Biological information detection apparatus

• US 6,104,296 A
• Filed: 02/17/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Yasushi, Mitsuo, Yanagidaira, Masatoshi, Takashima, Kayoko, Cheng, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/251,428
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/465, 340/575, 340/573.1, 340/425.5, 180/271, 180/272, 701/1, 600/301
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A biological information detection apparatus including a biological information detection and transmission unit mounted on a steering wheel for detecting and transmitting biological information of an operator of a motor vehicle; a biological information receiver mounted on a steering column that receives biological information detection and transmission unit; and a steering wheel position detector that detects a rotational position of the steering wheel; wherein the biological information detection and transmission unit includes a sensor for detecting biological information and generating a detection signal memory for storing the detection signal from the sensor; a transmitter for transmitting a detection signal from the memory; and a controller for controlling the storage of the detection signal in memory and the transmitting of the detection signal from the transmitter when the steering wheel position detector detects that the steering wheel is in a substantially straight driving position; and the biological information receiver includes a receiver which is mounted in a position whereby a detection signal from the transmitter can be received wirelessly when the steering wheel is in a substantially straight driving position.

Claims

1. A biological information detection apparatus comprising:

a biological information detection and transmission unit mounted on a steering wheel for detecting and transmitting biological information of an operator of a motor vehicle;

a biological information receiver mounted on a steering column that receives biological information from the biological information detection and transmission unit; and

a steering wheel position detector that detects a rotational position of the steering wheel;

wherein

the biological information detection and transmission unit comprises;

a sensor for detecting biological information and generating a detection signal;

memory for storing the detection signal from the sensor;

a transmitter for transmitting a detection signal from the memory; and

a controller for controlling the storage of the detection signal in memory and the transmitting of the detection signal from the transmitter when the steering wheel position detector detects that the steering wheel is in a substantially straight driving position; and

the biological information receiver comprises a receiver which is mounted in a position whereby a detection signal from the transmitter can be received wirelessly when the steering wheel is in a substantially straight driving position.

2. The biological information detection apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiver is mounted in a position opposite the transmitter when the steering wheel is in a substantially straight driving position.

3. The biological information detection apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter contains a light-emitting element for transmitting the detection signal as an optical signal, and the receiver contains a receptor element for receiving said optical signal.

4. The biological information detection apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steering wheel position detector comprises at least one light-emitting element and receptor element pair disposed in opposition on the steering wheel and the steering column when the steering wheel is in a substantially straight driving rotational position.

5. The biological information detection apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic unit which diagnoses a health-related condition of the operator based on the detection signal received by the receiver, and a notification unit which notifies the operator of the diagnostic result obtained by the diagnostic unit.

6. The biological information detection apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the detection signal received by the receiver is wirelessly transmitted, and the diagnostic unit receives the wirelessly transmitted detection signal.

7. An apparatus for monitoring biological status information of a driver of a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor adapted for detecting biological status information of a driver;

a data transmission unit coupled to the at least one sensor, the data transmission unit comprising a clock generator, a CPU, a storage buffer, and a drive circuit;

at least one pair of an emitter communication device and a receptor communication device, wherein each device is respectively positioned on one of a hub of a steering wheel and a steering column, such that the communication devices are aligned to be mutually opposed when the steering wheel is at a predetermined angle of rotation with respect to the steering column, and the communication device positioned on the hub of the steering wheel is coupled with the data transmission unit; and

a vehicle communications unit coupled with the communication device positioned on the steering column, such that the vehicle communications unit is adapted to receive information generated by the data transmission unit;

wherein

biological status information detected by the at least one sensor is communicated between the data transmission unit and the vehicle communications unit through the at least one pair of the emitter communication device and the receptor communication device when the at least one pair are aligned to be mutually opposed, and the data transmission unit stores biological status information in the storage buffer when the at least one pair are not aligned to be mutually opposed.

8. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the vehicle communications unit further comprises an amplifier and transmitter for communicating information to an external monitoring device, and further comprises a receiver and a demodulator circuit for receiving and demodulating a warning signal generated from an external monitoring device.

9. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vehicle communications unit further comprises a warning device and a display monitor for displaying a warning or the biological status information to the driver of the motor vehicle.

10. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 8, wherein the external monitoring device comprises a receiver and a demodulating circuit for demodulating a signal communicated from the vehicle communications unit, and further comprises a warning signal generator, coupled to an amplifier and a transmitter, for transmitting warning information to the vehicle communications unit.

11. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is connected to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.

12. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a first electrode positioned at a first region on the steering wheel and a second electrode positioned at a second region on the steering wheel for detecting the biological status information by measuring the electrical potential difference between the electrodes.

13. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first region is at one side of the steering wheel, and the second region is at the symmetrical opposite side of the steering wheel.

14. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second regions are interspersed about the steering wheel.

15. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the biological status information comprises the heart beat rate of the driver of a motor vehicle.

16. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the biological status information comprises the brain wave signal of the driver of a motor vehicle.

17. The biological status monitoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the biological status information comprises the blood pressure of the driver of a motor vehicle.

18. A biological status monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a sensor for detecting biological status information of a driver of a motor vehicle;

a data transmission unit coupled to the sensor;

a plurality of emitter communication devices and receptor communication devices, positioned as pairs mutually opposed from each other on a steering wheel hub and a steering column when the steering wheel is at a predetermined alignment with respect to the steering column, such that each emitter communication device communicates with a respective receptor communication device, wherein the communication devices disposed on the steering wheel hub are coupled with the data transmission unit;

a vehicle communications unit coupled with the communication devices disposed on the steering column; and

an external monitoring device adapted for communication with the vehicle communications unit;

wherein

biological status information detected by the at least one sensor is communicated between the data transmission unit and the vehicle communications unit through the plurality of emitter communication devices and receptor communication devices when the steering wheel is at the predetermined alignment, and warning information determined from the biological status information is communicated between vehicle communications unit and the external monitoring device.