DRIVER FATIGUE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140097957A1
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Breed, David S, Johnson, Wendell C, DuVall, Wilbur E
• Granted Patent: US 9,129,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0407 based on behaviour analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

Method and system for monitoring a driver during movement of the vehicle includes an information obtaining system that obtains information about a driver who traveled the same road at a previous time, and a processor that analyzes the obtained information and vehicle movement to determine whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle. The loss of ability to continue to control the vehicle arises from the driver falling asleep or otherwise being incapable of controlling the vehicle after initially having been awake or otherwise capable of controlling the vehicle. A reactive component is affected by the processor'"'"'s determination that the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle, and preferably requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to operate the vehicle or exerting control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop.

Claims

1. A vehicle including a system for monitoring a driver of the vehicle during movement of the vehicle under control of the driver on a road, the vehicle comprising

an information obtaining system arranged within the vehicle and that obtains information about a driver who traveled the same road as the vehicle at a previous time;

and

a processor arranged within the vehicle and coupled to said information obtaining system, said processor analyzing the information obtained by said information obtaining system and movement of the vehicle to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle, the loss of ability to continue to control the vehicle arising from the driver falling asleep or otherwise being incapable of controlling the vehicle after initially having been awake or otherwise capable of controlling the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to analyze the information obtained by said information obtaining system and movement of the vehicle as reflected by motions of the driver to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein information about the driver who traveled the same road is included into a map database accessible by said processor.

4. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said reactive component is configured to require action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to control movement of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said reactive component comprises a warning light or a warning sound generating device.

6. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said reactive component comprises a button which, when pressed, indicates that the driver has regained the ability to operate the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a horn and lights, said processor operating said horn and lights to warn other vehicles of the inability of the driver to operate the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to analyze the information obtained by said information obtaining system and movement of the vehicle relative to a map to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle relative to the map, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to analyze the information obtained by said information obtaining system and movement of the vehicle relative to lane boundaries to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle relative to the lane boundaries, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the movement of the vehicle analyzed by said processor includes at least one of acceleration of the vehicle, an angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle and angular motion of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to analyze the information obtained by said information obtaining system and movement of the vehicle relative to traffic control elements to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle relative to the traffic control elements, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the traffic control elements include stop lights and stop signs.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to analyze the information obtained by said information obtaining system and movement of the vehicle by analyzing movement of the driver relative to movement of the vehicle to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the relative movement of the driver to the vehicle, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said reactive component is configured to generate an audio or visual cue directed to the driver and requiring a responsive action by the driver to the generated audio or visual cue to indicate that the driver has regained the ability to operate the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein said reactive component is configured require a responsive physical action by the driver to the generated audio or visual cue to indicate that the driver has regained the ability to operate the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a frame, said information obtaining system, said processor and said reactive component being arranged on said frame.

17. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said reactive component is configured to exert control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop.

23. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a reactive component arranged within the vehicle coupled to said processor and which is affected by the determination by said processor that the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

18. A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle by a driver during movement of the vehicle under control of the driver, comprising:

obtaining information about a driver who traveled the same road as the vehicle at a previous time; and

analyzing, using a processor on the vehicle, the information obtained about the driver who traveled the same road as the vehicle at a previous time and movement of the vehicle to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the information and movement of the vehicle, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle, the loss of ability to continue to control the vehicle arising from the driver falling asleep or otherwise being incapable of controlling the vehicle after initially having been awake or otherwise capable of controlling the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the processor further analyzes the information and movement of the vehicle relative to a map to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle relative to the map, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the processor further analyzes the information and movement of the vehicle relative to lane boundaries to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle relative to the lane boundaries, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the processor further analyzes the information and movement of the vehicle relative to traffic control elements to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the obtained information and movement of the vehicle relative to the traffic control elements, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the processor further analyzes the information and movement of the vehicle by analyzing movement of the driver relative to movement of the vehicle to determine during movement of the vehicle and based on the relative movement of the driver to the vehicle, whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising affecting, upon a determination that the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle, a reactive component on the vehicle that requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to control movement of the vehicle.