Method, Device, Computer Program and Computer Program Product for Detecting the Attentiveness of the Driver of a Vehicle

A method for determining an attentiveness of a driver of a vehicle, in which an inclination of the head of the driver is detected, the method comprising:

• (i) depending on the inclination of the head, determining whether the head is directed downward;
• (ii) when a determination is made that the head is directed downward,
• (a) continually detecting a magnitude of an eyelid opening of at least one eye of the driver is continually detected,
• (b) depending on the magnitude of the eyelid opening, determining whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, and
• (c) depending on the determination of whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, determining whether the driver is attentive.

A method for determining an attentiveness of a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

• detecting an inclination of the head of the driver;
• depending on the inclination of the head, determining whether the head is directed downward;
• when a determination is made that the head is not directed downward,
• (a) continually detecting a magnitude of an eyelid opening of at least one eye of the driver,
• (b) depending on the magnitude of the eyelid opening, determining whether the driver is looking downward,
• (c) when a determination is made that the driver is looking downward, depending on the magnitude of the eyelid opening determining whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, and
• depending on the determination of whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, determining whether the driver is attentive.

A device for determining an attentiveness of a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

• a processor configured to execute the acts of:
• detecting an inclination of the head of the driver;
• depending on the inclination of the head, determining whether the head is directed downward;
• when a determination is made that the head is directed downward,
• (a) continually detecting a magnitude of an eyelid opening of at least one eye of the driver is continually detected,
• (b) depending on the magnitude of the eyelid opening, determining whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, and
• (c) depending on the determination of whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, determining whether the driver is attentive.

A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed by one or more processors, carries out the acts of:

• detecting an inclination of the head of the driver;
• depending on the inclination of the head, determining whether the head is directed downward;
• when a determination is made that the head is directed downward,
• (a) continually detecting a magnitude of an eyelid opening of at least one eye of the driver is continually detected,
• (b) depending on the magnitude of the eyelid opening, determining whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, and
• (c) depending on the determination of whether the driver has taken a reference look at a roadway, determining whether the driver is attentive.