Technique for operating a vehicle effectively and safely

• US 7,902,969 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/837,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.33, 340/447, 340/439
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/13 Aquaplaning, hydroplaning
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/32 Vehicle surroundings
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/406 Traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 : Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 : Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 : Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 : Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/221 : Column-oriented storage; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 : Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 : Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2553 : Binding renewal aspects, e.g. using keep-alive messages

Abstract

A control system is employed in a vehicle to assist a user to operate the vehicle effectively and safely. In accordance with the invention, the system provides driving assistance to the user by taking into account the user'"'"'s physical condition, the vehicle condition and the surrounding conditions. The surrounding conditions include, e.g., road, weather and traffic conditions, external to the vehicle. The vehicle condition concerns the conditions of the brakes, steering, tires, radiator, etc. of the vehicle. Signs of fatigue, stress and illness of the user are monitored by the control system to assess the user'"'"'s physical condition.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, comprising:

sensing an ambient temperature of a compartment of the vehicle;

determining a body temperature of a user in the compartment; and

invoking a test for testing the user when the body temperature of the user changes more than a predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the body temperature is determined when the ambient temperature is in a steady state.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the body temperature is determined from time to time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the test requires the user to identify different colors on display.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the test requires the user to utter an answer to at least one question.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the answer comprises a name of the user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein an utterance of the answer is analyzed with respect to a voice pattern of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising slowing the vehicle if the user fails the test.

9. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a thermo-sensing element for determining a body temperature of a user in a compartment of the vehicle, an ambient temperature of the compartment being determined; and

a processor configured to invoke a test for testing the user when the body temperature of the user changes more than a predetermined value.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the body temperature is determined when the ambient temperature is in a steady state.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the test requires the user to identify different colors on display.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the test requires the user to utter an answer to at least one question.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the answer comprises a name of the user.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein an utterance of the answer is analyzed with respect to a voice pattern of the user.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to slow the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the thermo-sensing element is incorporated in a seat in the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the thermo-sensing element is placed on a steering wheel of the vehicle.