the driver's natural blinking patterns and head movements, then determines customized thresholds that account for individual variations. This preliminary customization resolves the contradiction by preparing driver-specific parameters in advance, ensuring reliable detection without requiring complex real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the threshold parameters based on the specific driver being monitored. Instead of using fixed predetermined thresholds for all users, the system adapts the threshold values to match each driver's individual characteristics such as blinking frequency and head movement patterns. This parameter customization allows the system to maintain high reliability across different drivers while managing complexity through automated adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple algorithm implementations are performed in parallel, then the measurement precision of drowsiness detection is improved, but the use of energy and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of drowsiness level determinationVSAvoidenergy consumption of computer
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs multiple algorithm implementations in parallel during the learning phase to establish the most accurate threshold set for each driver. By conducting this computationally intensive work in advance, the system achieves high measurement precision for future monitoring without requiring continuous parallel processing during actual driving. This preliminary computation resolves the energy contradiction by front-loading the computational demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses multiple parallel algorithm implementations to determine thresholds, which may seem excessive, but this partial redundancy ensures high precision in threshold determination. Once the optimal thresholds are established through this excessive computational approach, the system can rely on these pre-determined values for efficient real-time monitoring, balancing initial energy investment with long-term operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12307791B2Method for determining a drowsiness level of a motor vehicle driver
Publication Date: 2025.05.20 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • US12307791B2 patent drawing
  • US12307791B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for determining a level of drowsiness of a driver of a motor vehicle on the basis of a predetermined image analysis algorithm, the vehicle including a camera and a computer, the computer implementing the predetermined algorithm on the basis of a set comprising at least one parameter relating to the attitude of the driver, the method, implemented by the computer, including a phase of learning and a phase of monitoring the state of the driver.