Driver drowsiness prediction system and method thereof

• US 9,165,452 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Chia-Hsien, Chang, Yao-Tsung, Lin, Pai-Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/611,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576, 340/691.1, 340/692, 180/443, 180/404, 180/446, 180/79.1, 180/133, 180/142, 128/639, 128/774, 128/782, 128/732, 128/739, 128/742, 128/905, 128/706, 128/630
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A driver drowsiness prediction system includes a vital signal detection unit, a control unit and a network bridge module. The vital signal detection unit detects vital signals of a driver. The control unit receives the driver'"'"'s vital signs, and stores at least a feature signal. The feature signal represents the vital signal pattern of losing consciousness. The control unit continuously compares the detected vital signal with the feature signal. When the vital signal is similar to the feature signal, the control unit issues a pre-alarming command. The network bridge module receives the pre-alarming command and is triggered to perform a network connection process. The network bridge module logs into a pre-determined social website according to a login script, and then sends a pre-alarming message thereon, wherein the pre-alarming message includes an event indicating the driver is near unconsciousness.

Claims

1. A driver drowsiness prediction system, adapted to be detectable on conscious statuses of a driver and alarmable if the driver is near unconsciousness, the system comprising:

a vital signal detection unit, detecting a plurality of the driver'"'"'s vital signals;

a control unit, receiving the vital signals and storing at least a feature signal therein, the feature signal representing a vital signal pattern when the driver is near unconsciousness, wherein the control unit continuously compares the vital signals detected by the vital signal detection unit with the feature signal, and the control unit issues an pre-alarming command when the vital signal is identical or similar to the feature signal;

at least an awakening module, to perform an awakening operation to awaken the driver in response to the pre-alarming command, and to wait for an awakening response provided by the driver for a period to determine an action according to the awakening response;

a network bridge module, after receiving the pre-alarming command, the network bridge module performing a network linking operation and controlling a client module to log in a pre-determined social website according to a login script and then sending a pre-alarming message thereon, wherein the pre-alarming message comprises an event indicating the driver is near unconsciousness; and

a positioning module,

wherein the driver drowsiness prediction system is provided within a vehicle of the driver,

wherein a person other than the driver, who is remote from the vehicle, is informed of the event via the pre-determined social website, and

wherein the positioning module receives a plurality of positioning signals transmitted from a plurality of positioning signal sources and transforms into at least a positioning coordinate, according to the positioning coordinate, the network bridge module indicating a geographic position of the driver in map information and attaching within the pre-alarming message accordingly.

2. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the sent pre-alarming message is posted on the social website.

3. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein sending the pre-alarming message comprises through the social website, sending the pre-alarming message or a message correlative with the pre-alarming message to a designated receiver, to suggest the designated receiver contacting the driver.

4. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the vital signal comprises brainwave and the vital signal detection unit comprises a brainwave instrument.

5. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 4, wherein the brainwave comprises a superior brainwave and the feature signal comprises a brainwave frequency range, the vital signal being defined similar to the feature signal when the superior brainwave matches the brainwave frequency range.

6. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 5, wherein the brainwave frequency range is within 8-9Hz.

7. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a mobile communication device for performing a control program.

8. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a signal analyzing unit, receiving and analyzing the brainwave, to determine whether the driver is near unconsciousness or remaining awake; and

a controller, issuing the pre-alarming command when the driver is near unconsciousness.

9. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1 further comprising an automobile control module, the automobile control module performing an automobile control operation after receiving the pre-alarming command.

10. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 9, wherein the automobile control operation comprises detecting a moving direction, adjusting the moving direction and alerting to other automobiles.

11. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the awakening operation comprises outputting alarming sounds, vibrations, slight electric shocks, alarming lights and outputting an instruction requesting the driver'"'"'s response to at least one of the outputs.

21. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the awakening operation comprises a slight awakening and a severe awakening, the awakening module performs the slight awakening first, if the awakening module does not receive the awakening response in the period, the awakening module determines the action as performing the severe awakening.

22. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the awakening module determines the action as terminating the awakening operation if the awakening module receives the awakening response.

23. The driver drowsiness prediction system of claim 1, wherein the awakening response is selected from a group consisting of a voice response, a specific key command, and a specific operating gesture.

12. A driver drowsiness prediction method, adapted to be detectable on conscious statuses of a driver and alarmable if the driver is near unconsciousness, the method comprising:

providing a driver drowsiness prediction system within a vehicle of the driver;

receiving a plurality of the driver'"'"'s vital signals;

analyzing the vital signals;

determining whether the driver is near unconsciousness;

when the driver is near unconsciousness, performing an awakening operation to awaken the driver and waiting for an awakening response provided by the driver for a period to determine an action according to the awakening response;

performing a network linking operation using a network bridge module of the driver drowsiness prediction system, logging in a pre-determined social website according to a login script by controlling a client module and then sending a pre-alarming message thereon, wherein the pre-alarming message comprises an event indicating the driver is near unconsciousness;

informing a person other than the driver, who is remote from the vehicle, of the event via the pre-determined social website;

obtaining a least a positioning coordinate; and

according to the positioning coordinate, indicating a geographic position of the driver in map information and attaching within the pre-alarming message accordingly.

13. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12, wherein the sent pre-alarming message is posted on the social website.

14. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12, wherein the step of sending the pre-alarming message comprises through the social website, sending the pre-alarming message or a message correlative with the pre-alarming message to a designated receiver, to suggest the designated receiver contacting the driver.

15. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12, wherein the vital signal comprises brain wave and the vital signal detection unit comprises a brainwave instrument.

16. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 15 further comprising a step of setting a brainwave frequency range, wherein the brainwave comprises a superior brainwave and the driver is defined near unconsciousness when the superior brainwave matches the brainwave frequency range.

17. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 16, wherein the brainwave frequency range is within 8-9Hz.

18. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12 further comprising a step of performing an automobile control operation when the driver is near unconsciousness.

19. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 18, wherein the automobile control operation comprises detecting a moving direction, adjusting the moving direction and alerting to other automobiles.

20. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12, wherein after performing the awakening operation, the method further comprises detecting whether the driver is returning to consciousness, and alarming the awakened driver.

24. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12, wherein the awakening operation comprises a slight awakening and a severe awakening, the slight awakening is performed first, if the awakening response is not received in the period, the action is determined as performing the severe awakening.

25. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12, wherein the action is determined as terminating the awakening operation if the awakening response is received in the period.

26. The driver drowsiness prediction method of claim 12, wherein the awakening response is selected from a group consisting of a voice response, a specific key command, and a specific operating gesture.