Driver Posture Detection Using 2D Camera Image Masks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver monitoring systems for vehicles are complex, expensive, and can deactivate safety features like airbags when a dangerous posture is detected, posing risks to the driver and passengers.
Innovation Solution
A method using a 2D camera and electronic control unit with pre-defined image processing masks to determine the driver's posture, generating warnings for incorrect postures and optionally deactivating safety airbags, without requiring additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors in the seat, collision sensors, and 3D camera are used to detect driver posture, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function needed for posture detection by using a simple 2D camera instead of multiple sensors and 3D cameras. The image processing masks extract only the necessary posture information from standard 2D images, eliminating the need for complex sensor arrays while maintaining sufficient detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image processing masks that create simplified representations (copies) of driver posture patterns. These masks capture the essential features of correct and incorrect postures without requiring complex 3D data, allowing accurate detection using standard 2D camera images.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and 3D camera are used to detect driver posture, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive specialized sensors and 3D cameras with inexpensive standard 2D cameras. The image processing masks provide a low-cost computational approach that achieves sufficient detection accuracy without requiring expensive hardware, significantly reducing manufacturing costs.
3Reliability
If airbag system is deactivated when dangerous posture is detected, then safety is improved by preventing false airbag deployment, but reliability worsens because the airbag system becomes unavailable when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary warning actions before taking extreme measures. The system first issues visual and audible warnings to correct the driver's posture, and only deactivates the airbag system after repeated failures to correct, thereby preventing false deployment while maintaining safety through progressive correction attempts.
4Measurement precision
If complex processing capabilities are used to process sensor data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor systems with an optical system (2D camera) combined with software-based image processing. The convolution product calculations provide sufficient processing capability using standard computational methods, eliminating the need for complex hardware processing systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the posture of a driver of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a camera capable of generating a sequence of images of the position of the driver of the vehicle and an electronic control unit including a memory zone, in which a plurality of image processing masks is recorded, with each mask being associated with a predetermined posture of the driver in their seat. The method includes the camera generating a sequence of images of the position of the driver and sending the sequence of images to the electronic control unit, computing, by the electronic control unit, for each mask of the plurality of masks, the convolution product of the mask with at least one image of the sequence of images received from the camera in order to obtain a correlation coefficient, and determining the posture of the driver from the mask with the highest correlation coefficient.