Electronic alerting system for a vehicle driver

• US 4,031,527 A
• Filed: 07/03/1975
• Issued: 06/21/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Inoue, Naohiko, Yanagishima, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wannisky, William M.
• Application Number:
  US05/592,983
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 340/279, 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 340/53, 340/262, 180/99, 180/103, 200/61.54
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/103 by comparing the value of the measured signal with one or several reference values in general G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

A warning device is energized when speed signals integrated in an integrator exceed a predetermined level. However if a steering wheel and/or an accelerator pedal is operated, the integrator is reset.

Claims

1. A safety system for alerting a driver when said driver becomes drowsy while operating a motor vehicle, comprising a steering wheel operation sensor for producing a first signal when a steering wheel of said motor vehicle rotates through an angle larger than a predetermined angle;

an accelerator operation sensor for producing a second signal when an accelerator pedal of said motor vehicle is displaced through a distance larger than a predetermined distance;

signal generating means including a speed sensor for producing a third signal representing the speed of said motor vehicle, and an integrator for integrating said third signal into a voltage signal representing the distance travelled by said vehicle until it is reset, into its initial state, by at least one of said first and second signals;

a reference voltage generator for producing a reference voltage, the magnitude of which is variable in accordance with said third signal;

a comparator for producing a fourth signal when the magnitude of said voltage signal exceeds said reference voltage; and

a warning device for giving a warning to said driver when it receives said fourth signal.

2. A safety system as claimed in claim 1, in which said signal generating means further comprises an OR gate for receiving said first and second signals;

an operational amplifier having the input thereof connected to the output of said speed sensor and the output thereof connected to said comparator;

a capacitor bypassing said operational amplifier; and

a relay having a normally open switch bypassing said capacitor, and a coil connected to the output of said OR gate, said normally open switch closing its contacts to allow said capacitor to be discharged when said coil is energized by a signal issued from said OR gate.

3. A safety system according to claim 2, further comprising a manual switch for manually switching off a power source provided in said device and simultaneously resetting said integrator into its initial state when the warning action is no longer required by the driver.