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Method and apparatus for manipulating driver core temperature to enhance driver alertness

  • US 9,024,764 B2
  • Filed: 01/22/2008
  • Issued: 05/05/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A vehicle-based system for reducing a core temperature of a vehicle driver in a vehicle comprising:

  • a temperature sensor capturing data describing the core temperature of the vehicle driver, the temperature sensor located within a steering wheel of the vehicle and making physical contact with exposed skin of the vehicle driver; and

    a temperature regulator adapted to communicate with the temperature sensor, the temperature regulator analyzing the data describing the core temperature of the vehicle driver to determine when there is a rise in the core temperature of the vehicle driver, and the temperature regulator comprising a surface in physical contact with the driver, the temperature regulator cooling the surface to a temperature below an ambient temperature of the vehicle responsive to the data describing the risen core temperature of the vehicle driver equaling or exceeding a temperature associated with sleep onset.

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