Vehicle Driving Support Device Sight Line Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driving support devices struggle to determine whether a driver is visually recognizing road signs and other display objects, making it difficult to provide appropriate driving support control based on the driver's visual recognition and the vehicle's traveling state.

Innovation Solution

A driving support device that includes a sight line detection system and a controller to assess the driver's visual recognition of display objects, adjusting support levels and executing notification and conformity controls to ensure the vehicle's state aligns with the display content, particularly by detecting the direction of the driver's gaze and the frequency of object recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the driver's line of sight is monitored to determine visual recognition of display objects, then the accuracy of driving support control is improved, but the complexity of the detection system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual recognition determination accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an intermediary system (sight line detection device) to indirectly determine driver visual recognition. Instead of directly measuring cognitive recognition, the system detects the driver's line of sight direction and uses this as an intermediary indicator to infer whether the driver is visually recognizing display objects, thereby improving measurement precision while managing system complexity through indirect measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the support level is dynamically adjusted based on visual recognition status, then the effectiveness of driving support is improved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving support effectivenessVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of support levels based on real-time detection of driver visual recognition status. The control system transitions from static to dynamic operation, where the support level (notification control or conformity control) is automatically adjusted according to whether the driver is visually recognizing display objects, thereby improving driving support effectiveness while managing control system complexity through rule-based dynamic adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If conformity control is executed when the driver is not visually recognizing display objects, then safety is improved, but the degree of automation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidvehicle control automation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by executing conformity control (automatic vehicle control to match display content) in advance when the driver is detected not to be visually recognizing display objects. This preventive measure ensures the vehicle maintains safe operation even when the driver is distracted, improving driving safety while implementing targeted automation only when needed rather than continuous automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3960573B1Driving support device for vehicle, driving support method for vehicle, and non-transitory storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3960573B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3960573B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3960573B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A driving support device (10) includes: a front camera (32) configured to acquire image data; and a controller (15) configured to execute driving support control for supporting driving by a driver of a vehicle (100) when the controller (15) determines that a specific display object exists in front of the vehicle (100) based on the image data. The driving support control is control executed depending on the specific display object. The controller (15) is configured to determine whether a conforming operation is being executed by the driver. The controller (15) is also configured to execute, as the driving support control, control having a higher support level indicating a degree of influence on the driver when the controller (15) determines that the conforming operation is not being executed, as compared with a case where the controller (15) determines that the conforming operation is executed.