User recognition and confirmation device and method, and central control system for vehicles using the same

Abstract

A user recognition and confirmation device includes an image sensing unit, a face recognition unit, a display unit and an expression recognition unit. The image sensing unit captures a first image frame and a second image frame. The face recognition unit is configured to recognize a user ID according to the first image frame. The display unit is configured to show ID information of the user ID. The expression recognition unit is configured to confirm a user expression according to the second image frame and output a confirm signal. There is further provided a user recognition and confirmation method and a central control system for vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A user recognition and confirmation device, comprising:
 an image sensing unit configured to capture a first image frame and a second image frame;   a face recognition unit configured to recognize a user ID according to the first image frame;   a display unit configured to show ID information of the user ID; and   an expression recognition unit configured to confirm a user expression according to the second image frame and output a confirm signal.   
     
     
         2 . The user recognition and confirmation device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit configured to save ID information of at least one user and expression data associated with the user expression. 
     
     
         3 . The user recognition and confirmation device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to control a setting of at least one electronic device according to the confirm signal. 
     
     
         4 . The user recognition and confirmation device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the setting is associated with the user ID. 
     
     
         5 . The user recognition and confirmation device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a storage unit configured to save the setting. 
     
     
         6 . The user recognition and confirmation device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the image sensing unit captures the second image frame after the display unit shows the ID information. 
     
     
         7 . The user recognition and confirmation device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the face recognition unit is further configured to identify whether there is a user existing in the first image frame. 
     
     
         8 . The user recognition and confirmation device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the face recognition unit is further configured to identify a user to be recognized within a plurality of users in the first image frame. 
     
     
         9 . A central control system for vehicles, comprising:
 an image sensing unit configured to capture a first image frame and a second image frame;   a face recognition unit configured to recognize a user ID according to the first image frame;   a display unit configured to show ID information of the user ID;   an expression recognition unit configured to confirm a user expression according to the second image frame and output a confirm signal; and   a control unit configured to read a driver setting associated with the user ID according to the confirm signal.   
     
     
         10 . The central control system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the image sensing unit is disposed opposite to a driver seat. 
     
     
         11 . The central control system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the driver setting comprises at least one of a seat position, a mirror angle, an air conditioner temperature, an audio setting, a steering wheel height, a light setting and a GPS setting. 
     
     
         12 . The central control system as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a storage unit configured to save ID information of at least one user, expression data associated with the user expression and the driver setting. 
     
     
         13 . The central control system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the image sensing unit captures the second image frame after the display unit shows the ID information. 
     
     
         14 . The central control system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the face recognition unit is further configured to identify whether there is a user existing in the first image frame. 
     
     
         15 . The central control system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the face recognition unit is further configured to identify a user to be recognized within a plurality of users in the first image frame. 
     
     
         16 . The central control system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the display unit shows the ID information through at least one of a screen and a sound. 
     
     
         17 . A user recognition and confirmation method, comprising:
 capturing a first image frame with an image sensing unit;   recognizing a user ID according to the first image frame;   showing ID information of the user ID with a display unit;   capturing a second image frame with the image sensing unit;   confirming a user expression according to the second image frame and generating a confirm signal; and   controlling at least one electronic device according to the confirm signal.   
     
     
         18 . The user recognition and confirmation method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a seat, a mirror, an air conditioner, an audio equipment, a steering wheel, a light and a GPS system. 
     
     
         19 . The user recognition and confirmation method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising at least one of:
 identifying whether there is a user in the first image frame; and   identifying a user to be recognized within a plurality of users in the first image frame.   
     
     
         20 . The user recognition and confirmation method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 capturing a third image frame with the image sensing unit;   confirming a user expression according to the third image frame and generating a saving signal; and   updating setting information of the at least one electronic device according to the saving signal.