Mental incompetency safety system for operating a vehicle
First Claim
1. A mental incompetency safety system for preventing operation of a vehicle by a potential operator who is mentally incompetent, the vehicle having a device for permitting operation of the vehicle only when the device is in an operating condition, comprising:
- a control system for controlling said device;
said control system comprising;
a display, a keyboard, and a control unit connected to said keyboard and to said display,said control unit comprising memory means for storing mental competency questions displayable on said display and correct answers to said questions indicative of operator mental competency to operate the vehicle,said keyboard for inputing answers of the potential operator to at least one of the mental competency questions displayed on the display, andsaid control unit comprising means for comparing the potential operator'"'"'s answers, independent of answering within a predetermined time which is indicative of physiological responsiveness, with the correct answers, scoring correct potential operator'"'"'s answers, and comparing potential operator'"'"'s score with a predetermined minimum score determinative of mental competency to operate the vehicle for providing an incompetency signal upon a score under said predetermined minimum score, andmeans responsive to the incompetency signal for preventing operation of said device by the potential operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system comprises a memory for storing questions and answers determinative of mental incompetency of a potential driver to drive. A display displays the questions. A keyboard is provided for the driver to answer the questions. The control system determines if the correct number of answers is lower than a predetermined value thereby indicating mental incompetency of the potential driver to drive. In such event a signal is provided so that the engine is prevented from starting or a clutch is prevented from engaging so the vehicle cannot be placed into an operational driving condition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mental incompetency safety system for preventing operation of a vehicle by a potential operator who is mentally incompetent, the vehicle having a device for permitting operation of the vehicle only when the device is in an operating condition, comprising:
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a control system for controlling said device; said control system comprising; a display, a keyboard, and a control unit connected to said keyboard and to said display, said control unit comprising memory means for storing mental competency questions displayable on said display and correct answers to said questions indicative of operator mental competency to operate the vehicle, said keyboard for inputing answers of the potential operator to at least one of the mental competency questions displayed on the display, and said control unit comprising means for comparing the potential operator'"'"'s answers, independent of answering within a predetermined time which is indicative of physiological responsiveness, with the correct answers, scoring correct potential operator'"'"'s answers, and comparing potential operator'"'"'s score with a predetermined minimum score determinative of mental competency to operate the vehicle for providing an incompetency signal upon a score under said predetermined minimum score, and means responsive to the incompetency signal for preventing operation of said device by the potential operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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14. A method for preventing operation of a vehicle by a potential operator who is mentally incompetent, the vehicle having a device for driving the vehicle only when the device is in an operating condition, comprising the steps of:
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displaying at least one mental competency question to be answered on a display when the vehicle is attempted to be operated by the potential operator, answering the at least one mental competency question by the potential operator by keying an answer to the at least one mental competency question on a keyboard, and comparing the potential operator'"'"'s answer, independent of answering within a predetermined time which is indicative of physiological responsiveness, with a correct answer indicative of mental competency to operate the vehicle, scoring the potential operator'"'"'s answer, and comparing the potential operator'"'"'s score with a predetermined minimum score determinative of mental competency to operate the vehicle for providing an incompetency signal upon a score under said predetermined minimum score, and preventing the device from being placed into its operating condition when the incompetency signal occurs. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for preventing operation of a vehicle by a potential operator who is mentally incompetent, the vehicle having a device for driving the vehicle only when the device is in an operating condition, comprising the steps of:
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displaying at least one mental competency question to be answered on a display when the vehicle is attempted to be operated by the potential operator, answering the at least one mental competency question by the potential operator by keying an answer to the at least one mental competency question on a keyboard, and comparing the potential operator'"'"'s answer with a correct answer indicative of mental competency to operate the vehicle, scoring the potential operator'"'"'s answer, and comparing the potential operator'"'"'s score with a predetermined minimum score determinative of mental competency to operate the vehicle for providing an incompetency signal upon a score under said predetermined minimum score, and preventing the device from being placed into its operating condition when the incompetency signal occurs, and said question is wherein a multi-digit number is flashed on the display for a while and then disappears, and the potential operator is asked to repeat the numbers forward and/or then backwards on the keyboard independent of a predetermined time which predetermined time is indicative of physiological responsiveness.
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Specification