Patent · US Active

Device, program, and method for determining sleepiness

US8045766B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
6References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 12, 2008
Grant dateOct 25, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06V40/20
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A sleep prevention system captures a facial image of a driver, determines a sleepiness level from the facial image and operates warning devices including neck air conditioner, seatbelt vibrator, and brake controller if necessary based on the sleepiness determination. A sleepiness determination device determines sleepiness from facial expression information such as distances between corners of a mouth, distance between an eyebrow and eye, tilt angle of a head, and other facial feature distances. The facial distances are calculated from captured images and from reference information gather during wakefulness. The sleepiness degree is determined based on the determination results including combinations thereof.

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