Device for waking up a driver and an operator

• US 8,810,412 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Svenska Utvecilkings Entrprenoren Susen AB
• Original Assignee: Svenska Utvecilkings Entrprenoren Susen AB
• Inventors: Kntzel, Klas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US12/667,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.31, 340/438, 340/439, 340/463, 340/465, 340/573.1, 340/575, 340/576, 701/29, 701/36, 701/41
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

An arrangement to awaken a sleeping driver or operator of a vehicle, a vessel, an aeroplane or any other system that is controlled by a person, includes a detection part that is arranged to measure movements of a control element that belongs to the vehicle with which control element the driver has hand contact, a calculation circuit arranged to compare movements of the control element over time, and an alarm part arranged to produce vibrations in the control element. The calculation circuit is arranged to activate the alarm part when no movement of the control element has occurred during a pre-determined period, which pre-determined period indicates that the driver has fallen asleep, and in that all the parts are mounted on or are integrated with the control element.

Claims

1. An arrangement to awaken a sleeping operator of a vehicle that is controlled by a person, comprising:

a detection part that is configured to measure movements of a steering control device that belongs to the vehicle to which the driver is to have hand contact for controlling steerage of the vehicle, the detection part comprising a movement detector in or on the control device;

a calculation circuit configured to compare movements of the control device over time; and

an alarm part configured to produce vibrations in surfaces of the control device that are configured for contact with hands of the operator,

wherein the calculation circuit is configured to activate the alarm part when no movement of the control device has occurred during a pre-determined period sufficient to indicate that the driver has fallen asleep,

wherein all of said detection part, said calculation circuit, and said alarm part are mounted on or are integrated with the control device,

wherein the calculation circuit is configured to deactivate the alarm arrangement upon detection of a movement of the control device while the alarm system is activated, and

wherein the alarm part is configured to produce vibrations in a direction that is perpendicular to an outer surface of the control device upon which hands of the operator rest during operation.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1,

wherein the control device is a steering wheel.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the detection part comprises one or several accelerometers configured to detect accelerations in a direction that is tangential to the control device.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the detection part comprises an angle sensor configured to detect changes in an angle between the control device and a fixed part of the vehicle.

5. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein an entirety of the arrangement is configured to be mounted inside the steering wheel.

6. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the detection part comprises one or several accelerometers configured to detect accelerations in a direction that is tangential to the steering wheel.

7. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the detection part comprises an angle sensor configured to detect changes in an angle between the steering wheel and a fixed part of the vehicle.

8. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the detection part comprises an angle sensor configured to detect changes in an angle between the control device and a fixed part of the vehicle.

9. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein an entirety of the arrangement is configured to be mounted on the steering wheel.

10. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein an entirety of the arrangement is configured to be mounted on the control device.

11. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein an entirety of the arrangement is configured to be mounted in the control device.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control device is a hand-operated steering control for the vehicle, and all of said detection part, said calculation circuit, and said alarm part are located within one or more spaces inside said steering control.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the alarm part is mounted inside the control device and is configured to produce vibrations in a direction that is perpendicular to an outer surface of the control upon which hands of the operator rest during operation.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the calculation circuit is configured to deactivate the alarm arrangement upon detection of a movement of the control device that occurs while the alarm system is activated.

15. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, in an event where the alarm part remains activated for another pre-determined period, the calculation circuit communicates with other active safety systems in the vehicle.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the calculation circuit communicates with said other active safety systems in the vehicle via wireless communications.

17. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the alarm part comprises two vibration devices mounted in fixed mechanical contact with different spokes of the control device.

18. The arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the two vibration devices operate at different frequencies.