System for detecting the face of a driver and method associated thereto

A method for detecting a face of a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

• positioning a camera comprising a field of view directed towards a glass covering an instrument cluster for the driver, the glass defining a reflecting surface configured to directly reflect sequential images of a driver's gaze, the reflecting surface extending along a vertical direction in a concave manner focusing the field of view of the camera towards an optical focus located in an opening of a steering wheel of the vehicle, the sequential images capturing the driver's gaze through the opening of the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• capturing, with the camera, reflected sequential images of the driver's gaze from the reflecting surface;
• and
• analyzing, with a controller in communication with the camera, the reflected sequential images to determine a behavior of the driver's gaze.

A method of operating a detection system, comprising:

• capturing an image of a face of a driver of a vehicle, with an image capture device;
• the image capture device comprising a camera configured to capture sequential images of a driver's gaze, the camera positioned in a carrier of an instrument cluster, the instrument cluster including a dashboard oriented towards the driver and covered by a glass, the dashboard being embedded in the carrier;
• and
• analyzing the driver's gaze, with a controller in communication with the image capture device;
• wherein:
• the glass covering the instrument cluster defines a reflecting surface configured to directly reflect the sequential images of the driver's gaze, the reflecting surface extending along a vertical direction in a concave manner focusing a reflected field of view of the camera towards an optical focus located in an opening of a steering wheel of the vehicle;
• the sequential images capture the driver's gaze through the opening of the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• the camera comprises a field of view oriented towards the reflecting surface so as to indirectly capture the sequential images of the driver's gaze.