Patent ID: 7821409

Claim:
A drowsiness alarm apparatus comprising: an image acquisition means for capturing facial image data associated with a face of an occupant in a vehicle; a wakefulness estimating means generating an estimated wakefulness degree indicating a wakefulness degree of the occupant based on one of a first index estimated by a first index estimation means and a second index different from the first index estimated by a second index estimation means, wherein, based on the captured facial image data, the first index estimation means estimates the first index predetermined to estimate the wakefulness degree of the occupant and second index estimation means estimates the second index predetermined to estimate the wakefulness degree of the occupant; an emotion determination means for determining a specific one of a plurality of facially expressed emotions based on a change in the first estimated index for the specific one the specific one having a characteristic similar to that of a decrease in the wakefulness degree, and determining, based on a predetermined emotion index associated with associated with the captured facial image; and a switchover means for switching between generating the estimated wakefulness degree based on the first estimated index when the emotion determination means determines no expression of the specific one, generating the estimated wakefulness degree based on the second estimated index when the emotion determination means determines that the specific one is expressed.