Abstract: A technique for combining a back-up aid function with a park assist function in a motor vehicle initially includes determining a distance from a motor vehicle to an object. Next, a velocity of the motor vehicle is determined. Then, a scaled version of the velocity and a minimum distance threshold are subtracted from the distance to provide a first multiplicand. Finally, a driver stimulus is provided as a function of the first multiplicand.

Abstract: A system responds to detection of a vehicle situation by comparing a sensed eye gaze direction of the vehicle operator with data stored in memory. The stored data defines a first predetermined vehicle operator eye gaze direction indicating a high probability of operator desire that an alert signal be given and a second predetermined vehicle operator eye gaze direction indicating a low probability of operator desire that an alert signal be given. On the basis of the comparison, a first or second alert action is selected and an alert apparatus controlled accordingly. For example, the alternative alert actions may include (1) generating an alert signal versus not generating the alert signal, (2) generating an alert signal in a first manner versus generating an alert signal in a second manner, or (3) selecting a first value versus selecting a second value for a parameter in a mathematical control algorithm to determine when or whether to generate an alert signal.

Abstract: A system responds to detection of a vehicle situation by comparing a sensed eye gaze direction of the vehicle operator with data stored in memory. The stored data defines a first predetermined vehicle operator eye gaze direction indicating a high probability of operator desire that an alert signal be given and a second predetermined vehicle operator eye gaze direction indicating a low probability of operator desire that an alert signal be given. On the basis of the comparison, a first or second alert action is selected and an alert apparatus controlled accordingly. For example, the alternative alert actions may include (1) generating an alert signal versus not generating the alert signal, (2) generating an alert signal in a first manner versus generating an alert signal in a second manner, or (3) selecting a first value versus selecting a second value for a parameter in a mathematical control algorithm to determine when or whether to generate an alert signal.

Abstract: A low-cost system for detecting a drowsy condition of a driver of a vehicle includes a video imaging camera located in the vehicle and oriented to generate images of a driver of the vehicle. The system also includes a processor for processing the images acquired by the video imaging camera. The processor monitors an eye and determines whether the eye is in an open position or a closed state. The processor further determines a time proportion of eye closure as the proportion of a time interval that the eye is in the closed position, and determines a driver drowsiness condition when the time proportion of eye closure exceeds a threshold value.