Member Info for johnchucka

VEHICULAR DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM WITH CUSTOMIZED OUTPUTS
A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an electronic control unit (ECU), memory that stores driver information, and a driver monitoring camera viewing a head of a driver present in the vehicle. When the driver is present in the vehicle, and via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the driver monitoring camera and provided to the ECU, the system recognizes the driver present in the vehicle as being one of the at least one potential driver of the vehicle having driver information stored in the memory, and the vehicular driver monitoring system accesses the driver information that is associated with the driver. Responsive to determination by the vehicular driver monitoring system that a geographical location of the accessed stored driver information corresponds to a current geographical location of the vehicle, the system generates an output for the driver that corresponds to the current geographical location of the vehicle.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=2023078327A1&KC=A1&FT=D&ND=3&date=20230316&DB=&locale=en_EP
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230078327.pdf

NEURAL NETWORK BASED FACIAL ANALYSIS USING FACIAL LANDMARKS AND ASSOCIATED CONFIDENCE VALUES
Systems and methods for more accurate and robust determination of subject characteristics from an image of the subject. One or more machine learning models receive as input an image of a subject, and output both facial landmarks and associated confidence values. Confidence values represent the degrees to which portions of the subject's face corresponding to those landmarks are occluded, i.e., the amount of uncertainty in the position of each landmark location. These landmark points and their associated confidence values, and/or associated information, may then be input to another set of one or more machine learning models which may output any facial analysis quantity or quantities, such as the subject's gaze direction, head pose, drowsiness state, cognitive load, or distraction state.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=0&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230316&CC=US&NR=2023078171A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230078171.pdf

Highly-accurate and self-adjusting imaging sensor auto-calibration for in-vehicle driver monitoring system or other system
A method includes obtaining multiple images of a driver of a vehicle using an imaging sensor associated with the vehicle, where the images of the driver capture the driver's head. The method also includes identifying, in each of at least some of the images, an orientation of the driver's head in the image. The method further includes identifying an average orientation of the driver's head based on at least some of the identified orientations of the driver's head. In addition, the method includes determining whether the driver is inattentive based on the average orientation of the driver's head. Identifying, in each of at least some of the images, the orientation of the driver's head in the image may include identifying a pitch angle and a yaw angle of the driver's head in the image.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=11600083B1&KC=B1&FT=D&ND=3&date=20230307&DB=&locale=en_EP
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/11600083.pdf

VEHICULAR INTERIOR CABIN MONITORING SYSTEM WITH LIGHT EMITTER THAT IS SELECTIVELY OPERABLE FOR DMS AND OMS FUNCTIONS
A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting structure configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. The mirror head accommodates a camera and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected in series with each other. A switch is operable in an open state, where current provided by a current driver passes through each individual LED of the plurality of LEDs, and a closed state, where current provided by the current driver passes through a first subset of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs and bypasses a second subset of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs. The switch operates in the open state when the camera captures image data for a first vehicular function, such as occupant monitoring, and operates in the closed state when the camera captures image data for a second vehicular function, such as driver monitoring.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=0&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230309&CC=WO&NR=2023034956A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/WO2023034956A1.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgGKrXz25gs

CAMERA MODULE FOR A VEHICLE
A camera module (1) for a vehicle (2). A printed circuit board (11) of the camera module (1) has a carrier (10) for at least one camera (14, 141, 142, . . . , 14N). The carrier (10) is mounted directly to the printed circuit board (11). The printed circuit board (11) carries as well electronic components (18) and a connector (19).
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=2023068758A1&KC=A1&FT=D&ND=3&date=20230302&DB=&locale=en_EP
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230068758.pdf

GAZE AND AWARENESS PREDICTION USING A NEURAL NETWORK MODEL
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for predicting gaze and awareness using a neural network model. One of the methods includes obtaining sensor data (i) that is captured by one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle and (ii) that characterizes an agent that is in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle in an environment at a current time point. The sensor data is processed using a gaze prediction neural network to generate a gaze prediction that predicts a gaze of the agent at the current time point. The gaze prediction neural network includes an embedding subnetwork that is configured to process the sensor data to generate an embedding characterizing the agent, and a gaze subnetwork that is configured to process the embedding to generate the gaze prediction.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=3&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230223&CC=US&NR=2023059370A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230059370.pdf

REARVIEW ASSEMBLY ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM
A system for calibrating a driver monitoring system in a vehicle comprises a rearview assembly comprising a housing, a mount secured to a vehicle surface, and a barrel extending between the housing and the mount; an imager disposed in the rearview assembly; a processor in communication with the imager; a memory comprising a file containing information on stationary landmarks proximate the imager; and a controller operable to: receive images of the vehicle's interior and calibrate the imager by identifying a substantially stationary landmark in a first image used during an initial calibration; wherein the controller is configured to re-calibrate the driver monitoring operations based, at least in part, on a detection of the substantially stationary landmark being in a different location in a second image relative to the first image. One of the ends of the barrel is connected with a moveable joint.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=7&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230223&CC=US&NR=2023055290A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230055290.pdf

SYSTEM AMD METHOD FOR PROVIDING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS INTERFACES FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OPERATORS
A supervisory control system is disclosed that provides an operator situational awareness interface use with monitoring a plurality of automated vehicles (AVs). The system is configured to: generate a map of a geographical area of interest; obtain location data and perceived risk data for a plurality of AVs in the geographical area; generate a vehicle icon corresponding to each AV; position the vehicle icon for each AV on the map based on the location data for a corresponding AV; apply a color coding to each vehicle icon based on a perceived risk level for a corresponding AV; and signal a display device to display an AV fleet map graphic that includes the color coded vehicle icons positioned on the map. The controller may be further configured to: generate an AV servicing queue graphic that displays vehicle icons in an order based on a determined servicing priority.

[0056] The on-board vehicle input sources 106 for the automated vehicle include one or more of sensing devices that sense observable conditions of the exterior environment and/or the interior environment of a vehicle and generate sensor data relating thereto. The one or more sensing devices in this example include Personal Devices/Cameras 121 (e.g., cameras or video recording devices on smartphones, tablet computers, phablets, etc.), Personal Devices/Sensors 122 (e.g., sensors, such as GPS, Lidar and other sensors, on smartphones, tablet computers, phablets, etc.), Vehicle/Interior Motion Sensors 123, external/internal mics 124, LIDAR/Radar 125, External Cameras 126, Internal Cameras 127, Brake Sensor 128, Steering sensor 129, Throttle Sensor 130, Vehicle Switches 131, HMI Interactions 132, GPS 133, 6 DOF (degree of freedom) Accelerometers 134, and/or vehicle speed sensing devices 135. The on-board vehicle input sources 106 are used to collect observable data that may be used to create data components necessary to assess mission risk.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=2023049499A1&KC=A1&FT=D&ND=3&date=20230216&DB=&locale=en_EP
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230049499.pdf

****PIT DISPLAY AMBIENT LIGHTING INFORMATION FOR IMPROVING GAZE ESTIMATION
A computer-implemented method is described. The method is be implemented by processors of an aircraft system. The method includes receiving images of an eye and a lighting configuration associated with a ****pit of an aircraft. The method further includes detecting a position of the eye within each of the images. The method further includes compensating for a pupillary light response of the eye based on the position of the eye within the image and the lighting configuration. By compensating for the pupillary light response, a fatigue level of the operator is estimated with reduced noise.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=4&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230209&CC=US&NR=2023044247A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230044247.pdf

FATIGUE MONITORING CAMERA MOUNTING STRUCTURE, INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY AND AUTOMOBILE
A fatigue monitoring camera mounting structure, an instrument panel assembly, and an automobile, the mounting structure comprising: an electrical device assembly (1), used for detecting a fatigue state of a driver; a steering column shield (2), used for being fixedly sleeved on a steering column, the steering column shield (2) being disposed below the electrical device assembly (1), and the steering column shield (2) or the electrical device assembly (1) being fixedly provided with a magnetic member (4); the electrical device assembly (1) and the steering column shield (2) achieve magnetic attraction connection via the magnetic member (4), and the steering column shield (2) is configured to slide back and forth relative to the electrical device assembly (1) when a steering wheel (3) is adjusted back and forth. By providing the magnetic member (4) between the steering column shield (2) and the electrical device assembly (1), different linkage effects are achieved between the two for different adjustment conditions; the invention solves the problem in the prior art whereby an electrical device assembly (1) fixedly mounted on a steering column shield requires the reservation of an excessively large crush space in the structure of an instrument panel, thus affecting the aesthetic design of the instrument panel.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=WO&NR=2023004540A1&KC=A1&FT=D&ND=3&date=20230202&DB=&locale=en_EP
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/WO2023004540A1.pdf

VEHICULAR DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM WITH DMS CAMERA AT INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY
A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting base configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. A driver monitoring camera is accommodated by the mirror head so as to move in tandem with the mirror head when the mirror head is adjusted relative to the mounting base to adjust a driver's rearward view. At least one near infrared light emitter is accommodated by the mirror head and is operable to emit near infrared light toward a head region of the driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by the driver monitoring camera is processed to determine driver attentiveness and/or driver drowsiness. The vehicular driver monitoring system adjusts processing of the captured image data to accommodate adjustment of the mirror head when the driver adjusts the mirror head to adjust his or her rearward view.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=4&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230119&CC=US&NR=2023017715A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230017715.pdf

VEHICLE MOUNTED VIRTUAL VISOR SYSTEM THAT LOCALIZES A RESTING HEAD POSE
A virtual visor system is disclosed that includes a visor having a plurality of independently operable pixels that are selectively operated with a variable opacity. A camera captures images of the face of a driver or other passenger and, based on the captured images, a controller operates the visor to automatically and selectively darken a limited portion thereof to block the sun or other illumination source from striking the eyes of the driver, while leaving the remainder of the visor transparent. The virtual visor system advantageously detects whether the driver of other passenger is performing particular head gestures and updates the optical state of the visor using suitable modified procedures that accommodate the intent or goals of the driver or other passenger that are inferred from the predefined head gesture. In general, the modified procedures reduce distracting or frustrating updates to the optical state of the visor.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=6&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230112&CC=US&NR=2023011268A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230011268.pdf

METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISPLAY UNIT OF A VEHICLE, AND DISPLAY UNIT
A method for operating a display unit of vehicle, wherein the display unit displays at least one display, comprises ascertaining the viewing direction of a driver using a gaze-tracking device; checking whether the viewing direction of the driver is directed at the display unit; checking whether traffic-relevant data are present; operating the display unit in an energy-saving mode when the view of the driver is not directed at the display unit and/or when no traffic-relevant data is present; and operating the display unit in a display mode when the view of the driver is directed at the display unit and/or when traffic-relevant data is present for display. A display unit is also disclosed.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=5&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20230112&CC=US&NR=2023011848A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20230011848.pdf

VEHICULAR DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM WITH DRIVER ATTENTIVENESS AND HEART RATE MONITORING
A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera and an electronic control unit. The camera is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle so as to view at least the face of a driver of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and the captured image data includes image data representative of the face of the driver. The vehicular driver monitoring system detects changes at the driver's eyes via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, and determines driver attentiveness based at least in part on detected changes at the driver's eyes. The vehicular driver monitoring system functions as a remote Photoplethysmography system, and monitors a heart rate of the driver based at least in part on processing at the electronic control unit of image data captured by the camera, and determines impairment of the driver's capability to operate the vehicle.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=7&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20221229&CC=US&NR=2022410907A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20220410907.pdf

ALWAYS-ON MOTION CONTROLLER
In a number of illustrative variations, an always-on motion controller may include a path planner system; a driver monitoring system, and a motion controller system. The always-on motion controller may provide for an always present autonomous driving system which may seamlessly take control of the vehicle where driver attention is lost, distracted, or momentarily absent. The always-on motion controller may seamlessly release control of the vehicle to the driver or driver attention is regained.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=2022340161A1&KC=A1&FT=D&ND=3&date=20221027&DB=&locale=en_EP
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20220340161.pdf

SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT PROPER SEATBELT USAGE AND DISTANCE
A system and method for detecting seatbelt positioning includes capturing, by a camera, a near infrared (NIR) image of an occupant, applying a median filter to the NIR image to remove glints; converting the NIR image to a black-and-white image, scanning across the black-and-white (B/W) image to detect a plurality of transitions between black and white segments corresponding to stripes extending lengthwise along a length of the seatbelt, and using detections of the plurality of transitions to indicate a detection of the seatbelt. Converting the NIR image to the black-and-white image may include using a localized binary threshold to determine whether a given pixel in the B/W image should be black or white based on whether a corresponding source pixel within the NIR image is brighter than an average of nearby pixels within a predetermined distance of the corresponding source pixel.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=2022398404A1&KC=A1&FT=D&ND=3&date=20221215&DB=&locale=en_EP
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20220398404.pdf

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING VEHICLE OPERATION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a vehicle, the vehicle (800) being operable in an at least partly autonomous mode and a manual mode, the control system comprising input means (291, 292) for receiving a gaze signal (211) indicative of a direction of a gaze of an occupant of the vehicle (800), and a contact signal (212) indicative of physical contact between the occupant and a control of the vehicle, control means (250, 260, 270, 280, 290) configured to determine an estimate of the occupant's attention to a driving task in the at least partly autonomous mode in dependence on the gaze signal (211) and to determine when the occupant is at least partly obscured relative to the at least one imaging means (150, 220), wherein the control means (250, 260, 270, 280, 290) is configured to determine the estimate of the occupant's attention to the driving task in dependence on the contact signal when it is determined that the occupant is at least partly obscured.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=5&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20221215&CC=US&NR=2022396272A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20220396272.pdf

HIGH DESIGN ASSURANCE LOW COST MULTI-MODAL PILOT SAFETY SYSTEMS
A pilot-monitoring safety system is disclosed. The system comprises a head worn display including one or more heart rate sensors configured to generate heart rate measurements of a user of the head worn display, and one or more eye trackers configured to generate eye-gaze measurements of the user of the head worn display. The system further comprises a pilot-monitoring computing device configured to determine a health state of the user based on at least the heart rate measurements and the eye-gaze measurements, and responsive to the health state indicating a dangerous condition of the user, present an alert to the user using the head worn display. The system further comprises an autopilot computing device configured to, responsive to a predetermined time period elapsing without a response to the visual alert from the user, automatically control an aircraft.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=4&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20221215&CC=US&NR=2022396370A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20220396370.pdf

SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT AUTHORIZED USER
A system is described. The system may detect whether a user within a flight deck is authorized to control the aircraft. The user may receive differing levels of authority to control the aircraft depending on whether the user is authorized or unauthorized. The system may also control the aircraft depending on the various phases of the aircraft, including in flight and on the ground. The system may also be used to unlock the controls for the aircraft. The system may unlock the control using biometric information or nonbiometric information. The system may include a camera which is added to a flight deck. The camera may capture images of users within the flight deck. Faces within the images may be detected and compared against authorized users for locking or unlocking the aircraft controls.
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?II=3&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20221208&CC=US&NR=2022388678A1&KC=A1
https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20220388678.pdf