Steering Wheel Height Adjustment for Complete Driver Face Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing driver monitoring systems face challenges in optimally photographing a driver's face due to varying steering wheel heights, leading to incomplete facial capture, which hinders the detection of vital state information such as sleepiness or gaze direction.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a camera unit and a control unit to detect the optimal face shape by processing images and outputting steering wheel adjustment information to adjust the steering wheel's height using an electric motor, ensuring the entire face is captured without cutting off the forehead or chin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the camera is mounted on the upper end of the cover of the steering wheel column, then the camera can be installed in a compact space, but the driver's face cannot be optimally photographed due to varying steering wheel heights and angles
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the steering wheel height based on real-time detection of face photographing quality. The control unit receives feedback about whether the driver's face is optimally captured and automatically adjusts the steering wheel to the appropriate height, transforming a static installation problem into a dynamic adaptation solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the camera continuously monitors the driver's face, the control unit analyzes whether the face is optimally photographed, and adjusts the steering wheel height accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that varying steering wheel heights do not compromise face capture quality.
2Device complexity
If the steering wheel height is fixed, then the steering wheel structure is simple, but the driver's face may be cut off (forehead or chin) depending on the steering wheel angle
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel height is transformed from a fixed parameter to a dynamically adjustable one. The system automatically modifies the steering wheel position based on detected face capture quality, allowing the structure to adapt to different driving conditions while maintaining simplicity in its base design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the vertical position parameter of the steering wheel to optimize face capture. By adjusting this single parameter (height/angle), the system ensures that the driver's entire face is captured without cutting off the forehead or chin, regardless of initial steering wheel configuration.
3Manufacturing precision
If the steering wheel is adjusted manually to optimize face photographing, then the face can be captured completely, but the driver monitoring system cannot operate automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting when the driver's face is not optimally captured and autonomously adjusting the steering wheel height. This eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining complete face capture, enabling the driver monitoring system to operate fully automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system uses feedback from the camera to continuously monitor face capture quality and triggers automatic steering wheel adjustment when needed. This feedback-driven automation ensures that the driver monitoring system can operate without manual intervention while maintaining optimal face capture conditions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the steering wheel height varies, then the steering wheel is adaptable to different drivers, but the driver state detection accuracy decreases due to incomplete face capture
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains detection accuracy despite steering wheel variability by implementing feedback-based adjustment. When face capture quality degrades due to steering wheel position changes, the system automatically adjusts the steering wheel to restore optimal capture conditions, ensuring consistent driver state detection accuracy across different adaptability scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables stable operation of the driver monitoring system by ensuring the entire face is photographed optimally, allowing for accurate detection of driver states and preventing incomplete facial capture.
Implementation Method 1
outputting steering wheel adjustment information to adjust the steering wheel's height using an electric motor
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for adjusting a steering wheel, which include: a camera unit installed inside a vehicle to photograph a driver's face; and a control unit which processes an image photographed by the camera unit to detect a face shape, checks whether higher and lower portions of detected face are photographed in an optimal face shape without being cut off, and outputs designated steering wheel adjustment information when the face shape is not the optimal face shape.