DETECTION SYSTEM

A detection system includes a light source section that includes a plurality of light emitting devices, each of the plurality of light emitting devices emitting near-infrared light toward a different portion of a face of an occupant of a vehicle, an imaging section that captures a face image with reflected light of the near-infrared light emitted to the face of the occupant, and a control unit that extracts feature points and a face image area of the face of the occupant from the face image captured by the imaging section. Based on a plurality of divided image areas obtained by dividing the face image area according to the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively, the control unit individually dims light from the light emitting devices corresponding to the respective divided image areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a detection system.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, in order to prevent drivers from being distracted while driving or falling asleep while driving, there has been disclosed, for example, a face image capturing device that captures an image of a face of a driver using a near-infrared camera and a near-infrared light source, and detects an orientation of the face, an opened or closed degree of an eye, a direction of a line of sight, or the like (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-116797).

By the way, even if near-infrared light is emitted toward an entire face of a driver, reflected light from the face may not be uniform because a shadow is generated on a part of the face of the driver due to a sunshade used during daytime when external light (sunlight) enters the vehicle interior, the afternoon sun, or an external illumination during nighttime. Feature points of the face (e.g., a contour of the face, shapes and positions of eyes, a nose, and a mouth, and whether there are eyeglasses) can be detected from a face image obtained in such a situation, but a local object, e.g., an iris of an eye, has a larger difference in luminance value than a local object having a small difference in luminance value in a face area.

Therefore, there is concern that the accuracy of detection of the iris or the like of the eye may decrease, and there is room for further improvement in this respect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a detection system capable of suppressing a decrease in accuracy of detection of feature points of a face.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a detection system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a light source section including a plurality of light emitting devices, each of the plurality of light emitting devices being configured to emit near infrared light toward a different portion of a face of an occupant of a vehicle; an imaging section configured to capture a face image with reflected light of the near-infrared light emitted to the face of the occupant; and a control unit configured to detect feature points and a face image area of the face of the occupant from the face image captured by the imaging section, wherein based on a plurality of divided image areas obtained by dividing the face image area according to the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively, the control unit individually dims light from the light emitting devices corresponding to the respective divided image areas, and wherein the control unit includes; an extraction section configured to extract a measurement image area from each of the divided image areas based on the feature points included in each of the divided image areas; a calculation section configured to calculate an average value of pixel values based on all pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in each of the measurement image areas; a first storage section configured to store in advance, as a reference value corresponding to each of the divided image areas, an average value of pixel values based on all pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in each of the measurement image areas, which is obtained based on a face image captured under a referenced environment; a second storage section configured to store, as a measurement value corresponding to each of the divided image areas, an average value of pixel values based on all pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in each of the measurement image areas, which is obtained based on a face image captured under a measurement environment; and a dimming section configured to compare a difference of the reference value with respect to the measurement value with a threshold value, and reduces a light amount of the light emitting device corresponding to the divided image area when the difference is larger than or equal to the threshold value, or increases a light amount of the light emitting device corresponding to the divided image area when the difference is smaller than the threshold value, and wherein the measurement image area is formed based on a boundary line X that divides the face image area in Y direction, a boundary line Y that divides the face image area in X direction orthogonal to the Y direction, and end points in the X direction and the Y direction among the feature points included in each of the divided image areas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a detection system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the following embodiment. That is, constituent elements in the following embodiment include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

Embodiment

A detection system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.1to11. As illustrated inFIG.1, a detection system1is mounted on, for example, a vehicle100such as an automobile to monitor a state of an eye of a driver D seated on a driver's seat102of the vehicle100. The driver D is an occupant of the vehicle100. The state of the eye includes a line-of-sight direction of the driver D, an opened/closed (blinking) state of the eye, or the like.

Note that the up-down direction used in the following description is an up-down direction of an imaging unit2constituting the detection system1as illustrated inFIG.2. The front-back direction is a front-back direction of the imaging unit2. The left-right direction is a left-right direction of the imaging unit2.

For example, as illustrated inFIG.1, the detection system1includes an imaging unit2and a control unit3.

The imaging unit2emits near-infrared light to a face F of the driver D and captures face images40and50(seeFIGS.6to11) including eyes E of the driver D. The imaging unit2is installed at a position where the face images40and50of the driver D can be captured, for example, on a steering column or the like. The face images40and50are captured under different environments for the same subject (driver D).

The face image40is a face image of the driver D in which the face F of the driver D is imaged by the imaging unit2under a measurement environment. The measurement environment is, for example, an environment in which the driver D drives the vehicle100during daytime, nighttime, or the like. Under the measurement environment, there is a possibility that a shadow is generated on a part of the face F of the driver D, for example, due to external light (environmental light) entering a vehicle interior101, a sunshade, or the like.

The face image50is captured under a referenced environment, and is, for example, an image registered at the time of using driving authentication or a face image of the driver D captured as calibration at the time of first use. The face image50is an image in which a luminance value of a face in the face image50is uniform. The referenced environment (reference environment) is an environment in which the luminance value of the face F in the face image50is uniform to some extent with respect to the measurement environment.

Specifically, the imaging unit2includes a board section10, a light source section11, and an imaging section12.

The board section10constitutes an electronic circuit on which various electronic components are mounted and which electrically connects the electronic components, and is a so-called printed circuit board. In the board section10, for example, a wiring pattern (printed pattern) is formed (printed) by a conductive member such as copper foil on an insulating layer made of an insulating material such as epoxy resin, glass epoxy resin, paper epoxy resin, or ceramic. The board section10is, for example, a multilayer obtained by stacking a plurality of insulating layers on which wiring patterns are formed (that is, a multilayer board). The board section10is formed in a rectangular shape, and the light source section11and the imaging section12are mounted on the board section10and are electrically connected to the board section10.

The light source section11emits near-infrared light. The light source section11emits, for example, near infrared rays under a control of the control unit3. As illustrated inFIG.3, the light source section11includes a first LED11A, a second LED11B, a third LED11C, and a fourth LED11D as a plurality of light emitting devices. The four LEDs, a first LED11A to a fourth LED11D, are mounted on the board section10, and are provided on the board section10at intervals.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, are arranged in two rows along the left-right direction (width direction) of the board section10, arranged in two columns along the up-down direction (height direction), and arranged at intervals in the left-right direction and in the up-down direction. Each of the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, emits near infrared light toward a different portion of the face F of the driver D of the vehicle100. For example, as illustrated inFIG.4, when the face F of the driver D exists substantially at the center of the imaging range of the imaging section12, the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, are configured to emit near-infrared light to four irradiation ranges, a first irradiation range31A, a second irradiation range31B, a third irradiation range31C, and a fourth irradiation range31D, each of which is set according to the face F of the driver D. Each of the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, has an irradiation angle θ at which near-infrared light is emitted to the corresponding one of the first irradiation range31A to the fourth irradiation range31D. In addition, each of the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, is designed to have a certain degree of radiation intensity32. As illustrated, the first irradiation range31A to the fourth irradiation range31D may overlap with each other.

The imaging section12captures the face image40with reflected light of near-infrared light emitted to the face F of the driver D. As illustrated inFIGS.6to11, the face image40is an image including the face F of the driver D. The face image40may be a still image or a one-frame image obtained from a moving image. The imaging section12is, for example, a near infrared camera, and is mounted substantially at the center of the board section10. As illustrated inFIG.2, the imaging section12is disposed on the board section10at a position where a diagonal line passing the first LED11A and the fourth LED11D and a diagonal line passing the second LED11B and the third LED11C intersect. The imaging section12has a camera lens disposed to face the face F of the driver D to capture the face image40of the driver D. For example, the imaging section12receives reflected light of near-infrared light emitted to the face F of the driver D by the light source section11and captures the face image40of the driver D. The imaging section12is activated when an accessory (ACC) power supply or an ignition (IG) power supply of the vehicle is turned on to capture the face image40of the driver D until the ACC power supply or the IG power supply is turned off. The imaging section12is connected to the control unit3via the board section10or the like, and outputs the captured face image40of the driver D to the control unit3.

The control unit3controls the imaging unit2. The control unit3includes a control board21and a CPU22.

The control board21constitutes an electronic circuit on which various electronic components are mounted and which electrically connects the electronic components, and is a so-called printed circuit board. In the control board21, for example, a wiring pattern is formed by a conductive member such as copper foil on an insulating layer made of an insulating material such as epoxy resin, glass epoxy resin, paper epoxy resin, or ceramic. The control board21is, for example, a multilayer obtained by stacking a plurality of insulating layers on which wiring patterns are formed (that is, a multilayer board). The CPU22is mounted on the control board21, and the CPU22is electrically connected to the control board21. In addition, the control board21is connected to the imaging unit2via a communication line T.

The CPU22controls the imaging unit2. The CPU22includes, for example, an extraction section23, a calculation section24, a storage section25, and a dimming section26illustrated inFIG.3, and these functions are mounted on one integrated circuit (IC). Note that the extraction section23and the calculation section24constitute face recognition middleware.

As illustrated inFIG.6(orFIG.9), the extraction section23extracts a face image area41(or face image area51) from the face image40(or face image50) based on feature points60of the face F of the driver D. The face image areas41and51are rectangular frames each surrounding the face F of the driver D, and are also called “bounding boxes”. The feature points60of the face F are so-called “key points”, and include an eyebrow, an eye, a nose, a mouth, an outline, and the like. As illustrated inFIG.6, the feature points60of the face F according to the present embodiment include a right eyebrow61, a left eyebrow62, a right eye63, a left eye64, a nose65, a mouth66, and an outline67. The extraction section23extracts each of the feature points60of the face using a general face recognition algorithm. The face image area41is a rectangular area including the face F extracted from the face image40. The extraction section23extracts the face image area41based on the plurality of feature points including the right eyebrow61, the left eyebrow62, the right eye63, the left eye64, the nose65, the mouth66, and the outline67.

The extraction section23divides the extracted face image area41(or face image area51) into four equal areas. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG.7(orFIG.10), the extraction section23divides the face image area41into four divided image areas, a first divided image area42A (first divided image area52A), a second divided image area42B (second divided image area52B), a third divided image area42C (third divided image area52C), and a fourth divided image area42D (fourth divided image area52D), according to the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, respectively. The first divided image area42A (first divided image area52A) corresponds to the first LED11A and the first irradiation range31A. The second divided image area42B (second divided image area52B) corresponds to the second LED11B and the second irradiation range31B. The third divided image area42C (third divided image area52C) corresponds to the third LED11C and the third irradiation range31C. The fourth divided image area42D (fourth divided image area52D) corresponds to the fourth LED11D and the fourth irradiation range31D. All of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D and the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D are formed in a rectangular shape.

The first divided image area42A and the second divided image area42B, and the third divided image area42C and the fourth divided image area42D are adjacent to each other in the X direction of the face image40(or face image50) with a boundary line (equal division line) Y therebetween. In addition, the first divided image area42A and the third divided image area42C, and the second divided image area42B and the fourth divided image area42D are adjacent to each other in the Y direction of the face image40(or face image50) with a boundary line (equal division line) X therebetween. Boundaries between the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D including the boundary lines X and Y are determined depending on the installed position of the imaging section12, an irradiation range31of each LED, and the like.

As illustrated inFIG.8(orFIG.10,FIG.11), the extraction section23extracts a measurement image area45(or measurement image area55) from each divided image area42(or each divided image area52) based on the feature points60included in each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D (or the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D). The measurement image area45(or measurement image area55) is a rectangular region formed based on end points45xand45y(or end points55xand55y) in the X direction and the Y direction among the feature points60included in each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D (or first divided image area52A to fourth divided image area52D) and the boundary lines X and Y. For example, the end point45x(or end point55x) is a feature point located at a position farthest from the boundary line X along the Y direction among the plurality of feature points60included in the first divided image area42A (or first divided image area52A). In addition, the end point45y(or55y) is a feature point located at a position farthest from the boundary line Y along the X direction among the plurality of feature points60included in the first divided image area42A (or first divided image area52A) The end points45xand45y(or55xand55y) are specified by the above-described method in the first divided image area42A (or first divided image area52A), but the end points are also specified by the above-described method in each of the second divided image area42B to the fourth divided image area42D (or second divided image area52B to fourth divided image area52D). In this manner, the measurement image area45(or55) is extracted in each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D (or each of the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D). In each measurement image area45(or55), a side passing the end point45x(or55x) is located parallel to the boundary line X, and a side passing the end point45y(or55y) is located parallel to the boundary line Y.

The calculation section24calculates an average value of pixel values based on all pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in each of at least two measurement image areas45(55) extracted by the extraction section23. Specifically, the calculation section24stores the average value of pixel values based on all the pixels in each measurement image area45(55) in the storage section25as a measurement value (or reference value) corresponding to each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D (or each of the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D).

The storage section25stores the measurement value and the reference value calculated by the calculation section24. The storage section25stores in advance the average value of pixel values based on all pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in the measurement image area55, which is obtained based on the face image50, as a reference value corresponding to each of the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D. In addition, the storage section25stores an average value of pixel values based on all pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D, which is obtained based on the face image40, as a measurement value corresponding to each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D.

The dimming section26causes the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, to emit light to perform dimming. The dimming section26causes all of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D to emit light at a preset initial light amount. The dimming section26dims light from each of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D. For example, the dimming section26can increase or decrease the light amount of the first LED11A. The dimming section26performs dimming by increasing or decreasing the light amount of each of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D based on the reference value corresponding to each of the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D and the measurement value corresponding to each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D stored in the storage section25. The dimming section26compares a difference of a reference value with respect to the measurement value read from the storage section25with a threshold value. When the dimming section determines that the difference of the reference value with respect to the measurement value is larger than or equal to a first threshold value, the dimming section26determines that the corresponding divided image area42is too bright, and reduces the light amount of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D corresponding to the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D. When the difference of the reference value with respect to the measurement value is smaller than or equal to a second threshold value, the dimming section26determines that the corresponding divided image area42is too dark, and increases the light amount of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D corresponding to the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D. For example, the dimming section26can decrease or increase the light of only the first LED11A corresponding to the first divided image area42A among the four divided image areas, the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area, according to the comparison result between the difference and the threshold value.

The relationship between the first threshold value and the second threshold value is first threshold value>second threshold value. When the difference between the reference value and the measurement value is zero (0), dimming is unnecessary. That is, when the difference is between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, it is not necessary for the dimming section26to decrease or increase light.

Next, the control of the dimming of light from the light source section11in the detection system1will be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG.5.

In step S1, the dimming section26causes all of the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, to emit light at a preset initial light amount, and emits near-infrared light to the face F of the driver D from each of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D.

Next, in step S2, the imaging section12receives reflected light of the near-infrared light emitted to the face F of the driver D from all of the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, captures a face image40of the driver D, and outputs the captured face image40of the driver D to the control unit3. The control unit3acquires the face image40of the driver D from the imaging section12, and inputs the face image40to the face recognition middleware.

Next, in step S3, the extraction section23extracts a face image area41based on feature points60of the face F of the driver D from the face image40acquired in step S2.

Next, in step S4, the extraction section23divides the face image area41into four divided image areas, a first divided image area42A to a fourth divided image area42D.

Next, in step S5, the extraction section23extracts a measurement image area45based on the feature points60in each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D.

Next, in step S6, the calculation section24calculates an average value of pixel values based on all pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in each measurement image area45, and stores the calculated average value in the storage section25.

Next, in step S7, the dimming section26compares a difference of a reference value with respect to the measurement value read from the storage section25with a threshold value.

Next, in step S8, the dimming section26determines whether the difference is larger than or equal to a first threshold value. When it is determined that the difference is larger than or equal to the first threshold value, the dimming section26proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, when it is determined that the difference is not larger than or equal to the first threshold value, the dimming section26proceeds to step S10.

In step S9, the dimming section26reduces a light amount of an LED (at least one of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D) corresponding to a divided image area in which the difference is larger than or equal to the first threshold value among the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D, and ends the present process.

In step S10, the dimming section26determines whether the difference is smaller than or equal to a second threshold value. When it is determined that the difference is smaller than or equal to the second threshold value, the dimming section26proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, when it is determined that the difference is not smaller than or equal to the second threshold value, the dimming section26ends the present process.

In step S11, the dimming section26increases a light amount of an LED (at least one of the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D) corresponding to a divided image area in which the difference is smaller than or equal to the second threshold value among the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D, and ends the present process.

The control unit3repeats the process from step S5to step S11until the dimming of light from the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, in the light source section11is completed. When dimming becomes unnecessary, the control unit3detects an iris or the like of an eye based on the face image40obtained at the timing when dimming becomes unnecessary. By doing so, a difference between luminance values in the face image area41decreases, as a result suppressing a decrease in accuracy of the detection of the feature points60of the face F.

As described above, the detection system1according to the present embodiment includes an imaging unit2including a light source section11and an imaging section12, and a control unit3. In the light source section11, each of four LEDs, a first LED11A to a fourth LED11D, emits near infrared light toward a different portion of a face F of a driver D of a vehicle100. The imaging section12captures a face image40,50with reflected light of the near-infrared light emitted to the face F of the driver D from the light source section11. The control unit3extracts feature points60of the face F of the driver D and a face image area41based on the captured face image40,50. The control unit3individually dims light from an LED corresponding to each face image area41based on four divided image areas, a first divided image areas42A to a fourth divided image area42D obtained by dividing the divided image area42according to the four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, respectively.

With the above-described configuration, the detection system1can brighten an LED corresponding to a divided image area42in which a part of the face F of the driver D is shaded, for example, by a sunshade, or darken another LED corresponding to a divided image area42in which no shadow is generated. As a result, the detection system1can bring the face image40closer to the face image50, reducing a change in brightness (luminance) of the entire face image area41obtained from the face image40, as a result suppressing a decrease in accuracy of the detection of the feature points60of the face F. For example, in a case where the vicinity of the iris of the eye E in the face image area41is dark, the detection system1can suppress a decrease in accuracy of detection by increasing a light amount of a corresponding LED. In addition, the detection system1can dim light from the light source section11without changing the conventional device configuration. In addition, since the detection system1includes the light source section11that emits near-infrared light and the imaging section12that is a near-infrared camera, it is possible to acquire a face image40without requiring a large amount of light even at the time of capturing an image at nighttime or even in a case where the driver D wears sunglasses. In addition, the detection system1can reduce the power consumption by dimming light from the light source section11, for example, during daytime, suppressing heat generation of the light source section11, as a result extending the product life.

Some conventional driver monitoring systems adjust the amount of light by using a near-infrared light sensor that receives reflected light of near-infrared light emitted to an object (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S59-86973). In the above-described conventional technology, since the near-infrared light sensor is used to suppress a decrease in accuracy of detection, it is necessary to increase a component cost or to add a control circuit of the sensor. In contrast, the detection system1can suppress a decrease in accuracy of detection without using a near-infrared light sensor, thereby suppressing an increase in product cost.

In addition, in the detection system1according to the present embodiment, the dimming section26compares a difference of a reference value with respect to a measurement value with a threshold value whenever a face image40is captured under a measurement environment, and decreases a light amount of an LED corresponding to a divided image area42when the difference is larger than or equal to the threshold value, or increases a light amount of a light emitting device corresponding to a divided image area42when the difference is smaller than the threshold value. As a result, for example, in a case where the vicinity of the iris of the eye E in the face image area41is dark, a light amount of a corresponding LED can be increased, and in a case where the vicinity of the iris of the eye E in the face image area41is bright, a light amount of a corresponding LED can be decreased, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in accuracy of detection of the iris of the eye or the like.

In the detection system1according to the present embodiment, the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D are rectangular areas divided equally according to the first irradiation range31A to the fourth irradiation range31D irradiated with near-infrared light by the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, respectively. As a result, when the face image area41(or51) has a rectangular shape, the face image area41(or51) can be divided according to the positional relationship between each LED and each divided image area, making the correspondence between the plurality of divided image areas42(or52) and the irradiation ranges31of the plurality of LEDs clear.

Note that, although the calculation section24calculates an average value of pixel values and a measurement value of a pixel value based on a measurement image area45(or55) extracted by the extraction section23in the above-described embodiment, but the calculation section24is not limited thereto. For example, the calculation section24may be configured to calculate an average value of pixel values and a measurement value of a pixel value based on each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D (or each of the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D). As a result, the above-described effect can be obtained.

In addition, although the extraction section23extracts a face image area41based on the feature points60of the face F in the above-described embodiment, but the extraction section23is not limited thereto, and may extract feature points60of the face F based on the face image area41.

In addition, although the measurement image area45(or55) is a rectangular area in the above-described embodiment, the measurement image area45(or55) is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated inFIG.10, the measurement image area45(or55) may be formed by a line70connecting a plurality of feature points60to one another in each of the first divided image area42A to the fourth divided image area42D (or each of the first divided image area52A to the fourth divided image area52D) and the boundary lines X and Y, and is not limited as long as it is an area where a pixel value is calculated.

In addition, although the light source section11includes four LEDs, the first LED11A to the fourth LED11D, in the above-described embodiment, the light source section11is not limited thereto. The positions at the plurality of LEDs are arranged are determined depending on the installed position of the imaging section12, the irradiation range31of each LED, and the like.

In addition, although the imaging unit2is installed on the steering column, the imaging unit2is not limited thereto, and may be installed on an instrument panel, a dashboard, a room mirror, or the like.

In addition, although it has been described as an example in the above-described embodiment that the CPU22includes an extraction section23, a calculation section24, a storage section25, and a dimming section26, and these functions are mounted on one IC, the CPU22is not limited thereto, and the aforementioned functions may be mounted on a plurality of ICs in a distributed manner.

In addition, although it has been described in the above-described embodiment that the processing functions of the control unit3are realized by a single processor, but the control unit3is not limited thereto. The processing functions of the control unit3may be realized by combining a plurality of independent processors and causing each of the processors to execute a program. In addition, the processing functions of the control unit3may be realized by a single processing circuit or a plurality of processing circuits in an appropriately distributed or integrated manner. In addition, all or some of the processing functions of the control unit3may be realized by a program, or may be realized as hardware by wired logic or the like.

In addition, although the detection system1is applied to the vehicle100such as an automobile in the above-described embodiment, but the detection system1is not limited thereto, and may be applied to, for example, a ship, an aircraft, or the like as well as the vehicle. In addition, the detection system1is divided into the imaging unit2and the control unit3, but the imaging unit2and the control unit3may be integrally configured.

The detection system according to the present embodiment is advantageous in that based on a plurality of divided image areas obtained by dividing the face image area according to the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively, light from the light emitting devices corresponding to the respective divided image areas can be individually dimmed, thereby suppressing a decrease in accuracy of the detection of the feature points of the face.