Driver fatigue detector with automatic deactivation

• US 6,946,965 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frazier R. Thompson, Thomas W. Young
• Original Assignee: Frazier R. Thompson, Thomas W. Young
• Inventors: Young, Thomas W., Thompson, Frazier R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/330,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/576, 340/457, 340/575, 368/109, 368/250, 368/263, 701/70
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A device is provided for alerting a driver of an automotive vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, characterized by eyelid droop, head droop and a like condition wherein the eyes of the driver are not directed straight ahead onto the road. The device includes an indicator light, preferably an LED, which is viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver. A control circuit controls the LED so as to provide illumination thereof after a predetermined time interval. A reset pushbutton, when depressed, provides resetting of the time interval. An alarm sounds when the LED has been illuminated after the passage of the predetermined time interval. The device is automatically deactivated (or, reset) when, e.g., the brakes are applied or the engine speed drops to a low value. The device is automatically activated when the engine is turned on or, e.g., when the vehicle speed or other parameter reaches a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A device for alerting a driver of a motorized vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, said device comprising:

an indicator lamp affixed to a part of the vehicle located in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, so as to be viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver,

an electrical control circuit for controlling illumination of said indicator lamp so as to provide illumination thereof after passage of a predetermined time interval,

a driver controlled reset switch for providing resetting of said time interval upon depression thereof by the driver;

alarm means for producing an alarm signal when said indicator lamp has been illuminated after the passage of said predetermined time interval and said reset switch has not been depressed after passage of a further predetermined time period,

automatic deactivation means for sensing a first characteristic of a first parameter related to vehicle operation and for deactivating said control circuit so as to prevent illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said characteristic; and

automatic activation means for sensing a further characteristic of a parameter related to vehicle operation and for activating said control circuit so as to enable illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said further characteristic,

wherein the vehicle includes vehicle brakes having applied and non-applied braking states, wherein said first parameter is the braking state of the brakes and wherein said first characteristic is whether the brakes are in the applied state.

2. A device for alerting a driver of a motorized vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, characterized by a condition wherein the eyes of a driver are not directed straight ahead onto the road, said device comprising:

an indicator lamp affixed to a part of the vehicle located in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, so as to be viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver,

an electrical control circuit for controlling illumination of said indicator lamp so as to provide illumination thereof after passage of a predetermined time interval,

a driver controlled reset switch for providing resetting of said time interval upon depression thereof by the driver;

alarm means for producing an alarm signal when said indicator lamp has been illuminated after the passage of said predetermined time interval and said reset switch has not been depressed after passage of a further predetermined time period, and automatic control means for sensing a characteristic of a parameter related to vehicle operation and for preventing illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said characteristic,

the vehicle including vehicle brakes having applied and non-applied braking states, and said parameter being the braking state of the brakes and said characteristic being whether the brakes are in the applied state.

3. A device for alerting a driver of a motorized vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, said device comprising:

an indicator lamp affixed to a part of the vehicle located in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, so as to be viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver,

an electrical control circuit for controlling illumination of said indicator lamp so as to provide illumination thereof after passage of a predetermined time interval,

a driver controlled reset switch for providing resetting of said time interval upon depression thereof by the driver;

alarm means for producing an alarm signal when said indicator lamp has been illuminated after the passage of said predetermined time interval and said reset switch has not been depressed after passage of a further predetermined time period,

automatic deactivation means for sensing a first characteristic of a first parameter related to vehicle operation after the vehicle is in operation and for deactivating said control circuit so as to prevent illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said characteristic; and

automatic activation means for sensing a further characteristic of a parameter related to vehicle operation after the vehicle is in operation and for activating said control circuit so as to enable illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said further characteristic,

said device further comprising means for delivering a warning signal to a remote location in response to an alarm signal being produced.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first parameter is vehicle speed and wherein said first characteristic is whether the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first parameter is driveshaft r.p.m. and said first characteristic is whether the driveshaft r.p.m. is below a predetermined speed.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said further parameter comprises vehicle cruise control status and said further characteristic is whether the vehicle cruise is in an actuated status.

7. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said further parameter comprises vehicle speed and said further characteristic is whether the vehicle speed is above a predetermined speed.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said automatic activation means also senses whether the vehicle speed has exceeded a predetermined speed for a predetermined time period and, if so, enables illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit.

9. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said indicator lamp comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said light emitting diode is affixed to a different part of the vehicle from said reset switch and said alarm means.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said reset switch and said alarm means are also located at different parts of the vehicle.

11. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said device further comprises a wearable audio signal receiving device for receiving said alarm signal.

12. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said warning signal is delivered through a Global Positioning System.

13. A device for alerting a driver of a motorized vehicle as to the onset of fatigue, said device comprising:

an indicator lamp affixed to a part of the vehicle located in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver, so as to be viewable by the driver in the upper periphery of the field of vision of the driver,

an electrical control circuit for controlling illumination of said indicator lamp so as to provide illumination thereof after passage of a predetermined time interval,

a driver controlled reset switch for providing resetting of said time interval upon depression thereof by the driver;

alarm means for producing an alarm signal when said indicator lamp has been illuminated after the passage of said predetermined time interval and said reset switch has not been depressed after passage of a further predetermined time period,

automatic deactivation means for sensing a first characteristic of a first parameter related to vehicle operation after the vehicle is in operation and for deactivating said control circuit so as to prevent illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said characteristic; and

automatic activation means for sensing a further characteristic of a parameter related to vehicle operation after the vehicle is in operation and for activating said control circuit so as to enable illumination of said indicator lamp by said control circuit responsive to sensing said further characteristic,

said device further comprising recording means, including first and second counters, for recording, during a predetermined time period, a first count of the number of times that the indicator lamp is illuminated and a second count of the number of times that an alarm signal is produced.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising means for retrieving said first and second counts and resetting said first and second counters.