Driving safety warning method and device for a drowsy or distracted driver

• US 8,013,747 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arima Communications Corporation
• Original Assignee: Arima Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Wen-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US12/236,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/439, 340/441, 340/576, 701/301, 180/272
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw

Abstract

A driving safety warning device includes a central processing unit (CPU); an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration value of a car having the driving safety warning device installed therein, and sending the sensed acceleration value to the CPU for calculating, so as to obtain a driving speed value; and a gyro sensor for sensing a deviation angular speed value of the car in moving, and sending the sensed deviation angular speed value to the CPU for calculating. When the obtained driving speed value exceeds a preset value, a driving safety warning function is actuated; and when the obtained deviation angular speed value exceeds a preset maximum safety deviation angular speed value or exceeds a preset safety deviation angular speed value for wandering car while a timer is enabled and a reverse sway occurs when the timer is counting, a warning sound is emitted to remind the driver.

Claims

1. A driving safety warning method comprising:

switching on a driving safety warning device installed in a car to enable a driving safety warning program for the device, the driving safety warning device performing the following steps;

determining whether a driving speed value of the car exceeds a preset driving speed value and, if the preset driving speed value is exceeded, actuating a driving safety warning function of the device;

determining whether a deviation angular speed value of the car exceeds a preset maximum safety deviation angular speed value and, if the preset maximum safety deviation angular speed value is exceeded, emitting a warning sound;

determining whether a deviation angular speed value of the car exceeds a preset safety deviation angular speed value for a wandering car and, if the preset safety deviation angular speed value for a wandering car is exceeded, further determining whether a timer of the device is enabled and a reverse sway occurs while the timer is counting, and, if a timer of the device is enabled and a reverse sway occurs while the timer is counting, emitting a warning sound.

2. The driving safety warning method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of reading in a preset driving speed value, a preset maximum safety deviation angular speed value, and a preset safety deviation angular speed value for a wandering car before the step of determining whether the driving speed value of the car exceeds a preset value.

3. The driving safety warning method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a step of resetting the timer after the step of reading in the preset values.

4. The driving safety warning method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving speed value is obtained by sensing an acceleration value of the car with an acceleration sensor and calculating the sensed acceleration value with a central processing unit CPU.

5. The driving safety warning method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deviation angular speed value of the car is obtained by sensing a deviation angular speed of the car with a gyro sensor.

6. The driving safety warning method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the step of emitting a warning sound when the timer is enabled and a reverse sway occurs while the timer is counting, the timer is reset and counting is re-enabled.

7. A driving safety warning device, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration value of a car in which the driving safety warning device is installed, and sending the sensed acceleration value to the CPU for calculating, so as to obtain a driving speed value, wherein a driving safety warning function is actuated when the obtained driving speed value exceeds a preset value; and

a gyro sensor for sensing a deviation angular speed value of the moving car, and sending the sensed deviation angular speed value to the CPU for calculating, wherein a warning sound is emitted when the calculated deviation angular speed value either exceeds a preset maximum safety deviation angular speed value or exceeds a preset safety deviation angular speed value for a wandering car while a timer is enabled and a reverse sway occurs when the timer is counting.

8. The driving safety warning device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the warning sound is emitted via a speaker.

9. The driving safety warning device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an input unit for inputting a driving speed value, a maximum safety deviation angular speed value, and a safety deviation angular speed value for a wandering car.

10. The driving safety warning device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a display for displaying different values.

11. The driving safety warning device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a memory.