US 2015/0029031 A1Published application

Driver alertness detection and alarm system

OwnerThomas Pankinventor

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Abstract

An automated system which uses visual tracking technology to monitor the visual direction of a driver's sight, functions to keep the driver's eyes on the road to reduce the danger of potential distractions. When the driver is not looking at the road for a predetermined period, an audio queue, such as a beeping or alarm, will be utilized to bring the driver's attention back to the road. In addition, the system can limit the use of cell phones in the vehicle by disabling cell phones when the driver looks away from the road for greater than a preselected predetermined period. The period can be adjusted to allow for the answering of a hands free phone call, but preventing dialing and texts. The apparatus for alerting the driver includes an optical tracker, a receiver, a processor, and an audible alert device.

Claims1

Dependent claims

An apparatus for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle to avoid potentially hazardous behavior, comprising:

an optical tracker for detecting the visual orientation of said vehicle driver and for creating first visual orientation data indicative of said detected visual orientation;
a receiver for detecting the presence and activated state of a cell phone and for creating an activation signal indicative of detection of an active cell phone;
a processor connected to said optical tracker and said receiver for receiving said first visual orientation data and said activation signal and initiating a driver monitoring program in response;
and for periodically polling said optical tracker to obtain updated visual orientation data;
and for generating an alert signal upon determination of a deviation from a preferred visual orientation;
and
an audible alert device for receiving said alert signal for providing an audible alert notification to said driver.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/953,732Filed 29 Jul 2013
Published: 29 Jan 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G08B 21/02
Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for: alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
B60K 35/26
Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor: using acoustic output
B60K 35/28
Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor: characterised by the type of the…
B60W 50/14
Interaction between the driver and the control system: means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention