Mental incompetency safety system for operating a vehicle
OwnerCarol W. Berman, Martin A. Farberinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system comprises a memory for storing questions and answers determinative of mental incompetency of a potential driver to drive. A display displays the questions. A keyboard is provided for the driver to answer the questions. The control system determines if the correct number of answers is lower than a predetermined value thereby indicating mental incompetency of the potential driver to drive. In such event a signal is provided so that the engine is prevented from starting or a clutch is prevented from engaging so the vehicle cannot be placed into an operational driving condition.
Claims20
A mental incompetency safety system for preventing operation of a vehicle by a potential operator who is mentally incompetent, the vehicle having a device for permitting operation of the vehicle only when the device is in an operating condition, comprising:
- a control system for controlling said device;
- said control system comprising:
- a display, a keyboard, and a control unit connected to said keyboard and to said display,
- said control unit comprising memory means for storing mental competency questions displayable on said display and correct answers to said questions indicative of operator mental competency to operate the vehicle,
- said keyboard for inputing answers of the potential operator to at least one of the mental competency questions displayed on the display, and
- said control unit comprising means for comparing the potential operator's answers, independent of answering within a predetermined time which is indicative of physiological responsiveness, with the correct answers, scoring correct potential operator's answers, and comparing potential operator's score with a predetermined minimum score determinative of mental competency to operate the vehicle for providing an incompetency signal upon a score under said predetermined minimum score, and
- means responsive to the incompetency signal for preventing operation of said device by the potential operator.
A method for preventing operation of a vehicle by a potential operator who is mentally incompetent, the vehicle having a device for driving the vehicle only when the device is in an operating condition, comprising the steps of:
- displaying at least one mental competency question to be answered on a display when the vehicle is attempted to be operated by the potential operator,
- answering the at least one mental competency question by the potential operator by keying an answer to the at least one mental competency question on a keyboard, and
- comparing the potential operator's answer, independent of answering within a predetermined time which is indicative of physiological responsiveness, with a correct answer indicative of mental competency to operate the vehicle, scoring the potential operator's answer, and comparing the potential operator's score with a predetermined minimum score determinative of mental competency to operate the vehicle for providing an incompetency signal upon a score under said predetermined minimum score, and
- preventing the device from being placed into its operating condition when the incompetency signal occurs.
A method for preventing operation of a vehicle by a potential operator who is mentally incompetent, the vehicle having a device for driving the vehicle only when the device is in an operating condition, comprising the steps of:
- displaying at least one mental competency question to be answered on a display when the vehicle is attempted to be operated by the potential operator,
- answering the at least one mental competency question by the potential operator by keying an answer to the at least one mental competency question on a keyboard, and
- comparing the potential operator's answer with a correct answer indicative of mental competency to operate the vehicle, scoring the potential operator's answer, and comparing the potential operator's score with a predetermined minimum score determinative of mental competency to operate the vehicle for providing an incompetency signal upon a score under said predetermined minimum score, and
- preventing the device from being placed into its operating condition when the incompetency signal occurs, and
- said question is wherein a multi-digit number is flashed on the display for a while and then disappears, and the potential operator is asked to repeat the numbers forward and/or then backwards on the keyboard independent of a predetermined time which predetermined time is indicative of physiological responsiveness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.