SAFETY SYSTEM TO PREVENT OR DECREASE DISTRACTED DRIVING CAUSED BY THE USE OF A CELL PHONE IN A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An apparatus to prevent distracted driving of a vehicle due to use of a cell phone, said apparatus comprising:
- a cell phone holder adapted to hold a cell phone in a position such that its keyboard cannot be accessed;
a registration system for registering a cell phone with said apparatus;
a short range detector for detecting whether or not said registered cell phone is located in said cell phone holder; and
a vehicle enabling/disabling circuit, responsive to said short range detector, for preventing said vehicle from being operated if said registered cell phone is not located in said cell phone holder and for enabling operation of said vehicle if said registered cell phone is in said cell phone holder.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus to prevent distracted driving of a vehicle due to use of a cell phone includes: a cell phone holder adapted to hold a cell phone in a position such that its buttons, keyboard, or touchscreen cannot be accessed; a registration system for registering a cell phone with the apparatus; a short range detector for detecting whether or not the registered cell phone is located in the cell phone holder; and a vehicle enabling/disabling circuit, responsive to the short range detector, for preventing the vehicle from being operated if the registered cell phone is not located in the cell phone holder and for enabling operation of the vehicle if the registered cell phone is in the cell phone holder.
17 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An apparatus to prevent distracted driving of a vehicle due to use of a cell phone, said apparatus comprising:
-
a cell phone holder adapted to hold a cell phone in a position such that its keyboard cannot be accessed; a registration system for registering a cell phone with said apparatus; a short range detector for detecting whether or not said registered cell phone is located in said cell phone holder; and a vehicle enabling/disabling circuit, responsive to said short range detector, for preventing said vehicle from being operated if said registered cell phone is not located in said cell phone holder and for enabling operation of said vehicle if said registered cell phone is in said cell phone holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of preventing distracted driving of a vehicle due to use of a cell phone, said method comprising:
-
providing a cell phone holder for preventing physical access to at least a portion of the controls of a cell phone; and preventing operation of said vehicle unless said cell phone is in said cell phone holder and said physical access is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A system comprising:
-
a vehicle control system for preventing operation of a vehicle unless a cell phone having a unique identification is physically inaccessible; and a cell phone having said unique identification.
-
Specification