Driver alertness monitoring system

• US 6,154,123 A
• Filed: 09/05/1997
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kleinberg, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/924,562
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/901, 340/903, 340/904, 340/575, 340/576, 180/169, 180/167, 180/168, 180/170, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 367/909
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A driver alertness monitoring system for motor vehicles which issues visual or audible signals to the driver, and which monitors visual, audible or mechanical responses received from the driver to determine driver alertness. An electronic control unit, preferably incorporated in the circuitry of existent vehicle safety systems, controls the activation of these visual or audible signals and determines appropriate actions based on the response of the driver. The system includes auxiliary sensors which can be used to control and modify the function of the system to reduce unnecessary activation.

Claims

1. A driver alertness monitoring system (14) for motor vehicles including:

first means for generating at least one interrogation signal to a driver of a vehicle;

second means for monitoring the driver reactions to the interrogation signal;

third means for determining if the driver is sufficiently alert to drive the vehicle; and

fourth means for at least interacting with the driver to generate a warning signal to inform the driver of his or her state of alertness; and

a collision warning system capable of providing a pending collision signal indicative of the existence of a potential roadway hazard and wherein the second means includes means for monitoring the reaction of the driver in response to the pending collision signal and for causing the alertness monitoring systems to interrogate the driver if his reaction time is below a predetermined level.

2. A driver alertness monitoring system (14) for motor vehicles including:

first means for generating at least one interrogation signal to a driver of a vehicle;

second means for monitoring the driver reactions to the interrogation signal;

a collision warning system capable of providing a pending collision signal indicative of the existence of a potential roadway hazard and wherein the second means includes means for monitoring the reaction of the driver in response to the pending collision signal and for causing the alertness monitoring systems to interrogate the driver if his reaction time is below a predetermined level.