US 12,179,665 B2Granted

Driver state determination apparatus

AssigneeMazda Motor Corporation

InventorsWataru Yoshida, Akira Kaino

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Abstract

A driver state determination apparatus detects the decline of the physical function of a driver and confirms the determination of an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to drive. A vibration apparatus vibrates a steering wheel; a vibration detector detects the vibration of the steering wheel; and a controller controls the vibration apparatus. The controller provides vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus, calculates a steering torque level at the excitation frequency based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, and determines that a driver is in an abnormal state when an average value of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and/or a standard deviation of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a second threshold value.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A driver state determination apparatus that determines an abnormal state of a driver that drives a vehicle, the driver state determination apparatus comprising:

a vibration apparatus that vibrates a steering wheel of a steering apparatus of the vehicle;
a vibration detector that detects a vibration of the steering wheel;
and
a controller that controls the vibration apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to
provide vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus,
calculate, based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, a value indicating a strength of the detected vibration at the excitation frequency, and
determine that the driver is in an abnormal state when an average value of the value indicating the strength of the vibration while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and/or a standard deviation of the value indicating the strength of the vibration while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a second threshold value.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/189,809Filed 24 Mar 2023
Priority: JP 2022-08759530 May 2022
Published: US 2023/0382298 A130 Nov 2023
Granted: 31 Dec 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

B60Q 9/00
Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of
B62D 15/025
Steering position indicators ; Steering position determination; Steering aids: active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively…
A61B 5/0051
Detecting, measuring or recording by applying mechanical forces or stimuli: by applying vibrations
A61B 5/18
Devices for psychotechnics ; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state: for vehicle drivers or machine operators

Family

US 2023/0382298 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Nov 2023
US 12,179,665 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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