Method and system for detecting conditions of drivers, and electronic apparatus thereof

• US 9,058,735 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Syuan-Yi, Yang, Chung-Hsien, Chuang, Chun-Fu
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US14/155,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20150061875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/575, 340/573.1, 340/438, 340/439, 340/435, 340/425.5, 345 7- 9, 180/272, 180/270, 180/269, 180/282, 280/734, 280/735, 280/736, 701/1, 701/301
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A system for detecting a condition of a driver is provided, wherein the system includes a first electrical device, a second electrical device, a regulation unit and an alert unit. The first electrical device detects an initial vehicle angle of a vehicle, the second electrical device detects an initial head angle of the driver and the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle based on the initial head angle and the initial vehicle angle. Additionally, the first electrical device detects a current vehicle angle of the vehicle, the second electrical device detects a current head angle of the driver and the regulation unit calculates a regulated head angle based on the current head angle and the regulation angle. Furthermore, the alert unit calculates a difference value between the regulated head angle and the current vehicle angle and generates a warning message if the difference value is larger than a threshold.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a condition of a driver, the system comprising:

a first electrical device, including a first sensor coupling to a first communication unit, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect an initial vehicle angle of a vehicle on a first dimension;

a second electrical device, including a second sensor coupling to a second communication unit, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect an initial head angle of the driver on the first dimension;

a regulation unit, disposed in the first electrical device or the second electrical device, calculating a regulation angle on the first dimension based on the initial vehicle angle and the initial head angle on the first dimension; and

an alert unit, disposed in the first electrical device or the second electrical device,

wherein the first sensor detects a current vehicle angle of the vehicle on the first dimension, and the second sensor detects a current head angle of the driver on the first dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulated head angle of the driver on the first dimension based on the current head angle and the regulation angle on the first dimension,

wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of a difference value on the first dimension between the current vehicle angle and the regulated head angle on the first dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than a first threshold,

if the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold, the alert unit generates a warning message.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning message comprises at least one of a voice, a video, a vibration or a combination thereof.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a current vehicle speed of the vehicle, and determines whether the current vehicle speed is larger than a vehicle speed threshold,

wherein the alert unit generates the warning message when the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold and the current vehicle speed is larger than the vehicle speed threshold.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first sensor further comprising:

a speed sensor, detecting the current vehicle speed; and

an angle sensor, detecting the initial vehicle angle and the current vehicle angle on the first dimension.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor detects an initial vehicle angle of the vehicle on a second dimension, and the second sensor detects an initial head angle of the driver on the second dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle on the second dimension based on the initial vehicle angle and the initial head angle on the second dimension,

wherein the first sensor detects a current vehicle angle of the vehicle on the second dimension, and the second sensor detects a current head angle of the driver on the second dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulated head angle of the driver on the second dimension based on the current head angle and the regulation angle on the second dimension,

wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of a difference value on the second dimension between the current vehicle angle and the regulated head angle on the second dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the difference value on the second dimension is larger than a second threshold,

if the absolute value of the difference value on the second dimension is larger than the second threshold, the alert unit generates the warning message.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first sensor detects an initial vehicle angle of the vehicle on a third dimension, and the second sensor detects an initial head angle of the driver on the third dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle on the third dimension based on the initial vehicle angle and the initial head angle on the third dimension,

wherein the first sensor detects a current vehicle angle of the vehicle on the third dimension, and the second sensor detects a current head angle of the driver on the third dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulated head angle of the driver on the third dimension based on the current head angle and the regulation angle on the third dimension,

wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of a difference value on the third dimension between the current vehicle angle and the regulated head angle on the third dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the difference value on the third dimension is larger than a third threshold,

if the absolute value of the difference value on the third dimension is larger than the third threshold, the alert unit generates the warning message.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alert unit further calculates a predetermined time, if the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold for the predetermined time, the alert unit generates the warning message.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a remote server, wherein the alert unit transmits the warning message to the remote server through the first communication unit or the second communication unit.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first sensor and the second sensor is a compass or a magnetometer.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first communication unit and the second communication unit is a wireless communication unit or a wired communication unit.

11. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a micro-controller;

a sensor, coupled to the micro-controller and configured to detect an initial angle and a current angle of the electronic apparatus on a first dimension;

a communication unit, coupled to the micro-controller and configured to receive a first signal of an initial angle of an another electronic apparatus on the first dimension, and receives a second signal of a current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension;

a regulation unit, coupled to the micro-controller, wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle on the first dimension based on the initial angle of the electronic apparatus on the first dimension and the initial angle of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension, and adjusts one of the current angle of the electronic apparatus on the first dimension and the current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension based on the regulation angle on the first dimension to generate a regulated angle on the first dimension; and

an alert unit, coupled to the micro-controller, wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of a difference value on the first dimension between the regulated angle on the first dimension and another one of the current angle of the electronic apparatus on the first dimension and the current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than a first threshold,

if the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold, the alert unit generates a warning message.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the warning message comprises at least one of a voice, a video, a vibration or a combination thereof.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to detects a current vehicle speed of a vehicle, and determines whether the current vehicle speed is larger than a vehicle speed threshold,

wherein the alert unit generates the warning message only when the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold and the current vehicle speed is larger than the vehicle speed threshold.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor further comprising:

a speed sensor, detecting the current vehicle speed; and

an angle sensor, detecting the initial angle of the vehicle on the first dimension and the current angle of the vehicle on the first dimension.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor detects an initial angle of the electronic apparatus on a second dimension, and the communication unit receives an initial angle of the another electronic apparatus on the second dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle on the second dimension based on the initial angle of the electronic apparatus on the second dimension and the initial angle of the another electronic apparatus on the second dimension,

wherein the sensor detects a current angle of the electronic apparatus on the second dimension, and the communication unit receives a current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the second dimension,

wherein the regulation unit adjusts one of the current angle of the electronic apparatus on the second dimension and the current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the second dimension based on the regulation angle on the second dimension to generate a regulated angle on the second dimension,

wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of a difference value on the second dimension between the regulated angle on the second dimension and another one of the current angle of the electronic apparatus on the second dimension and the current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the second dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the difference value on the second dimension is larger than a second threshold,

if the absolute value of the difference value on the second dimension is larger than the second threshold, the alert unit generates the warning message.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sensor detects an initial angle of the electronic apparatus on a third dimension, and the communication unit receives an initial angle of the another electronic apparatus on the third dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle on the third dimension based on the initial angle of the electronic apparatus on the third dimension and the initial angle of the another electronic apparatus on the third dimension,

wherein the sensor detects a current angle of the electronic apparatus on the third dimension, and the communication unit receives a current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the third dimension,

wherein the regulation unit adjust one of the current angle of the electronic apparatus on the third dimension and the current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the third dimension based on the regulation angle on the third dimension to generate a regulated angle on the third dimension,

wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of a difference value on the third dimension between the regulated angle on the third dimension and another one of the current angle of the electronic apparatus on the third dimension and the current angle of the another electronic apparatus on the third dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the difference value on the third dimension is larger than a third threshold,

if the absolute value of the difference value on the third dimension is larger than the third threshold, the alert unit generates the warning message.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the alert unit further calculates a predetermined time, if the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold for the predetermined time, the alert unit generates the warning message.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the alert unit transmits the warning message to a remote server through the communication.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor is a compass or a magnetometer.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communication unit is a wireless communication unit or a wired communication unit.

21. A method for detecting a condition of a driver, the method comprising:

detecting an initial vehicle angle of a vehicle on a first dimension;

detecting an initial head angle of the driver on the first dimension;

reading a regulation signal to determine whether to perform a regulation process, and when reading the regulation signal, calculating a regulation angle on the first dimension based on the initial head angle and the initial vehicle angle on the first dimension;

detecting a current vehicle angle of the vehicle on the first dimension and a current head angle of the driver on the first dimension;

calculating a regulated head angle of the driver on the first dimension based on the current head angle and the regulation angle on the first dimension;

calculating the absolute value of a difference value between the current vehicle angle and the regulated head angle on the first dimension;

determining whether the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than a first threshold; and

generating a warning message, if the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the step of generating a warning message comprising:

generating at least one of a voice, a video, a vibration or a combination of the voice, the video, and the vibration.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, the method further comprising:

detecting a current vehicle speed of the vehicle;

determining whether the current vehicle speed is larger than a vehicle speed threshold; and

executing the step of generating the warning message when the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold and the current vehicle speed is larger than the vehicle speed threshold.

24. The method as claimed in claim 21, the method further comprising:

detecting an initial vehicle angle of the vehicle on second dimension;

detecting an initial head angle of the driver on second dimension;

calculating a regulation angle on the second dimension based on the initial head angle and the initial vehicle angle on the second dimension;

detecting a current vehicle angle of the vehicle on the second dimension and a current head angle of the driver on the second dimension;

calculating a regulated head angle of the driver on the second dimension based on the current head angle and the regulation angle on the second dimension;

calculating the absolute value of a difference value on the second dimension between the current vehicle angle and the regulated head angle on the second dimension;

determining whether the absolute value of the difference value on the second dimension is larger than a second threshold; and

generating the warning message, if the absolute value of the difference value on the second dimension is larger than the second threshold.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, the method further comprising:

detecting an initial vehicle angle of the vehicle on a third dimension;

detecting an initial head angle of the driver on the third dimension;

calculating a regulation angle on the third dimension based on the initial head angle and the initial vehicle angle on the third dimension;

detecting a current vehicle angle of the vehicle on the third dimension and a current head angle of the driver on the third dimension;

calculating a regulated head angle of the driver on the third dimension based on the current head angle and the regulation angle on the third dimension;

calculating the absolute value of a difference value on the third dimension between the current vehicle angle and the regulated head angle on the third dimension;

determining whether the absolute value of the difference value on the third dimension is larger than a third threshold; and

generating the warning message, if the absolute value of the difference value on the third dimension is larger than the third threshold.

26. The method as claimed in claim 21, the method further comprising:

calculating a predetermined time; and

executing the step of generating the warning message, if the absolute value of the difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold for the predetermined time.

27. The method as claimed in claim 21, the method further comprising:

transmitting the warning message to a remote server.

28. A system for detecting a condition of a driver, the system comprising:

a first electrical device, including a first sensor coupling to a first communication unit, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect an initial vehicle angular velocity of a vehicle on a first dimension;

a second electrical device, including a second sensor coupling to a second communication unit, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect an initial head angular velocity of the driver on the first dimension;

a regulation unit, disposed in the first electrical device or the second electrical device, wherein the regulation unit is configured to calculate a regulation angular velocity on the first dimension based on the initial vehicle angular velocity and the initial head angular velocity on the first dimension; and

an alert unit, disposed in the first electrical device or the second electrical device,

wherein the first sensor detects a current vehicle angular velocity of the vehicle on the first dimension, and the second sensor detects a current head angular velocity of the driver on the first dimension,

wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulated head angular velocity of the driver on the first dimension based on the current head angular velocity and the regulation angular velocity on the first dimension,

wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of an angular velocity difference value on the first dimension between the current vehicle angular velocity and the regulated head angular velocity on the first dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the angular velocity difference value on the first dimension is larger than a first threshold,

if the absolute value of the angular velocity difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold, the alert unit generates a warning message.

29. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a micro-controller;

a sensor, coupled to the micro-controller and configured to detect an initial angular velocity and a current angular velocity of the electronic apparatus on a first dimension;

a communication unit, coupled to the micro-controller and configured to receive a first signal of an initial angular velocity of an another electronic apparatus on the first dimension, and receives a second signal of a current angular velocity of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension;

a regulation unit, coupled to the micro-controller, wherein the regulation unit calculates a regulation angular velocity on the first dimension based on the initial angular velocity of the electronic apparatus on the first dimension and the initial angular velocity of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension, and adjusts one of the current angular velocity of the electronic apparatus on the first dimension and the current angular velocity of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension based on the regulation angular velocity to generate a regulated angular velocity on the first dimension; and

an alert unit, coupled to the micro-controller, wherein the alert unit calculates the absolute value of an angular velocity difference value on the first dimension between the regulated angular velocity on the first dimension and another one of the current angular velocity of the electronic apparatus on the first dimension and the current angular velocity of the another electronic apparatus on the first dimension and determines whether the absolute value of the angular velocity difference value one the first dimension is larger than a first threshold,

if the absolute value of the angular velocity difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold, the alert unit generates a warning message.

30. A method for detecting a condition of a driver, the method comprising:

detecting an initial vehicle angular velocity of a vehicle on a first dimension;

detecting an initial head angular velocity of the driver on the first dimension;

reading a regulation signal to determine whether to perform a regulation process, and when reading the regulation signal, calculating a regulation angular velocity on the first dimension based on the initial head angular velocity and the initial vehicle angular velocity on the first dimension;

detecting a current vehicle angular velocity of the vehicle on the first dimension and a current head angular velocity of the driver on the first dimension;

calculating a regulated head angular velocity of the driver on the first dimension based on the current head angular velocity and the regulation angular velocity on the first dimension;

calculating the absolute value of an angular velocity difference value on the first dimension between the current vehicle angular velocity and the regulated head angular velocity on the first dimension;

determining whether the absolute value of the angular velocity difference on the first dimension value is larger than a first threshold; and

generating a warning message, if the absolute value of the angular velocity difference value on the first dimension is larger than the first threshold.