Method and Device for Fatigue Detection

• US 20130166217A1
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Bogner, Nico
• Granted Patent: US 10,086,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0029 Mathematical model of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload

Abstract

In a method for detecting driver fatigue in a vehicle having a memory device in which a fatigue model is stored, a sensor which detects at least one activity of the driver, and a sensor which detects the ambient brightness, the activity information is analyzed in the fatigue model and the brightness information is used for weighting the model.

Claims

1. A method for detecting driver fatigue in a vehicle including a memory device in which a fatigue model is stored, a sensor adapted to detect at least one activity of a driver, and a sensor adapted to detect ambient brightness, comprising:

analyzing activity information in the fatigue model; and

weighting the model in accordance with brightness information is used for weighting the model.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting the activity of the driver by a steering motion.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting the activity of the driver by a camera.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the model for fatigue detection includes at least one vehicle-specific parameter.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying information on a display if fatigue is detected.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising weighting the model in accordance with outside temperature.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising weighting the model in accordance with a difference between outside temperature and inside temperature.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor adapted to detect ambient brightness is arranged in a vehicle interior.

9. A method for detecting driver fatigue in a vehicle including a memory device in which a fatigue model is stored, comprising:

detecting activity information relating to at least one activity of a driver;

detecting ambient brightness to obtain brightness information;

analyzing activity information in the fatigue model; and

weighting the model in accordance with the brightness information is used for weighting the model.

10. A device for fatigue detection of a driver in a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor adapted to determine an activity by the driver;

a sensor adapted to determine brightness in an environment of the vehicle; and

a computing device adapted to store a model and to determine fatigue in accordance with the model and in accordance with activity information and brightness information.

11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a display adapted to display fatigue information.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the sensor adapted to determine activity of the driver includes a steering sensor.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the sensor adapted to determine activity of the driver includes a camera inside the vehicle.

14. A method for fatigue detection in a vehicle, comprising

weighting an algorithm for determining driver fatigue in accordance with information of a brightness sensor.