Mobile Sleep Detection Method and System

• US 20120286957A1
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joshua A. Grauman, Kevin Chavez, Ross Simpson, Stephen Frechette
• Original Assignee: Joshua A. Grauman, Kevin Chavez, Ross Simpson, Stephen Frechette
• Inventors: Frechette, Stephen, Simpson, Ross, Grauman, Joshua A., Chavez, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/471,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286957A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

The method and system of this invention is an improvement invention on a system that detects when an operator of a vehicle falls asleep, through the use of a digital video camera. The system is automatically disabled and no alarm sounds if the vehicle is not in motion.

Claims

1. Conventional and known machine/vehicle operator sleep detectors;

wherein the improvement comprises the following steps;

an automatic prevention of activation of the audible alarm of a vehicle operator sleep detection system if the vehicle is not in motion as determined by components that do not receive any information from the vehicle'"'"'s electronics;

an automatic deactivation of the audible alarm of a vehicle operator sleep detection system if the vehicle ceases motion as determined by components that do not receive any information from the vehicle'"'"'s electronics.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the step of sensing no motion, and prevents alarm activation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the step of sensing motion via an Inertial Measurement Unite (IMU) motion sensing mechanism 180 that automatically prevents alarm activation while the vehicle is not in motion.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the step of sensing motion via an inertial-based electromechanical motion sensing mechanism 180 that automatically prevents alarm activation while the vehicle is not in motion.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the step of sensing motion via a Global Positioning System (GPS) based motion sensing mechanism 180 that automatically prevents alarm activation while the vehicle is not in motion.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the entire system is encompassed within a mobile communication terminal, i.e., cellular camera-phone that contains the following:

a digital video camera,

a speaker or ringer or buzzer,

wherein the improvement comprises the following step;

a motion sensing mechanism, whether IMU-based or GPS-based, automatically prevents alarm activation while the vehicle is not in motion.

7. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the computer readable software instructions that are capable of detection of a sleeping driver;

wherein the improvement comprises the following step;

the mechanisms for the sensing of motion and automatic prevention of alarm activation, while the vehicle is not in motion, are fully encompassed within a mobile device.