Operator alertness monitor

• US 10,198,952 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xinctec Technologies LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Maytal, Benjamin, Meir, Noam
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi C
• Application Number:
  US15/843,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20180114444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 340575, 340435, 340438, 340449, 340905, 3405681
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

In one example embodiment, an operator alertness monitoring system may include a proximate condition monitor that is configured to issue an alert to direct an operator'"'"'s attention to a detected hazardous condition, and an operator alertness monitor that is configured to detect the operator'"'"'s physical reaction to the issued alert and instruct the proximate condition monitor to respond to the operator'"'"'s detected physical reaction to the issued alert.

Claims

1. A hazard management system comprising:

a proximate condition monitor configured to detect a hazardous condition, wherein the detected hazardous condition comprises one or more of an external obstacle and a localized technical failure;

an operator alertness monitor coupled to the proximate condition monitor and configured to monitor physiological reaction of an operator to the detected hazardous condition, within a particular time period, to determine whether the operator is aware of the detected hazardous condition, wherein the particular time period varies in accordance with a type of the detected hazardous condition; and

a warning device coupled to the proximate condition monitor and the operator alertness monitor, wherein the warning device is configured to implement a corrective action to manage the detected hazardous condition, in response to a determination that the operator is unaware of the detected hazardous condition.

2. The hazard management system of claim 1, wherein the implementation of the corrective action includes one or more of a reduction of a current velocity of an automobile, an evasive action, a diversion of a monitored system away from the detected hazardous condition, and a power off of the automobile.

3. The hazard management system of claim 1, wherein the hazardous condition comprises at least one of an approaching object and a mechanical failure.

4. A hazard management system comprising:

a proximate condition monitor configured to detect a hazardous condition associated with driving conditions, wherein the detected hazardous condition comprises one or more of an external obstacle and a localized technical failure;

an operator alertness monitor coupled to the proximate condition monitor and configured to detect an increase in a body temperature of a driver, within a particular time period, to determine whether the driver is aware of the detected hazardous condition, wherein the particular time period varies in accordance with a type of the detected hazardous condition; and

a warning device coupled to the proximate condition monitor and the operator alertness monitor, wherein the warning device is configured to implement a corrective action to manage the detected hazardous condition, in response to a determination that the driver is unaware of the detected hazardous condition.

5. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein the implementation of the corrective action includes one or more of a reduction of a current velocity of an automobile, an evasive action, a diversion of a monitored system away from the detected hazardous condition, and a power off of the automobile.

6. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein:

the operator alertness monitor is further configured to determine that the body temperature of the driver is below a particular body temperature to determine that the driver is unaware of the detected hazardous condition.

7. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein the operator alertness monitor includes a thermal imaging camera.

8. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein:

the hazard management system is included in an automobile, and

the operator alertness monitor includes a thermal imaging camera, directed at a driver'"'"'s seat.

9. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein the operator alertness monitor includes a body temperature sensor embedded within a driver'"'"'s seat.

10. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein the operator alertness monitor includes a thermal imaging camera that is configured to detect the increase in the body temperature of the driver, relative to a particular threshold value, within the particular time period.

11. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein the operator alertness monitor includes a body temperature sensor connected to a steering wheel, and wherein the body temperature sensor is configured to detect the increase in the body temperature of the driver, relative to a particular threshold value, within the particular time period.

12. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein the hazardous condition includes at least one of precipitation, rumble strips, a vehicle within a particular perimeter, road conditions, wind conditions, an engine malfunction, and a software malfunction.

13. The hazard management system of claim 4, wherein the hazardous condition comprises at least one of an approaching object and a mechanical failure.

14. A method to provide a corrective action for a hazardous condition, the method comprising:

detecting the hazardous condition, wherein the detected hazardous condition comprises one or more of an external obstacle and a localized technical failure;

monitoring real-time physiological parameters of an operator, responsive to the detected hazardous condition;

comparing the monitored real-time physiological parameters of the operator to a pre-stored physiological profile of the operator;

in response to the comparison, detecting an above-threshold increase in the monitored real-time physiological parameters of the operator within a particular time period for determining whether the operator is aware of the detected hazardous condition, wherein the particular time period varies in accordance with a type of the detected hazardous condition; and

implementing the corrective action to manage the detected hazardous condition, in response to a determination that the operator is unaware of the detected hazardous condition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein implementing the corrective action includes one or more of reducing a current velocity of an automobile, an evasive action, diverting a monitored system away from the detected hazardous condition, and powering off the automobile.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein issuing an alert to direct attention of the operator to the detected hazardous condition comprises generating an audible alarm.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the real-time physiological parameters of the operator include at least one of a body temperature, a pulse rate, and a blood pressure value.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the hazardous condition comprises at least one of an approaching object and a mechanical failure.