Patent ID: 6243015
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
A method for detecting a driver's drowsiness comprising the steps of:detecting an average vertical width of a driver's eye from a driver's face image;determining a standard vertical width and a standard drowsiness factor on the basis of the average vertical width of the driver's eye, wherein the average vertical width is determined by averaging the vertical width of several parts of the drivers eye over a predetermined period of time;comparing a current vertical width of the driver's eye with the determined standard vertical width;determining a current drowsiness factor wherein, if the current vertical width of the driver's eye is less than the standard vertical width, the drowsiness factor is calculated on the basis of the following equation:Drowsiness Factor.sub.(new) =Drowsiness Factor.sub.(old).times.(1-0.05)+0.05; andcomparing the current drowsiness factor with the determined standard drowsiness factor.