Automatic engagement of a driver assistance system

• US 9,573,601 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lytx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lytx, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoye, Brett, Lambert, Daniel, Sutton, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Kelly D
• Application Number:
  US14/965,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A system for automatic engagement of a driver assistance system comprises an input interface, a processor, and an output interface. The input interface is configured to receive data associated with one or more events. The processor is configured to evaluate the risk associated with the data and to determine that the risk indicates a state change in a driver assistance system is appropriate. The output interface is configured to provide an indication that the state change in the driver assistance system is appropriate.

Claims

1. A system for automatic engagement of a driver assistance system, comprising:

an input interface configured to receive a data associated with one or more events;

a processor configured to;

evaluate a risk associated with the data; and

determine that the risk indicates an allowance of disengagement or a blocking of disengagement in a driver assistance system is appropriate, wherein in the event that the risk is determined to indicate the allowance of disengagement is appropriate, a driver is not blocked from disengaging the driver assistance system, and in the event that the risk is determined to indicate the blocking of disengagement is appropriate, the driver is blocked from disengaging the driver assistance system; and

an output interface configured to provide a visual or an audible indication to the driver that the allowance of disengagement or the blocking of disengagement in the driver assistance system is appropriate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver assistance system comprises an autonomous driver assistance system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the risk indicates a state change in one or more driving subsystems is appropriate.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the output interface is further configured to:

provide an indication that the state change to one or more driving subsystems is appropriate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the output interface is further configured to:

provide the data to a server for evaluation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk comprises a distracted driving risk.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk comprises a drowsy driving risk.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk comprises an intoxicated driving risk.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk comprises an aggressive driving risk.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk comprises a legal infraction risk.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk indicates an abnormal driving risk.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk indicates an icy roads risk.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk indicates a poor visibility risk.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk indicates a rain risk.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk indicates a failing brake risk.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk indicates a damaged tire risk.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein evaluating the risk comprises evaluating a driver state and evaluating an external state.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein an event of the one or more events comprises a driving event that is recorded and evaluated for a state of a driver or an external state indicative of risk.

19. A method for automatic engagement of a driver assistance system, comprising:

receiving a data associated with one or more events;

evaluating, using a processor, a risk associated with the data;

determining that the risk indicates an allowance of disengagement or a blocking of disengagement in a driver assistance system is appropriate, wherein in the event that the risk is determined to indicate the allowance of disengagement is appropriate, a driver is not blocked from disengaging the driver assistance system, and in the event that the risk is determined to indicate the blocking of disengagement is appropriate, the driver is blocked from disengaging the driver assistance system; and

providing a visual or an audible indication to the driver that the allowance of disengagement or the blocking of disengagement in the driver assistance system is appropriate.

20. A computer program product for automatic engagement of a driver assistance system, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a data associated with one or more events;

evaluating, using a processor, a risk associated with the data;

determining that the risk indicates an allowance of disengagement or a blocking of disengagement in a driver assistance system is appropriate, wherein in the event that the risk is determined to indicate the allowance of disengagement is appropriate, a driver is not blocked from disengaging the driver assistance system, and in the event that the risk is determined to indicate the blocking of disengagement is appropriate, the driver is blocked from disengaging the driver assistance system; and

providing a visual or an audible indication to the driver that the allowance of disengagement or the blocking of disengagement in the driver assistance system is appropriate.