Steering Wheel PPG Monitoring for Low-Interference Driver Status Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recognition systems for driver status monitoring in vehicles are prone to interference and high computational costs, leading to inaccurate predictions of driver abnormalities and increased setup costs.
Innovation Solution
A physiological monitoring system integrated into a steering wheel that uses a light source module and pixel sensors to emit and detect light rays on a user's skin, converting brightness changes into touching and photoplethysmography signals to determine the user's physiological state, including heart rate, atrial fibrillation, blood pressure, and glycohemoglobin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image recognition is used to detect driver status, then driver status can be monitored, but the system is easily interfered with by objects or passengers causing misjudgments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/image recognition system with a physiological signal detection system based on photoplethysmography (PPG). Instead of using cameras to capture facial expressions and body postures, the system uses light sources and sensors to detect physiological signals such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and other vital signs directly from the driver's body, thereby eliminating interference from objects or passengers in the visual field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces physiological signals as an intermediary to indirectly assess driver status. Rather than directly observing the driver's appearance or behavior through image recognition, the system measures physiological parameters (heart rate, blood oxygen, etc.) that reflect the driver's actual state, providing a more reliable indicator that cannot be obscured by external objects.
2Reliability
If image recognition is used to detect driver status, then driver status can be monitored, but a large amount of calculation resources is necessary increasing setup costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex image processing and graphical calculation system with a simpler physiological signal acquisition and analysis system. The PPG-based detection requires minimal computational resources compared to image recognition algorithms, reducing the need for powerful processors and lowering overall system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cost-effective photoplethysmography sensors and light sources that are significantly cheaper than high-performance image recognition systems. These sensors can be easily integrated into existing vehicle infrastructure without requiring expensive computational hardware, thereby reducing setup costs while maintaining monitoring reliability.
3Reliability
If image recognition is used to detect driver status, then driver status can be monitored, but the dangers which are caused by the abnormal status of drivers are unable to be predicted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses physiological signals as intermediaries to detect early signs of driver abnormality. By continuously monitoring parameters such as heart rate variability, blood oxygen saturation, and other vital signs, the system can identify deviations from normal physiological states that indicate fatigue, stress, or medical emergencies, enabling early prediction and intervention before actual accidents occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where physiological signal data is continuously analyzed and compared against normal ranges. When abnormalities are detected, the system可以提供 real-time feedback to the driver through alerts or to the vehicle's control system for automated responses, creating a closed-loop system that can predict and respond to driver abnormalities proactively.
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
Accurately determines the user's physiological state and driving control, enhancing safety by reducing interference and computational costs, while providing reliable predictions of vehicle risks.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of pixel sensors is used to continuously monitor a reflective light ray passing through the dermis of the skin area. A plurality of second brightness changing signals are output and converted into a plurality of photoplethysmography signals.
Data Source
AI summary
A physiological monitoring system for monitoring the physiological state is provided. The physiological monitoring system includes a light source module, a plurality of pixel sensors and a processing unit signally connected to the pixel sensors. The light source module emits the light rays to a recognizable region. A part of the light rays reaches the skin area of the user where the recognizable region touches and transmits to the dermis of the skin area. The pixel sensors are distributed in the recognizable region, and these pixel sensors continuously monitor the ambient light ray detected by the recognizable region and monitor the reflective light ray passing through the dermis of the skin area. Thus, the brightness changing signals are output and converted into touching signals and photoplethysmography signals. The processing unit is used to determine the physiological states of the user based on the touching signals and the photoplethysmography signals.