Driver Posture Monitoring With Camera-Based Ergonomic Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle occupants face challenges in maintaining optimal posture while driving or riding, as existing systems fail to account for individual body measurements and ergonomic needs, leading to discomfort and physical strain.

Innovation Solution

A camera-based driver assistance system that captures images of occupants, determines their current posture, and recommends adjustments based on body measurements, providing guidance to improve comfort and reduce strain by analyzing seat and body positions relative to the vehicle's components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual seat adjustment is provided for occupants, then ease of operation is improved, but it fails to account for individual body measurements and ergonomic needs, leading to discomfort and physical strain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual seat adjustmentVSAvoidphysical strain and discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adjusts seat components based on captured images and analyzed body measurements without requiring manual input from the occupant. The processor determines optimal seat settings and actuators automatically position the seat, steering wheel, and other components based on the occupant's anatomy and posture analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated system using image capture devices, processors, and actuators. Instead of relying on occupants to manually adjust seats, the system uses computer vision and image processing to automatically determine and implement optimal seating positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a camera-based system is implemented to monitor posture, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposture detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a multi-functional integrated approach where image capture devices serve multiple purposes: capturing occupant images for posture analysis, determining body measurements, and guiding seat adjustments. The processor handles image processing, posture determination, and control signals generation within a single system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces image capture devices and processors as intermediaries between the occupant and the seat adjustment system. These intermediaries analyze the occupant's posture and body measurements through captured images, translating visual information into actionable adjustment commands without requiring direct physical contact or complex sensor arrays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4112372B1Method and system for driver posture monitoring
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP4112372B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4112372B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4112372B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various systems and methods are provided for determining a posture of an occupant of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method comprises capturing images of an occupant in a vehicle via a vehicle camera, determining a current posture of the occupant and a recommended posture for the occupant based on the captured images and body measurements of the occupant, and outputting a guidance based on a difference between the current posture and the recommended posture. In this way, a comfort of the occupant may be increased by guiding the occupant toward a more ergonomic posture.