US 11,851,080 B2
Vehicular driver monitoring system with posture detection and alert
Justin E. Sobecki, Rockford, MI (US); and Austen C. Peterson, Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/649,723.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/199,918, filed on Feb. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242438 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B60W 50/16 (2020.01); G06V 20/59 (2022.01); B60R 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 11/04 (2006.01); B60W 40/08 (2012.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60W 50/16 (2013.01) [B60R 1/04 (2013.01); B60R 11/04 (2013.01); B60W 40/08 (2013.01); G06V 20/597 (2022.01); B60R 2001/1215 (2013.01); B60R 2011/0033 (2013.01); B60W 2050/143 (2013.01); B60W 2050/146 (2013.01); B60W 2420/403 (2013.01); B60W 2540/223 (2020.02)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular driver monitoring system, the vehicular driver monitoring system comprising:
a camera disposed in a cabin of a vehicle and viewing a driver operating the vehicle;
an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the vehicle, wherein the ECU comprises electronic circuitry and associated software, and wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera;
wherein the camera captures image data and provides captured image data to the ECU;
wherein the vehicular driver monitoring system, via processing captured image data at the ECU, determines posture of the driver operating the vehicle;
wherein the vehicular driver monitoring system, based at least in part on a comparison between the determined posture of the driver and a proper posture stored in memory, determines improper posture of the driver;
wherein the proper posture stored in memory is determined based at least in part on (i) a determined spinal position of the driver relative to a seat of the vehicle and (ii) a determined head position of the driver relative to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle; and
wherein, responsive to the determined improper posture of the driver being indicative of at least a threshold degree of improper posture, the vehicular driver monitoring system generates an alert to the driver.