DRIVER ALERTS

• US 20140159887A1
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Piasecki, Jeffrey S., Green, Charles A., Nachtegall, Debbie E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,045,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal

Abstract

A driver alert system includes a computer processor disposed in a vehicle. The computer processor is configured to receive driver attention data over a vehicle network during a driving event. The computer processor executes logic to process the driver attention data and evaluate the driver attention data for a triggering event. The system also includes a steering wheel unit disposed in the vehicle and lights that are integrated on a front windshield-facing surface of a steering wheel of the steering wheel unit. The lights are positioned at an angle to reflect light off of a front windshield of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller disposed in the steering wheel unit. The controller is communicatively coupled to the lights and the vehicle network. The controller receives a request from the computer processor to activate the lights when the triggering event has occurred.

Claims

1. A driver alert system for a vehicle, comprising:

a computer processor disposed in the vehicle, the computer processor configured to receive driver attention data over a vehicle network during a driving event;

logic executable by the computer processor to process the driver attention data and evaluate the driver attention data for a triggering event;

a steering wheel unit disposed the vehicle;

lights integrated on a front windshield-facing surface of a steering wheel of the steering wheel unit, the lights positioned at an angle to reflect light off of a front windshield of the vehicle; and

a controller disposed in the steering wheel unit, the controller communicatively coupled to the lights and the vehicle network, the controller receiving a request from the computer processor to activate the lights when the triggering event has occurred.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver attention data is received from a driver monitoring system disposed in the vehicle, and the driver attention data includes at least one of eye tracking data and head position data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a first light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 45 degree angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the steering wheel, a second light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 90 degree angle with respect to the horizontal axis, and a third light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 135 degree angle with respect to the horizontal axis.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to adjust an intensity level of the lights based on an ambient lighting condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to intermittently flash the lights on and off.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to monitor the driver attention data over a time period and to change a color of the lights when the driver attention data indicates continued distractibility of the driver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer processor forms part of an active safety electronic control unit of the vehicle.

8. A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving, via a computer processor disposed in the vehicle, driver attention data over a vehicle network during a driving event;

upon determining an occurrence of a triggering event from the driver attention data, sending a request to a controller to activate lights configured to alert an operator of the vehicle, the lights integrated on a front windshield-facing surface of a steering wheel, the lights positioned at an angle to reflect light off of a front windshield of the vehicle and toward the operator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the driver attention data is received from a driver monitoring system disposed in the vehicle, and the driver attention data includes at least one of eye tracking data and head position data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a first light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 45 degree angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the steering wheel, a second light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 90 degree angle with respect to the horizontal axis, and a third light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 135 degree angle with respect to the horizontal axis.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

adjusting an intensity level of the lights based on an ambient lighting condition.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

intermittently flash the lights on and off.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring the driver attention data over a time period and changing a color of the lights when the driver attention data indicates continued distractibility of the operator.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer processor forms part of an active safety electronic control unit of the vehicle.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon, which when executed by a computer processor disposed in a vehicle, causes the computer processor to implement a method, the method including:

receiving driver attention data over a vehicle network during a driving event;

upon determining an occurrence of a triggering event from the driver attention data, sending a request to a controller to activate lights configured to alert an operator of the vehicle, the lights integrated on a front windshield-facing surface of a steering wheel, the lights positioned at an angle to reflect light off of a front windshield of the vehicle and toward the operator.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the driver attention data is received from a driver monitoring system disposed in the vehicle, and the driver attention data includes at least one of eye tracking data and head position data.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein a first light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 45 degree angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the steering wheel, a second light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 90 degree angle with respect to the horizontal axis, and a third light of the lights is disposed substantially at a 135 degree angle with respect to the horizontal axis.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

adjusting an intensity level of the lights based on an ambient lighting condition.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

intermittently flash the lights on and off.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the driver attention data over a time period and changing a color of the lights when the driver attention data indicates continued distractibility of the operator.