US 5,402,109 AGranted

Sleep prevention device for automobile drivers

OwnerKallis H. Mannikinventor

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Abstract

This invention is an eyeglass attachable alarm signal device for automobile and truck drivers, preventing them to fall asleep, while driving. It is designed both for daytime and for nighttime driving. A beam of a narrow-band light of any color is used for optical sensing, whether the driver's eyelids are closed or are in an open position. The use of infrared light is preferred, because infrared light generates least distraction to the driver. A tiny slide-adjustable light emitter carrier, sliding along the eyeglass temple, is used for positioning the light emitter on the eyeglass properly for each driver. A narrow-band light beam from this emitter is aimed across the surface of the driver's eye, just above the eyeball, between the eyelids, and it is sensed in the opposite corner of the eye by means of a light sensor, which has a narrow band light filter mounted in front of it. For infrared light preferably the Kodak's Wratten filter #87 or #87 C is used. For waking up the driver, whose eyes have been closed for a longer time period than about one second or less, an electronic circuitry is activated by means of the closed-eye signal from the light sensor, turning on an alarm signal, a buzzer or similar, after a one second or shorter time delay.

An automobile driver sleep-preventing device for use with a pair of driver's eyeglasses, said device comprising:

light emitter and oscillator means for emitting a narrow bandwidth of pulsating light beam;
slide adjustable mounting means for mounting said emitter and oscillating means on the temple of said eyeglasses, such that said pulsating light beam traverses one of the driver's eyes just above the surface of the eye and between the upper and lower eyelids while the driver's eye is opened;
light detector means, receiving full amount of said pulsating light beam when the driver's eye is opened, and receiving reduced ambient scattered light when the driver's eye is closed, for outputting electrical signals characteristic of received pulsating light beam and ambient scattered light;
narrow band filter means for eliminating electrical signals characteristic of said ambient scattered light and passing electrical signals characteristic of said pulsating light beam;
eletronic alarm signal generating circuitry for receiving said electrical signals of said pulsating light beam, detecting input light variations, and converting said input light variations into an alarm signal when said driver's eye is closed;
ambient light influence reducing means consisting of a photocell for further reducing ambient light influence, which is incorporated into the electronic alarm signal generating cirucitry as a negative light-resistance element by means of being coupled in series with a resistor and with the light detector between plus and minus leads of a power source;
said power source also connected to said light emitter and oscillator means;
heat reflecting means in front of the eyeglasses in order to reduce the effect of bright sunshine during day-time driving;
acoustic alarm generator, triggered by said alarm signal for producing an alarm for waking up the driver;
friction means for holding the eyeglasses in a stable position which include:
nose-pads;
temple pads;
and an eleastic band extending from temple to temple of the eyeglasses.

10 more elements

Abstract

Claims9