Driver fatigue detector with automatic deactivation
First Claim
1. A device for alerting a driver of a motorized vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, characterized by eyelid droop, head droop and a like condition wherein the eyes of a driver are not directed straight ahead onto the road, said device comprising:
- an indicator lamp affixed to a part of the vehicle located in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, so as to be viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, an electrical control circuit for controlling illumination of said indicator lamp so as to provide illumination thereof after passage of a predetermined time interval, a driver controlled reset switch for providing resetting of said time interval upon depression thereof by the driver;
alarm means for producing an alarm signal when said indicator lamp has been illuminated after the passage of said predetermined time interval and said reset switch has not been depressed after passage of a further predetermined time period, and automatic control means for sensing a characteristic of a parameter related to vehicle operation and for preventing illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said characteristic.
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Abstract
A device is provided for alerting a driver of an automotive vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, characterized by eyelid droop, head droop and a like condition wherein the eyes of the driver are not directed straight ahead onto the road. The device includes an indicator light, preferably an LED, which is viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver. A control circuit controls the LED so as to provide illumination thereof after a predetermined time interval. A reset pushbutton, when depressed, provides resetting of the time interval. An alarm sounds when the LED has been illuminated after the passage of the predetermined time interval. The device is automatically deactivated (or, reset) when, e.g., the brakes are applied or the engine speed drops to a low value. The device is automatically activated when the engine is turned on or, e.g., when the vehicle speed or other parameter reaches a predetermined value.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for alerting a driver of a motorized vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, characterized by eyelid droop, head droop and a like condition wherein the eyes of a driver are not directed straight ahead onto the road, said device comprising:
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an indicator lamp affixed to a part of the vehicle located in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, so as to be viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, an electrical control circuit for controlling illumination of said indicator lamp so as to provide illumination thereof after passage of a predetermined time interval, a driver controlled reset switch for providing resetting of said time interval upon depression thereof by the driver;
alarm means for producing an alarm signal when said indicator lamp has been illuminated after the passage of said predetermined time interval and said reset switch has not been depressed after passage of a further predetermined time period, and automatic control means for sensing a characteristic of a parameter related to vehicle operation and for preventing illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for alerting a driver of a motorized vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, said device comprising:
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an indicator lamp affixed to a part of the vehicle located in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, so as to be viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, an electrical control circuit for controlling illumination of said indicator lamp so as to provide illumination thereof after passage of a predetermined time interval, a driver controlled reset switch for providing resetting of said time interval upon depression thereof by the driver;
alarm means for producing an alarm signal when said indicator lamp has been illuminated after the passage of said predetermined time interval and said reset switch has not been depressed after passage of a further predetermined time period, automatic deactivation means for sensing a first characteristic of a first parameter related to vehicle operation and for deactivating said control circuit so as to prevent illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said characteristic; and
automatic activation means for sensing a further characteristic of a parameter related to vehicle operation and for activating said control circuit so as to enable illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said further characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification