Sleep detection and driver alert apparatus

• US 5,689,241 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Russell Sr. Clarke, Phyllis Maurer Clarke
• Original Assignee: James Russell Sr. Clarke, Phyllis Maurer Clarke
• Inventors: Clarke, Phyllis Maurer, Clarke, James Russell Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/656,053
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A sleep detection and driver alert apparatus has a compact housing that can be placed around the rearview mirror or on the dashboard. It contains all lenses and electronic detection mechanisms for monitoring the effects of early impending sleep by means of an infrared auto-focusing, digital, image stabilizing lens with zoom capability. Additionally, the unit contains an added infrared thermal sensor for the monitoring and evaluation of different ambient temperatures around the facial areas of the nose and mouth. These temperature changes will be that of the exhaled gas plume of normal breathing patterns, which will lower in volume as the driver begins to hypoventilate, thus increasing their blood level of carbon dioxide which is in most part the reason for early drowsiness associated with sleep. The device will monitor via the infrared camera the thermal image changes in pixel color of open versus closed eyes of the driver via the temperature sensitive infrared portion of the digitized photographic image passed through a video charge coupling device. The combination of non movement and a decrease in breath temperature, which is a physiological response to hypoventilation thus initiating drowsiness, will trigger the infrared camera to zoom onto the eye region of the driver. This combined data is routed to the sleep status microprocessor memory via the optical image detector and thermal sensor for data changes above or below baseline data measurements.

Claims

1. A sleep detection and driver alert apparatus for sensing sleep or drowsiness in a driver of a motor vehicle or the like, comprising:

a. a containing housing suited to be attached to the rear view mirror or attached to the dashboard of an automobile;

b. an infrared, digital, auto-focus image stabilization zoom camera type lens;

c. thermal sensing means for sensing ambient heat output pixel color changes from a driver'"'"'s facial mouth and eye area;

d. an optical motion detection circuit for sensing absence of motion from the output of said digital infrared auto-focus image stabilization zoom camera type lens;

e. digital, infrared thermal imaging means for determining changes in infrared thermal output between open and closed eye color pixel changes;

f. sleep status detection means for comparing the output of said optical motion detection circuit, and said thermal sensing means;

g. an auto calibration memory for storing alarm limit and range data for users of differing size, height, and other physical characteristics;

h. an alarm circuit for comparing the output of said sleep status detection means with previously stored calibration information; and

i. an audible alarm means for sounding an audible alarm.

2. The sleep detection and driver alert apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said thermal sensing means consists of a means for sensing and measuring thermal output color pixel changes located in the infrared range of the radiation spectrum.

3. The sleep detection and driver alert apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said thermal imaging means consist of an opto-electronic infrared imaging device.

4. The sleep detection and driver alert apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said digital infrared auto-focus image stabilization zoom camera lens has a range in focal length of between one foot and three feet.

5. The sleep detection and driver alert apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said sleep status detection means comprises a microprocessor logic controller.

6. The sleep detection and driver alert apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said alarm means comprises a simulated voice output generated to produce an escalating series of alarms based upon the frequency of the detected sleep episode.

7. A sleep detection apparatus for sensing sleep or drowsiness, comprising:

a. auto focusing sensing means for sensing an individual'"'"'s face for detecting movement therefrom and generating an image therefrom;

b. an image stabilizer for stabilizing said image generated from said sensing means;

c. thermal imaging means for determining changes in heat output resulting from differences between open and closed eyes via pixel count and changes in lowered respiration rates by means of smaller exhaled plume and temperature variations;

d. an auto-calibration alarm limit and range data for users of differing size, height, and other physical characteristics;

e. an alarm circuit for comparing the output of said sleep status detection means with previously stored calibration information; and

f. an audible alarm means for sounding an audible alarm.

8. The sleep detection apparatus described in claim 7, wherein said thermal sensing means consists of a means for sensing and measuring thermal output located in the infrared range of the radiation spectrum for both temperature changes with heat in exhaled breath and pixel color changes in eye area when opened or closed.

9. The sleep detection apparatus described in claim 7, wherein said thermal imaging means consist of an opto-electronic infrared imaging device.

10. The sleep detection apparatus described in claim 7, wherein said sleep status detection means comprises a microprocessor logic controller.

11. The sleep detection apparatus described in claim 7, wherein said audible alarm means comprises a simulated voice output generated to produce an escalating series of alarms based upon the frequency of the detected sleep episodes.