JP3797237B2 - Vehicle interior monitor device, vehicle interior monitor control device, vehicle thief identification system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention captures an image of a driver's face to detect a driver's look-aside or doze, and prevents vehicle theft, and vehicle thief identification that identifies a thief when the vehicle is stolen. system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle antitheft device, there is known a device that threatens a vehicle thief by alarming with a sound, a flasher or the like when a vehicle door is pry open or glass is broken and vibration is generated.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional anti-theft device has a problem that even when a warning is given by sound or flasher, the thief may reach the vehicle and the effect of the crime prevention force is still small.
[0004]
On the other hand, a device that detects an image of a driver's face by taking an image of a driver's face with a camera or the like provided in the passenger compartment is known. However, there is a demand for general use for other purposes.
[0005]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object thereof is to provide a vehicle interior monitoring device with high versatility while enhancing the deterrence of vehicle theft.
[0006]
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a vehicle thief identification system that can identify a vehicle thief even if the vehicle is stolen.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the invention made to achieve the above object, whether or not the driver is looking aside or asleep based on the driver's face image data imaged by the imaging means. The control means includes a control means for instructing an alarm means when the driver determines that the driver is looking aside or asleep, and a storage means for preliminarily storing the driver's face image data. Permits the operation of the engine of the vehicle when the driver's face image data imaged by the imaging means matches the face image data stored in the storage means. Further, as the face image data, driver eye data or driver face contour data is used as in the invention described in claim 2.
[0008]
As described above, when the driver's face image picked up by the image pickup means coincides with the face image data stored in the storage means, the operation of the vehicle engine is permitted, thus preventing the vehicle from being stolen. It becomes possible to do. Furthermore, since it is possible to detect the driver's look-aside or doze based on the image of the driver's face captured by the imaging means, the versatility of the vehicle interior monitoring device can be enhanced.
[0009]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the driver's face image data imaged by the imaging means does not match the face image data stored in the storage means, Send image data. Even if the vehicle is stolen, the thief's face is imaged by the imaging means and the face image data is transmitted to the base station, so that the thief can be easily identified later. And the fact that the fact is recognized makes it possible to suppress theft of the vehicle as a result.
[0010]
Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 4, the determination means determines whether the driver is looking aside or asleep based on the driver's face image data imaged by the imaging means, When the warning means determines that the driver is looking aside or is asleep, the warning means instructs the warning means to store the driver's face image data in advance. The engine operation permission means permits the operation of the engine of the vehicle when the driver's face image data captured by the imaging means matches the face image data stored in the storage means. As a result, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 is obtained.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle thief identifying system comprising the vehicle interior monitoring device according to any one of the first to third aspects and a base station, wherein the base station is a driver When the vehicle has been informed of theft of the vehicle, the vehicle interior monitor device is instructed to transmit the face image data of the vehicle theft. In this way, when the driver knows that the vehicle has been stolen, it notifies the base station to that effect. Then, the base station instructs the vehicle interior monitoring device to transmit the face image data of the person who has entered the vehicle interior. As a result, it is possible to have the same effect as that of the third aspect of the invention.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle interior monitoring apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle interior monitor device 1 includes a camera module controller 2 that executes various controls, a camera module 3 that captures a face image of a driver of the vehicle, a vehicle speed detection means 4 that detects a vehicle speed, Alarm means 5 for issuing an alarm based on an alarm instruction from the camera module controller 2, engine start means 6 for starting the engine based on an engine start instruction from the camera module controller 2, and communication for transmitting face image data to the base station Means 7.
[0013]
The camera module controller 2 specifies the person who starts the engine of the parked vehicle. Therefore, when there is a possibility that a person enters the vehicle and the ignition switch (IG) 8 is turned off, the camera module 3 Start command. Here, when there is a possibility of a person entering the vehicle interior, for example, when a door is unlocked, when a security device is provided, when security is released, an entrance sensor is provided. If this is the case, the case where a person's entry is detected corresponds.
[0014]
The camera module controller 2 compares the face image data stored in advance in the built-in storage means 11 with the face image data captured by the camera module 3. If the face image data match as a result of the comparison, it is determined that the person who has entered the passenger compartment is a regular driver, and issues an engine start command to the engine start means 6. Here, the face image data corresponds to, for example, data indicating the outline of a face and eye data such as a retina and an iris (iris). The iris data refers to data obtained by extracting changes in shades of eyes as code information.
[0015]
Further, the camera module controller 2 issues a start command to the camera module 3 when the vehicle speed is detected by the vehicle speed detection means 4. Then, based on the driver's face image data captured by the camera module 3, image processing such as binarization processing and pattern matching based on shading information is performed to recognize the driver's eye position, blinking, opening degree, etc. To determine whether the driver is looking aside or falling asleep. When it is determined that the driver is looking aside or dozing, an alarm command is issued to the alarm means 5 to alert the driver. The specific operation of the camera module controller 2 will be described later.
[0016]
The camera module 3 includes an infrared LED 9 that is an infrared light emitting device for irradiating the driver's face in the vehicle interior with infrared illumination light, and a vehicle interior monitor camera 10 that captures the driver's face illuminated with the infrared illumination light. And.
[0017]
The camera module controller 2 corresponds to the control means and the vehicle interior monitor control device of the present invention. The camera module 3 corresponds to the imaging unit of the present invention.
[0018]
Next, a specific operation in the camera module controller 2 will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the operation during vehicle parking will be described with reference to FIG.
[0019]
First, in the first step S10, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of a person entering the vehicle compartment and whether or not the ignition switch (IG) 8 is turned off. This determination is made to determine whether a person has entered the passenger compartment of the parked vehicle. If a negative determination is made, the same processing is repeated. If an affirmative determination is made, a camera module activation command is issued in step S20, and face image data is captured in step S30.
[0020]
Subsequently, in step S40, it is determined whether or not face image data has been taken in. If a negative determination is made, a line-of-sight guidance instruction is issued in step S42, and the process returns to step S10. The line-of-sight guidance instruction is, for example, an instruction such as “Look at the camera” by voice or screen display. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made, the process proceeds to step S50.
[0021]
In step S50, the captured face image data is compared with the face image data stored in the storage means 11 (memory). Then, based on whether or not the comparison results match, it is determined in step S60 whether or not the person who has entered the vehicle compartment is a regular registrant. If an affirmative determination is made, it is determined that the person who has entered the vehicle compartment is an authorized registrant, issues an engine start command in step S70, and ends this flowchart. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, it is determined that the person is not a regular registrant, and an engine start prohibition command is issued in step S62. In step S64, the communication means 7 is instructed to transmit the face image data to the base station (hereinafter referred to as a data transmission instruction), and this flowchart ends.
[0022]
Next, the operation during traveling of the vehicle will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S100, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is running. If a negative determination is made, the same processing is repeated. If an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S110.
[0023]
In step S110, a command for starting the camera module 3 is issued, and in step S120, face image data is captured. In step S130, it is determined whether or not a data transmission instruction has been received from the base station. If an affirmative determination is made, a data transmission command is issued to the communication means 7 and the process proceeds to step S150.
[0024]
On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S130, the process proceeds to step S132 to perform a side-by-side or doze determination. If it is determined in step S134 that the person is looking aside or falling asleep, the process proceeds to step S136 to issue an alarm command to the alarm means 5, and the process proceeds to step S150. If it is determined in step S134 that the person is not looking aside or falling asleep, the process proceeds to step S150.
[0025]
In step S150, it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling. If an affirmative determination is made, the process returns to step S110 and the same processing is repeated. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, this flowchart is terminated.
[0026]
Note that the processing in step S70 corresponds to the engine operation permission means of the present invention. Moreover, the process of step S132 is equivalent to the determination means of this invention. Further, the process of step S136 corresponds to the alarm command means of the present invention.
[0027]
As described above, according to the present invention, when the engine of the parked vehicle is started, the driver's face image captured by the camera module 3 is stored in the face image data stored in the storage unit 11. The vehicle engine is allowed to operate when the value matches. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the vehicle from being stolen.
[0028]
Further, when the captured face image data of the driver does not match the face image data stored in the storage unit 11, the face image data is transmitted to the base station, so that the vehicle thief can be specified later. It becomes.
[0029]
Further, during driving, it is possible to detect the driver's looking aside or falling asleep based on the driver's face image data captured by the camera module 3, and the versatility of the vehicle interior monitoring device 1 can be improved. .
[0030]
Next, a vehicle thief identification system for identifying a thief when a vehicle is stolen will be described with reference to FIG. The vehicle thief identification system 100 includes a vehicle interior monitoring device 1, a base station 20 that receives and records face image data from the vehicle interior monitoring device 1, and a mobile phone 30 owned by the driver.
[0031]
In this system, when a vehicle theft notification is sent from the driver to the base station 20, the base station 20 issues a face image data transmission command to the vehicle interior monitoring device 1. Further, when the base station 20 receives a notification of theft of the vehicle from the driver, the vehicle interior monitor device 1 should have taken the face image of the intruder, so that the vehicle interior monitor device 1 Sends image data transmission command. The base station 20 stores the transmitted face image data.
[0032]
As described above, according to the present system, when the vehicle is stolen, the vehicle thief face image data imaged by the vehicle interior monitoring device 1 is stored in the base station in the base station 20. The thief can be identified. In addition, the spread of this system makes it possible to increase crime deterrence.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle interior monitoring device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera module controller while the vehicle is parked.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera module controller while the vehicle is running.
FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle thief identification system of the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle interior monitor apparatus 2 Camera module controller 3 Camera module 5 Alarm means 6 Engine starting means 7 Communication means 20 Base station 30 Mobile phone 100 Vehicle thief identification system

Claims (5)

Imaging means for imaging the face of the driver driving the vehicle;
When determining whether the driver is looking aside or falling asleep based on the driver's face image data captured by the imaging means, and determining that the driver is looking aside or falling asleep Control means for instructing alarm means to alarm means,
A vehicle interior monitor device comprising storage means for storing driver's face image data in advance,
The control means permits the operation of the engine of the vehicle when the driver's face image data imaged by the imaging means matches the face image data stored in the storage means. Car interior monitoring device. In the vehicle interior monitoring apparatus according to claim 1,
The vehicle interior monitor device, wherein the face image data is eye data of the driver or contour data of the driver's face. In the vehicle interior monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the driver's face image data imaged by the imaging means does not match the face image data stored in the storage means, the face image data is transmitted to a base station. Vehicle interior monitoring device. Determination means for determining whether the driver is looking aside or dozing based on the driver's face image data imaged by the imaging means;
An alarm command means for commanding an alarm to the alarm means when it is determined by the determination means that the driver is looking aside or asleep.
Storage means for storing the driver's face image data in advance,
Engine operation permission means for permitting the operation of the engine of the vehicle when the face image data of the driver imaged by the imaging means matches the face image data stored in the storage means; A vehicle interior monitor control device. A vehicle interior monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A base station,
A vehicle thief identification system with
The base station, when notified of theft of the vehicle from the driver, instructs the vehicle interior monitor device to transmit the vehicle theft face image data. system.

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