The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 11, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1997
Yazaki Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In a driver monitoring system, a pattern projecting device consisting of two fiber gratings stacked orthogonally which receive light from a light source projects a pattern of bright spots on a face of a driver. A image pick-up device picks up the pattern of bright spots to provide an image of the face. A data processing device processes the image, samples the driver's face to acquire three-dimensional position data at sampling points and processing the data thus acquired to provide inclinations of the face of the driver in vertical, horizontal and oblique directions. A decision device decides whether or not the driver is in a dangerous state in accordance with the inclinations of the face obtained. A warning device warns the driver against his dangerous state. The pattern light projecting device and pick-up device are integrated to each other and installed on a steering column on a vehicle. Thus, the driver monitoring system can assure performance, reliability and safety without hindering the driver in view of its installation on the vehicle.