Apparatus and Method for Detecting a State of a Driver Based on Biometric Signals of the Driver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017367635-A1
Application number	US-201615356083-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 18, 2016
Priority date	Jun 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus and a method is provided for detecting biometric signals of a driver and classifying the driver into a normal state or a fatigued state based on the biometric signals. An apparatus may include: a biometric signal measuring part configured to measure the biometric signals including a blood flow rate of a brain of the driver using an electro-encephalography (EEG), an electro-cardiography (ECG), and a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) of the driver; a biometric signal integral part configured to integrate the measured biometric signals, to extract characteristics of the respective biometric signals from the measured biometric signals and to then integrate the extracted characteristics, or to classify the extracted characteristics of the biometric signals and to then integrate the classified characteristics; and a driver state detecting part configured to detect the state of the driver based on the integrated biometric signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for detecting a state of a driver based on biometric signals of the driver, the apparatus comprising:
a biometric signal measuring part configured to measure the biometric signals including a blood flow rate of a brain of the driver using an electro-encephalography (EEG), an electro-cardiography (ECG), and a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) of the driver; a biometric signal integral part configured to integrate the measured biometric signals, to extract characteristics of the respective biometric signals from the measured biometric signals and to then integrate the extracted characteristics, or to classify the extracted characteristics of the biometric signals and to then integrate the classified characteristics; and a driver state detecting part configured to detect the state of the driver based on the integrated biometric signals.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the biometric signal measuring part includes:
an electro-encephalography measuring apparatus configured to measure the electro-encephalography occurring from the brain; an emitter configured to generate near-field infrared ray to measure the blood flow rate of the brain; and a detector configured to detect the near-field infrared ray reflected after the emitter generates the near-field infrared ray and to obtain electrical signals.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein to extract characteristics of the respective biometric signals are from the measured biometric signals, the biometric signal integral part is configured to extract characteristics of the electro-encephalography by extracting characteristics of a relative power level (RPL) using electrodes attached to a scalp of the driver.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when characteristics of the respective biometric signals are extracted from the measured biometric signals, the biometric signal integral part is configured to extract characteristics of the electro-cardiography by extracting a component of R among components of P, Q, R, S, and T of the electro-cardiography and to calculate a heart rate using the extracted component of R.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when characteristics of the respective biometric signals are extracted from the measured biometric signals, the biometric signal measuring part is configured to measure the blood flow rate of the brain of the driver by measuring a reflection amount by a detector, converting light intensity into oxyhemoglobin and specific oxyhemoglobin concentrations using an absorption rate of light, and using the oxyhemoglobin and specific oxyhemoglobin concentrations.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the driver state detecting part is configured to calculate a driving condition level by applying the same weight to values of the electro-encephalography, the electro-cardiography, and the blood flow rate of the brain.

7 . A method for detecting a state of a driver based on biometric signals of the driver, the method comprising:
measuring the biometric signals of the driver including a blood flow rate of a brain of the driver using an electro-encephalography (EEG), an electro-cardiography (ECG), and a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) of the driver; integrating the measured biometric signals, extracting characteristics of the respective biometric signals from the measured biometric signals and then integrating the extracted characteristics, or classifying the extracted characteristics of the biometric signals and then integrating the classified characteristics; and detecting the state of the driver based on the integrated biometric signals.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein when characteristics of the respective biometric signals are extracted from the measured biometric signals, characteristics of the electro-encephalography are extracted by extracting characteristics of a relative power level (RPL) using electrodes attached to a scalp of the driver.

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein when characteristics of the respective biometric signals are extracted from the measured biometric signals, characteristics of the electro-cardiography are extracted by extracting a component of R among components of P, Q, R, S, and T of the electro-cardiography and calculating a heart rate using the extracted component of R.

10 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein when characteristics of the respective biometric signals are extracted from the measured biometric signals, the blood flow rate of the brain of the driver is measured by measuring a reflection amount by a detector, converting light intensity into oxyhemoglobin and specific oxyhemoglobin concentrations using an absorption rate of light, and using the oxyhemoglobin and specific oxyhemoglobin concentrations.

11 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein a driving condition level is calculated by applying the same weight to values of the electro-encephalography, the electro-cardiography, and the blood flow rate of the brain.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp
• Gwangju Inst Science & Tech

Inventors

• Hur Nam Woong
• Jeon Seul Ki
• Kim Hyun Sang
• Kim Eung Hwan
• Ahn Sang Tae
• Jang Hyo Jung
• Jun Sung Chan

Classifications

• A61B5/0261

  using optical means, e.g. infrared light · CPC title

• A61B5/18 Primary

  for vehicle drivers {or machine operators} · CPC title

• A61B5/14553

  specially adapted for cerebral tissue · CPC title

• A61B5/346

  Analysis of electrocardiograms · CPC title

• A61B5/372

  Analysis of electroencephalograms · CPC title