IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,318,949
Granted Patent B2
US 11,318,949 · App. 17/118,654 · Granted May 3, 2022

In-vehicle drowsiness analysis using blink rate

Inventors: Rana el Kaliouby (Milton, MA); Ajjen Das Joshi (Arlington, MA); Survi Kyal (Chestnut Hill, MA); Abdelrahman N. Mahmoud (Somerville, MA); Seyedmohammad Mavadati (Watertown, MA); Panu James Turcot (Pacifica, CA)
Assignee: Affectiva, Inc.
B60W40/09B60W30/00B60W2040/0827B60W2420/42B60W2540/229
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,318,949
App. No.
17/118,654
Filed
Dec 11, 2020
Granted
May 3, 2022
Kind
B2
Examiner
WU, ZHEN Y
Art Unit
2685
USPC
340/439
Abstract

Disclosed techniques include in-vehicle drowsiness analysis using blink-rate. Video of an individual is obtained within a vehicle using an image capture device. The video is analyzed using one or more processors to detect a blink event based on a classifier for a blink that was determined. Using temporal analysis, the blink event is determined by identifying that eyes of the individual are closed for a frame in the video. Using the blink event and one or more other blink events, blink-rate information is determined using the one or more processors. Based on the blink-rate information, a drowsiness metric is calculated using the one or more processors. The vehicle is manipulated based on the drowsiness metric. A blink duration of the individual for the blink event is evaluated. The blink-rate information is compensated. The compensating is based on demographic information for the individual.

Claims (47)

1. A computer-implemented method for mental state analysis comprising:

obtaining video of an individual within a vehicle with an image capture device;

analyzing, using one or more processors, the video to detect a blink event based on a classifier for a blink that was determined, wherein the blink event is determined by identifying that eyes of the individual are closed for a frame in the video using temporal analysis;

determining, using the one or more processors, blink-rate information using the blink event and one or more other blink events;

evaluating blinking for a group of people in the vehicle:

determining a difference in blinking between the individual and a remainder of the group:

calculating, using the one or more processors, a drowsiness metric, based on the blink-rate information and the difference in blinking; and

manipulating the vehicle, based on the drowsiness metric.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating a blink duration of the individual for the blink event.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a longer blink duration increases the drowsiness metric.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the image capture device is located centrally in the vehicle's front interior.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the image capture device is located above a shoulder line of the individual within the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the image capture device is attached to a rearview mirror of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining yields a blink-rate frequency.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a lower blink-rate frequency over time increases the drowsiness metric.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising compensating the blink-rate information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the compensating is based on demographic information for the individual.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the classifier is determined for a partially occluded face of the individual.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the partially occluded face is a result of the individual wearing a face mask.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising mapping the blink-rate information over a temporal distribution.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the mapping is used in the calculating.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising inferring mental states of the individual, wherein the mental states are based on the drowsiness metric.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a difference in blinking by the individual and typical blinking for the individual.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising inferring mental states of the individual, wherein the mental states are based on the difference in blinking by the individual and typical blinking for the individual.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the manipulating the vehicle includes recommending action.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the manipulating the vehicle includes recommending content to the individual.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising aggregating the blink-rate information for the individual with blink-rate information for a plurality of other people.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising correlating the blink-rate information with activities being performed by the individual.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the blink-rate information is correlated to a stimulus that the individual is encountering.

23. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for mental state analysis, the computer program product comprising code which causes one or more processors to perform operations of:

obtaining video of an individual within a vehicle with an image capture device;

analyzing, using one or more processors, the video to detect a blink event based on a classifier for a blink that was determined, wherein the blink event is determined by identifying that eyes of the individual are closed for a frame in the video using temporal analysis;

determining, using the one or more processors, blink-rate information using the blink event and one or more other blink events;

evaluating blinking for a group of people in the vehicle;

determining a difference in blinking between the individual and a remainder of the group;

calculating, using the one or more processors, a drowsiness metric, based on the blink-rate information and the difference in blinking; and

manipulating the vehicle, based on the drowsiness metric.

24. A computer system for mental state analysis comprising:

a memory which stores instructions;

one or more processors coupled to the memory wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions which are stored, are configured to:

obtain video of an individual within a vehicle with an image capture device;

analyze, using one or more processors, the video to detect a blink event based on a classifier for a blink that was determined, wherein the blink event is determined by identifying that eyes of the individual are closed for a frame in the video using temporal analysis;

determine, using the one or more processors, blink-rate information using the blink event and one or more other blink events;

evaluate blinking for a group of people in the vehicle;

determine a difference in blinking between the individual and a remainder of the group;

calculate, using the one or more processors, a drowsiness metric, based on the blink-rate information and the difference in blinking; and

manipulate the vehicle, based on the drowsiness metric.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2021
From: EL KALIOUBY, RANA; JOSHI, AJJEN DAS; KYAL, SURVI; MAHMOUD, ABDELRAHMAN N.; MAVADATI, SEYEDMOHAMMAD; TURCOT, PANU JAMES
To: AFFECTIVA, INC.
Reel/Frame 055648/0651 →
Continuity (51)
Continuation In Part 16685071 · Nov 15, 2019
Continuation In Part 16126615 · Sep 10, 2018
Continuation In Part 15670791 · Aug 7, 2017
Continuation In Part 15666048 · Aug 1, 2017
Continuation In Part 15395750 · Dec 30, 2016
Continuation In Part 15262197 · Sep 12, 2016
Continuation In Part 14796419 · Jul 10, 2015
Continuation In Part 14460915 · Aug 15, 2014
Continuation In Part 14214918 · Mar 15, 2014
Continuation In Part 13153745 · Jun 6, 2011
Continuation In Part 13153745 · Jun 6, 2011
Provisional Application 63083136 · Sep 25, 2020
Provisional Application 63071401 · Aug 28, 2020
Provisional Application 62955493 · Dec 31, 2019
Provisional Application 62945819 · Dec 30, 2019
Provisional Application 62954833 · Dec 30, 2019
Provisional Application 62524606 · Jun 25, 2017
Provisional Application 62469591 · Mar 10, 2017
Provisional Application 62448448 · Jan 20, 2017
Provisional Application 62442325 · Jan 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62442291 · Jan 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62439928 · Dec 29, 2016
Provisional Application 62370421 · Aug 3, 2016
Provisional Application 62301558 · Feb 29, 2016
Provisional Application 62273896 · Dec 31, 2015
Provisional Application 62265937 · Dec 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62222518 · Sep 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62217872 · Sep 12, 2015
Provisional Application 62128974 · Mar 5, 2015
Provisional Application 62082579 · Nov 20, 2014
Provisional Application 62047508 · Sep 8, 2014
Provisional Application 62023800 · Jul 11, 2014
Provisional Application 61972314 · Mar 30, 2014
Provisional Application 61953878 · Mar 16, 2014
Provisional Application 61927481 · Jan 15, 2014
Provisional Application 61924252 · Jan 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61916190 · Dec 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61867007 · Aug 16, 2013
Provisional Application 61844478 · Jul 10, 2013
Provisional Application 61793761 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61789038 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61798731 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61790461 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61467209 · Mar 24, 2011
Provisional Application 61447464 · Feb 28, 2011
Provisional Application 61447089 · Feb 27, 2011
Provisional Application 61439913 · Feb 6, 2011
Provisional Application 61414451 · Nov 17, 2010
Provisional Application 61388002 · Sep 30, 2010
Provisional Application 61352166 · Jun 7, 2010
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