# US 12,179,665 B2 · Driver state determination apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,665 B2 - Document ID: US12179665B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/189,809 - Filed: 2023-03-24 - Published: 2023-11-30 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-05-30 - Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation - Applicants: Mazda Motor Corporation - Inventors: Wataru Yoshida; Akira Kaino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179665B2 ## CPC - B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} - B62D 15/025: {Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/0051: {by applying vibrations} - A61B 5/18: for vehicle drivers {or machine operators} - A61B 5/225: {of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force} - A61B 5/6893: {Cars} - G06V 20/597: {Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness} - G08B 21/06: indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms - A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens} - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate - A61B 5/1112: {Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS} - A61B 5/1113: {Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home} - A61B 5/1116: {Determining posture transitions} - A61B 5/318: Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG] - B60W 2040/0818: {Inactivity or incapacity of driver} - B60W 2420/403: Image sensing, e.g. optical camera - B60W 2510/202: Steering torque - B60W 2540/221: Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs - B60W 2540/223: Posture, e.g. hand, foot, or seat position, turned or inclined - B60W 2540/225: Direction of gaze - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - 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 ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold value is an average value of the value indicating the strength of the detected vibration at the excitation frequency when the vibration is provided to the steering wheel when the steering wheel is not gripped by the driver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second threshold value is a value that is 20% of the first threshold value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the vibration detector is a steering torque sensor that detects a steering torque applied to the steering wheel; and the value indicating the strength of the vibration is an effective value of the steering torque at the excitation frequency detected by the steering torque sensor or a decibel value obtained by the effective value of the steering torque being expressed as a level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a sensor that detects a state of the driver, wherein the controller provides vibration at the excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus when it is estimated that the driver is in an abnormal state based on a detection signal of the sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the vibration apparatus is an electric motor for an electric power steering apparatus for assisting a steering operation of the steering wheel by the driver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the vibration detector is a steering torque sensor that detects a steering torque applied to the steering wheel; and the value indicating the strength of the vibration is an effective value of the steering torque at the excitation frequency detected by the steering torque sensor or a decibel value obtained by the effective value of the steering torque being expressed as a level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects a state of the driver, wherein the controller provides vibration at the excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus when it is estimated that the driver is in an abnormal state based on a detection signal of the sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration apparatus is an electric motor for an electric power steering apparatus for assisting a steering operation of the steering wheel by the driver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the vibration detector is a steering torque sensor that detects a steering torque applied to the steering wheel; and the value indicating the strength of the vibration is an effective value of the steering torque at the excitation frequency detected by the steering torque sensor or a decibel value obtained by the effective value of the steering torque being expressed as a level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor that detects a state of the driver, wherein the controller provides vibration at the excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus when it is estimated that the driver is in an abnormal state based on a detection signal of the sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The driver state determination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vibration apparatus is an electric motor for an electric power steering apparatus for assisting a steering operation of the steering wheel by the driver.