Monitor alarm for detecting vehicle driver's sleepiness

• US 6,590,499 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2002
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dʼagosto, Joseph
• Original Assignee: Dʼagosto, Joseph
• Inventors: DʼAgosto, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Lam
• Application Number:
  US10/061,741
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/573.1, 340/575, 340/576, 340/665, 180/272, 733/790--37, 738/18, 738/24, 738/41, 738/56
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

An arrangement for monitoring and detecting a sleeping driver incorporating a load cell connected to electronic scales for establishing a base line force value when a driver grasps the steering wheel so that when the driver relaxes the grip on the steering wheel and the force value falls below the established base line value an alarm is sounded.

Claims

1. A detector and alarm system for a sleeping driver associated with a vehicle steering wheel comprising said steering wheel having an upper circular part and lower circular part, a first electronic scale operatively connected to said upper circular part, a second electronic scale operatively connected to said lower circular part, a load cell operatively connected to said first and second electronic scales, a sensor, a data recording device receiving a weight value being applied to said upper and lower circular parts of said steering wheel by the driver grasping said steering wheel which is recorded by said sensor as a base line value in said data recording device, an alarm connected to said data recording device whereby when the force applied to the steering wheel is less than said base line value said alarm is activated to awaken said sleeping driver.

2. A detector and alarm system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steering wheel is provided with a hub and said load cell being mounted in said hub.

3. A detector and alarm system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said alarm is the vehicle audible alarm.

4. A detector and alarm system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said alarm is a light.

5. A detector and alarm system for a sleeping driver associated with a vehicle steering wheel, comprising said steering wheel having an upper half part and a lower half part, an upper scale, a lower scale, each associated with said upper and lower half parts, a load cell each connected to the respective upper and lower half parts of said steering wheel whereby when said driver initially grasps said steering wheel the force applied to the scale on said upper and lower half parts is recorded as a base line value, and when said driver relaxes his grip on the steering wheel and the force applied to said steering wheel is less than the base line value an alarm is activated to awaken said sleeping driver.

6. A detector and alarm system as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said scales are electronic.