Apparatus and method of monitoring a subject and providing feedback thereto

• US 7,202,793 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Attention Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Attention Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Grace, Richard, Ayoob, Ellen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/269,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/575, 340/573.1, 340/691.6, 340/692, 340/407.1, 434/238, 600/300, 600/558
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A device and method for monitoring a subject and providing feedback back to the subject that is pertinent to a behavior of the subject. The device includes a source of light having first and second wavelengths wherein the first wavelength does not equal the second wavelength; at least one image sensor producing a first signal indicative of reflected light having the first wavelength and a second signal indicative of reflected light having the second wavelength; a controller receiving the first and second signals and producing a third signal indicative of the first signal subtracted from the second signal; and an interface in communication with the controller providing informational content to the subject in response to the third signal, wherein the informational content is associated with a behavior of the subject. The method includes directing light having a first wavelength toward a subject; directing light having a second wavelength toward the subject, wherein the first wavelength does not equal the second wavelength; capturing a first image of light reflected by the subject having the first wavelength; capturing a second image of light reflected by the subject having the second wavelength; subtracting a signal indicative of the first image from a signal indicative of the second image and producing a third signal; and providing informational content to the subject in response to the third signal.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a subject who is driving a vehicle and providing feedback thereto, comprising:

a source of light having first and second wavelengths wherein the first wavelength does not equal the second wavelength;

at least one image sensor producing a first signal indicative of reflected light having the first wavelength and a second signal indicative of reflected light having the second wavelength;

a controller receiving the first and second signals and producing a third signal indicative of the first signal subtracted from the second signal such that the third signal is indicative of whether the subject is driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness; and

an interface in communication with the controller providing informational content to the subject in response to the third signal, wherein the informational content includes a distance driven by the subject while driving the vehicle in the state of drowsiness.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a feedback device in communication therewith providing a first and second stimulus to the subject in response to the third signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first stimulus is selected from the group consisting of a visual, audible, olfactory, and tactile stimulus.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second stimulus is selected from the group consisting of a visual, audible, olfactory, and tactile stimulus.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the second stimulus includes the informational content provided to the subject.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the interface includes a functional control.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the interface further comprises a visual gauge for providing informational content to the subject.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the visual gauge provides a coded output that represents a state of the subject determined in accordance with the third signal.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the coded output includes a color code and wherein the color code represents one or more states of drowsiness, fatigue, or alertness of the subject.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the first stimulus is an audible stimulus and the second stimulus is a visual stimulus.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the feedback device is for providing the first and second stimulus simultaneously.

12. A method of monitoring a subject driving a vehicle and providing feedback to the subject comprising:

directing light having a first wavelength toward the subject;

directing light having a second wavelength toward the subject, wherein the first wavelength does not equal the second wavelength;

capturing a first image of light reflected by the subject having the first wavelength;

capturing a second image of light reflected by the subject having the second wavelength;

subtracting a signal indicative of the first image from a signal indicative of the second image and producing a third signal that is indicative of whether the subject is driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness; and

providing informational content to the subject in response to the third signal, wherein the informational content includes a distance driven by the subject while driving the vehicle in the state of drowsiness.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing in response to the third signal a first stimulus and second stimulus to the subject.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the first stimulus includes providing the first stimulus selected from the group consisting of a visual, audible, olfactory, and tactile stimulus.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the second stimulus includes providing the second stimulus selected from the group consisting of a visual, audible, olfactory, and tactile stimulus.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing informational content to the subject by way of a visual gauge.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a coded output representative of a state of the subject determined in accordance with the third signal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first stimulus is an audible stimulus and the second stimulus is a visual stimulus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first stimulus and the second stimulus are provided simultaneously.

20. A device for monitoring a subject who is driving a vehicle and providing feedback thereto, comprising:

a monitoring device for providing a signal indicative of the subject driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness; and

an interface in communication with the monitoring device for providing informational content to the subject in response to the signal, wherein the informational content includes a distance driven by the subject while driving the vehicle in the state of drowsiness.

21. An apparatus for monitoring a subject driving a vehicle and providing feedback to the subject, comprising:

an interface for receiving a signal associated with a state of drowsiness of the subject; and

a feedback device in communication with the interface for providing informational content to the subject in response to the signal, wherein the informational content includes a distance driven by the subject while driving the vehicle in the state of drowsiness.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the interface includes a display.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the display is color-coded and the color is related to the subject'"'"'s state of drowsiness.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a functional control for enabling the subject to adjust a parameter associated with the interface.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a functional control for enabling the subject to adjust a parameter associated with the feedback device.

26. A method of monitoring a subject driving a vehicle and providing feedback to the subject, comprising:

monitoring whether the subject is driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness;

producing a signal indicative of whether the subject is driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness; and

providing informational content to the subject in response to the signal, wherein the informational content includes a distance driven by the subject while driving the vehicle in the state of drowsiness.

27. A method of monitoring a subject driving a vehicle and providing feedback to the subject, comprising:

receiving a signal associated with a state of drowsiness of the subject; and

providing informational content to the subject in response to the signal, wherein the informational content includes a distance driven by the subject while driving the vehicle in the state of drowsiness.

28. A device for monitoring a subject who is driving a vehicle and providing feedback thereto, comprising:

a monitoring device for providing a signal indicative of the subject driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness; and

an interface in communication with the monitoring device for providing informational content to the subject in response to the signal, wherein the informational content includes a length of time that the subject drove the vehicle while the subject was in the state of drowsiness.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the interface further comprises a feedback device providing a first and second stimulus to the subject in response to the signal.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the first stimulus is an audible stimulus and the second stimulus is a visual stimulus.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the feedback device is for providing the first and second stimulus simultaneously.

32. A device for monitoring a subject who is driving a vehicle and providing feedback thereto, comprising:

a source of light having first and second wavelengths wherein the first wavelength does not equal the second wavelength;

at least one image sensor producing a first signal indicative of reflected light having the first wavelength and a second signal indicative of reflected light having the second wavelength;

a controller receiving the first and second signals and producing a third signal indicative of the first signal subtracted from the second signal such that the third signal is indicative of whether the subject is driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness; and

an interface in communication with the controller providing informational content to the subject in response to the third signal, wherein the informational content includes a length of time that the subject drove the vehicle while the subject was in the state of drowsiness.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the interface further comprises a feedback device for providing a first and second stimulus to the subject in response to the third signal.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the first stimulus is an audible stimulus and the second stimulus is a visual stimulus.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the feedback device is for providing the first and second stimulus simultaneously.

36. A method of monitoring a subject driving a vehicle and providing feedback to the subject comprising:

directing light having a first wavelength toward the subject;

directing light having a second wavelength toward the subject, wherein the first wavelength does not equal the second wavelength;

capturing a first image of light reflected by the subject having the first wavelength;

capturing a second image of light reflected by the subject having the second wavelength;

subtracting a signal indicative of the first image from a signal indicative of the second image and producing a third signal that is indicative of whether the subject is driving the vehicle while in a state of drowsiness; and

providing informational content to the subject in response to the third signal, wherein the informational content includes a length of time that the subject drove the vehicle while the subject was in the state of drowsiness.