Abstract:
The head pose of a motor vehicle driver (16) with respect to a vehicle frame of reference is assessed with a relative motion sensor (34) positioned rearward of the driver's head, such as in or on the headrest (12) of the driver's seat (10c). The relative motion sensor (34) detects changes in the position of the driver's head, and the detected changes are used to determine the driver's head pose, and specifically, whether the head pose is forward-looking (i.e., with the driver paying attention to the forward field-of-view) or non-forward-looking (52, 70, 72, 64, 74). The determined head pose is assumed to be initially forward-looking, and is thereafter biased toward forward-looking whenever driver behavior characteristic of a forward-looking head pose is recognized (60, 62, 66, 68).
Abstract:
A driver alert for mitigating driver distraction is issued (150) based on a proportion of off-road gaze time (130, 140) and the duration of a current off-road gaze (142-146). The driver alert is ordinarily issued when the proportion of off-road gaze exceeds a threshold (140), but is not issued if the driver's gaze has been off-road for at least a reference time (146). In vehicles equipped with forward-looking object detection (250), the driver alert is also not issued if the closing speed of an in-path object (11a) exceeds a calibrated closing rate (148).
Abstract:
A vehicle security monitoring system (20) and method (100) is provided for monitoring the security in detection zones (24A-24D) near a vehicle (10). The system (20) includes motion detectors (26A-26D) positioned to detect motion of an object within security zones (24A-24D) of a vehicle and cameras (28A-28D) positioned to generate video images of the security zones (24A-24D). A display (50) located onboard the vehicle (10) displays images generated by a camera (24A) when the camera (24A) is activated. A controller (34) controls activation of the camera (24A) and presentation of images on the display (50). The controller (34) activates the camera (34A) and controls the display (50) to output images captured by the camera (34A) when a moving object is detected in the security zone (24A).
Abstract:
A display system and method for presenting scrolling text (24) on a display (22) is provided in a manner that generally minimizes driver distraction. The system includes a display (22) for displaying scrolling text (24). The system also includes a gaze monitor (40) having an imaging camera (30) oriented to capture images of a person (32), such as a vehicle driver, including at least portions of the driver's head (34), and determining a gaze vector ( g ‾ ) or head orientation vector. The system further includes a controller (50) for determining whether the driver (32) is expected to be viewing the display (22) based on the gaze vector ( g ‾ ) . The controller (50) pauses the scrolling text (24) presented on the display (22) when the driver (32) is not viewing the display (22).
Abstract:
A warning display system (30) visually warns the driver of a vehicle (10) of an object in a detection zone (16), such as a blind spot region of the vehicle (10). The display system (30) includes an imaging medium (72) for displaying a warning indicator (24) and a light source (76) disposed behind the imaging medium (72) for providing a controlled illumination of the warning indicator (24). An object detector sensor (12) detects an object in a vehicle detection zone (16). One or more signals (32) are processed to determine an anticipated movement of the vehicle (10) in relation to the object. The system further includes a controller (50) for adaptively controlling illumination of the light source (76) to increase illumination of the warning indicator (24) when the vehicle (10) is anticipated to be moving towards the object.