Doze alarm for driver using enclosed air sound sensor

• US 20040061615A1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M.I. Laboratories Corporation
• Original Assignee: M.I. Laboratories Corporation
• Inventors: Takashima, Mitsuru
• Granted Patent: US 7,015,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A closed pneumatic sound sensor is incorporated in a driver'"'"'s seat and catches a signal representative of a movement of the body of the driver, and a continuation time period within which the level of the signal does not reach a fixed level is detected.

Simultaneously, a signal which is generated only when the vehicle is running is caught from the vehicle, and the two signals are compared with each other by an arithmetic operation circuit. Only when both of the signals are present and a particular tendency appears in the continuation time period of the signal representative of a movement of the body, an alarm is generated.

A less expensive doze-at-the-wheel alarming apparatus which does not require cumbersome mounting and does not operate when the vehicle is not running is provided.

Claims

1. A driver'"'"'s doze alarming apparatus, wherein

a closed pneumatic sound sensor wherein one, two or more non-directional microphones or pressure sensors are enclosed in the inside of a closed airbag or closed cabinet made of an airtight flexible material and output signals of said non-directional microphones or pressure sensors are extracted to the outside through leads, is attached to a portion of a driver'"'"'s seat of a vehicle to which a physical pressure of a driver is applied, and

a signal representative of a physical movement involved in a driving operation of the driver and a signal generated upon running of the vehicle are separated and extracted from an output signal or signals of said closed pneumatic sound sensor, whereafter

a (driving consciousness decline) state wherein the signal generated upon running of the vehicle is present and a variation of the signal representative of the physical movement almost disappears is detected and

an alarm unit is rendered operating.

5. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing material of an elastic body is provided in the inside of the closed airbag or closed cabinet made of the airtight flexible material.

9. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of closed pneumatic sound sensors are used.

2. A driver'"'"'s doze alarming apparatus, wherein

a closed pneumatic sound sensor wherein an internal air pressure of a closed airbag or closed cabinet made of an airtight flexible material is introduced to an external non-directional microphone or pressure sensor and an output signal of said non-directional microphone or pressure sensor is extracted, is attached to a portion of a driver'"'"'s seat of a vehicle to which a physical pressure of a driver is applied, and

a signal representative of a physical movement involved in a driving operation of the driver and a signal generated upon running of the vehicle are separated and extracted from an output signal or signals of said closed pneumatic sound sensor, whereafter

a (driving consciousness decline) state wherein the signal generated upon running of the vehicle is present and a variation of the signal representative of the physical movement almost disappears is detected and

an alarm unit is rendered operating.

6. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 2, wherein a reinforcing material of an elastic body is provided in the inside of the-closed airbag or closed cabinet made of the airtight flexible material.

10. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of closed pneumatic sound sensors are used.

3. A driver'"'"'s doze alarming apparatus, wherein

a closed pneumatic sound sensor wherein one, two or more non-directional microphones or pressure sensors are enclosed in the inside of a closed airbag or closed cabinet made of an airtight flexible material and output signals of said non-directional microphones or pressure sensors are extracted to the outside through leads, is attached to a portion of a driver'"'"'s seat of a vehicle to which a physical pressure of a driver is applied, and

a signal representative of a physical movement of a driver involved in a driving operation of the driver is extracted from said closed pneumatic sound sensor and simultaneously a signal generated upon running of a vehicle is extracted from a body of the vehicle, whereafter

a (driving consciousness decline) state wherein the signal generated upon running of the vehicle is present and a variation of the signal representative of the physical movement almost disappears is detected and

an alarm unit is rendered operating.

7. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 3, wherein a reinforcing material of an elastic body is provided in the inside of the closed airbag or closed cabinet made of the airtight flexible material.

11. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of closed pneumatic sound sensors are used.

4. A driver'"'"'s doze alarming apparatus, wherein

a closed pneumatic sound sensor wherein an internal air pressure of a closed airbag or closed cabinet made of an airtight flexible material is introduced to an external non-directional microphone or pressure sensor and an output signal of said non-directional microphone or pressure sensor is extracted, is attached to a portion of a driver'"'"'s seat of a vehicle to which a physical pressure of a driver is applied, and

a signal representative of a physical movement of a driver involved in a driving operation of the driver is extracted from said closed pneumatic sound sensor and simultaneously a signal generated upon running of a vehicle is extracted from a body of the vehicle, whereafter

a (driving consciousness decline) state wherein the signal generated upon running of the vehicle is present and a variation of the signal representative of the physical movement almost disappears is detected and

an alarm unit is rendered operating.

8. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 4, wherein a reinforcing material of an elastic body is provided in the inside of the closed airbag or closed cabinet made of the airtight flexible material.

12. A driver'"'"'s doze alarm according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of closed pneumatic sound sensors are used.