Steering wheel hand position sensing device
First Claim
1. A system for detection of user hand position on a steering wheel, the system comprising:
- a sensor array disposed on the circumference of said wheel configured to detect contact of first and second user hands with said sensor array;
a processor whereby data from said sensor array is received and processed generating user hand size, location and movement data;
at least one feedback device whereby a user is alerted to an unsafe hand position,said processor being configured to detect conditions in said size, location, and movement data indicative of unsafe user hand position, allow a delay for correction of said condition and communicate existence of said condition for a period exceeding said delay to said at least one feedback device, said processor calculating the size of said first and second user hands based on a number of sensors in said array activated by said first user hand and the number of sensors activated by said second user hand and identifies size disparities between said first and second user hands as a condition indicative of unsafe user hand position;
a data logger configured to record said conditions in said size, location, and movement data indicative of said unsafe user hand position;
a tamper indicator whereby unauthorized access to said sensor array, said processor, or said at least one feedback device is communicated to authorized noticees;
a transceiver communicating with said processor whereby data relating to unsafe user hand positions is transmitted to said authorized noticees.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for the detection of user hand position on a steering wheel, the system having: a sensor array disposed on the circumference of the wheel configured to detect contact of first and second user hands with the sensor array; a processor whereby data from the sensor array is received and processed generating user hand size, location and movement data; at least one feedback device whereby a user is alerted to an unsafe hand position. the processor being configured to detect conditions in the size, location, and movement data indicative of unsafe user hand position, allow a delay for correction of the condition and communicate existence of the condition for a period exceeding the delay to the at least one feedback device; a data logger configured to record the conditions in the size, location, and movement data indicative of the unsafe user hand position; a tamper indicator whereby unauthorized access to the sensor array, the processor, or the at least one feedback device is communicated to authorized noticees; a transceiver communicating with the processor whereby data relating to unsafe user hand positions is transmitted to the authorized noticees.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for detection of user hand position on a steering wheel, the system comprising:
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a sensor array disposed on the circumference of said wheel configured to detect contact of first and second user hands with said sensor array; a processor whereby data from said sensor array is received and processed generating user hand size, location and movement data; at least one feedback device whereby a user is alerted to an unsafe hand position, said processor being configured to detect conditions in said size, location, and movement data indicative of unsafe user hand position, allow a delay for correction of said condition and communicate existence of said condition for a period exceeding said delay to said at least one feedback device, said processor calculating the size of said first and second user hands based on a number of sensors in said array activated by said first user hand and the number of sensors activated by said second user hand and identifies size disparities between said first and second user hands as a condition indicative of unsafe user hand position; a data logger configured to record said conditions in said size, location, and movement data indicative of said unsafe user hand position; a tamper indicator whereby unauthorized access to said sensor array, said processor, or said at least one feedback device is communicated to authorized noticees; a transceiver communicating with said processor whereby data relating to unsafe user hand positions is transmitted to said authorized noticees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for the detection of user hand placement on a steering wheel, said method comprising:
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initiating a polling loop while a vehicle is in motion but not turning; dividing sensor data into a plurality of segments where a hand of said user placed in contact with the steering wheel activates sensors in a segment; testing for a valid hand position based on activated sensor data; said valid hand position comprising first and second hands of about approximately the same size and said first and second hands covering a predetermined number of segments from said plurality of segments; if said first and second hands are dissimilar in size, logging an event notice and activating an alert; if an active number of segments exceeding said predetermined number of segments are activated, logging an event and activating an alert; and if an active number of segments are less than said predetermined number of segments are activated, logging an event and activating an alert after a preset delay.
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Specification