Driver Gaze Monitoring with Device-Aware Distraction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occupant state monitoring systems struggle to accurately detect and differentiate between a driver gazing at the front of the vehicle and a device like a smartphone, leading to potential erroneous warnings and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
An occupant state monitoring apparatus using an imager and calculation controller to capture images of an occupant's eyeballs, detect the line of sight, and identify devices within the vehicle compartment, enabling precise determination of distracted states by analyzing gaze direction and duration, with adjustments for daylight and nighttime conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional line-of-sight detection methods are used to monitor occupant state, then the system can detect driver distraction, but it cannot accurately differentiate between gazing at the vehicle front and gazing at devices, leading to erroneous warnings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines line-of-sight detection with device detection functions into a single monitoring system. The calculation controller simultaneously processes eyeball image data to determine line of sight and radar sensor data to detect device positions, merging these functions to achieve accurate differentiation between genuine distraction and normal driving behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a radar sensor as an intermediary detection device to detect the presence and position of objects in the driver's field of view. This intermediary sensor provides additional information that mediates between the line-of-sight data and the distraction determination, enabling accurate differentiation between gazing at the road versus gazing at devices.
2Device complexity
If the monitoring system uses only line-of-sight detection, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision for distinguishing distraction states is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The calculation controller performs multiple functions: it processes images from the imager to detect eyeball position and line of sight, processes radar signals to detect device presence and position, and integrates this information to determine distraction states. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or multiple sensor systems with a streamlined configuration using an imager and radar sensor. The imager captures eyeball reflections to determine line of sight, while the radar sensor detects device positions, substituting simpler optical and electromagnetic detection methods for more complex mechanical measurement systems.
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
Accurately identifies driver distraction by distinguishing between gaze at the vehicle's front and internal devices, reducing false alerts and enhancing driving safety by notifying the driver to return to a focused state.
Implementation Method 1
detect, based on a part of the eyeball reflected in the image, a line of sight of the occupant
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant state monitoring apparatus includes an imager and a calculation controller. The imager is configured to capture an image of a region including an eyeball of an occupant who is in a vehicle, to obtain an image. The calculation controller is configured to detect, based on a part of the eyeball reflected in the image, a line of sight of the occupant and a device disposed in a compartment of the vehicle, and monitor a state of the occupant based on the device and a change in the line of sight.