VIGILANCE TESTING AND WARNING APPARATUS

• US 3,761,921 A
• Filed: 11/29/1971
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George Ducommun, Karl Adler, Rene Jenni
• Original Assignee: George Ducommun, Karl Adler, Rene Jenni
• Inventors: Adler, Karl, Ducommun, George, Jenni, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Habecker, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US05/202,941
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 340/331,377,384,326,421,428P,279,213R 128/1,2.1 351/1
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/161 Flicker fusion testing eye testing A61B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators

Abstract

A vigilance testing and warning apparatus allowing a flicker fusion test and comprising a flickering luminous indicator, means for adjusting the flicker frequency and means for producing an acoustical signal when the frequency falls below a limit value, this acoustical signal indicating that vigilance of the tested person is below an allowable level.

Claims

1. Apparatus for testing observer vigilance and warning of inadequacy of response, comprising in combination:

illuminatable indicator means;

adjustable flicker producing means for providing intermittent flickering of said indicator means at the point of observation;

observer-activated control means connected to said adjustable flicker producing means, for varying the flickering frequency to a point enabling detection of flickering by said observer;

acoustical warning means interconnected with said control means, said warning means being operative to provide an acoustical signal upon said flickering frequency falling below a preselected limit frequency, whereby to provide a positive audible warning indication upon said observer'"'"''"'"'s ability to detect flickering falling below said limit frequency;

said illuminatable means comprising a glow lamp, and said flicker producing means comprising an oscillator circuit connected to intermittently drive said lamp, said control means being connected to adjust the frequency of said output, and supervising means for regulating the operating voltage to said oscillating circuit and for switching off the apparatus when the operating voltage falls below a lower limit value.

2. Apparatus for testing observer vigilance and warning of inadequacy of response, comprising in combination:

illuminatable indicator means;

adjustable flicker producing means for providing intermittent flickering of said indicator means at the point of observation;

observer-activated control means connected to said adjustable flicker producing means, for varying the flickering frequency to a point enabling detection of flickering by said observer; and

acoustical warning means interconnected with said control means, said warning means being operative to provide an acoustical signal upon said flickering frequency falling below a preselected limit frequency, whereby to provide a positive audible warning indication upon said observer'"'"''"'"'s ability to detect flickering falling below said limit frequency.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further including a casing, Said illuminatable indicator means disposed at one side of said casing, and a visual indicator of frequency of flicker, said visual indicator being disposed at a side of said casing other than that bearing said illuminatable indicator mens, whereby to preclude knowledge by the observer of his response to vigilance testing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said illuminatable means comprises a glow lamp, and said flicker producing means comprises an oscillator circuit connected to intermittently drive said lamp, said control means being connected to adjust the frequcncy of said oscillator output.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said flicker producing means comprises a spring driven rotatable disphragm of which the speed is adjustable, said diaphragm being located between a light source and said illuminatable indicator means, for chopping the light beam incident on siad indicator.

6. Apparatus for testing observer vigilance and warning of inadequacy of responce, comprising in combination:

illuminatable indicator means;

adjustable flicker producing means for providing intermittent flickering of said indicator means at the point of observation. observer-activated control means connected to said adjustable flicker producing means, for varying the flickering frequency to a point enabling detection of flickering by said observer;

acoustical warning means intercnnected with said control means, said warning means being operative to provide an acoustical signal upon said flickering frequency falling below a preselected limit frequency, whereby to provide a positive audible warning indication upon said observer'"'"''"'"'s ability to detect flickering falling below said limit frequency;

a casing, said illuminatable indicator means disposed at one side of said casing, and a visual indicator of frequency of flicker disposed at a side of said casing other than that bearing said illuminatable indicator means, whereby to preclude knowledge by the observer of his response to vigilance testing; and

said visual indicator comprising an indicator disc operatively coupled with said control means, said disc being subdivided into ranges corresponding to different degress of vigilance.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said indicator disc is rotatably and adjustably mounted with respect to said operator-activated control means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said indicator disc is mounted on a carrier disc.

9. Apparatus for testing observer vigilance and warning of inadequacy of response, comprising in combination:

illuminatable indicator means;

adjustable flicker producing means for providing intermittent flickering of said indicator means at the point of observation;

observer-activated control means connected to said adjustable flicker producing means, for varying the flickering frequency to a point enabling detection of flickering by said observer;

acoustical warning means interconnected with said control means, said warning means being operative to provide an acoustical signal upon said flickering frequency falling below a preselected limit frequency, whereby to provide a positive audible warning indication upon said observer'"'"''"'"'s ability to detect flickering falling below said limit frequency;

said illuminatable means comprising a glow lamp, and said flicker producing means comprising an oscillator circuit connected to intermittently drive said lamp, said control means being connected to adjust the frequency of said oscillator output, and said warning means comprising an electromechanical resonator transformer-coupled to said oscillator output, said resonator having a natural frequency which is an integral multiple of said limit frequency.

10. Apparatus for testing observer vigilance and warning of inadequacy of response, comprising in combination:

illuminatable indicator means;

adjustable flicker producing means for providing intermittent flickering of said indicator means at the point of observation;

observer-activated control means connected to said adjustable flicker producing means, for varying the flickering frequency to a point enabling detection of flickering by said observer;

acoustical warning means;

switch means operable by actuating means interconnected with said control means for closing said switch means upon adjustment of said control means to positions controlling a flickering frequency below a preselected limit frequency and connected to said switch means and being operative to provide an acoustical signal upon said flickering frequency falling below said preselected limit frequency, whereby to provide a positive audible warning indication upon said observer'"'"''"'"'s inability to detect flickering above said limit frequency.