(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: Us 7,110,570 Bi
Berenz et al. (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 19,2006
(54) APPLICATION OF HUMAN FACIAL
FEATURES RECOGNITION TO
AUTOMOBILE SECURITY AND
CONVENIENCE
(75) Inventors: John J. Berenz, San Pedro, CA (US);
George W. Mclver, Redondo Beach,
CA (US); Joseph W. Niesen, La
Mirada, CA (US); Barry Dunbridge,
Torrance, CA (US); Gregory A.
Shreve, Huntsville, AL (US)
(73) Assignee: TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 829 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/621,772
(22) Filed: Jul. 21, 2000
(51) Int. CI.
G06K 9/00 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 382/104
(58) Field of Classification Search 382/102,
382/1-2, 103, 104, 115, 117, 118, 190, 209, 382/218, 224; 340/426.1, 426.28, 426.12, 340/426.26, 146.2, 541, 542, 565, 5.2, 5.3, 340/5.53,5.81,5.83; 367/136; 348/148, 348/152, 153 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
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An imaging system (50) for providing vehicle security and convenience features that employs face recognition software to identify and track a person. The system (50) employs infrared emitters (30) that emit an infrared signal along a predetermined field-of-view, and an infrared sensor (34), such as a CMOS sensor used as a video signal array, that receives reflected infrared illumination from objects in the field-of-view. A processor (52) including the face recognition software, is employed to detect human faces to identify and track the person. Once a face is detected, it can be compared to a data base to identify the person. Various applications for the imaging system (50) to provide driver convenience and security include determining driver identification as the driver approaches the vehicle, determining if a potential thief is in the vehicle by face recognition, providing driver seat adjustment, rear and side mirror adjustment and steering wheel adjustment, providing vehicle speed control, automatically starting the vehicle, etc.
16 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
