METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING OPERATOR ALERTNESS

• US 20080231461A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Sanchez, Julian, Duncan, Jerry Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,652,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A method and system for maintaining operator alertness comprises a detector for detecting a physical status of an operator. The physical status indicates a first level of operator alertness. A user interface requests a second level of operator alertness from a self-evaluation of the operator at a request time. An evaluator measures at least one of an accuracy of the operator response to the requested input and a response time of the operator from the request time. An alert module generates alarm data or an alarm signal to alert the operator based on the first level of operator alertness indicating an inattentive state and at least one of the measured accuracy and operator response time indicating the inattentive state.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining operator alertness, the method comprising:

detecting a physical status of an operator, the physical status indicating a first level of operator alertness;

requesting input of an operator at a request time;

measuring at least one of an accuracy of the operator response to the requested input and a response time of the operator from the request time; and

generating alarm data or an alarm signal to alert an operator based on the first level of operator alertness indicating an inattentive state and at least one of the measured accuracy and operator response time indicating the inattentive state.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the detecting the physical status of an operator comprises monitoring an eye status or blink rate of the operator.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the detecting the physical status of an operator comprises monitoring a tilt of the head of the operator to determine if the head exceeds a critical angle with respect to a reference angle.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the requesting comprises asking the operator to answer at least one of a mathematical, verbal or trivia question.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the requesting comprises asking the operator to place a finger of the operator on a target area of a touch screen display.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the requesting comprises input of a second level of operator alertness from a self-evaluation of the operator.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the generating comprises generating the alarm data or alarm signal based on the first level of operator alertness, the second level of operator alertness, and at least one of the measured accuracy and operator response time indicating the inattentive state.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining if the first level of operator alertness is consistent with the second level of operator alertness; and

increasing the frequency of the request for input of a second level of operator alertness if the first level is inconsistent with the second level.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the generating comprises increasing at least one of an intensity of the alarm commensurate with an aggregate decrease in the first level of operator alertness and the second level of operator alertness.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the detecting the physical status of an operator comprises monitoring an eye status of the operator and assigning a first level of alertness or inattentiveness associated with the eye status if the eye status indicates the operator is inattentive.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the detecting the physical status of an operator comprises monitoring an orientation or movement of the head of the operator and assigning a first level of alertness or inattentiveness associated with the orientation or movement if it indicates the operator is inattentive.

12. A system for maintaining operator alertness, the system comprising:

a detector for detecting a physical status of an operator, the physical status indicating a first level of operator alertness;

a user interface for requesting input of the operator at a request time;

an evaluator for measuring at least one of an accuracy of the operator response to the requested input and a response time of the operator from the request time; and

an alert module for responding with an alarm to alert the operator based on the first level of operator alertness indicating an inattentive state and at least one of the measured accuracy and operator response time indicating the inattentive state.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the detector comprises an eye monitoring device for monitoring an eye status or blink rate of the operator.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein the detector comprises an imaging system for monitoring a tilt of the head of the operator to determine if the head exceeds a critical angle with respect to a reference angle.

15. The system according to claim 12 wherein the user interface is arranged to ask the operator to answer at least one of a mathematical, verbal or trivia question.

16. The system according to claim 12 wherein the user interface is arranged to ask the operator to place the operator'"'"'s finger on a target area of a touch screen display.

17. The system according to claim 12 wherein the user interface is arranged to accept an input of a second level of operator alertness from a self-evaluation of the operator.

18. The system according to claim 12 further comprising:

a data processor for determining if the first level of operator alertness is consistent with the second level of operator alertness;

the alert module increasing the frequency of the request for input of a second level of operator alertness if the first level is inconsistent with the second level.

19. The system according to claim 12 wherein the alert module is arranged to increase at least one of an intensity of the alarm commensurate with an aggregate decrease in the first level of operator alertness and the second level of operator alertness.

20. A method for maintaining operator alertness, the method comprising:

detecting a physical status of an operator, the physical status indicating a first level of operator alertness;

assigning a first weighting factor for the first level;

requesting input of an operator at a request time, the input indicating a second level of operator alertness from a self-evaluation of the operator at the request time;

assigning a second weighting factor for the second level;

assigning a third level of operator alertness based on a measurement of at least one of an accuracy of the operator response to the requested input and a response time of the operator from the request time;

assigning a third weighting factor for the third level;

determining a composite operator alertness score based on the first level, the second level, the third level and their respective weighting factors.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising:

generating alarm data or an alarm signal to alert an operator based on the composite operator alertness score.

22. The method according to claim 20 further comprising:

adjusting a respective intensity or frequency of an alert device based on a corresponding composite operator alertness score.

23. The method according to claim 20 wherein the composite operator score is determined in accordance with the following equation:

S=AX+BY+CZ, where S is the composite operator score, A is the first weighting factor, X is a first numerical rating associated with the first level, B is the second weighting factor, Y is a second numerical rating associated with the second level, C is the third weighting factor, and Z is a third numerical rating associated with the third level.