JP2012224286A - Occupant state sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety performance of a vehicle while taking cost phase and layout phase into consideration.SOLUTION: A first in-car CCD camera 6 is fixedly disposed on a front part in the vehicle interior, captures an image of at least the head of a driver who has sat on a driver's seat in the vehicle interior from the direct front and outputs image data thereof as a first captured image signal. A second in-car CCD camera 7 is fixedly disposed on a front part in the vehicle interior, captures an image of at least the upper half part of the driver's body from the diagonal front and outputs image data thereof as a second captured image signal. A sitting position sensing unit 8 senses the sitting position of the driver based on the first captured image signal and the second captured image signal. A head position sensing unit 9 senses the head position of the driver based on the first captured image signal and the second captured image signal. A visual state sensing unit 19 senses a visual state of the driver based on the first captured image signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant state detection device mounted on a vehicle.

  Conventionally, as a device for detecting the state of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, a seating position detection device, a head position detection device, a visual state detection device, and the like exist. Each of these is considered as a separate device.

  The seating position detection device includes a seat position sensor, a load sensor, and the like, and detects the seating position (front-rear direction, left-right direction, posture) of the occupant. This seating detection device is employed in an airbag device, for example, and adjusts the ignition timing of an inflator that inflates the airbag (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this, the airbag can be inflated at an accurate timing. Such an airbag device is called a smart airbag.

  The head position detection device includes a CCD camera and detects the head position of an occupant. This head position detection device is employed, for example, in a device that displays an image of the outside world on a pillar (window frame) that creates a blind spot and pseudo-sees through the pillar. In this apparatus, the image displayed on the pillar is changed according to the position of the head (see, for example, Patent Document 2). According to this, a display without a sense of incongruity to the passenger can be performed.

  The visual state detection device includes an infrared camera and detects the visual state (face orientation, blink, line of sight) of the occupant (see, for example, Patent Document 3). According to this, it is possible to prevent looking away by giving a warning by some means such as a buzzer or a lamp, or to prompt a break by judging the arousal level.

JP 2002-087201 A JP 2008-037118 A JP 2006-308375 A

  However, when all of the conventional devices are mounted on a vehicle, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of cost and layout to install a large number of sensors and cameras in the vehicle interior.

  Moreover, since each apparatus detects from the information acquired individually, the detection result obtained is not related, and it cannot be expected to realize highly reliable control, that is, high safety performance of the vehicle.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an occupant state detection device capable of improving the safety performance of a vehicle while considering cost and layout.

  In order to achieve the above object, an occupant state detection device according to the present invention is an occupant state detection device mounted on a vehicle, and includes a first imaging unit, a second imaging unit, a seating position detection unit, Head position detecting means and visual state detecting means detecting means are provided.

  The first imaging means is fixedly provided at the front part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, images at least the head of the driver seated in the driver's seat in the passenger compartment from the front front, and the image data is the first imaging signal. Output as. The second imaging means is fixedly provided at the front of the vehicle interior, images at least the upper body of the driver from an oblique front, and outputs the image data as a second imaging signal. The seating position detection means detects the seating position of the driver based on the first imaging signal and the second imaging signal. The head position detecting means detects the driver's head position based on the first imaging signal and the second imaging signal. The visual state detection means detects the visual state of the driver based on the first imaging signal.

  In the above configuration, the seating position, the head position, and the visual state of the occupant can be detected only by the imaging signals from the two imaging units. Therefore, the cost is reduced and the layout is advantageous as compared with the case where each detection is realized by a separate device and a large number of sensors and cameras are used.

  The sitting position detecting means, the head position detecting means, and the visual state detecting means detect the seating position, the head position, and the visual state based on the imaging signal output from the common imaging means. There is relevance to the results. Therefore, highly reliable control, that is, high safety performance of the vehicle can be realized. For example, when employed in an airbag device, the ignition timing of the inflator can be more finely controlled based on not only the seating position of the occupant but also the head position of the occupant. Further, it is possible to perform control in consideration of the contact area between the airbag and the face based on the visual state of the occupant.

  According to the present invention, the safety performance of a vehicle can be improved while considering the cost and layout.

It is a schematic diagram of a vehicle provided with an occupant state detection device according to the present invention. It is a block block diagram of a passenger | crew state detection apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment includes an occupant state detection device 2, an airbag device 3, an external display device 4, and a dozing alarm device 5.

  The occupant state detection device 2 images at least a head of a driver seated in a driver's seat 11 in the passenger compartment 10 from the front front, and outputs the image data as a first imaging signal. A second in-vehicle CCD camera 7 that images at least the upper body of the driver seated in the driver's seat 11 obliquely from the front and outputs the image data as a second imaging signal, and a seating position detection unit (sitting position detection means) ) 8, a head position detection unit (head position detection means) 9, and a visual state detection unit (visual state detection means) 10.

  The first vehicle interior CCD camera 6 is fixedly provided in front of the driver's seat 11 in the front portion (for example, the dashboard 12) in the vehicle interior 10. The first in-vehicle CCD camera 6 is connected to a sitting position detection unit 8, a head position detection unit 9, and a visual state detection unit 10 by a communication cable (not shown). One imaging signal is output.

  The second vehicle interior CCD camera 7 is fixedly provided in front of the driver's seat 11 in the front portion (for example, the dashboard 12) in the vehicle interior 10 obliquely. The second vehicle interior CCD camera 7 is connected to a seating position detection unit 8, a head position detection unit 9, and a visual state detection unit 10 by a communication cable (not shown). 2 Output an image signal.

  The sitting position detection unit 8, the head position detection unit 9, and the visual state detection unit 10 are configured by an ECU (Electric Control Unit), and the ECU includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The seating position detection unit 8 is connected to the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7 by communication cables (not shown). An imaging signal is input. The seating position detection unit 8 detects the seating position (front-rear direction, left-right direction, posture) of the driver based on the imaging signals from the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6, 7. Specifically, the seating position of the driver in the front-rear direction is calculated from the difference between the images of the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7. The seating position of the driver in the left-right direction is calculated from the image of the first CCD camera 6. The driver's posture is calculated from the images of the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7 and the difference between the images.

  The sitting position detection unit 8 is connected to the airbag device 3 and the dozing alarm device 5 by a communication cable (not shown). The seating position detection unit 8 outputs the detection result of the driver's seating position to each of the devices 3 and 5 as a detection signal.

  The head position detection unit 9 is connected to the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7 by communication cables (not shown). The imaging signal is input. The head position detection unit 9 detects the driver's head position based on the imaging signals from the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7. Specifically, the driver's head position is calculated from the images of the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7 and the difference between the images.

  The head position detection unit 9 is connected to the airbag device 3 and the external display device 4 by a communication cable (not shown). The head position detection unit 9 outputs the detection result of the driver's head position to each of the devices 3 and 4 as a detection signal.

  The visual state detection unit 10 is connected to the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7 by communication cables (not shown), and is connected to the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7. An imaging signal is input. The visual state detection unit 10 detects the visual state of the driver (face orientation, blink, and line of sight) based on the imaging signals from the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7. Specifically, the direction of the driver's face, the blink and the line of sight are all calculated from the image of the first in-vehicle CCD camera 6.

  The visual state detection unit 10 is connected to the airbag device 3 and the dozing alarm device 5 by a communication cable (not shown). The visual state detection unit 10 outputs the detection result of the driver's visual state to each of the devices 3 and 5 as a detection signal.

  Thus, the seating position detection unit 8, the head position detection unit 9, and the visual state detection unit 10 detect the driver's seating position, head position, and visual state from the common imaging signals, respectively.

  The airbag device 3 is connected to a sitting position detection unit 8, a head position detection unit 9, and a visual state detection unit 10 by a communication cable (not shown), and detection signals from these units 8 to 10 are input. Is done. The airbag device 3 includes an airbag, an inflator filled with gas, a sensor that detects an impact caused by a collision of the vehicle 1, and an ECU that comprehensively controls the entire device (all not shown). ). When the airbag device 3 detects an impact with the sensor, the airbag device 3 adjusts the timing based on detection signals from the sitting position detection unit 8, the head position detection unit 9, and the visual state detection unit 10, and ignites the inflator. Inflate the airbag.

  The external display device 4 is connected to the head position detection unit 9 by a communication cable (not shown), and a detection signal from the head position detection unit 9 is input. This external display device 4 controls the outside of the vehicle CCD camera that captures an external area that is a blind spot of the driver (occupant), a liquid crystal display that is disposed in a pillar that forms the blind spot of the driver, and the entire apparatus. ECU (which is not shown). The external display device 4 performs an image correction process based on the detection signal from the head position detection unit 9 and then displays an external image on the liquid crystal display.

  The dozing alarm device 5 is connected to a sitting position detection unit 8 and a visual state detection unit 10 by a communication cable (not shown), and detection signals from these units 8 and 10 are input. This dozing alarm device 5 includes notifying means such as a buzzer and a lamp, and an ECU that controls the entire device (not shown). The dozing alarm device 5 operates the notification means based on detection signals from the sitting position detection unit 8 and the visual state detection unit 10.

  According to the present embodiment, the sitting position detection unit 8, the head position detection unit 9, and the visual state detection unit 10 are based on the imaging signals from the first and second in-vehicle CCD cameras 6 and 7, and the driver The seating position, the head position, and the visual state are detected. That is, since the detection of the driver's seating position, head position, and visual state can be realized with only the imaging signals from the two CCD cameras, each detection is realized by separate devices, and a large number of sensors and cameras Compared with the case of using, the cost is reduced and the layout is advantageous. Moreover, each detection result of a driver | operator's seating position, a head position, and a visual state is relevant, and reliable control, ie, the high safety performance of the vehicle 1, is realizable. For example, the ignition timing of an inflator (not shown) in the airbag device 3 can be controlled more finely based on not only the driver's seating position but also the driver's head position. Further, based on the visual state of the driver, it is possible to perform control in consideration of the contact area between the airbag (not shown) and the face.

  In the present embodiment, the detection results of the occupant state detection device 2 are used to control the operations of the airbag device 3, the external display device 4, and the dozing alarm device 5, but the operations of these devices 3 to 5 are controlled. The operation of any device may be controlled as long as the detection result of the occupant state detection device 2 can be used.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment to which the invention made by the present inventor is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited by the discussion and the drawings that form part of the disclosure of the present invention according to this embodiment. That is, it should be added that other embodiments, examples, operation techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are all included in the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Occupant state detection apparatus 6 1st vehicle interior CCD camera (1st imaging means)
7 Second CCD camera in the vehicle (second imaging means)
8 Seating position detection unit (detection means)
9 Head position detection unit (detection means)
10 Visual state detection unit (detection means)

Claims (1)

An occupant state detection device mounted on a vehicle,
A first fixed image is provided at a front portion of the vehicle interior of the vehicle, images at least a head of a driver seated in a driver seat in the vehicle interior from the front front, and outputs the image data as a first imaging signal. Imaging means,
A second imaging means that is fixedly provided at a front portion of the passenger compartment, images at least the upper body of the driver from an oblique front, and outputs the image data as a second imaging signal;
A seating position detecting means for detecting the seating position of the driver based on the first imaging signal and the second imaging signal;
Head position detection means for detecting the driver's head position based on the first imaging signal and the second imaging signal;
An occupant state detection device comprising: visual state detection means for detecting the visual state of the driver based on the first imaging signal.

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