Driver Monitoring System Operation

In order for the driver monitor system to function correctly, the driver's face must be oriented such the camera can view that facial features from above the eyes to below the mouth. See the driver interaction section below for helping customers understand conditions that might prevent the system from recognizing a driver. When assessing the driver's area of attention (where the driver is looking), the driver monitor system primarily uses the orientation of the face, and uses the eyes/eyelids as a secondary input. Therefore, if a driver looks at a location with the eyes only (without turning his/her head) driver monitor system will most likely report where the face is oriented as if the eyes are straight forward. This is critical if the driver is required to look at a small area of interest such as the center console; the face must be distinctly oriented towards the center console region for driver monitor system to acknowledge a glance, such as for a driver alertness check glance.

The Image Processing Module receives constant power from a direct connection to battery; a constant ground signal; and a wake-up signal (COMM_ENABLE) and GM_LAN communication. The Image Processing Module supplies power and command signal to the driver monitor system camera, and the camera provides live images and camera exposure information back to the Image Processing Module through a co-axial cable connection. The Image Processing Module also provides power and control signals to the IR LEDs located within the steering wheel.

The Image Processing Module wakes up/puts to sleep the driver monitor system through a COMM_ENABLE signal; a high signal wakes the driver monitor system, and low signal puts the driver monitor system to sleep.

Once the driver monitor system is awake, the Image Processing Module forces the driver monitor system IR LEDs to an OFF state if the driver monitor system function is not required (SuperCruise is not requested by the driver). In this case, the driver monitor system will be not active (driver monitor system_Available = FALSE).

Once the driver requests SuperCruise function, the Image Processing Module will control the IR LEDs. Once IR LED control is allowed, the driver monitor system will begin to attempt to track the driver, and report driver attention state as described above.

During normal operation of driver monitor system, because of normal, transient behavior of the driver, it will be normal for the driver monitor system to occasionally report "Unknown" driver attention state, such as if the driver turns their face away from the camera, or moves their head out of camera view.

If the driver monitor system is unable to track the head and/or eyes for an extended period of time, which can be due to driver behavior and/or appearance, the driver monitor system may conclude that it is unable to safely track and report the driver attention. In this case, the driver monitor system will report that it is unavailable for use (driver monitor system_Available = FALSE). This will cause the SuperCruise function to disengage, and the IR LEDs will be forced off by the Image Processing Module again. The driver monitor system will not resume operation again until the Image Processing Module once again returns control of the IR LEDs to the driver monitor system.

The video signal is shielded to prevent any interference that may lead to a loss of video signal resolution which could degrade the system performance and cause the driver monitor system to lose track of the driver's facial features. The video circuit must not be spliced/removed from shielding or the image could be degraded and driver monitor system performance negatively affected