A Driver Drowsiness Detection and Alerting System

• US 20160328942A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Demerstee Transport Solutions BVBA
• Original Assignee: Demerstee Transport Solutions BVBA
• Inventors: Van Winckel, Ronald, Van Winckel, Jelle, Dietvorst, Thomas, Van De Casseye, Rohny, Convents, Andre
• Application Number:
  US15/108,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20160328942A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/90 Driver alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/3473 Circular or rotary encoders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A driver drowsiness detection and alerting system has a plurality of marks in a ring configuration around an exterior cylindrical surface of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel column assembly. An optical sensor assembly is located near the plurality of marks for detecting movement of the marks. The optical sensor assembly is connected to a device for alerting the driver if the steering wheel does not move for a prescribed time period while the motor vehicle is moving. The optical sensor assembly has an optical detector and a light emitter adjacent to each other. Additionally, the present invention relates to a kit of parts for such driver drowsiness detection and alerting system.

Claims

1. A driver drowsiness detection and alerting system comprising a plurality of marks in ring configuration around an exterior cylindrical surface of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel column assembly, and an optical sensor assembly near the plurality of marks which detect movement of the marks, the optical sensor assembly connected to a device that alerts the driver if the steering wheel does not move for a prescribed time period while the motor vehicle is moving,

wherein the optical sensor assembly comprises a optical detector and a light emitter adjacent to each other.

2. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor assembly is mounted at fixed distance from the plurality of marks in ring configuration.

3. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensor assembly and the ring configuration are included in one and the same movement detection component.

4. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter is surrounded by the optical detector or a plurality of optical detectors.

5. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 1, wherein the optical detector is an IR detector and the light emitter is an IR emitter.

6. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 5, wherein the optical sensor assembly is a fiber optic sensor assembly.

7. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 6, wherein the optical sensor assembly is an extrinsic fiber optic sensor assembly.

8. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 1, additionally comprising a controller device which memorizes steering wheel movement data, builds a driver'"'"'s behavior profile based on the movement data, and adapts the alert conditions.

15. The driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor assembly and a carrier are included in one and the same movement detection component and are fixed around an exterior cylindrical surface of a part of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel column assembly.

9. A kit of parts for a driver drowsiness detection and alerting system comprising:

a carrier bearing a plurality of marks fixed around an exterior cylindrical surface of a part of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel column assembly,

an optical sensor assembly mounted near the plurality of marks,

said optical sensor assembly detects movement of the marks and connects to a device to alert the driver if the steering wheel does not move for a prescribed time period while the motor vehicle is moving,

wherein the optical sensor assembly comprises a optical detector and a light emitter adjacent to each other.

10. The kit of parts for a driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 9, wherein the carrier comprises a tape bearing a plurality of marks to be fixed in ring configuration.

11. The kit of parts for a driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 9, wherein the carrier comprises a ring or disk to be fixed to the exterior cylindrical surface of a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel column assembly.

12. The kit of parts for a driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 9, wherein the carrier comprises a device to engage different diameters of steering wheel columns.

13. The kit of parts for a driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 9, further comprising the a device for alerting the driver.

14. The kit of parts for driver drowsiness detection and alerting system according to claim 9, wherein the optical sensor assembly is mounted at fixed distance from the carrier bearing the plurality of marks.