Safety control system for vehicles
First Claim
1. A safety control system for vehicles including a telematics device and sensor means for sensing a potentially dangerous condition and for automatically disabling use of the telematics device when sensing such condition;
- characterized in that said sensor means includes two sensors mounted on a steering member to be gripped by the two hands of the driver of the vehicle and effective to suspend or disable the telematics device when the two hands of the driver are not sensed as gripping said steering member while the vehicle is in motion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety control system for vehicles including a telephone and sensors for sensing a potentially dangerous condition and for automatically disabling the telephone when sensing such condition. The sensors include two sensors mounted on a steering member to be gripped by the two hands of the driver of the vehicle and effective to disable an operation of the telephone when the two hands of the driver are not sensed as gripping the steering member while the vehicle is in motion. The sensors may also disable the telephone, and/or actuate a signaling device, when sensing other driver conditions or vehicle conditions in which the distraction of the driver by a telephone conversation could increase the risk of accidents.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A safety control system for vehicles including a telematics device and sensor means for sensing a potentially dangerous condition and for automatically disabling use of the telematics device when sensing such condition;
- characterized in that said sensor means includes two sensors mounted on a steering member to be gripped by the two hands of the driver of the vehicle and effective to suspend or disable the telematics device when the two hands of the driver are not sensed as gripping said steering member while the vehicle is in motion.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 45)
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20. A safety system for vehicles having a telephone, a drive including an engine or electric motor and a transmission/or other torque conversion device for driving the vehicle, a steering mechanism including a steering member for steering the vehicle, a plurality of signaling devices for signaling the driver as to various conditions of the vehicle, and a control system including sensor means for sensing potentially dangerous conditions and for controlling the vehicle and said plurality of signaling devices;
characterized in that said sensor means includes first and second sensors mounted on said steering member to be gripped by the two hands of the driver of the vehicle and effective to disable an operation of said telephone when the two hands of the driver are not sensed as gripping said steering member while the vehicle is in motion and the risky dangerous conditions are taking place. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of avoiding potentially dangerous conditions while operating a vehicle having a telephone and a steering mechanism including a steering member to be manipulated by the driver, comprising:
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providing the steering member with two sensors for sensing the gripping of the steering member by the two hands of the driver;
and disabling an operation of said telephone when the two sensors fail to sense the gripping of the steering member by both hands of the driver while the vehicle is in motion. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification