Face Center Detection for Drivers Wearing Glasses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing face detection systems inaccurately determine the center position of a face when a driver wearing glasses is facing sideways, leading to errors in facial recognition and expression analysis.

Innovation Solution

A face center position detecting device and method that includes a face image storage unit, contour determining unit, wearing glasses determining unit, sideways orientation determining unit, and center position detecting unit, which processes images to accurately detect the face center position by analyzing the lower part of the face and regions between contour positions, especially when glasses are worn and the face is facing sideways.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If image processing is performed on the entire face image including glasses when the face is facing sideways, then the processing covers the complete face area, but the center position detection becomes inaccurate due to interference from glasses images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveface image processing areaVSAvoidcenter position detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the face image processing into multiple regions: it identifies contour positions in the lateral direction, divides the image into regions between these contours, and selectively processes only the lower face part and regions between contours. This segmentation excludes the glasses area from center position calculation, resolving the contradiction by maintaining comprehensive area coverage while ensuring accurate detection through selective region processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing quality to different regions of the face image. Specifically, it performs center position detection with high precision on the lower face part and regions between contours, while excluding the upper region containing glasses. This local quality approach ensures that the detection algorithm focuses computational resources on areas that contribute to accurate center position determination without being influenced by glasses interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the detection system processes all face images uniformly, then the system structure remains simple, but detection accuracy deteriorates when glasses are worn and face is facing sideways

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system structureVSAvoidface center position detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic processing that adapts to different conditions. The system first determines whether glasses are worn and whether the face is facing sideways, then dynamically adjusts the processing region and method accordingly. When glasses are detected and the face is sideways, the system selectively processes only specific regions; otherwise, it processes the entire face image. This dynamic approach maintains simple overall structure while achieving high accuracy under challenging conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses comprehensive face image processing methods, then it can handle various face appearances and conditions, but it fails to accurately detect center position when glasses are worn and face is facing sideways

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling various face appearancesVSAvoidcenter position detection accuracy under specific conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis before center position detection by first determining whether glasses are worn and whether the face is facing sideways. Based on these preliminary determinations, the system pre-selects the appropriate processing region and method. This preliminary action enables the system to adapt to various face appearances and conditions while ensuring accurate center position detection by excluding glasses interference when present.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7907752B2Face center position detecting device, face center position detecting method, and computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2011.03.15 AISIN SEIKI KK

AI summary

It is possible to accurately detect a face center position based on an image of a person when the person is wearing glasses even when the person is facing sideways. Face images obtained as a result of photographing a face of a driver using a camera (10) are stored in an image memory (22). The CPU 24 determines positions of the sides and top and bottom positions of the face based on the face images stored in the image memory (22). Further, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the driver is wearing glasses or is facing sideways. When the wearing glasses and facing sideways is determined, a face center position is detected using face images for a lower region of the face. As a result, it is possible to detect a face center position in a reliable manner even when a driver wearing glasses is facing sideways.