System and method for arousing a drowsy driver without drowsiness detection
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for preventing drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle having a memory and a processor to execute steps comprising:
- determining a configuration for a thermal grill located on a steering wheel of the vehicle corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the thermal grill located on an outer surface of the steering wheel such that at least one warm region and at least one cool region simultaneously configured to different temperatures are exposed on the outer surface of the steering wheel at a location on the steering wheel such that the at least one warm region and the at least one cool region are in contact with a hand of the driver when the driver is gripping the steering wheel, the determining including;
configuring the at least one warm region to a first temperature,configuring the at least one cool region to a second temperature, andreceiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver;
storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and
configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for preventing drowsiness in a driver by employing a thermal grill that includes warm and cool regions. The system includes a threshold determination module and a configuration module. The threshold determination module determines temperatures for warm and cool regions corresponding to a level below the driver'"'"'s pain threshold. The warm and cool regions configured at these determined temperatures do not cause an uncomfortable sensation for an alert driver. Accordingly, the configuration module configures the thermal grill to these determined temperatures. As the driver gets drowsy, the driver'"'"'s pain threshold falls, the configured thermal grill causes an uncomfortable sensation for the driver and alerts the driver.
17 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for preventing drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle having a memory and a processor to execute steps comprising:
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determining a configuration for a thermal grill located on a steering wheel of the vehicle corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the thermal grill located on an outer surface of the steering wheel such that at least one warm region and at least one cool region simultaneously configured to different temperatures are exposed on the outer surface of the steering wheel at a location on the steering wheel such that the at least one warm region and the at least one cool region are in contact with a hand of the driver when the driver is gripping the steering wheel, the determining including; configuring the at least one warm region to a first temperature, configuring the at least one cool region to a second temperature, and receiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver; storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer program product for preventing
drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer program code for: -
determining a configuration for a thermal grill located on a steering wheel of the vehicle corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the thermal grill located on an outer surface of the steering wheel such that at least one warm region and at least one cool region simultaneously configured to different temperatures are exposed on the outer surface of the steering wheel at a location on the steering wheel such that the at least one warm region and the at least one cool region are in contact with a hand of the driver when the driver is gripping the steering wheel, the determining including; configuring the at least one warm region to a first temperature, configuring the at least one cool region to a second temperature, and receiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver; storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer system for preventing drowsiness in a driver of a vehicle, the computer system having a processor and a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium including computer program code for:
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determining a configuration for a thermal grill located on a steering wheel of the vehicle corresponding to a level below a pain threshold of the driver, the thermal grill comprising warm regions interlaced with cool regions, the thermal grill located on an outer surface of the steering wheel such that at least one warm region and at least one cool region simultaneously configured to different temperatures are exposed on the outer surface of the steering wheel at a location on the steering wheel such that the at least one warm region and the at least one cool region are in contact with a hand of the driver when the driver is gripping the steering wheel, the determining including; configuring the at least one warm region to a first temperature, configuring the at least one cool region to a second temperature, and receiving input indicating whether the thermal grill, including regions with the first temperature and the second temperature, produces an uncomfortable sensation for the driver; storing the determined configuration for the thermal grill corresponding to the level below the pain threshold of the driver; and configuring the thermal grill to the stored configuration during vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification