Driver control assistance sensor and method

• US 9,666,099 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murphy, Gerald
• Original Assignee: Murphy, Gerald
• Inventors: Murphy, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US14/776,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20160027337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 340454, 340439, 340575, 340576, 3404255, 340457, 34042632, 180271, 701 34, 701 341, 701 70
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles

Abstract

An arrangement for training a vehicle driver or improving driving ability having a sensor located in a position beneath a motor vehicle brake pedal. A warning indicator is connected to the sensor to provide a signal when the sensor detects that a driver'"'"'s heel is not in contact with a floor of the vehicle during braking.

Claims

1. An arrangement for training a vehicle driver or improving driving ability, comprising:

a sensor located only in a position beneath a motor vehicle brake pedal;

a warning indicator; and

a controller configured to receive an input from a vehicle brake system and the sensor, and configured to activate the warning indicator only during braking when the sensor detects that the driver'"'"'s heel of a foot used for braking is not in contact with a floor of the vehicle.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensitive switch.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the warning indicator is connected wirelessly to at least one of the controller or the sensor.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the warning indicator is hard-wired to the vehicle.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the warning indicator provides at least one of an audio, visual, or a vibration signal.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pad that is installed in a motor vehicle on the floor beneath the brake pedal.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor is attached to the heel of the driver'"'"'s shoe.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor communicates wirelessly via a wireless communication device to at least one of the controller or the warning indicator.

9. A method for sensing a position of a driver'"'"'s heel during braking to improve vehicle control, comprising:

providing a sensor located only in a position beneath a motor vehicle brake pedal, a warning indicator, and a controller configured to receive an input from a vehicle brake system and the sensor,

the sensor detecting contact between a heel of the driver'"'"'s foot and a floor of the vehicle, and providing a signal, and the controller activating the warning indicator upon detecting that the driver'"'"'s heel is not in contact with the floor of the vehicle only during active braking of the vehicle.