Steering Wheel Camera Image Tilt Correction for Driver Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver status monitoring systems face challenges in accurately capturing and analyzing images of drivers due to camera placement issues, such as obstruction by the steering wheel and poor viewing angles, which hinder precise monitoring of the driver's status.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a camera mounted on the steering wheel with a control unit that corrects image tilts based on steering angle data, allowing for precise extraction of facial characteristics, particularly eye status, using histogram, edge, and labeling analyses, and providing a vibration prevention mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the camera is mounted in the instrument cluster or upper portion of steering column, then the camera is positioned close to the driver, but the steering wheel blocks the camera when rotated
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is extracted from the traditional mounting locations (instrument cluster, steering column) and repositioned to the steering wheel itself, specifically at the center or upper portion, to eliminate the obstruction problem caused by steering wheel rotation blocking the camera view
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the camera is mounted on the room mirror, then the camera is not blocked by steering wheel rotation, but the viewing angle is from above and the distance is too far for precise monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The camera mounting position is changed from the vertical dimension (room mirror above the driver) to the horizontal dimension (steering wheel at driver's eye level), achieving both unobstructed view and close proximity for precise monitoring
3Reliability
If the camera is mounted on the steering wheel, then the visual field is maintained during rotation, but the captured image becomes tilted
Solution Approach 1:
A steering angle sensor detects the steering wheel rotation angle and provides feedback to the control unit, which then rotates the captured image by the corresponding angle to correct the tilt and maintain proper image orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The image rotation angle parameter is dynamically changed based on the steering wheel rotation angle, transforming the tilted image back to the correct orientation through computational adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
The status of a driver is monitored by facial images captured by a camera mounted on the steering wheel of a vehicle. The captured image is tilt corrected by a steering angle. The status of the driver can be monitored efficiently.