Vigilance monitoring system

• US 20040044293A1
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compumedics Limited
• Original Assignee: Compumedics Limited
• Inventors: Burton, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0083 especially for waking up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/14 Electro-oculogram [EOG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/46 by self learning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/02 Dead-man's devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/14 operated upon collapse of driver deadman's devices for electrically propelled vehicles B60L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a system and method of monitoring the alertness or wakefulness of a driver. The monitored parameters include cardiac, respiratory and movement parameters. Sensors are located in various locations of the driver side section to detect the vigilance of a driver. These sensors include pressure sensors embedded in the seat and pedals, and a head band for monitoring EEG, EMG and EOG signals.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining a vigilance state of a subject such as a driver of a vehicle or the like, said apparatus including:

means for monitoring one or more physiological variables associated with said subject;

means for deriving from said one or more variables data representing physiological states of said subject corresponding to the or each variable; and

means for determining from said data when the vigilance state of said subject is below a predetermined threshold.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said physiological variables include body movement and/or position, EEG, EMG &

EOG signals, electrical skin resistance and eye and head movement and/or position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said monitoring means includes at least one sensor placed on the subject or a zone associated with the vehicle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the or each sensor includes CSD or PVDF material.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sensor material is placed on a steering wheel, seat, seat belt and/or pedals of the vehicle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the pedals include an accelerator, clutch and brake pedals of the vehicle.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for deriving and said means for determining is provided via digital processing means.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said determining means includes a vigilance algorithm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said vigilance algorithm is adapted to correlate said data and/or apply combinational logic to said data to detect patterns in said data which are associated with a vigilance state of the subject that is below said predetermined threshold.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said algorithm incorporates one or more look up tables including reference movement data and default states associated with vigilance states that are above and below said predetermined threshold.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said algorithm is adapted to determine a vigilance probability factor as a function of weighted movement data values.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including means for intervening with the control of the vehicle and/or alerting the subject, in the event that the vigilance state of said subject is below said predetermined threshold.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for intervening includes controlled application of brakes, cutting-off fuel supply and/or disabling the accelerator pedal of said vehicle.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for alerting includes at least one of a spray designed to stimulate the subject, vibrating a steering wheel, seat belt or floor area associated with the vehicle;

an audible alarm and/or switching of bright lights in the cabin of the vehicle, and flashing hazard lights and/or sounding of an audible alarm such as siren or horn.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for intervening is interfaced to a remote monitoring station via a wireless communication system.

16. A method for determining a vigilance state of a subject such as a driver of a vehicle or the like, said method including the steps of:

monitoring one or more physiological variables associated with said subject;

deriving from said one or more physiological variables data representing physiological states of said subject corresponding to the or each variable; and

determining from said data when the vigilance state of said subject is below a predetermined threshold.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said physiological variables include body movement and/or position, EEG, EMG &

EOG signals, electrical skin resistance and eye and head movement and/or position.

18. A method according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein said step of monitoring includes placing at least one sensor on the subject or a zone associated with the vehicle.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the or each sensor includes CSD or PVDF material.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the sensor material is placed on a steering wheel, seat, seat belt and/or pedals of the vehicle.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the pedals include an accelerator, clutch and brake pedals of the vehicle.

22. A method according to claim 16 wherein at least one of said step of deriving and said step of determining is performed via digital processing means.

23. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 22 wherein said step of determining is performed via a vigilance algorithm.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said vigilance algorithm is adapted to correlate said data and/or apply combinational logic to said data to detect patterns in said data which are associated with a vigilance state of the subject that is below said predetermined threshold.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said algorithm incorporates one or more look up tables including reference movement data and default states associated with vigilance states that are above and below said predetermined threshold.

26. A method according to claim 23 wherein said algorithm is adapted to determine a vigilance probability factor as a function of weighted movement data values.

27. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 26 including the step of intervening with the control of the vehicle and/or alerting the subject, in the event that the vigilance state of said subject is below said predetermined threshold.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of intervening includes controlled application of brakes, cutting-off fuel supply and/or disabling the accelerator pedal of said vehicle.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of alerting includes at least one of applying a spray designed to stimulate the subject, vibrating a steering wheel, seat belt or floor area associated with the vehicle;

activating an audible alarm and/or switching of bright lights in the cabin of the vehicle, and flashing hazard lights and/or sounding of an audible alarm such as siren or horn.

30. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of intervening includes interfacing to a remote monitoring station via a wireless communication system.

31. Apparatus for determining vigilance state of a subject substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

32. A method for determining a vigilance state of a subject substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.