Drive Capability Patents (Class 340/576)
  • Patent number: 9315194
    Abstract: The low-level consciousness determination system includes curved road determination means for determining whether a road on which the vehicle is traveling is a curved road and determining whether the vehicle is traveling on the outside of the curved road or on the inside of the curved road when the road is the curved road, threshold value setting means for setting different sudden steering determination threshold values when the curved road determination means determines that the road is not the curved road, when the curved road determination means determines that the vehicle is traveling on the outside of the curved road, and when the curved road determination means determines that the vehicle is traveling on the inside of the curved road, and sudden steering detection means for detecting the sudden steering on the basis of the threshold values set by the threshold value setting means after the non-steering state is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Okuda
  • Patent number: 9296382
    Abstract: Methods of assessing driver behavior include monitoring vehicle systems and driver monitoring systems to accommodate for a driver's slow reaction time, attention lapse and/or alertness. When it is determined that a driver is drowsy, for example, the response system may modify the operation of one or more vehicle systems. The systems that may be modified include: visual devices, audio devices, tactile devices, antilock brake systems, automatic brake prefill systems, brake assist systems, auto cruise control systems, electronic stability control systems, collision warning systems, lane keep assist systems, blind spot indicator systems, electronic pretensioning systems and climate control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kin C. Fung, Timothy J. Dick
  • Patent number: 9296395
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for cognitive state supported automotive travel are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A detection is made that an event in a vehicle is outside of acceptable bounds for that event. A determination is made whether the event being outside of acceptable bounds is a result of a cognitive state of a person operating the vehicle. Responsive to the event being a result of the cognitive state of the person, an indication of the cognitive state of the person being below a threshold level of cognitive abilities is generated. An action corresponding to the cognitive state is performed. The action causes the vehicle to operate with improved safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kember Anne-Rivers Forcke, Marc Kevin Johlic, Susann Marie Keohane, Mary Jo Mueller
  • Patent number: 9290174
    Abstract: A system and method that, in response to the detection of an impaired driver, develops a scenario-dependent response with an escalating sequence of awakening actions and/or automated driving actions that are designed to mitigate the effects of impaired driving for that particular driving scenario. Some examples of awakening actions include visual, audible, haptic and/or miscellaneous warnings intended to awaken or reengage the impaired driver. If the awakening actions are ineffective, one or more automated driving actions may be used to control certain aspects of vehicle braking, steering, accelerating, etc. The scenario-dependent response is at least partially based on the state, conditions and/or environment in and around the host vehicle (i.e., the current driving scenario) and may take into account factors such as: vehicle dynamics, road characteristics, pedestrian and vehicle traffic conditions, weather conditions and more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Chad T. Zagorski
  • Patent number: 9275532
    Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring one or more eyes of a vehicle operator during a driving session to generate a plurality of gaze location logs with gaze location values and timestamps. The gaze location value may be generated by determining a focal point of the vehicle operator's gaze, determining which of a plurality of areas of the vehicle is associated with the focal point, and assigning the gaze location value based on the area of the vehicle associated with the focal point. The gaze location logs may be analyzed to determine the duration of the vehicle operator's gaze at each area of the vehicle. Based on the duration of the vehicle operators gaze, recommendations to improve vehicle operator performance may be determined and communicated to the vehicle operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Jibo He, Brian M. Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve Cielocha, Jufeng Peng
  • Patent number: 9260013
    Abstract: An awareness level improvement device has an input portion, a determination portion, and a controller. Data related to the awareness level of the driver is input into the input portion. The determination portion determines whether the driver is in a absentminded state based on the data input into the input portion. The controller controls an execution portion to execute an application improving the awareness level of the driver when the determination portion determines that the driver is driving in the absentminded state. The application includes a body motion application that prompts the driver to perform a body motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Kume, Takahiro Naito, Yukari Ito, Shinya Matsunaga, Kiyotaka Taguchi, Hiroshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9256779
    Abstract: A gesture recognition apparatus for recognizing a gesture of a predetermined operating body includes a storage unit, having stored therein, correspondence relationships between a plurality of coordinate ranges in relation to the operating body and to a plurality of operation target apparatuses, each of the plurality of coordinate ranges further corresponding to each operation target apparatus of the plurality of operation target apparatuses. An image capturing unit captures one or more images of the operating body, a coordinate detecting detects coordinates of the operating body based on the one or more captured images, and an operation target apparatus specifying unit selects an operation target apparatus corresponding to the detected coordinates of the operating body and the stored correspondence relationships. A gesture recognition processing unit recognizes a gesture associated with the operating body based on one or more captured images and corresponding to the selected operation target apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kijuro Obata
  • Patent number: 9251694
    Abstract: A method of vehicle monitoring includes monitoring one or more vehicle safety systems while a vehicle is in operation to detect an unsafe condition. The method also includes sending an alert to a handheld device if an unsafe condition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Kleve, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Thomas Lee Miller, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Karl Douglas Vandivier, Paul Aldighieri
  • Patent number: 9244460
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an automated system for use in connection with longitudinal deceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and lateral acceleration functions. The system includes an interface receiving signals from and transmitting signals to a controller. The system also includes a safety kernel system comprising safety kernel software and a set of safety rules. Also disclosed are methods for use in a motion control system in connection with vehicle deceleration, acceleration, and lateral acceleration. The methods in some cases include receiving an initial request into a safety kernel software and determining whether the safety kernel software has received an override. The methods can also include detecting a violation of any primary safeguards defined by the safety kernel software, detecting a violation within a set of secondary safeguards defined by the safety kernel software, and adjusting the initial request to a modified level; and transmitting the modified level to an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rami I. Debouk, Thomas E. Fuhrman, Stephen M. Baker, Kevin M. O′Dea, Jeffrey Joyce
  • Patent number: 9235553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle computer system. The vehicle computer system gathers data from a safety sensor to determine whether the proper safety conditions are present for the vehicle operator to interact with the vehicle computer system. A safety controller receives safety condition data gathered from the safety sensor and instructs the display manager to disable the display of information to the vehicle operator during unsafe operating conditions. The vehicle computer system advantageously employs a transparent display screen to provide greater field of vision of the vehicle operator than could be provided by a traditional display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Fitch, Mark Lee Oberpriller
  • Patent number: 9227682
    Abstract: A method for improving the safety of motorcycling. With the aid of a sensor system, it is monitored if a motorcyclist assumes a predefined posture. Using an algorithm on a control unit, if it is detected that the motorcyclist deviates from the predefined posture for longer than a predetermined period of time, a signal transmitter is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Oettgen
  • Patent number: 9221339
    Abstract: Apparatus for use with a vehicle is disclosed and comprises an interlock device. The device is adapted to, in use: at least while said vehicle is in motion, periodically generate a prompt; assess motion of said vehicle; at least when said vehicle is assessed by said device to be at rest, carry out an analysis operation wherein a breath sample is received and analyzed; and in the event that, within a predetermined period following a prompt, the device does not, while said vehicle is assessed to be at rest, carry out said analysis operation, enter an alarm state at least when the vehicle is in motion. The device can be adapted to carry out analysis operations only when the vehicle is assessed to be at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ALCOHOL COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS (INTERNATIONAL) INC.
    Inventor: Felix J. E. Comeau
  • Patent number: 9182819
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of tracking an eye gaze to determine where a gaze point of a user is located on a display unit of a device, based on a facial pose and a position of an iris center, are provided. The method includes detecting a facial feature in a captured initial image, three-dimensionally modeling the detected facial feature, tracking the three-dimensionally modeled facial feature in consecutively captured images, detecting an iris center in the consecutively captured images, acquiring an eye gaze vector based on the tracked three-dimensionally modeled facial feature and the detected iris center, and acquiring a gaze point on a display unit based on the eye gaze vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Adam Strupczewski, Jacek Naruniec, Kamil Mucha, Blazej Czuprynski
  • Patent number: 9165452
    Abstract: A driver drowsiness prediction system includes a vital signal detection unit, a control unit and a network bridge module. The vital signal detection unit detects vital signals of a driver. The control unit receives the driver's vital signs, and stores at least a feature signal. The feature signal represents the vital signal pattern of losing consciousness. The control unit continuously compares the detected vital signal with the feature signal. When the vital signal is similar to the feature signal, the control unit issues a pre-alarming command. The network bridge module receives the pre-alarming command and is triggered to perform a network connection process. The network bridge module logs into a pre-determined social website according to a login script, and then sends a pre-alarming message thereon, wherein the pre-alarming message includes an event indicating the driver is near unconsciousness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: WISTRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Hsien Li, Yao-Tsung Chang, Pai-Yang Lin
  • Patent number: 9159221
    Abstract: Integrated touch sense controls installed at a steering wheel, steering wheel cover or decorative pieces installed at the steering wheel in order to capture the hands movements interpreter the finger gestures and control various devices in the car without distracting the driver while operating the vehicle. The steering wheel controls may also incorporate one or multiple displays for feedback and driver assistance. The display is located such that is always at the direct line of sight of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventor: George Stantchev
  • Patent number: 9156446
    Abstract: A method is provided for activating at least one vehicle component of a vehicle in a braking situation of the vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to raking of the vehicle to a halt and monitoring of at least one second vehicle component take place, and the second vehicle component can be actuated by a vehicle occupant. In addition, actuation of the at least one first vehicle component after a predetermined time takes place in the event that the second vehicle component is not actuated by the vehicle occupant within the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Uwe Bonne
  • Patent number: 9153116
    Abstract: Real-time vehicle driver performance monitoring uses a plurality of sensors operated in a vehicle, each generating a real-time data stream comprising data corresponding to operation of the vehicle by the vehicle's driver. A computing device (such as an in-vehicle computer) processes the generated data stream from each of the plurality of sensors to determine whether the operation of the vehicle triggers any of a plurality of predetermined operational alert triggers. The predetermined operational alert triggers may correspond to detecting characteristics of an improper magnitude and/or an improper linearity of a delta in data detected by one of the sensors. When an alert is triggered, a corresponding alert message is generated and sent to at least one recipient (e.g., to the vehicle's driver, to nearby driver(s), to authorities, etc.). Examples of monitored characteristics include speed, steering, braking, use of turn indicators by the driver, and mobile phone usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric V. Kline
  • Patent number: 9117358
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for improving the reliability of a portion of physiological data from an image sensor monitoring an operator positioned in an operator compartment of a vehicle. An embodiment of the method includes receiving, from the image sensor, physiological data including information relating to at least one of eye, face, head, arms and body motion of the operator, identifying an indication of at least an eyelid closure, eye movement or head movement of the operator based on the physiological data; comparing at least one of the physiological data and a lighting condition within the operator compartment with a set of rules for a current operator status; and classifying the type of eyelid closure, eye movement and/or head movement by correlating the identified eyelid closure, eye movement and/or head movement and a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Levin, Lena Westervall, Susanna Leandersson, Peter Kronberg
  • Patent number: 9111400
    Abstract: In an abnormal driving behavior detection system for a vehicle, an obtainer repeatedly obtains an observed value indicative of at least one of a running condition of the vehicle and a driver's driving operation of the vehicle. A mode-probability calculator calculates, each time an observed value is obtained at a given obtaining timing as a target obtained value, a mode probability for each of driving modes as a function of one or more previous observed values. A deviation calculator obtains a predicted observed value for each driving mode using a driver's normal behavior model defined therefor, and calculates a deviation of the target observed value from the predicted observed value for each driving mode. An abnormality determiner determines whether there is at least one driver's abnormal behavior based on the mode probability for each driving mode and the deviation calculated for each driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, National University Corporation Nara Institute Of Science And Technology
    Inventors: Takashi Bando, Masumi Egawa, Takatomi Kubo, Ryunosuke Hamada, Kazushi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9086294
    Abstract: A navigation device is disclosed wherein, in at least one embodiment. navigation instruction are adapted to the driver preferences. The driving behavior of the driver is recorded (like speed, time to prepare for an exit etc.), and the way he responds to navigation instructions (promptly, or always too late for example). Traffic, weather and time information may be combined with information on the driving behavior of the driver. This information is examined and used to build up a driver profile. This driver profile is used to adapt future navigation instructions. Alternatively, traffic and weather information may be used to build up route and/or environmental profiles. These profiles can also be used separate from the driver profile to adjust the navigation instruction. The combination of these two techniques, building up a profile (or adapt a pre-defined profile) and adapt the navigation instructions, makes the navigation device a more personal-fit navigation aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Serhiy Tkachenko, David Stelpstra, Kees Wesselius
  • Patent number: 9063543
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performing cooperative autonomous driving between a vehicle and a driver. For this, a cooperative autonomous driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a driver state determination unit for determining a state of a driver and calculating the state of the driver as a risk index. An autonomous driving control unit classifies section characteristics of respective sections included in a path to a destination corresponding to the driver based on section data stored in a database (DB), and controls autonomous driving of a vehicle in which the driver is riding, based on a driving environment recognized for the path to the destination corresponding to the driver. A driving control determination unit determines driving modes of the respective sections included in the path based on the state of the driver and the section characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kyoung-Hwan An, Woo-Yong Han
  • Patent number: 9058735
    Abstract: A system for detecting a condition of a driver is provided, wherein the system includes a first electrical device, a second electrical device, a regulation unit and an alert unit. The first electrical device detects an initial vehicle angle of a vehicle, the second electrical device detects an initial head angle of the driver and the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle based on the initial head angle and the initial vehicle angle. Additionally, the first electrical device detects a current vehicle angle of the vehicle, the second electrical device detects a current head angle of the driver and the regulation unit calculates a regulated head angle based on the current head angle and the regulation angle. Furthermore, the alert unit calculates a difference value between the regulated head angle and the current vehicle angle and generates a warning message if the difference value is larger than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chung-Hsien Yang, Chun-Fu Chuang, Syuan-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 9050061
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to health monitoring apparatuses, systems and methods that allow a user to passively monitor her/his health. Embodiments include acquiring chemical substances from a subject's skin (e.g., in sweat and/or sweat vapor or oil excretions) using a sample capture system located on a mounting portion in a fixed location. Embodiments also include analyzing chemical substance(s) acquiring from the subject's skin to generate raw data. Embodiments further include analyzing the raw data to generate health status data for a particular subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Ryo Omoda
  • Patent number: 9047752
    Abstract: The invention relates in general to an alarm device with the shape of a ring, comprising a housing located on its upper end, which contains an alarm system, which is activated upon the first signs of drowsiness or sleep of a human body. The relaxation or loosening of the muscles of the hand causes the pressure exerted on a lever located adjacent the ring to cease, which results in the enlargement of the circumference of the ring so that it will exert pressure on a knob, which in its turn will actuate a horn capable of producing a shrill sound and a vibrator, upon which the driver will recover a state of consciousness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Eduardo Pedro Bichara
  • Publication number: 20150145683
    Abstract: A method for detecting the attentional state of the driver of a vehicle includes ascertaining an attention index from the lateral deviation from the original lane and the steering angle correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Andreas OFFENHAEUSER
  • Patent number: 9041542
    Abstract: A system for preventing drowsiness in a driver by employing a thermal grill. The system includes a detection module and an intervention module. The detection module monitors a driver's parameters to determine whether the driver is drowsy. If the driver is determined to be drowsy, the intervention module activates a thermal grill with interlaced hot and cold regions. This activation causes the hot regions to approach one temperature and the cold regions to approach another. Additionally, this activation leads to an uncomfortable sensation for the driver, alerts the driver, and prevents the driver from getting drowsy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Hsuan Chang, H. Craig Heller, Dennis A. Grahn
  • Patent number: 9041543
    Abstract: An inattentive state determination apparatus being placed in a vehicle includes an image taking section, an orientation detection section, a determination section, a warning section, a shape detection section, and a setting section. The image taking section successively takes images of a face of a determination target. Based on the images, the orientation detection section and the shape detection section detect a determination target orientation and a hand shape, respectively. The determination section determines whether the determination target is in an inattentive state based on the determination target orientation by determining an inattentive state determination condition. The warning section notifies the inattentive state by outputting an audio warning corresponding to a parameter of the audio warning. The setting section sets at least one of the inattentive state determination condition and the parameter of the audio warning based on the hand shape and the determination target orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junya Inada
  • Patent number: 9035780
    Abstract: A device that causes a driver not to feel passive task-related fatigue by performing interaction with the driver at a time when the driver feeling passive task-related fatigue, thereby promoting safe driving. In particular, phrase “the interaction with the driver” refers to a series of operations viewing quiz data or beat sequence data to the driver, receiving a response, and visually, acoustically, and tactilely informing a result according to the response, and a control of each component for the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Jin Sah, Sung Min Park, Hui Sung Lee, Kwang Myung Oh
  • Patent number: 9030294
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to collect biometrically-verified actigraphy data, comprising: obtaining and processing a subject's measured biometric input from a biometric sensor to generate a current biometric signature of the subject; verifying the subject's identity by comparing the current biometric signature to one previously obtained from a database and evaluating a proximity metric of the current biometric signature of the subject to the previously obtained biometric signature from the database; if the subject passes identity verification, obtaining actigraphy data from an actigraphy sensor worn by the subject; at one or more times while obtaining the actigraphy data, repeating the steps of obtaining and processing a subject's measured biometric input from a biometric sensor to generate a current biometric signature of the subject, and verifying the identity of the subject to ensure that the identity of the subject passes the identity verification at the one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Pulsar Informatics, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Mollicone, Christopher Grey Mott, Sean Michael Thomas
  • Patent number: 9024764
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for reducing a vehicle driver's core temperature to offset drowsiness. In one embodiment, a temperature sensor records data describing a vehicle driver core temperature and communicates the data describing the vehicle driver core temperature to a temperature regulator. The temperature regulator determines whether the vehicle driver core temperature is similar to one or more circadian temperatures associated with wakefulness. If the vehicle driver core temperature is similar to a circadian temperature associated with sleep, the temperature regulator reduces the vehicle driver core temperature. In an embodiment the temperature regulator cools a material physically contacting the venous plexuses or arteriovenous anastomoses to cool the portions of the vehicle driver's anatomy which most efficiently cool the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsuan Chang
  • Patent number: 9024784
    Abstract: In a method for warning a driver of a vehicle, the position of the vehicle on the roadway is determined. For the determined position of the vehicle, data relating to a curved roadway course in the area ahead of the vehicle are obtained and data relating to a self-motion of the vehicle are obtained using a driving dynamics sensor. The curved roadway in the area ahead of the vehicle is divided into at least two zones of criticality as a function of the data relating to the curved roadway course and the data relating to the self-motion, wherein each zone of criticality is assigned an assessment which assesses the driving behavior of the vehicle within the respective zone of criticality, and the assessments are outputted to the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Audi AG, Audi Electronics Venture GmbH
    Inventors: Christina Gackstatter, Markus Popken, Jessica Reinhold
  • Patent number: 9019093
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for outputting items of information regarding a vehicle, in particular regarding a vehicle function. In order to impart the driver an improved knowledge of the vehicle functions, a first storage device, with which the items of information can be retrievably stored, a first device, with which a workload of the driver can be determined, a second device with which an associated priority can be provided to each item of information, and an output device are provided. If the determined workload undershoots a predeterminable limit workload, the item of information with the highest priority is output via the output device. The second device is embodied and equipped in such a manner, that following outputting of an item of information through the output device, the priority of this item of information is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Wendt, Dennis Lohrengel
  • Patent number: 9019107
    Abstract: A method for reporting vehicle operator impairment criteria is provided. The method determines, using a substance detection device installed inside a vehicle, a level of a substance or combination of substances associated with vehicle operator impairment; obtains vehicle status data from a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle; determines a level of risk associated with vehicle operator behavior, using the obtained vehicle status data; and generates a report, comprising the determined level of the substance or the combination of substances and the determined level of risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William A. Biondo, David T. Proefke
  • Patent number: 9020705
    Abstract: A configuration is adopted where elastic members made of expanded rein beads and having a size covering air cushions are disposed between a skin member and the air cushions of a human body supporting device. By arranging a plurality of elastic members made of expanded rein beads and in a stacking manner, preferably, arranging two elastic members made of expanded resin beads, spring constants of the elastic members obtained from load-deflection characteristics when they are pressed to a deflection amount of 1 mm by a pressing plate with a diameter of 30 mm being higher than that of the air cushion and being different from each other, a biological signal can be transmitted to the air cushions without damping the biological signal, though the elastic members made of expanded rein beads and are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Shinichiro Maeda, Shigeyuki Kojima
  • Publication number: 20150109131
    Abstract: A vehicle driver assist arrangement may include an output unit and a vehicle driver attentiveness assessment arrangement. The vehicle driver attentiveness arrangement may include a host vehicle lane position evaluation unit, a steering wheel torque detection unit, a pedal pressure detecting unit, and a processing unit. The processing unit is arranged to assess a level of vehicle driver attentiveness on the basis of a first, a second and a third signal transmitted to the processing unit by the host vehicle lane position evaluation unit, the steering wheel torque detection unit, and the pedal pressure detecting unit. The output unit is arranged to issue an alert in case the assessed level of vehicle driver attentiveness is below a predetermined threshold attentiveness level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas LINDBERG, Fredrik OLAISSON, Joakim MELKERSSON
  • Patent number: 9014915
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for controlling active safety functionality for a vehicle. The active safety functionality provides an action during a drive cycle of the vehicle based on a predetermined threshold. Data pertaining to driving conditions, usage conditions of the vehicle, or both, is obtained for a drive cycle of the vehicle. A risk factor grade is calculated using the data. The risk factor grade corresponds to a level of situational risk for the drive cycle. The predetermined threshold of the active safety system is adjusted based on the risk factor grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Aamrapali Chatterjee, Chad T. Zagorski, Paul R. Williams
  • Patent number: 9013264
    Abstract: A hands-free controller, a facial expression management system, a drowsiness detection system and methods for using them are disclosed. The controller monitors facial expressions of the user, monitors motions of the user's body, generates commands for an electronic device based on the monitored facial expressions and body motions, and communicates the commands to the electronic device. Monitoring facial expressions can include sensing facial muscle motions using facial expression sensors. Monitoring user body motions can include sensing user head motions. Facial expression management can includes monitoring user facial expressions, storing monitored expressions, and communicating monitored expressions to an electronic device. Drowsiness detection can include monitoring eye opening of the user, generating an alert when drowsiness is detected, monitoring proper usage of the device, and generating a warning when improper usage is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Perceptive Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Uday Parshionikar, Mihir Parshionikar
  • Publication number: 20150102929
    Abstract: In a method for warning the driver of a motor vehicle in the event of lack of attention, in order to improve the acceptance of such systems among drivers, it is provided to monitor the driver with regard to lack of attention and also to ascertain the instantaneous driving situation of the vehicle, and, if lack of attention of the driver has been determined, to output a warning signal only in certain driving situations, but not in others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Charlotte Grinenval, Wolfgang Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9007198
    Abstract: A method, system, device and computer readable medium for adaptively warning a driver includes detecting a behavior of the driver, the behavior including engagement in a secondary activity, which is an activity other than driving a vehicle. Based on the detected behavior, a level of engagement in the secondary activity is estimated, and, based on the estimated level of engagement in the secondary activity, the driver's level of perception of an external hazard is determined. A warning alert for the driver, when the level of perception is below a threshold is actuated. A reaction of the driver to the actuated warning alert is determined. Based on the reaction of the driver to the actuated warning alert, the warning alert is adjusted, and the warning alert is terminated when the level of perception becomes above the threshold because of the reaction of the driver to the actuated warning alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Pujitha Gunaratne
  • Patent number: 9007220
    Abstract: A head worn device for monitoring alertness and attention which includes a) sensors to monitor eyelid and eye movement, b) a motion sensor and c) data storage means for storing data from said sensors. The motion sensor is an accelerometer to provide data that allows the head position to be analyzed and to determine the direction of gaze. The device collects data from an accelerometer worn by the driver to detect if the vehicle is in motion and whether the head is tilted vertical plane. If the vehicle is not in motion data is not processed. When the direction of gaze is downward sensor signals from the eye movement sensors is ignored. However if the duration of downward gaze is greater than a predetermined minimum period and the vehicle is in motion, an alarm is triggered because the driver is inattentive. The device may be used to assess whether workers are sufficiently alert before they commence work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Optalert Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Murray Johns, Christopher Hocking
  • Patent number: 9008857
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting drowsy driving that include a controller configured to calculate basic characteristics based on steering torque information and lateral displacement information for every first time and basic thresholds based on the basic characteristics for a second time. In addition, the controller calculates a current characteristic based on the steering torque information and the lateral displacement information for every third time and calculates current thresholds based on the current characteristic for a fourth time. The controller then compares the current thresholds and the current characteristics to determine whether drowsy driving is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jinkwon Kim, Byoung Joon Lee, Ho Choul Jung, Samyong Kim
  • Patent number: 9002720
    Abstract: A method for training vehicle drivers to detect hazards, the method having step that include: visually presenting to a driver a continuous drive through a driving environment comprised of at least two hazard modules, wherein each hazard module presents at least one driving scenario that comprises at least one hazard; recording where within the visual presentation the driver looks to detect hazards during the visual presentation of the continuous drive; and determining the driver's hazard detection proficiency by evaluating whether the driver looked at hazards during the visual presentation of the continuous drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventor: John Adrian Nepomuceno
  • Patent number: 8994522
    Abstract: The described method and system provide for HMI steering for a telematics-equipped vehicle based on likelihood to exceed eye glance guidelines. By determining whether a task is likely to cause the user to exceed eye glance guidelines, alternative HMI processes may be presented to a user to reduce ASGT and EORT and increase compliance with eye glance guidelines. By allowing a user to navigate through long lists of items through vocal input, T9 text input, or heuristic processing rather than through conventional presentation of the full list, a user is much more likely to comply with the eye glance guidelines. This invention is particularly useful in contexts where users may be searching for one item out of a plurality of potential items, for example, within the context of hands-free calling contacts, playing back audio files, or finding points of interest during GPS navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: General Motors LLC, GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Tengler, Bijaya Aryal, Scott P. Geisler, Michael A. Wuergler
  • Patent number: 8989955
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for vehicle control, tracking, and reporting. In an aspect, vehicle parameters that describe the current operation of the vehicle are compared to profile parameters of a driver. If the vehicle parameters are not within the operational limits defined by the profile parameters, an out of profile parameter process is performed. The out of profile parameter process includes wirelessly sending a violation report to an administrator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Paul Hart
  • Patent number: 8989944
    Abstract: An example method may include receiving a first set of points based on detection of an environment of an autonomous vehicle during a first time period, selecting a plurality of points from the first set of points that form a first point cloud representing an object in the environment, receiving a second set of points based on detection of the environment during a second time period which is after the first period, selecting a plurality of points from the second set of points that form a second point cloud representing the object in the environment, determining a transformation between the selected points from the first set of points and the selected points from the second set of points, using the transformation to determine a velocity of the object, and providing instructions to control the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the velocity of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Pratik Agarwal, Jiajun Zhu, Dmitri Dolgov
  • Patent number: 8981962
    Abstract: A holder device is capable of automatically adjusting orientation of an electronic device placed thereon based upon position of a user. The holder device includes a holder body, a torque unit, and a control unit. The holder body includes a base, a movable arm set pivoted to the base, and a fastening seat for placing the electronic device thereon. The torque unit is disposed at pivot joints of the movable arm set and provides power for driving pivoting movement of the movable arm set. The control unit is disposed to receive user-associated position information and is configured to generate a control command corresponding to the position information and to transmit the control command to the torque unit so as to control the torque unit to move the movable arm set for adjusting orientation of the electronic device placed on the fastening seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chuan-Cheng Fu
  • Patent number: 8981942
    Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated), alerting the vehicle operator when impairment is detected, and log data relating to vehicle operator impairment for further analysis. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using either or both of optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, one optical sensor may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Another optical sensor may monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. The accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Jibo He, Brian M. Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve Cielocha, Jufeng Peng, Julian Coltea
  • Publication number: 20150070178
    Abstract: Real-time vehicle driver performance monitoring uses a plurality of sensors operated in a vehicle, each generating a real-time data stream comprising data corresponding to operation of the vehicle by the vehicle's driver. A computing device (such as an in-vehicle computer) processes the generated data stream from each of the plurality of sensors to determine whether the operation of the vehicle triggers any of a plurality of predetermined operational alert triggers. The predetermined operational alert triggers may correspond to detecting characteristics of an improper magnitude and/or an improper linearity of a delta in data detected by one of the sensors. When an alert is triggered, a corresponding alert message is generated and sent to at least one recipient (e.g., to the vehicle's driver, to nearby driver(s), to authorities, etc.). Examples of monitored characteristics include speed, steering, braking, use of turn indicators by the driver, and mobile phone usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric V. Kline
  • Publication number: 20150061875
    Abstract: A system for detecting a condition of a driver is provided, wherein the system includes a first electrical device, a second electrical device, a regulation unit and an alert unit. The first electrical device detects an initial vehicle angle of a vehicle, the second electrical device detects an initial head angle of the driver and the regulation unit calculates a regulation angle based on the initial head angle and the initial vehicle angle. Additionally, the first electrical device detects a current vehicle angle of the vehicle, the second electrical device detects a current head angle of the driver and the regulation unit calculates a regulated head angle based on the current head angle and the regulation angle. Furthermore, the alert unit calculates a difference value between the regulated head angle and the current vehicle angle and generates a warning message if the difference value is larger than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chung-Hsien Yang, Chun-Fu Chuang, Syuan-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 8957771
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices, systems and methods for thwarting attempts to circumvent breath alcohol level testing and monitoring programs. In-home monitoring systems as well as ignition interlock systems are described. Accelerometers and/or compasses are used to detect movement of the device. GPS and image data are collected at the time samples are collected to verify their authenticity. A system is provided for use by a third party service provider to provide reports and notification to monitoring authorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Arringdale, Michael W. Walter, Douglas E. DeVries