# US 2017/0282935 A1 · Vehicular awakening detection device

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- Number: US 2017/0282935 A1
- Document ID: US20170282935A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/472,477
- Filed: 2017-03-29
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Naotoshi Fujimoto; Wataru Kimatsuka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282935A1

## CPC

- B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers
- B60W 50/08: Interaction between the driver and the control system
- B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
- B60W 60/0053: {from vehicle to occupant}
- B60W 60/0059: {Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity}
- G08B 21/06: indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
- B60W 2040/0818: {Inactivity or incapacity of driver}
- B60W 2040/0827: {due to sleepiness}
- B60W 2040/0863: {due to erroneous selection or response of the driver}
- B60W 2540/16: Ratio selector position
- B60W 2540/165: Rate of change
- B60W 2540/229: Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping
- B60W 2540/26: Incapacity
- F16H 2059/0247: {with lever or paddle behind steering wheel}
- 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
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A vehicular awakening detection device 10 includes pressure sensors 48 provided in a + side paddle shift 46R and/or a − side paddle shift 46L which is able to be operated by a driver in a vehicle. The pressure sensor 48 is used for determining the degrees of awakening of a driver by making the driver to operate the + side paddle shift 46R and/or the − side paddle shift 46L.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicular awakening detection device comprising:
an awakening degree detection sensor provided in a movable member which is able to be operated by a driver in a vehicle and configured to determine degrees of awakening of the driver by making said driver to operate said movable member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicular awakening detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a device provided in the vehicle and configured to provide guidance to the driver regarding an operation of the movable member, wherein
the awakening degree detection sensor is configured to detect the operation of the movable member by the driver and to determine the degrees of awakening of the driver based on a detection result of the operation of the movable member in response to the guidance given to the driver.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicular awakening detection device according to claim 1,
wherein said movable member is a paddle shift which is provided in a vicinity of a steering wheel of the vehicle for the driver to operate a gear shift, and
said awakening degree detection sensor is a pressure sensor provided in the paddle shift.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicular awakening detection device according to claim 3,
wherein said pressure sensor comprises a variable resistor of which a resistance value is changed in accordance with said operation, and
said awakening degree detection sensor determines the degrees of awakening of said driver based on one or both of: said operation speed detected from a difference between resistance values detected at an interval of a predetermined sampling period; and an operating force detected from a maximum value or a minimum value of the resistance value during said operation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The vehicular awakening detection device according to claim 3,
wherein said paddle shift comprises:
a first spring member which generates a first reaction force in response to an operation of the paddle shift in an operation range of a normal shift switch; and
a second spring member which generates a second reaction force in response to the operation of the paddle shi ft in an operation range which exceeds the operation range of said normal shift switch, the second spring member having a spring constant greater than that of said first spring member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The vehicular awakening detection device according to claim 3,
wherein said paddle shift has:
a left side paddle shift provided on a left side of said steering wheel; and
a right side paddle shift provided on a right side of said steering wheel, and
said awakening degree detection sensor determines the degrees of awakening of said driver in a state where both said left side paddle shift and said right side paddle shift are operated at the same time.