Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for assessing head pose of a vehicle driver

US7970175B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by

9References

3Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Delphi Technologies · US

Inventors

Phillip V. Malawey · Kokomo, US
Matthew R. Smith · Verona, US
Gerald J. Witt · Carmel, US

Key dates

Filing date	Apr 30, 2007
Grant date	Jun 28, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Apr 27, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB60W2540/221
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The head pose of a motor vehicle driver with respect to a vehicle frame of reference is assessed with a relative motion sensor positioned rearward of the driver's head, such as in or on the headrest of the driver's seat. The relative motion sensor 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. 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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.