FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10; rule 13] TITLE: “MODULAR VISION BOX FOR DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM”
Name and Address of the Applicant:
TATA MOTORS LIMITED; an Indian company having a registered address at Bombay
House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India.
Nationality: Indian
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
Present disclosure, in general, relates to the field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a driver monitoring system. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a modular monitoring device for the driver monitoring system of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Most vehicles in operation are powered by a driving unit such as an internal combustion engine or an electric battery or combinations thereof. The driving unit is connectable to wheels of the vehicle and is responsible for motion of the vehicle. Rotational energy from the driving unit such as the internal combustion engine is stored in a flywheel of the engine and is transferred to the wheels to move the vehicle. Speed of the vehicle is regulated by controlling/absorbing the rotational energy of the wheels. A driver of the vehicle is required to appropriately operate and/or regulate various components of the vehicle including but not limited to accelerator, brakes, transmission and the like for seamless maneuver and to ensure safe journey and/or transport of goods and passengers.
Along with development of technology and increasing popularization of automobiles, requirement for safe driving of the automobiles has become significant. One of the factors influencing safety of the automobile is fatigue of drivers. Most accidents tends to occur when the driver's response may be considered slow to a situation, or when the driver may fail to identify relevant hazards due to drowsiness, fatigue, and/or distraction behind the wheels of the automobile.
With emerging ability of the vehicles to sense their environment, ability of the vehicle to sense driver awareness, intent and attention has become increasingly vital. Conventional driver monitoring systems include sensors such as on-board cameras and the like, that are being used as image recognition sensors for monitoring the driver during movement of the vehicle. While such conventional systems may block a portion of field of view of the driver, such systems may also be prone to damage due to variations in orientation of the monitoring devices. Such orientational variations may cause inaccurate results and may not completely avert accidents. Furthermore, such monitoring devices are custom made in different configurations for fitting on different types of vehicles and are not interchangeable.

The present disclosure is directed at overcoming one or more limitations stated above or any other limitations associated with the conventional mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
One or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by a method and a system as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the method and the system as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure a monitoring device for a vehicle is disclosed. The modular driver monitoring device comprises a housing and at least two sensors. The housing is connectable to a portion of a cabin of the vehicle. The housing is defined with a first portion and a second portion. The at least two sensors are disposable in a spaced apart configuration on the first portion and the second portion. The at least two sensors are oriented to target a driver of the vehicle, wherein the at least two sensors are configured to detect and transmit at least one signal to sense a state of the driver. The first portion is oriented at an inclined angle with respect to the second portion for achieving an optimum field of view to the at least two sensors of the driver.
In an embodiment, the housing is mounted on an A-pillar of the vehicle.
In an embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of provisions defined on the housing for mounting the housing on the A-pillar by a plurality of fasteners.
In an embodiment, the housing is defined with at least two connecting flanges extending perpendicular to each other from the housing.
In an embodiment, each connecting flange of the at least two connecting flanges is defined with a locator cavity for alignment of the device on the cabin.
In an embodiment, the device comprises an electrical connector defined externally on a portion of the housing structured to allow wiring into the housing.
In an embodiment, the at least two sensors are communicatively coupled to a control unit and transmit the at least one signal to the control unit.

In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine a state of the driver based on the at least one signal and is configured to transmit at least one alert signal to alert the driver.
In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a chassis, a body, a cabin, and a modular driver monitoring device. The body is defined over the chassis of the vehicle. The cabin is defined within the body and comprises an A-pillar. The modular driver monitoring device is mounted in the cabin. The modular driver monitoring device comprises a housing and at least two sensors. The housing is connectable to a portion of a cabin of the vehicle. The housing is defined with a first portion and a second portion. The at least two sensors are disposable in a spaced apart configuration on the first portion and the second portion. The at least two sensors are oriented to target a driver of the vehicle, wherein the at least two sensors are configured to detect and transmit at least one signal to sense a state of the driver. The first portion is oriented at an inclined angle with respect to the second portion for achieving an optimum field of view to the at least two sensors of the driver.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure 1a is a sectional view of a vehicle depicting a driver monitoring device disposed in a cabin, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure1b is an enlarged view of the A-pillar of the vehicle depicting the driver monitoring device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2a is a side view of the driver monitoring device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 2b is a side view of the driver monitoring device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the system and method illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, assembly, mechanism, system, that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.
Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a monitoring device for a vehicle. The modular driver monitoring device comprises a housing and at least two sensors. The housing is connectable to a portion of a cabin of the vehicle. The housing is defined with a first portion and a second portion facing toward a driver of the vehicle. The at least two sensors are disposable in a spaced apart configuration on the first portion and the second portion. The at least two sensors are configured to detect and transmit at least one signal to sense a state of the driver. The first portion is aligned with the second portion at a predetermined inclination for optimum field of view to the at least two sensors. With such configuration, the device may

accurately capture face of the driver for monitoring state of the driver and avoid accidents. Further, the device may be mounted on multiple types of vehicles and is interchangeable.
In the present disclosure, the term ‘A-pillar refers to the forward pillar of a vehicle among multiple pillars of a vehicle structured in a body-in-white to bear load of a roof of the vehicle. The A-pillar may have one or more cavities or apertures for mounting the driver monitoring device.
The disclosure is described in the following paragraphs with reference to Figures 1a to 2b. In the figures, the same element or elements which have same functions are indicated by the same reference signs. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the device as disclosed in the present disclosure may be used in any vehicle including but not liming to commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles and the like. The system and the method of the present disclosure may also be implemented in vehicles having a cabin, for suitably accommodating a driver/passenger of vehicle without deviating from the principles of the present disclosure.
Figure 1a and 1b illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure which illustrates a vehicle (200). The vehicle (200) may include, but not limited to, a passenger vehicle, a commercial vehicle and the like. The vehicle (200) may comprise a chassis, and a body (201) defined over the chassis. The vehicle (200) may be include a cabin (202) defined within the body (201). The cabin (202) may accommodate a seat to allow seating of a driver (205) for maneuvering the vehicle (200) as can be seen in Figure 1a. The body (201) may comprise an A-pillar (203) extending from a roof of the vehicle (200) configured to support the roof The vehicle (200) may comprise a modular driver monitoring device (100) mounted in the cabin (202) of the vehicle (200) facing the driver (205) as can be seen in Figure 1a. In the illustrative embodiment, the modular driver monitoring device (100) is depicted to be mounted on the A-pillar (203) of the vehicle (200) as can be seen in Figure 1b to avoid blockage of a portion of field of view of the driver (205) and avoid accidents as can be seen in Figure 1a. In an embodiment, the modular driver monitoring device (100) may be mounted on the a-pillar (203) by one of welding, brazing, plurality of fasteners and the like. Further, position of the modular driver monitoring device (100) on the A-pillar (203) avoids contact with the driver (205)’s head upon impact of the vehicle (200) to reduce or prevent damage to the driver (205) in event of an accident.

Referring now to Figures 2a and 2b, the modular driver monitoring device (100) comprises a housing (1) and at least two sensors (4a, 4b). The housing (1) may be connectable to a portion of the cabin (202) of the vehicle (200) and may be configured to receive the at least two sensors (4a, 4b). The housing (1) may be defined by one of a cubical profile, cuboidal profile, oval profile, trapezoidal profile and the like based one design requirements. The housing (1) may be defined with a first portion (2) and a second portion (3), each of which are adapted to face towards the cabin (202), and in-turn the driver (205) of the vehicle (200), as can be seen in Figures 2a and 1a. In the illustrative embodiment, profile of the housing (1) is depicted as a cuboid to define the first portion (2) and the second portion (3) as shown in Figure 2a. Such profile of the housing (1) shall not be construed as a limitation, as different profiles having a tapered section may also define the housing (1). The first portion (2) and the second portion (3) may be integrally defined on the housing (1) or may be detachably coupled to the housing (1). In the illustrative embodiment, the first portion (2) and the second portion (3) are depicted as integrally defined on the housing (1) to make the modular driver monitoring device (100) compact.
In an embodiment, the first portion (2) may be aligned with the second portion (3) at a predetermined inclination (α) as can be seen in Figure 2a for achieving an optimum field of view to cover 95% of driver (205)’s face by the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) for determining state of the driver (205) as can be seen in Figure 2a. In an embodiment, the inclination may be in a range of 200 to 240 degrees. The inclination may be varied based on required field of view of the at least two sensors (4a, 4b). In the illustrative embodiment, the inclination is depicted to be at 210 degrees, where the second portion (3) is inclined at 210 degrees from the first portion (2) to cover 95% of driver (205)’s face by the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) as can be seen in Figure 2b for accurate determination of state of the driver (205).
In an embodiment, the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) may be disposable in a spaced apart configuration on the first portion (2) and the second portion (3). For sake of explanation, the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) are depicted as a first sensor (4a) and a second sensor (4b), where the first sensor (4a) is disposed on the first portion (2) and the second sensor (4b) is disposed on the second portion (3) at the predetermined inclination from the first portion (2) as the second portion (3) is inclined relative to the first portion (2). With such configuration, the device (100) may accurately capture face of the driver (205) for monitoring state of the driver (205) and avoid accidents. The at least two sensors (4a, 4b) may include one of RGB sensor, a camera,

infrared sensors, and the like configured to detect a face of the driver (205). The at least two sensors (4a, 4b) are configured to transmit at least one signal corresponding to facial expression of the driver (205) to sense a state of the driver (205).
Referring again to Figures 2a and 2b, the housing (1) may be defined with at least two connecting flanges (6) extending perpendicular to each other from the housing (1). In an embodiment, the at least two connecting flanges (6) may be defined along an edge of the housing (1) as can be seen in Figure 2a. The at least two connecting flanges (6) may be defined with a plurality of apertures (6b) for mounting the modular driver monitoring device (100) on the A-pillar (203) of the vehicle (200). The at least two connecting flanges (6) may be integrally defined on the housing (1) or may be detachably attached to the housing (1). In the illustrative embodiment, the at least two connecting flanges (6) are depicted to be integrally defined on the housing (1) to maintain compactness of the housing (1). The housing (1) may be connected to the A-pillar (203) by one of a plurality of fasteners, welding, and the like. In an embodiment, each connecting flange of the at least two connecting flanges (6) may be defined with a locator cavity (6a) for alignment of the device (100) on the A-pillar (203). In the illustrative embodiment, the locator cavity (6a) is defined between the plurality of apertures (6b) as can be seen in Figure 2a for precise mounting of the modular driver monitoring device (100) on the A-pillar (203). The locator cavity (6a) may be positioned concentrically with a predefined cavity defined on the A-pillar (203) for mounting the modular driver monitoring device (100). Upon positioning the modular driver monitoring device (100) by the locator cavity (6a), the modular driver monitoring device (100) may be fastened to the A-pillar (203) at the at least two connecting flanges (6) by the plurality of fasteners.
Further, the modular driver monitoring device (100) may comprise a plurality of provisions (5) defined on the housing (1) for mounting the housing (1) on the A-pillar (203) by a plurality of fasteners. In an embodiment, the plurality of provisions (5) may include, but not limited to, a dove tail cavity, a blind hole, a through hole and the like. In the illustrative embodiment, the plurality of provisions (5) are depicted as two dog-house cavities oriented away from each other as can be seen in Figure 2a to allow mounting of the modular driver monitoring device (100) in multiple types of vehicles and on multiple types of A-pillars. The at least two connecting flanges (6) and the plurality of provisions (5) allow interchangeability of the modular driver monitoring device (100) across multiple vehicles and make the modular driver monitoring device (100) modular. The modular driver monitoring device (100) may comprise

an electrical connector (7) defined externally on a portion of the housing (1). The electrical connector (7) may be structured to allow wiring of the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) and/or the control unit into the housing (1) as can be seen in Figures 2a and 2b. The electrical connector (7) may be defined by a hollow cylindrical projection extending from the housing (1) to maintain compactness of the modular driver monitoring device (100). Such construction of the electrical connector (7) shall not be construed as a limitation as the construction may be varied based on design requirements.
In an embodiment, the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) may be communicatively coupled to a control unit [not shown explicitly in Figures] to transmit the at least one signal corresponding to face of the driver (205). The at least one signal may correspond to facial images/expressions of the driver (205) indicating drowsiness, fatigue and the like. The control unit may be configured to receive the at least one signal and may be configured to determine a state of the driver (205) based on the at least one signal. The control unit may compare the images/expressions of the driver (205) with a predetermined image/expressions data stored within a memory unit to determine the state of the driver (205). Based on comparison, the state of the driver (205) may be determined as safe or unsafe for driving by the control unit. In an embodiment, the control unit may determine the state of the driver (205) as one of sleepy, drowsy, fatigue, and the like based on comparison and the same shall not be considered a limitation. Further, the control unit may transmit at least one alert signal to the alert the driver (205) and avoid accidents due to state of the driver (205). The alert signal may include at least one of a visual indication, audio indication, mobile notification and the like. In an embodiment, the control unit may utilize artificial intelligence to identify state of the driver (205) based on the at least one signal. In an embodiment, the modular driver monitoring device (100) may determine state of the driver (205) with an accuracy of 85 to 90% due to the configuration of the at least two sensors (4a, 4b), the first portion (2), the second portion (3), the at least two connecting flanges (6) and the plurality of provisions (5).
In an embodiment, the control unit may be a centralised control unit of the vehicle (200) or may be a dedicated control unit to the system associated with the centralised control unit of the vehicle (200). The control unit may also be associated with other control units including, but not limited to, body control unit, engine control unit, transmission control unit, and the like. The control unit may be comprised of a processing unit. The processing unit may comprise at least one data processor for executing program components for executing user- or system-

generated requests. The processing unit may be a specialized processing unit such as integrated system (bus) controllers, memory management control units, floating point units, graphics processing units, digital signal processing units, etc. The processing unit may include a microprocessor, such as AMD Athlon, Duron or Opteron, ARM’s application, embedded or secure processors, IBM PowerPC, Intel’s Core, Itanium, Xeon, Celeron or other line of processors, etc. The processing unit may be implemented using a mainframe, distributed processor, multi-core, parallel, grid, or other architectures. Some embodiments may utilize embedded technologies like application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc.
The control unit may be disposed in communication with one or more memory devices (e.g., RAM, ROM etc.) via a storage interface. The storage interface may connect to memory devices including, without limitation, memory drives, removable disc drives, etc., employing connection protocols such as serial advanced technology attachment (SATA), integrated drive electronics (IDE), IEEE-1394, universal serial bus (USB), fiber channel, small computing system interface (SCSI), etc. The memory drives may further include a drum, magnetic disc drive, magneto-optical drive, optical drive, redundant array of independent discs (RAID), solid-state memory devices, solid-state drives, etc.
EQUIVALENTS
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims are generally intended as “open” terms. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such

recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an”; the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number. Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Reference numerals:
Component Reference numeral
Device 100
Housing 1
First portion 2

Second portion 3
At least two sensors 4a, 4b
First sensor 4a
Second sensor 4b
Plurality of provisions 5
At least two connecting flanges 6
Locator cavity 6a
Plurality of apertures 6b
Electrical connector 7
Vehicle 200
Body 201
Cabin 202
A-pillar 203
Driver seat 204
Driver 205
Inclination a

We Claim:
1. A modular driver monitoring device (100) for a vehicle (200), the device (100)
comprising:
a housing (1) connectable to a portion of a cabin (202) of the vehicle (200), the housing (1) being defined with a first portion (2) and a second portion (3);
at least two sensors (4a, 4b) disposable in a spaced apart configuration on the first portion (2) and the second portion (3), the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) are oriented to target a driver of the vehicle wherein, the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) are configured to detect and transmit at least one signal to sense a state of the driver (205), and
wherein the first portion (2) is oriented at an inclined angle with respect to
the second portion (3) for achieving an optimum field of view of the at least two
sensors (4a, 4b) of the driver.
2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is mounted on an A-pillar (203) of the vehicle (200).
3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprises a plurality of provisions (5) defined on the housing (1) for mounting the housing (1) on the A-pillar (203) by a plurality of fasteners.
4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is defined with at least two connecting flanges (6) extending perpendicular to each other from the housing (1).
5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein each connecting flange of the at least two connecting flanges (6) is defined with a locator cavity (6a) for alignment of the device (100) on the cabin.
6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises an electrical connector (7) defined externally on a portion of the housing (1) structured to allow wiring into the housing (1).
7. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) are communicatively coupled to a control unit and transmit the at least one signal to the control unit.

8. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a state of the driver based on the at least one signal and is configured to transmit at least one alert signal to alert the driver.
9. A vehicle (200), comprising:
a chassis;
a body defined over the chassis of the vehicle (200);
a cabin (202) defined within the body, wherein the cabin comprising an A-pillar (203); and
a modular driver monitoring device (100) mounted in the cabin (202), the device (100) comprising:
a housing (1) connectable to a portion of the cabin (202) of the vehicle (200), the
housing (1) being defined with a first portion (2) and a second portion (3);
at least two sensors (4a, 4b) disposable in a spaced apart configuration on the first portion (2) and the second portion (3), the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) are oriented to target a driver of the vehicle wherein, the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) is configured to detect and transmit at least one signal to sense a state of the driver (205), and
wherein the first portion (2) is oriented at an inclined angle with respect to the second portion (3) for achieving an optimum field of view of the at least two sensors (4a, 4b) of the driver.