GB2390460A - Vehicle driver tiredness alarm - Google Patents

Vehicle driver tiredness alarm Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2390460A
GB2390460A GB0213185A GB0213185A GB2390460A GB 2390460 A GB2390460 A GB 2390460A GB 0213185 A GB0213185 A GB 0213185A GB 0213185 A GB0213185 A GB 0213185A GB 2390460 A GB2390460 A GB 2390460A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
driver
vehicle
sensing arrangement
parameter
steering device
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Withdrawn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
GB0213185A
Other versions
GB0213185D0 (en
Inventor
Eric Lyttle
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.)
IMAGINATION STATION Ltd
Original Assignee
IMAGINATION STATION Ltd
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
Application filed by IMAGINATION STATION Ltd filed Critical IMAGINATION STATION Ltd
Priority to GB0213185A priority Critical patent/GB2390460A/en
Publication of GB0213185D0 publication Critical patent/GB0213185D0/en
Publication of GB2390460A publication Critical patent/GB2390460A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/16—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
    • A61B5/18—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state for vehicle drivers or machine operators
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/0205—Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
    • A61B5/02055—Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/021—Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/024—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/145—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissue
    • 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
    • B60W50/00—Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
    • B60W50/08—Interaction between the driver and the control system
    • B60W50/14—Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
    • B60W2050/143—Alarm means
    • 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
    • B60W2540/22—Psychological state; Stress level or workload
    • 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
    • B60W2540/221—Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs

Abstract

The invention relates to vehicles (e.g. cars) provided with means for monitoring alertness of the driver and warning whether the driver has become tired. More particularly, the invention provides a wheeled vehicle (e.g. a car) having a steering device which is operated by a hand of a driver. The vehicle incorporates a sensing arrangement including a sensor provided on the steering device for contact with a hand of the driver. The sensing arrangement monitors, by said contact, a physiological parameter of the driver relative to alertness. The sensing arrangement is associated with means for warning that the parameter has a value indicating tiredness of the driver. The physiological parameter may, for example, be body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure or blood oxygen level.

Description

VEHICLES
The present invention relates to wheeled vehicles, e.g. cars, lorries, tractors etc. and more particularly to vehicles provided with means intended to prevent or at least lessen the chances of an accident resulting from a driver feeling drowsy or falling asleep.
It is widely recognised that a driver of a vehicle who is tired is more likely to cause an accident than one who is fully alert. Indeed, in recent years, signs have been erected at intervals along motorways drawing attention to the dangers of driving whilst tired. In the most extreme cases a tired driver may experience drowsiness or, worse still, fall asleep at the wheel. In this case the driver is not fully in control of the vehicle and represents a serious accident risk.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having means warning that the driver has become tired.
According to the present invention there is provided a wheeled vehicle having a steering device which is operated by a hand of a driver of the vehicle wherein (i) said vehicle is provided with a sensing arrangement including a sensor provided on said steering device for contact with a hand of the driver, (ii) said sensing arrangement serves to monitor, by said contact, a physiological parameter of the driver relevant to alertness, and (iii) said sensing arrangement is associated with means for warning that said parameter has a value indicating tiredness of the driver.
Therefore, in accordance with the invention, the mental alertness of a driver is determined by monitoring a physiological parameter of the driver as sensed (from the drivers skin) by a sensor which is provided on the steering device of the vehicle and which will contact the hand of the driver for such sensing purposes. If the parameter being monitored has a value which is indicative of an unacceptable degree of
tiredness of the driver then warning means are operated to alert the driver and/or occupant(s) of the vehicle of this fact.
It is known that various physiological parameters change when a person becomes tired, drowsy or falls asleep. Examples include body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, reduction in blood oxygen level etc. Thus, for example, a person will have a higher pulse rate when fully alert than when tired, drowsy or asleep. There will be a transition in pulse rate values between the alert and the asleep states.
Similarly, skin temperature will drop as between when a person is alert and when that person is asleep, again with a transition of values through states of tiredness and drowsiness. Similarly for blood pressure and blood oxygen level.
The sensing arrangement may be such as to establish the driver's "norm" for the parameter(s) to be monitored at the outset of a journey and may be such as to provide a warning if a measured parameter drops below the "norm" value or below a threshold value.
The sensing arrangement may monitor a single parameter and may be such that different warnings are given at differing levels of the central parameter beyond a threshold value, the warnings becoming more "intense" the tireder the driver becomes. Alternatively the sensing arrangement may sense two or more physiological parameters and provide warning level appropriate to the sensed values of the parameters. Thus, for example, when only one of these parameters goes beyond a threshold level then a particular warning may be made but then the warning then made more intense when the or other parameters) go(es) beyond the respective threshold value. Furthermore the warning may be made more intense as each parameter moves further from its threshold value.
The sensing arrangements employed in the present invention may be adaptations of those already known from the field of medicine where skin contacting
sensors are used to monitor parameters such as temperature, pulse rate or blood pressure, e.g. during the intensive care of patients. Alternatively the sensing
arrangements may be those used on hand held components of exercise equipment (e.g. a tread mill) for monitoring pulse and/or blood pressure when exercising.
In accordance with the invention, the sensor should be mounted on the steering device at a position at which it will normally be contacted by a hand of the driver of the device so that the sensing arrangement is able continuously to monitor the state of alertness of the driver. The vehicle of the invention may be one provided with a conventional steering wheel. The steering wheel which may be provided with a senor or sensors in a number of ways. It is possible, for example, for a sensor to be provided continuously around the circumference of the steering wheel so that at least one of drivers hands will always be in contact with the sensor. Alternatively a plurality of sensors may be provided discontinuously, but at closely spaced locations, around the circumference of the steering wheel so that at least one of the drivers hands will always be in contact with a sensor. A further possibility is sensors for two or more different parameters may be provided at appropriate locations on the steering wheel. The warning system is responsive to a condition of tiredness detected by the sensing arrangement. Generally it will be preferred that there is an audible warning if the sensing arrangement detects that the driver has become drowsy or has fallen asleep. Clearly the level of the audible warning should be such that the driver is awakened. If desired, there may be an audible or perhaps visual (a light) warning that the driver has become tired without actually reaching a state of drowsiness.
It will be appreciated that the vehicle in accordance with the invention may, for example, may be a car, lorry or tractor.

Claims (7)

1. A wheeled vehicle having a steering device which is operated by a hand of a driver of the vehicle wherein (i) said vehicle is provided with a sensing arrangement including a sensor provided on said steering device for contact with a hand of the driver, (ii) said sensing arrangement serves to monitor, by said contact, a physiological parameter of the driver relevant to alertness, and (iii) said sensing arrangement is associated with means for warning that said parameter has a value indicating tiredness of the driver.
2. A vehicle as claimed in claim I wherein the physiological parameter is body temperature.
3. A vehicle as claimed in claim I or 2 wherein the physiological parameter is pulse rate.
4. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the physical parameter is blood pressure.
5. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 wherein the physiological parameter is blood oxygen level.
6. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 wherein the steering device is a steering wheel and a sensor is provided continuously around the circumference of the steering wheel.
7. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the steering device is a steering wheel and a prolarity of sensors are provided discontinuously around the circumference of the steering wheel.
GB0213185A 2002-06-08 2002-06-08 Vehicle driver tiredness alarm Withdrawn GB2390460A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0213185A GB2390460A (en) 2002-06-08 2002-06-08 Vehicle driver tiredness alarm

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0213185A GB2390460A (en) 2002-06-08 2002-06-08 Vehicle driver tiredness alarm

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0213185D0 GB0213185D0 (en) 2002-07-17
GB2390460A true GB2390460A (en) 2004-01-07

Family

ID=9938207

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0213185A Withdrawn GB2390460A (en) 2002-06-08 2002-06-08 Vehicle driver tiredness alarm

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2390460A (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1645454A1 (en) * 2004-10-08 2006-04-12 C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni Equipment for detecting the action of a driver on the steering wheel of the steering system of a motor vehicle
EP1829728A1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2007-09-05 Martin Alvarez, Juan Carlos Device for preventing accidents in the event of drowsiness or inattention on the part of the driver of a vehicle
EP2316340A1 (en) 2009-10-27 2011-05-04 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V. Signal recording device for recording a difference signal for the electrical measurement of a vital parameter of a living being, electrode assembly and method
GB2504823A (en) * 2012-06-18 2014-02-12 Boeing Co Means to assess fatigue mitigation strategies
CN103863219A (en) * 2014-03-25 2014-06-18 山东大学 Method and device for detecting whether automobile driver steps on accelerator by error or not
CN104036619A (en) * 2013-03-04 2014-09-10 德尔福电子(苏州)有限公司 Fatigue detection method and detection apparatus based on turn angle data of steering wheel
CN105534531A (en) * 2014-10-29 2016-05-04 上海华博信息服务有限公司 Method and system for preventing fatigue driving
WO2016082359A1 (en) * 2014-11-24 2016-06-02 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 Automobile steering wheel
US9681830B2 (en) 2008-10-07 2017-06-20 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V. Device and method for detecting a vital parameter
CN106974635A (en) * 2017-04-26 2017-07-25 上海理工大学 A kind of Fatigue Driving Real-time Monitoring System

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2150725A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-07-03 Aisin Seiki Safety apparatus for a road vehicle
DE19545848A1 (en) * 1995-12-08 1997-06-12 Olympia Design Gmbh Safety device for motor vehicle drivers
DE19631589A1 (en) * 1996-08-05 1998-02-12 Rolf Wadewitz Monitoring device for physiological condition of e.g. machine or power plant operator, or land, sea or air vehicle driver
GB2343954A (en) * 1998-11-18 2000-05-24 Edward James Andrews Vehicle component human condition monitoring system
WO2001062534A2 (en) * 2000-02-22 2001-08-30 Park Won Hee Driver condition monitoring apparatus
GB2385696A (en) * 2002-02-21 2003-08-27 Harry Duncan Macdonald Driver monitoring system detecting pulse, pressure or temperature of the driver

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2150725A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-07-03 Aisin Seiki Safety apparatus for a road vehicle
DE19545848A1 (en) * 1995-12-08 1997-06-12 Olympia Design Gmbh Safety device for motor vehicle drivers
DE19631589A1 (en) * 1996-08-05 1998-02-12 Rolf Wadewitz Monitoring device for physiological condition of e.g. machine or power plant operator, or land, sea or air vehicle driver
GB2343954A (en) * 1998-11-18 2000-05-24 Edward James Andrews Vehicle component human condition monitoring system
WO2001062534A2 (en) * 2000-02-22 2001-08-30 Park Won Hee Driver condition monitoring apparatus
GB2385696A (en) * 2002-02-21 2003-08-27 Harry Duncan Macdonald Driver monitoring system detecting pulse, pressure or temperature of the driver

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1645454A1 (en) * 2004-10-08 2006-04-12 C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni Equipment for detecting the action of a driver on the steering wheel of the steering system of a motor vehicle
EP1829728A1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2007-09-05 Martin Alvarez, Juan Carlos Device for preventing accidents in the event of drowsiness or inattention on the part of the driver of a vehicle
EP1829728A4 (en) * 2004-12-16 2010-11-03 Martin Alvarez Juan Carlos Device for preventing accidents in the event of drowsiness or inattention on the part of the driver of a vehicle
US9681830B2 (en) 2008-10-07 2017-06-20 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V. Device and method for detecting a vital parameter
EP2316340A1 (en) 2009-10-27 2011-05-04 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V. Signal recording device for recording a difference signal for the electrical measurement of a vital parameter of a living being, electrode assembly and method
DE102009050755A1 (en) 2009-10-27 2011-05-05 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Signal acquisition device for detecting a difference signal for an electrical measurement of a vital parameter of a living being, electrode assembly and method
EP2457511A1 (en) 2009-10-27 2012-05-30 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Signal recording device for recording a difference signal for the electrical measurement of a vital parameter of a living being, electrode assembly and method
US8847769B2 (en) 2009-10-27 2014-09-30 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V. Signal detecting device for detecting a difference signal for an electrical measurement of a vital parameter of a living being
GB2504823A (en) * 2012-06-18 2014-02-12 Boeing Co Means to assess fatigue mitigation strategies
US10758168B2 (en) 2012-06-18 2020-09-01 The Boeing Company Method and system for the automated assessment of fatigue mitigation strategies
GB2504823B (en) * 2012-06-18 2018-01-03 Boeing Co Method and system for the automated assessment of fatigue mitigation strategies
CN104036619A (en) * 2013-03-04 2014-09-10 德尔福电子(苏州)有限公司 Fatigue detection method and detection apparatus based on turn angle data of steering wheel
CN104036619B (en) * 2013-03-04 2016-06-29 德尔福电子(苏州)有限公司 Fatigue detection method and detecting device based on steering wheel angle data
CN103863219B (en) * 2014-03-25 2015-12-02 山东大学 Automobile driver mis-accelerator pressing method of inspection and detecting device thereof
CN103863219A (en) * 2014-03-25 2014-06-18 山东大学 Method and device for detecting whether automobile driver steps on accelerator by error or not
CN105534531A (en) * 2014-10-29 2016-05-04 上海华博信息服务有限公司 Method and system for preventing fatigue driving
WO2016082359A1 (en) * 2014-11-24 2016-06-02 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 Automobile steering wheel
US10028693B2 (en) 2014-11-24 2018-07-24 Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. Vehicle steering wheel
CN106974635A (en) * 2017-04-26 2017-07-25 上海理工大学 A kind of Fatigue Driving Real-time Monitoring System

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