Seat Belt Detection Using Shoulder Line Intersection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cabin monitoring systems using image sensors are not sufficiently accurate in determining if a vehicle occupant is correctly wearing a seat belt, often requiring extensive processing power and struggling with contrast issues between the seatbelt and clothing.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that acquires an image of the occupant, identifies the shoulders and seatbelt, and determines the intersection between the seatbelt and a line connecting the shoulders to assess if the seatbelt is correctly applied, utilizing image processing techniques like edge detection and human pose estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image data is used to determine seat belt position, then measurement capability is improved, but measurement precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the seat belt detection task into multiple components: detecting the shoulder line, detecting the seat belt longitudinal extension separately, and then determining their intersection. This segmentation allows each detection task to be optimized independently, improving overall measurement precision while maintaining reliability through multiple verification points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary geometric construct - the intersection point between the shoulder line and seat belt longitudinal extension. This intersection point serves as a mediator that translates image data into a reliable positional indicator, enhancing both measurement precision and detection reliability by providing a clear geometric reference
2Measurement precision
If complex image processing is used to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but processing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential geometric features needed for seat belt detection - specifically the shoulder line and seat belt longitudinal extension - from the full image data. By taking out only these critical elements rather than processing the entire image, the system achieves good measurement precision with significantly reduced processing power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by focusing detection efforts only on the relevant portions of the image (shoulder area and seat belt area) rather than analyzing the entire image. This selective approach maintains detection accuracy while minimizing processing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary analysis of irrelevant image regions
3Use of energy by moving object
If simple image processing is used, then processing power is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by first detecting the shoulder line and seat belt longitudinal extension separately before determining their intersection. This preliminary detection of key geometric features enables the use of simpler processing in the final intersection calculation, maintaining measurement precision while improving processing power efficiency through staged simplification
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b~4c
AI summary
A system and method for determining if an occupant of a vehicle has correctly applied a seat belt by acquiring an image of the occupant, the image including at least a shoulder portion of the occupant, identifying left and right shoulders and a longitudinal extension of a seat belt in the image, determining an intersection between the longitudinal extension and a line connecting the left and right shoulders, and, based on a relative position of the intersection and the shoulders, deducing whether the seat belt is correctly applied.