AU699793B2

AU699793B2 - Electronic motor vehicle accident prevention device

Info

Publication number: AU699793B2
Application number: AU19925/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alexander Devine; F. Henderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-13
Filing date: 1997-04-29
Publication date: 1998-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-29
Also published as: AU1992597A

Description

AUSTRALIA P/00oon M i mPatents Act 1990 Regulaton 3.

Original Complete Specification Standard Patent Invention Title ELECTRONIC MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT PREVENTION

DEVICE

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me:- This ihvention han two electronic alarms and siren modules designed to be actuated by 3 bodily movements, associated with a Motor Vehicle driver falling asleep while driving.causing the siren to sound.

3 The 3 bodily movements associated with a driver falli-n asleep are as follows:- firstly, the driver's head 0 f. falling forward, secondly, the river's head falli n S" backwards and finally the driver's hands either relaxing the grip on the steering :heel or either hand fallin- 10 from the steering wheel.

Tt is common knowledge that motor vehicle accidents occur, 2 anv fatal, due to the driver falling asleep.

There are two items from pte prior art that are added to the vehicle such as, seat belts and air bags, they are designed to protect the driver and passengers, but only after the accident has happened; but nothing from the Prior art that is added to a vehicle exists, that is intended to stop an accident before it can happen. The t object to be achieved by this invention is to stop an accident before it can happen, by awakening a driver who

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2 has fallen asleep, with a loud electronic siren.

This invention consists of 2 electronic alarm siren module.

designed to be actuated by the aforesaid bodily movements, associated with the vehicle driver falling asleep.

The first Electronic- alarm siren module has an electronic circuit, known to the trade and it is connected to a Piezza siren 100DB's. This circuit is connected firstly to item r6 metal chin touch pad that is positioned just clear of the skin under the chin. Secondly the same circuit is connected to 15back head touch pad that is located on the vehicle's head crash pad If either the back of the head or the chin touches their own touch pad the siren sounds.

The siren is on only when touch pad is touched. Our research shows that both head movements as the driver falls asleep precede the action of the driver's hands falling from the steering wheel, the driver therefore would be awakened by the siren before this could happen thereby averting an accident. a slight modification is necessary to the steering wheel e lectronic alarm-siren module is situated on the centre 20 surface of the steering wheel it is identical to the chinhead module except for a slight wiring change to the circuits.

The sequence of the steering wheel modules' action is alternate.

The siren is on and off when the hand is placed on 41-42 or a3-44 metal foil adhesive strips that are adhered to the outside periphery of the steering wheel that are there as contacts and the flesh of the hand when grasping the wheel bridges the contacts and the siren stops, release the hand on the wheel and the siren starts.

The whole invention is made up as a kit, it is completely independant of the vehicle's electronics. The Electronicalarm siren modules are each powered by 8AA size batteries. It is designed to be used with both automatic and manual transmission vehicles., and it can be readily fitted to almost all existing vehicles.

The electronic design is such, being 12V,it can be readily built in the manufacturing process of a new vehicle.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. Sheet 1. Shows the deployment of the various components that constitute the invention in working mode.

It is complete except for one item6 that is not shown and it is situated on the other side of the driver.

:10 a a a o ooooo FIG. 2./ is the plastic box that houses the components

F

Sheet 2 of the steering wheel electronic- alarm siren module 'IG. are the total components that fit into FIG. 2 plastic box that make up the steering wheel electronic-.iarm siren module FIG. is the plastic box that houses the components Sheet 3 of the chin-head electronic alarm sir- module

I

FIG. 5./ Sheet 3 FIG. 6. Sheet 3 are the various components that fit into the FIG. 4 plastic box and make up the chin-head electronic alarm siren module is a cross section of the chin touch pad 16 FIG. 7. the design of one half of a metal touch Sheet 4 pad contact the other half is identical. Items 25-27.

FIG. 8. is the completed head touch pad, 15 perspective view FIG. 9. shows the completed shortened assembly of the 2 touch pad contacts. 25-27.

FIG. 10/ Sheet 4 FIG. 11/ Sheet 4 FIG. 12/ Sheet 5 FIG. 13/ Sheet 5 FIG. 14/ Sheet FIGS. 15/1 Sheet 5 is a perspective view of the pinewood base of the head touch pad is a sub assembly of the pressure board that actuates the head touch pad 15 contacts.

is a polyurethane pressure pad 34 that is situated under the vinyl of the head touch pad is a packing piece plywood under the curved contacts 31, inside the head touch pad is a section of the head touch pad 15 indicating the position of the various components.

.6 are 2 views side elevation and plan of the curved contact 31 used in the operation of the head touch pad shows the position of all components necessary for the operation of the steering .hvel alarm-sirn module 6.

15 20

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FIG. 17/ Sheet 5 FIG. 1 Sheet 5 FIG. 20.

Sheet 7 a perspective viewbottom of wheel adhering the linear 2 strips of metal adhesive foil to the outside periphery of the steering wheel 2 strips 43 and 44 to the left side and 2 strips 41 and 42 to the right side.

"ottom of wheel adhering the 4 wraparound metal adhesive foils 45 making contact with the 2 horizontal contact metal strips on left side 43 and 44 and making contact with 41 and 42 strips on the right side. Repeat above at centreline at top One of the 2 leads, 37 and 38, that plug in to the plastic box of the steering wheel alarm siren module 2 metal clips, items 47, that encircle the steering wheel 35 on the right side making contact with the horizontal metal foil contact strips 41 and 42. FIG. 21 lead 38 is attached to each clip 47 Repeat this process, see FIG. 17 for 2 clips 46 on the left hand side.

FIG. 21.

Sheet 7 FIG. 22.

Sheet 7 The same operation as before applies to the 2 clips 46 on the left hand side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention was designed primarily to stop an accident happening to a vehicle, by monitoring the bodily movements of a vehicle driver falling asleep and using one of these movements to actuate an electronic alarm siren module, that will bring in a siren to awaken the driver. Nothing exists in this category in the prior art, except seat belts and air bags, they are there only to protect the driver or passenger after an accident has happened, our invention is there to stop an accident happening; therefore it is new because nothing is available to be fitted to a o• vehicle that can achieve this. It is novel and new to use 15 bodily movements associated with a driver falling asleep to awaken the driver and prevent an accident. The invention is designed to be a kit that is placed into the vehicle completely independant of the vehicle's electronics or 12v power, with only a simple additional 20 modification to the steering wheel surface. The kit's "power source is 8 l.SAA batteries, being 12v circuits it can simply be built into the manufacturing process of a new vehicle. The steering wheel alarm-siren module has 2 separate circuits 8-9 FIG. 3. The metal foil contacts fitted to the periphery of the steering wheel are divided into two separate sections items 41-42 on the right side, 43-4 on the left side, because the iands zilake contact on gripping, with the metal foil contacts, each hands' movement then is monitored separately through one of the steering wheel Alarm-siren module 6 circuits. Circuit 9 monitors right hand movement and circuit 8 monitors the left hand movement, should either right hand or left hand relax the grip on the wheel or fall from the wheel a relay brings in the siren. These circuits are known to the trade and these 2 in particular are alternate on-off, meaning the siren is On all the time but Off while the hands grip their particular steering wheel metal foil contacts causing the hand flesh to act as a resistor and the current passes from one foil contact to the other, back to the relay shutting off the siren.

The components necessary to complete the assembly of the steering wheel alarm-siren module are shown on drawing sheet 2 FIG. 3, the 2 circuits 8-9 are identical, 9 monitors the right hand movement and 8 the left hand movement the wiring connecting each component is shown graphically on FIG. 3 e.. items 37-38 each a twin wire plug, item 37 connects to the two metal clips 46 on the steering wheel left hand side and item 38 connects to the right hand Z clipS-47.The 8 AA batteries are situated in their 5 battery box, all items shown in FIG. 3 a:re fitted into the module box FIG. 2-6 Item 4 is an on-off switch that enables the module to be switched off while driving in the city. Item 3 is a 100 piezza siren this is fitted to the outside of plastic box Sockets 10-13 are fitted into the side of plastic box 6, twin wire plugs 37-38 plug in to them.

Shows the various components necessary for the manufacture of the chin-head electronic alarm-siren module. Item 14 is the plastic box that the items shown below it, in Fig. 5, items 17-18-19-5-20, are fitted into itz to complete the assembly of the electronic chin-head alarm siren module. Item 15 is the complete head touch pad. Item 16 is the chin touch pad, Item 17 is the electronic circuit, known to the industry. All wiring necessary is shown graphically to the various components. Item 18 is the on-off switch, that switches off the module. Item 5 is the A-A size battery box. Item 19 is 8 1.5v AA batteries. Item 20 is the 100 Dbs piezza siren, it is screwed to the side of item 14. Finally Section B.B.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the chin touch pad, item 16.

Items 25-27 are the 2 metal touch pad contacts adhered to a plywood item 24 base. Item 21 is a block of polyurethane foam, a soft light support for the metal touch pads.

Item 22 is the vinyl cover of the touch pad 16.

INSTRUCTION FOR MODIFICATION

TO

STEERING WHEEL FOR ELECTRONIC -ALARM SIREN MODULE FIG. 17.

It is required to find the vertical centre line of the steering wheel. The vehicle's front wheels must be parallel ".to the centreline of the vehicle, this puts the steering 5 wheel aligned right. Measure across the horizontal centreline to find the diameter, halve the measurement and mark shown on FIG. 17. To find the vertical centreline lay a straight edge vertical on the steering wheel. The edge over point get it approximately vertical and mark the top and bottom steering wheel this is important. This view shows the exact location of each of the components making up the modification to the steering wheel. Figs. 18- 20. are perspective views at the centreline at the bottom *o of the steering wheel.

FIG. 18 Begins the modification to the steering wheel, Items 42-41 are 2 horizontal metal adhesive strips 6mm wide shown on the right hand side. They are to be used as contact pads to monitor the driver's right hand movement on the steering wheel. Items 42-41 being adhesive coated on one side are to be adhered to the outside periphery of the steering wheel surface, Item 42 begins at the bottom of the steering wheel 13mm from the vertical centreline and the bottom edge of the strip is placed around the centreline on the outside surface of the steering wheel. There is usually a line on the outside surface of the steering wheel, that is the centreline 8 it is left by the mould joint,use this as the centreline to set the bottom edge of item 42. Item 42 ends 13mm from the top vertical centreline of the steering wheel.Item 41 the zinu horizontal metal strip is to begin 4mm from the vertical centreline and is to be spaced and adhered from the bottom edge of item 42 it also ends 4mm from the top vertical centre of the wheel. Note 2 items 40, small pieces of insulation tape shown cross hatched on items 41 and 44 are placed there to insulate 41 and 44 from 2 wraparound metal strips see Fig. 20. Repeat the process as for items 41-42 for the 2 metal horizontal strips items 43-44 on :the left hand side of the steering wheel. Iron out any wrinkles in the foil with the underside of a dessert spoon.

FIG. 21. Sheet 7. There are 2 twin wires with plug, one for each side of the steering wheel Item 37 left hand side and item 38 for right hand. The 2 ring terminals on the ends of the twin wires item 37 are connected with 3mm nuts and bolts to the 2 clips item 46 on the left hand side see Fig. 17/6.

The same process applies to the right hand side, the 2 ring terminals on the twin wires 38 are connected by bolting to the 2 clips 47. Fig. 17, sheet 6 shows twin wires items 37 and 38 plugged into item 6 the steering wheel electronic alarm siren modules 2 sockets 10-13. Fig. 3, sheet 2.

FIG. 17, sheet 6, shows the 2 clips item 47 on the right hand side clamped in position with a 3mm gap between the inside edges of the clips in line as far as permissable with the top of item 6 the steering wheel alarm siren module.Fig 22/7 it can be seen on the right hand side by the crosshatching items 41-42 are insulated from each other under both clips 47 by 2 small pieces of insulation tape where indicated by crosshatching. The same applies to the left hand side of wheel.

metal strips 43-44 are to be insulated in the same manner under the 2 clips.

FIG. 20, sheet 7. There are 4 wraparound metal adhesive foil strips 45 at the bottom centreline of the steering wheel and 4 wraparound strips 45 at the top centreline of the steering wheel. The wraparound on the left is insulated from horizontal metal foil strip 43, but adheres to item 44 thus making contact. The 2nd wraparound strip 45 on the left adhares to item 43 and is clear of item 44. This makes the 2 wraparounds on the left become vertical contacts of items 44 and 43, repeat the same procedure for the 2 wraparounds 45 on the right hand side of the centreline.

The same procedurefor the bottom 4 wraparounds 45 is to be carried out on the 4 wraparounds 45 at the top centreline of the wheel see Fig. 17/6. The bottom 4 wraparounds allow vehicle driver to slide his right hand up on the 4 wraparounds 45 this keeps both left hand 43-44 and right hand 42-41 contacts quiet thereby not sounding the siren, allowing the left hand free to change gear. The same condition applies if the right hand grips the 4 wraparounds at the top of the wheel. The wraparounds inside edges to be spaced apart 3mm and 8mm between the 2nd and 3rd wraparounds.

The assembly of Item 16 FIG. 5 sbeet 3 the chin touch pad is shown by section BB FIG. 6 sheet 3. Item 21 is a shaped block of polyurethane foam, that is covered with a vinyl fabric Item 22. Item 24 is a plywood 2mm thick base for the aluminium touch pad that is adhered to the vinyl cover Item22.

The metal touch pad items 25-27 are adhered to the plywood base item 24.

As previously said the circuits in both chin-head module and the steering wheel module are identical except for different wiring changes, such as on chin-head circuit. The siren is to operate when either the head or chin touches the touch pad.

It is required that the siren is on when touched only and off when touch released with the steering wheel modules 2 circuits the siren is on alternate, on all the time until the contact metal -trips items 41-42, 43-44 are touched--then it is off.

Firstly the chin-head module circuit, Item 17 FIG. 5 sheet 3 at the top of circuit edge there are 3 connection pads marked 1-2-3, a loop of wire is shown connecting pads 2 and 3. This connection gives "on with touch only". To complete the mode of operation at the iflic bottom right hand corner of the circuit board are again 3 connection pads marked X,Y,Z, the circuit wires are connected to X and Y, this connection gives a normally open circuit In contrast to the above the steering wheel module circuits FIG. 3, sheet 2, items 8 and 9 need the operation modes of on and off when touched also to achieve this is a normally closed circuit. The wire loops 9* 9* shown on circuits item 8 and 9 are connected to pads I and 2 in both cases this gives the ON-OFF when touched mode and the 2 wires on both circuits at the top left are connected to the 99e.

2 pads marked Y Z as shown, this connections gives the required 9* mode of "normally closed circuit". Generally the components chin touch pad and head touch pad are held securely in their e* required positions by velcro tapes, the same applies to the chin-head module and the steering wheel module secured in 9. ^required positions by velcro tape.

As the whole operation being in kit form the components are simply fitted into position and can be easily removed by just pulling.