IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,383,721
Granted Patent B2
US 11,383,721 · App. 16/936,222 · Granted Jul 12, 2022

System and method for responding to driver state

Inventors: Kin C. Fung (Dublin, OH); Timothy J. Dick (Dublin, OH)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
B60W40/08B60R25/25G06K9/00536G06V20/597G07C5/02G07C5/08G07C9/37G16H50/20B60W2540/22G06V40/15G07C9/00309G07C9/00563
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,383,721
App. No.
16/936,222
Granted
Jul 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling vehicle systems includes receiving monitoring information from one or more monitoring systems and determining a plurality of driver states based on the monitoring information from the one or more monitoring systems. The method includes determining a combined driver state based on the plurality of driver states and modifying control of one or more vehicle systems based on the combined driver state.

Claims (32)

1. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

receiving vehicle information from one or more vehicle systems;

determining a vehicular state of the vehicle based on the vehicle information, wherein the vehicular state indicates the vehicle is in a stopped state;

receiving monitoring information about a driver from a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring information includes head movement information about the driver;

determining a driver state index based on the head movement information by analyzing a head-look of the driver relative to the vehicle; and

modifying control of the vehicle to automatically move based on the vehicular state and the driver state index.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the head-look of the driver is forward-looking relative to the vehicle, and the driver is determined to be attentive, modifying control of the vehicle includes controlling the vehicle to automatically move forward with respect to a preceding vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring information includes hand contact information about contact between the driver and a steering wheel of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein modifying control of the vehicle includes modifying control of the vehicle to automatically move based on the vehicular state, the driver state index, and the hand contact information.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein modifying control of the vehicle includes modifying control of the vehicle to automatically move without manual input from the driver based on the vehicular state, the driver state index, and the hand contact information.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein if the head-look of the driver is forward-looking relative to the vehicle based on the head movement information, and there is no hand contact with the steering wheel based on the hand contact information, modifying control of the vehicle includes controlling the vehicle to automatically move forward.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the driver state index includes determining a plurality of driver states based on the monitoring information, wherein the plurality of driver states includes a first driver state comprising the head movement information and a second driver state comprising the hand contact information.

8. The method of claim 7 , including determining a combined driver state index based on the plurality of driver states, and wherein modifying control of the vehicle includes modifying control of the vehicle based on the combined driver state index.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon determining the vehicle is in the stopped state based on the vehicular state and the driver is attentive based on the driver state index, modifying control of the vehicle includes modifying a control status of the one or more vehicle systems to auto control without a manual input from the driver.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more vehicle systems includes a low speed follow system and an automatic cruise control system.

11. A system for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

a monitoring system; and

an electronic control unit including a processor, wherein the processor:

receives vehicle information from one or more vehicle systems;

determines a vehicular state of the vehicle based on the vehicle information, wherein the vehicular state indicates the vehicle is in a stopped state;

receives monitoring information about a driver from the monitoring system, wherein the monitoring information includes head movement information about the driver;

determines a driver state index based on the head movement information by analyzing a head-look of the driver relative to the vehicle; and

modifies control of the vehicle to automatically move based on the vehicular state and the driver state index.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein if the head-look of the driver is forward-looking relative to the vehicle, and the driver state is determined to be attentive, the processor modifies control of the vehicle to automatically move forward with respect to a preceding vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring information includes hand contact information about contact between the driver and a steering wheel of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor modifies control of the vehicle to automatically move based on the vehicular state, the driver state index, and the hand contact information.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor modifies control of the vehicle to automatically move without manual input from the driver based on the vehicular state, the driver state index, and the hand contact information.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor determines the head-look of the driver is forward-looking relative to the vehicle based on the head movement information, and the processor determines there is no hand contact with the steering wheel based on the hand contact information, the processor controls the vehicle to automatically move forward.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor determines a plurality of driver states based on the monitoring information, wherein the plurality of driver states includes a first driver state comprising the head movement information and a second driver state comprising the hand contact information.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor determines a combined driver state index based on the plurality of driver states, and the processor modifies control of the vehicle based on the combined driver state index.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor determines the vehicle is in a stopped state based on the vehicular state and the driver is attentive based on the driver state index, the processor modifies a control status of the one or more vehicle systems to auto control without a manual input from the driver.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more vehicle systems includes a low speed follow system and an automatic cruise control system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2020
From: FUNG, KIN C.; DICK, TIMOTHY J.
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053284/0940 →
Continuity (21)
Continuation 16385108 · Apr 16, 2019
Continuation 15720489 · Sep 29, 2017
Continuation 15656595 · Jul 21, 2017
Continuation 14851753 · Sep 11, 2015
Continuation PCTUS2015037019 · Jun 22, 2015
Continuation In Part 14744247 · Jun 19, 2015
Continuation In Part 14744247 · Jun 19, 2015
Continuation In Part 14733836 · Jun 8, 2015
Continuation In Part 14733836 · Jun 8, 2015
Continuation In Part 14697593 · Apr 27, 2015
Continuation In Part 14573778 · Dec 17, 2014
Continuation In Part 14573778 · Dec 17, 2014
Continuation In Part 14461530 · Aug 18, 2014
Continuation In Part 14315726 · Jun 26, 2014
Continuation In Part 14074710 · Nov 7, 2013
Continuation In Part 13858038 · Apr 6, 2013
Continuation In Part 13843077 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 62098565 · Dec 31, 2014
Provisional Application 62016037 · Jun 23, 2014
Provisional Application 62016020 · Jun 23, 2014
Related Publication 20200377107A1 · Dec 3, 2020