US 11,654,922 B2
Driver attention and hand placement systems and methods
Keith Weston, Canton, MI (US); Michael Alan Mcnees, Flat Rock, MI (US); Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Sterling Heights, MI (US); Brendan Diamond, Grosse Pointe, MI (US); and Jordan Barrett, Milford, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/397,737.
Prior Publication US 2023/0041371 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B60W 40/08 (2012.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01); G06T 7/13 (2017.01); G06V 20/59 (2022.01); G06V 40/20 (2022.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01)
CPC B60W 40/08 (2013.01) [B60W 50/14 (2013.01); G06T 7/13 (2017.01); G06V 20/597 (2022.01); G06V 40/107 (2022.01); G06V 40/28 (2022.01); B60W 2040/0818 (2013.01); B60W 2050/146 (2013.01); B60W 2510/202 (2013.01); B60W 2540/223 (2020.02); B60W 2540/225 (2020.02); B60W 2540/229 (2020.02); G06T 2207/30268 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
determining a lack of input by a hand of a driver with respect to a steering wheel of a vehicle;
determining a hand position of the hand of the driver relative to the steering wheel of the vehicle using images obtained for an area around the steering wheel, the hand position indicating whether the hand of the driver is or is not contacting the steering wheel; and
selectively reducing a number or periodicity of warning messages when the hand of the driver is determined to be on the steering wheel as compared to the number or periodicity of warning messages that would be presented based only on the lack of input.