Systems, Apparatuses And Methods For Monitoring Physical Conditions Of A Vehicle Driver

• US 20090174560A1
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zhao, Weidong, Sundaram, Senthilnathan, Ahmad, Fawad, Driver, Tushad
• Application Number:
  US11/968,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• 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

Embodiments of the present technology provide apparatuses, systems and methods for monitoring physical conditions of a vehicle driver.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring physical conditions of a vehicle driver comprising:

a vehicle control having embedded touch sensors wherein said touch sensors detect parameters dealing with a vehicle driver'"'"'s physical condition;

a receiver wherein said receiver monitors said detected parameters from said touch sensors for a presence of an alert event related to said vehicle driver'"'"'s physical condition;

a transmitter wherein said transmitter receives said presence of alert events from said receiver and transmits said presence of alert events; and

a response device wherein said response device receives said presence of alert events and provides a response to said alert events.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle control is a steering wheel.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is an automobile.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said touch sensors are hand pulse sensors.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said alert event is a drop in pulse rate.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said alert events are user programmable.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said response is an event directed towards getting the driver'"'"'s attention.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said response is alerting and Emergency Response System.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said response includes alerting said Emergency Response System of the vehicle'"'"'s location.

10. A system for monitoring physical conditions of a vehicle driver comprising:

a steering wheel having embedded hand pulse sensors wherein said hand pulse sensors detect the vehicle driver'"'"'s pulse rate;

a receiver wherein said receiver monitors said vehicle driver'"'"'s pulse rate for a change in said pulse rate;

a transmitter wherein said transmitter receives said change in said pulse rate from said receiver and transmits said change in said pulse rate; and

a response device wherein said response device receives said change in said pulse rate and provides a response to said change in said pulse rate.

11. A method of monitoring physical conditions of a vehicle driver comprising:

detecting parameters dealing with a vehicle driver'"'"'s physical condition using touch sensors embedded in a vehicle control;

monitoring said detected parameters for a presence of alert events in said detected parameters based on said vehicle driver'"'"'s physical condition;

transmitting said presence of alert events to a response device; and

triggering a response event using said response device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps are performed sequentially.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said vehicle control is a steering wheel.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said vehicle is an automobile.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said touch sensors are hand pulse sensors.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said alert event is a drop in pulse rate.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said alert events are user programmable.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said response is an event directed towards getting the driver'"'"'s attention.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said response is alerting and Emergency Response System.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said response includes alerting said Emergency Response System of the vehicle'"'"'s location.