System and method for detecting driver drowsiness of a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting driver drowsiness in a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a first means for recognizing driver drowsiness and alertness on the basis of monitored steering adjustments performed by the driver; and
(b) a second means for detecting the roughness of the road affecting the steering adjustments on which the vehicle is travelling and disabling said first means during the detection.
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting driver drowsiness on the basis of steering pulses, each steering pulse being produced whenever a steering wheel is rotated through a predetermined angle and indicating the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, comprising means for detecting the roughness of the road surface on which the vehicle is travelling and interrupting the detection of driver drowsiness for a fixed interval of time when the road surface roughness exceeds an acceptable level, i.e. a level conductive to accurate drowsiness detection.
26 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for detecting driver drowsiness in a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) a first means for recognizing driver drowsiness and alertness on the basis of monitored steering adjustments performed by the driver; and (b) a second means for detecting the roughness of the road affecting the steering adjustments on which the vehicle is travelling and disabling said first means during the detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for detecting driver drowsiness in an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the position of a vehicular steering wheel and signalling the direction and magnitude of rotation of the steering wheel; (b) recognizing patterns of steering wheel rotation which would be produced when the vehicle driver is drowsy, said patterns also occurring during vehicle travel over rough roads; (c) deriving a measure of the roughness of the road on which the vehicle is travelling; and (d) interrupting said pattern recognition step (b) for a fixed interval of time when the roughness of the road surface exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification