DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION AND VERIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A steering wheel for detecting and verifying drowsiness in a driver, the wheel comprising:
- at least one stimulus annunciator configured to present, upon activation, at least a first stimulus to the driver;
a sensor array to generate a touch signal to indicate a first grip pressure the driver exerts on the wheel at a first grip location on the wheel; and
an electronic module including;
a stimulus annunciator driver to generate a stimulus signal indicative of a stimulus annunciator onset time indicating the moment the stimulus annunciator provided the first stimulus to the driver;
a touch sensor interface to receive the touch signal from the sensor array and, in response thereto to generate a response signal indicative of a response onset time; and
a processor to determine;
a time interval between the stimulus annunciator onset time and the response onset time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and steering wheel for determining and verifying a state of driver alertness includes receiving a response at a steering wheel. The method includes selectively energizing at least one stimulus annunciator in the wheel in order to present a first stimulus to a driver. A processor in the wheel generates a signal indicative of a stimulus annunciator onset time indicating the moment the stimulus annunciator provided the first stimulus to the driver. A sensor array arranged on the wheel responds to a first grip pressure the driver exerts at a first grip location on the wheel. The processor generates a response signal indicative of a response onset time. The processor calculates a time interval between the stimulus annunciator onset time and the response onset time.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A steering wheel for detecting and verifying drowsiness in a driver, the wheel comprising:
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at least one stimulus annunciator configured to present, upon activation, at least a first stimulus to the driver; a sensor array to generate a touch signal to indicate a first grip pressure the driver exerts on the wheel at a first grip location on the wheel; and an electronic module including; a stimulus annunciator driver to generate a stimulus signal indicative of a stimulus annunciator onset time indicating the moment the stimulus annunciator provided the first stimulus to the driver; a touch sensor interface to receive the touch signal from the sensor array and, in response thereto to generate a response signal indicative of a response onset time; and a processor to determine; a time interval between the stimulus annunciator onset time and the response onset time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining and verifying a state of driver alertness by receiving a response at a steering wheel, the method comprising:
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selectively energizing at least one stimulus annunciator the wheel comprises to present a first stimulus to a driver; generating a signal indicative of a stimulus annunciator onset time indicating the moment the stimulus annunciator provided the first stimulus to the driver; receiving, at a sensor array the wheel comprises, a first grip pressure the driver exerts at a first grip location on the wheel; generating a response signal indicative of a response onset time; calculating, at a processor, a time interval between the stimulus annunciator onset time and the response onset time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for the study of drowsiness using a stimulus and measuring a response through interaction with a steering wheel, the method comprising:
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providing a driver-sensed stimulus from a group of stimuli from a group consisting of lighting a display, generating a sound, or vibrating the steering wheel; receiving a response from the driver to the stimulus at a sensor array arranged on the steering wheel; calculating an interval between the steps of providing a driver-sensed stimulus and receiving a response from the driver to the stimulus, the interval being used to measure attention to the driving task. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification