×

SLEEP SENSING DEVICE

  • US 3,594,772 A
  • Filed: 08/12/1968
  • Issued: 07/20/1971
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1968
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Apparatus for sensing sleep or drowsiness of a driver of a motor vehicle or the like, comprising A. An electrical switch coupled to steering apparatus of a motor vehicle, said switch being a single pole multiple throw type switch, the coupling to said steering apparatus being such that a small movement of the steering apparatus moves the single pole of said switch to one pole or another, B. a charge transfer condenser;

  • C. a time constant circuit including a storage condenser and at least a coil of a first relay, said coil being coupled across said storage condenser, said first relay having a movable contact and at least one fixed terminal contact;

    D. means for electrically energizing said charge transfer condenser when said pole is at one throw of said switch;

    E. means for transferring electrical energy from said transfer condenser to said storage condenser when said pole is at another throw of said switch;

    F. a second relay having at least a coil, a movable contact and a fixed contact and having its coil electrically coupled to a generator which is mechanically coupled to the drive means of said vehicle, said coil and said generator being connected in series between said movable contact and one fixed contact of said first relay, said movable contact being held away from said fixed contact if said electrical energy from said transfer condenser is transferred to said storage condenser in excess of a predetermined rate; and

    G. an electrically actuated alarm device and electrical energy source connected in series across said fixed and movable contacts of said second relay whereby when said generator and coil circuit are completed and the generator output exceeds a predetermined minimum output the fixed and movable contacts of said second relay are joined and said alarm device is actuated.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×