GB2327521A - Vehicle driver alerting apparatus - Google Patents

Vehicle driver alerting apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2327521A
GB2327521A GB9811490A GB9811490A GB2327521A GB 2327521 A GB2327521 A GB 2327521A GB 9811490 A GB9811490 A GB 9811490A GB 9811490 A GB9811490 A GB 9811490A GB 2327521 A GB2327521 A GB 2327521A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
alerting
driver
movement
period
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9811490A
Other versions
GB9811490D0 (en
Inventor
Tudor Lloyd Thomas
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB9715314A external-priority patent/GB9715314D0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9811490A priority Critical patent/GB2327521A/en
Publication of GB9811490D0 publication Critical patent/GB9811490D0/en
Publication of GB2327521A publication Critical patent/GB2327521A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K28/00—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions
    • B60K28/02—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver
    • B60K28/06—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to incapacity of driver
    • B60K28/063—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to incapacity of driver preventing starting of vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K28/00—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions
    • B60K28/02—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver
    • B60K28/06—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to incapacity of driver
    • B60K28/066—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to incapacity of driver actuating a signalling device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/06—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60W—CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
    • B60W2540/00—Input parameters relating to occupants
    • B60W2540/16—Ratio selector position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60W—CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
    • B60W2540/00—Input parameters relating to occupants
    • B60W2540/18—Steering angle

Abstract

The apparatus (1) monitors the alertness of a vehicle driver and comprises alerting means (4) for periodically alerting the driver of a vehicle, the alerting means being associated with a predetermined reset period; reset means (3) for resetting the non-alerting period in response to a reset signal from the driver; at least one detecting means (5a) for detecting a driver movement corresponding to movement of a respective vehicle control means by the driver; control means (2) for resetting the non-alerting period in response to a detected movement of said vehicle control means by the driver.

Description

ALERTING APPARATUS This invention relates to an alerting apparatus, and in particular an alerting apparatus for monitoring the alertness of a vehicle driver.
Many road accidents are caused by driver fatigue, especially on long and monotonous journeys involving motorway driving where there are few demands on the driver. In these driving situations the driver can easily be overcome with sleep with potentially fatal consequences. In addition, road accidents can be caused by a driver suffering a heart attack, a stroke, an epileptic fit or any other medical condition resulting in unconsciousness.
A number of devices have been proposed for preventing a driver falling asleep. For example, UK patent application GB A-2 050 024 describes a device which monitors the inclination of a driver's head. The device comprises a mercury switch which switches a circuit to activate an audible alerting means if the inclination of the driver's head slumps to a sleep position during driving. The switch, alerting means and a battery are housed in a prosthesis which conforms to the contour of the human ear so that the device may be readily worn by the driver. A drawback with this device is that the mercury switch is very sensitive to movement and can readily activate the alerting means with only relatively minor movements of the driver's head.
Another device is known from UK patent application GB-A 2 030 367 which describes a vehicle steering wheel and steering wheel cover. The steering wheel or steering wheel cover comprises a pressure sensitive switch which switches an audible alerting means to a non-alerting condition when the steering wheel is gripped by the driver. If the driver's grip on the steering wheel is relaxed, because the driver has or is about to fall asleep for example, the alerting means is switched to an alerting condition. A drawback with this device is that the pressure sensitive switch may not be sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between a driver's grip on the steering wheel during different driving situations, for example, the steering wheel will be gripped more tightly during a turning manouevre than during driving on a straight road. Accordingly, it is possible that the switch will be activated during normal driving by an alert driver.
UK patent application GB-A-2 174 226 also describes a device for preventing a driver falling asleep. This device comprises a sensor, a control circuit and an alarm. The sensor is an electrical device which measures a movement of a particular part of the driver's body. The sensor can be a hollow elastomeric bulb which is connected remotely to a pressure sensitive switch via a pneumatic or hydraulic link, or simply a pressure sensitive pad. In each case the sensor is activated by a tap from the driver's finger or foot. This action resets the control circuit. The driver is required to reset the control circuit every 1 to 5 seconds. If the reset action is not performed within this period the control circuit activates the alarm. A problem with this device is that the driver must repeatedly tap the sensor to reset the control circuit every second or so which can be monotonous for the driver, and can also be dangerous if this distracts the driver from other driving operations, for example the driver may delay an indicating action until the next reset action has been completed. Thus, the driver's attention can be distracted by the requirement to continuously reset the control circuit.
An object cf the present invention is to provide an apparatus for alerting a vehicle driver to the onset of sleep which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for alerting a vehicle driver to the onset of sleep which alerts the driver only when there is a real danger of the driver falling asleep.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for monitoring the alertness of a driver.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for monitoring the alertness of a vehicle driver, said apparatus comprising: alerting means for periodically alerting the driver of a vehicle, the alerting means being associated with a predetermined reset period; reset means for resetting the non-alerting period in response to a reset signal from the driver; at least one detecting means for detecting a driver movement corresponding to movement of a respective vehicle control means by the driver; control means for resetting the non-alerting period in response to a detected movement of said vehicle control means by the driver.
Accordingly, the alerting means is maintained in a nonalerting condition if during the pre-determined period the detecting means detects a movement of the driver which corresponds to the driver moving a vehicle control means. In this way any movement of the driver which is associated with a driving operation will reset the non-alerting period to zero. Thus, a part passive part active device is provided for determining whether the driver is conscious or has or is about to fall asleep. This can dramatically reduce the number of active reset actions required from the driver.
Preferably, said detecting means comprises a plurality of transducers, each for detecting movement of a respective vehicle control means. Thus, movement of various vehicle control means can be detected so that any one can reset the non-alerting period to zero.
Conveniently, at least one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle steering wheel. Accordingly, if the driver moves the steering wheel of a vehicle the nonalerting period is reset to zero.
In preferred embodiments, at least one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle gearshift.
Accordingly, if the driver moves the gearshift of a vehicle the non-alerting period is reset to zero. This transducer can also be used to monitor whether a gear is engaged or not.
Preferably, one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle pedal. Accordingly, if the driver moves a pedal of a vehicle the non-alerting period is reset to zero.
Conveniently, one of said transducers is for monitoring vehicle speed. Accordingly, the speed of a vehicle being driven by the driver can be determined and the non-alerting period set to zero if the vehicle is stationary or moving at a slow speed. In this way the alerting means will remain in the non-alerting condition until movement of the vehicle is detected and/or the vehicle accelerates to a pre-determined speed.
In preferred embodiments, one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle switch. Accordingly, if the driver moves a switch of a vehicle the non-alerting period is reset to zero.
Preferably, the alerting means has a non-alerting period of 20 seconds to five minutes. This range is considered to provide sufficient warning to the driver without being overburdensome to the driver when reset signals from the driver are required.
Conveniently, the alerting means has a non-alerting period of between 20 seconds 1 minute. With this range the aforementioned advantages are optimised In preferred embodiments, the non-alerting period is variable. Accordingly, the driver may set the non-alerting period in accordance with a perceived level of tiredness before a particular journey is made.
Preferably, the reset means comprises a pressure sensitive switch. In this way, the switch can be readily reset by the driver's hand and thus can be readily located on the steering wheel of a vehicle.
Conveniently, the control means comprises a microprocessor. This optimises the aforementioned advantages.
In preferred embodiments, a transducer is further provided for measuring tension in a vehicle seat belt, and wherein the alerting means is switched to an alerting condition if the tension in the seatbelt exceeds a predetermined value. Accordingly, if the driver falls asleep when fastened in a seat belt the increase in seat belt tension due to the driver's body relaxing can be detected and the alerting means activated.
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an engine immobiliser means for immobilising a vehicle engine.
Accordingly, if the reset means is not reset by the driver following actuation of the alerting means, the engine immobiliser can immobilise the vehicle engine and thereby bring the vehicle to rest. This is particularly important if the driver has suffered a heart attack, or stroke etc, since the driver may be unconscious or otherwise incapable of bring the vehicle they are driving to rest.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising apparatus as hereinbefore set forth.
An example of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
An apparatus 1 for alerting a vehicle driver to the onset of sleep comprises a control means 2, which may be a microprocessor, a reset means 3 and an alerting means 4. The reset means 3 is provided by a pressure sensitive switch and the alerting means by a loudspeaker. In the present example the apparatus 1 is connected to a vehicle and the reset means 3 is positioned on the steering wheel of the vehicle and the alerting means 4 is positioned within the vehicle's interior.
It is to be understood that the apparatus 1 can be provided as a kit of parts for fitting to a vehicle.
The control means 2 comprises a plurality of inputs, each for receiving an input signal from a respective vehicle control means. The inputs include:- an input 5 for receiving an input signal from a transducer 5a connected to the steering wheel of the vehicle for measuring movement of the steering wheel about its axis; an input 6 for receiving an input signal from a transducer 6a connected to the gearshift of the vehicle for measuring movement of the gearshift; an input 7 for receiving an input signal from a transducer 7a connected to the foot pedals of the vehicle for measuring movement of the foot pedals; an input 8 for receiving an input signal from a transducer 8a connected to the gearbox of the vehicle for measuring vehicle speed; an input 9 for receiving an input signal from a transducer 9a connected to the vehicle direction indicator switch for measuring movement of the direction indicator switch; an input 10 for receiving an input signal from a transducer 10a connected to the driver's seat belt or seat belt tensioner for measuring the tension therein.
The control means 2 further comprises an input 11 for receiving an input signal from the reset means 3, an output 12 connected to the alerting means 4 and an output 14 connected to an engine immobiliser 15.
The control means 2 is provided with a timer 13 which has a predetermined non-alerting reset period of between 20 seconds and five minutes. The non-alerting reset period can be set by the driver to any value within this range.
In operation, the timer is initially set to zero by the control means 2 and the alerting means 4 is switched to the non-alerting condition. The timer is started and the control means monitors the input signals 5 to 10 from the transducers 5a to 10a. If one of the signals 5 to 9 is indicative of movement of a respective vehicle control means by the driver the control means resets the timer to zero. If none of the signals 5 to 9 indicate movement of a respective vehicle control means within the non-alerting reset period the control means activates the alerting means via the output 12. The alerting means is reset to its non-alerting condition by actuation of the reset means by the driver. This action also resets the timer to zero. If the driver does not respond to the alerting means the intensity of the audible output is increased, and if no response is engendered, the control means actuates the engine immobiliser 15 via output 14 to stop the vehicle. The engine immobiliser 15 is actuated after 5 to 10 seconds, for example.
Moreover, if the input signal 10 indicates tensioning of the seat belt due to the driver slumping into a relaxed/sleeping position the control means will over-ride the timer and provide an output signal direct to the alerting means to actuate the alerting means and wake the driver.
It will be appreciated that the embodiment illustrated shows an application of the invention in one form only for the purpose of illustration. In practice, the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straightforward for those skilled in the art to implement.
In particular, the input signals 5 to 9 can include other signals indicative of movement of other respective vehicle control means by the driver. For example, input signals can be provided from the head and side light switches on the vehicle, from the vehicle windscreen washer and wiper switches, from the vehicle radio, if fitted, from the vehicle heater or air conditioning control switches, from the window lifter switches or indeed from any other control means fitted to the vehicle which can be operated by the driver during driving.

Claims (17)

1. Apparatus for monitoring the alertness of a vehicle driver, said apparatus comprising: alerting means for periodically alerting the driver of a vehicle, the alerting means being associated with a predetermined reset period; reset means for resetting the non-alerting period in response to a reset signal from the driver; at least one detecting means for detecting a driver movement corresponding to movement of a respective vehicle control means by the driver; control means for resetting the non-alerting period in response to a detected movement of said vehicle control means by the driver.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detecting means comprises a plurality of transducers, each for detecting movement of a respective vehicle control means.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle steering wheel.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle gearshift.
5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle pedal.
6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of said transducers is for monitoring vehicle speed.
7. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of said transducers is for monitoring movement of a vehicle switch.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the alerting means has a non-alerting period of 20 seconds to five minutes.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the alerting means has a non-alerting period of between 20 seconds 1 minute.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the nonalerting period is variable.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the reset means comprises a pressure sensitive switch.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the control means comprises a microprocessor.
13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a transducer for measuring tension in a vehicle seat belt, and wherein the alerting means is switched to an alerting condition if the tension in the seatbelt exceeds a pre-determined value.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising an engine immobiliser means for immobilising a vehicle engine.
15. A vehicle comprising apparatus according to any preceding claim.
16. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
17. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB9811490A 1997-07-22 1998-05-28 Vehicle driver alerting apparatus Withdrawn GB2327521A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9811490A GB2327521A (en) 1997-07-22 1998-05-28 Vehicle driver alerting apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9715314A GB9715314D0 (en) 1997-07-22 1997-07-22 Attention maintainer
GB9811490A GB2327521A (en) 1997-07-22 1998-05-28 Vehicle driver alerting apparatus

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Publication Number Publication Date
GB9811490D0 GB9811490D0 (en) 1998-07-29
GB2327521A true GB2327521A (en) 1999-01-27

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GB9811490A Withdrawn GB2327521A (en) 1997-07-22 1998-05-28 Vehicle driver alerting apparatus

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2818932A1 (en) * 2001-01-04 2002-07-05 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa System for protecting against state of low alertness or sleepiness of driver of automotive vehicle, uses measurements of variables such as accelerator pedal degree of depression etc. to predict state of low alertness of driver
DE10151014B4 (en) * 2001-10-16 2015-10-08 Volkswagen Ag Method and device for attention control of a motor vehicle driver

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3980988A (en) * 1974-11-27 1976-09-14 Spizzo Anthony M Alarm system for vehicle shoulder harness
GB1476704A (en) * 1974-04-16 1977-06-16 Nissan Motor Apparatus for determining a vehicle drivers alertness
GB1495065A (en) * 1974-07-08 1977-12-14 Nissan Motor Electronic alerting system for a vehicle driver
US4278969A (en) * 1977-08-29 1981-07-14 Reli Corporation Driver warning system
GB2143978A (en) * 1983-07-19 1985-02-20 William David Devine Vehicle safety device
GB2315899A (en) * 1996-08-01 1998-02-11 John Nigel Adams Vehicle driver inactivity detector

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1476704A (en) * 1974-04-16 1977-06-16 Nissan Motor Apparatus for determining a vehicle drivers alertness
GB1495065A (en) * 1974-07-08 1977-12-14 Nissan Motor Electronic alerting system for a vehicle driver
US3980988A (en) * 1974-11-27 1976-09-14 Spizzo Anthony M Alarm system for vehicle shoulder harness
US4278969A (en) * 1977-08-29 1981-07-14 Reli Corporation Driver warning system
GB2143978A (en) * 1983-07-19 1985-02-20 William David Devine Vehicle safety device
GB2315899A (en) * 1996-08-01 1998-02-11 John Nigel Adams Vehicle driver inactivity detector

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2818932A1 (en) * 2001-01-04 2002-07-05 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa System for protecting against state of low alertness or sleepiness of driver of automotive vehicle, uses measurements of variables such as accelerator pedal degree of depression etc. to predict state of low alertness of driver
DE10151014B4 (en) * 2001-10-16 2015-10-08 Volkswagen Ag Method and device for attention control of a motor vehicle driver

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)