SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AROUSING A DROWSY DRIVER WITHOUT DROWSINESS DETECTION
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for preventing drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle having a memory and a processor to execute steps comprising:
- determining a configuration for a thermal grill corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the determining including;
configuring at least one warm region to a first temperature,configuring at least one cool region to a second temperature, andreceiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver;
storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and
configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for preventing drowsiness in a driver by employing a thermal grill that includes warm and cool regions. The system includes a threshold determination module and a configuration module. The threshold determination module determines temperatures for warm and cool regions corresponding to a level below the driver'"'"'s pain threshold. The warm and cool regions configured at these determined temperatures do not cause an uncomfortable sensation for an alert driver. Accordingly, the configuration module configures the thermal grill to these determined temperatures. As the driver gets drowsy, the driver'"'"'s pain threshold falls, the configured thermal grill causes an uncomfortable sensation for the driver and alerts the driver.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for preventing drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle having a memory and a processor to execute steps comprising:
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determining a configuration for a thermal grill corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the determining including; configuring at least one warm region to a first temperature, configuring at least one cool region to a second temperature, and receiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver; storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product for preventing drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium including computer program code for:
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determining a configuration for a thermal grill corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the determining including; configuring at least one warm region to a first temperature, configuring at least one cool region to a second temperature, and receiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver; storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system for preventing drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle, the computer system having a processor and a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium including computer program code for:
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determining a configuration for a thermal grill corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the determining including; configuring at least one warm region to a first temperature, configuring at least one cool region to a second temperature, and receiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver; storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification