# US 2019/0318182 A1 · Driver monitoring apparatus and method for controlling illuminator thereof

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- Number: US 2019/0318182 A1
- Document ID: US20190318182A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/452,087
- Filed: 2019-06-25
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-26
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Inventors: Seok Beom LEE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318182A1

## CPC

- G06V 40/19: Sensors therefor
- G06V 10/141: Control of illumination
- G06V 20/597: {Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness}
- H04N 23/611: where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
- H04N 23/74: by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
- H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A driver monitoring apparatus includes: a driver monitoring camera configured to obtain an image of a user while adjusting an irradiation range of irradiated light; and a driver state sensor configured to request the driver monitoring camera to adjust the irradiation range depending on an operation mode. The driver monitoring apparatus is capable of improving reliability in monitoring a driver state by controlling an irradiation range and intensity of lighting depending on an operation mode and an external environment at the time of monitoring the driver state to irradiate light to only a region of interest.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling an illuminator of a driver monitoring apparatus, comprising:
confirming an operation mode of the driver monitoring apparatus;
determining an irradiation range of the illuminator provided in a camera depending on the operation mode; and
adjusting an irradiation range of the illuminator depending on the determined irradiation range.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for controlling an illuminator of a driver monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode is one of a face tracking mode and an eye tracking mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method for controlling an illuminator of a driver monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the determining of the irradiation range of the illuminator, it is determined that a face region is the irradiation range when the operation mode is the face tracking mode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method for controlling an illuminator of a driver monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the determining of the irradiation range of the illuminator, it is determined that an eye region is the irradiation range when the operation mode is not the eye tracking mode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method for controlling an illuminator of a driver monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in the determining of the irradiation range of the illuminator, it is determined that the irradiation range is a pupil region in the case in which lighting reflection by glasses is generated at the time of irradiating light to the eye region.