DRIVER INATTENTION DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY
First Claim
1. A driver inattention detection system comprising:
- a rotary encoder operably associated with a steering column of a vehicle, said rotary encoder being configured to produce steering signals representing at least one of the magnitude and direction of rotation of the steering column;
a control module operably coupled to the rotary encoder and configured to receive said steering signals, determine a steering count and determine if a driver inattention condition exists, said driver inattention condition comprising a steering count below a determined minimum threshold steering count;
a first alarm module operably coupled to said control module, said first alarm module being configured to generate an alarm output perceptible to the driver upon receiving an alarm activation signal;
wherein said control module is configured to generate and communicate a first alarm activation signal to said first alarm module if the control module determines that a driver inattention condition exists.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A driver inattention detection system includes a rotary encoder (e.g., an optical rotary encoder) operably associated with a steering column of a vehicle and configured to produce steering signals representing the magnitude and direction of rotation of the steering column. A drive wheel concentrically coupled to the rotatable shaft of the encoder has a knurled peripheral edge that frictionally engages the steering column or a frictional band surrounding a portion of the steering column. A control module determines a steering count and if a driver inattention condition exists. The driver inattention condition exists if the vehicle is traveling above a minimum speed, and there has been no recent braking activity, and the active steering count is below a determined minimum threshold steering count. Separate first and second alarm modules operably coupled to the control module may be independently activated in a progressive manner. All sensed conditions and responses may be logged. The encoder may be calibrated to accurately indicate steering action. The system may be calibrated to determine an appropriate minimum steering count for a determined time period for the particular vehicle. Cruise control is disabled if a driver inattention condition persists after alarm activation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A driver inattention detection system comprising:
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a rotary encoder operably associated with a steering column of a vehicle, said rotary encoder being configured to produce steering signals representing at least one of the magnitude and direction of rotation of the steering column; a control module operably coupled to the rotary encoder and configured to receive said steering signals, determine a steering count and determine if a driver inattention condition exists, said driver inattention condition comprising a steering count below a determined minimum threshold steering count; a first alarm module operably coupled to said control module, said first alarm module being configured to generate an alarm output perceptible to the driver upon receiving an alarm activation signal; wherein said control module is configured to generate and communicate a first alarm activation signal to said first alarm module if the control module determines that a driver inattention condition exists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for driver inattention detection comprising:
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using an adjustable low pass filter, calibrating a rotary encoder operably associated with a steering column of a vehicle, said calibrated rotary encoder producing steering signals representing the magnitude and direction of rotation of the steering column; determining a minimum threshold steering count in a determined time period during a calibration run; determining an active steering count representing steering system activity during driving; determining if a driver inattention condition exists, said driver inattention condition comprising an active steering count below the determined minimum threshold steering count; and activating a first alarm perceptible to a driver upon determining that a driver inattention condition exists.
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17. A method for driver inattention detection as in step 16, wherein said driver inattention condition comprises an active steering count below the determined minimum threshold steering count and the absence of braking activity over a determined period of time preceding the step of determining if a driver inattention condition exists.
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18. A method for driver inattention detection as in step 16, wherein said driver inattention condition comprises an active steering count below the determined minimum threshold steering count while the vehicle travels at a minimum threshold speed determined during a period of time preceding the step of determining if a driver inattention condition exists.
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19. A method for driver inattention detection as in step 16, further comprising activating a second alarm perceptible to a driver upon determining that a driver inattention condition persists for a determined time after activating the first alarm.
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20. A method for driver inattention detection as in step 19, further comprising disabling a cruise control module upon determining that a driver inattention condition persists for a determined time after activating the second alarm.
Specification