Drowsy driver detection system

• US 9,514,626 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wu, Riheng, Turner, Jason, Browning, Caleb, Brummett, Travis
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US14/614,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576, 340/573.1, 180/271
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions

Abstract

A method of detecting impairment of a driver of a vehicle. The method includes sensing, using a sensor, a position of the driver'"'"'s head at a plurality of time points; determining, using a microprocessor, changes in the position of the driver'"'"'s head between the plurality of time points; evaluating, using a microprocessor, whether the changes in the position of the driver'"'"'s head between the plurality of time points exhibit at least one of a periodic and a quasi-periodic pattern; determining whether the driver is impaired based on the pattern of the changes in the position of the driver'"'"'s head; and if the driver is impaired, alerting the driver using an alarm.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the alertness of an operator of a vehicle, the method comprising:

using a sensor to detect a first plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head relative to the sensor during a first period of time;

calculating a first set of head movement data using the first plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head detected during the first period of time;

calculating a first power spectrum of the first set of head movement data;

using the sensor to detect a second plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head relative to the sensor over a second period of time;

calculating a second set of head movement data using the second plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head detected during the second period of time;

calculating a second power spectrum of the second set of head movement data;

comparing the second power spectrum to the first power spectrum to determine whether the second power spectrum has a greater magnitude than the first power spectrum at a characteristic frequency to evaluate the alertness of the operator;

using the sensor to detect a third plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head relative to the sensor over a third period of time;

calculating a third set of head movement data using the third plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head detected during the third period of time;

calculating a third power spectrum of the third set of head movement data; and

comparing the third power spectrum to the first power spectrum to determine whether the third power spectrum has a greater magnitude than the first power spectrum at a characteristic frequency to evaluate the alertness of the operator during the third period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located behind the operator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located in front of the operator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the head movement data comprises changes in the positions of the driver'"'"'s head.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting the operator when it is determined that the operator is impaired.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein alerting the operator includes using at least one of an audible alarm and a visual alarm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator is alert during the first period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the alertness of the operator during the second period of time is unknown.

10. A system for monitoring the alertness of an operator of a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting the position of the operator'"'"'s head relative to the sensor; and

a controller operatively coupled to the sensor, the controller configured to

use the sensor to detect a first plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head relative to the sensor during a first period of time,

calculate a first set of head movement data using the first plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head detected during the first period of time,

calculate a first power spectrum of the first set of head movement data;

use the sensor to detect a second plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head relative to the sensor during a second period of time,

calculate a second set of head movement data using the second plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head detected during the second period of time,

calculate a second power spectrum of the first set of head movement data,

compare the second power spectrum to the first power spectrum to determine whether the second power spectrum has a greater magnitude than the first power spectrum at a characteristic frequency to evaluate the alertness of the operator,

use the sensor to detect a third plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head relative to the sensor over a third period of time,

calculate a third set of head movement data using the third plurality of positions of the operator'"'"'s head detected during the third period of time,

calculate a third power spectrum of the third set of head movement data, and

compare the third power spectrum to the first power spectrum to determine whether the third power spectrum has a greater magnitude than the first power spectrum at a characteristic frequency to evaluate the alertness of the operator during the third period of time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is located behind the operator.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is located in front of the operator.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the head movement data comprises changes in the positions of the driver'"'"'s head.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to alert the operator when it is determined that the operator is impaired.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller alerts the operator using at least one of an audible alarm and a visual alarm.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the operator is alert during the first period of time.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the alertness of the operator during the second period of time is unknown.