Responsive To Absence Or Inattention Of Operator, Or Negatively Reactive To Attempt To Operate Vehicle By Person Not Qualified Mentally Or Physically To Do So Patents (Class 180/272)
  • Patent number: 9730584
    Abstract: A glucose measuring system includes a glucose meter that incorporates wireless communication capabilities. The meter can advantageously be a low cost meter by eliminating expensive components, such as the display. The user nevertheless is able to retrieve and view his or her glucose values by referring to displays within the glucose measuring local area network. Feedback via these displays can advantageously be used by the diabetic to create a higher level of confidence and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Nelson, Mark Kent Sloan, Robert Y. Jin, Feng Jiang, Jen-Chyun Chen, Arthur Eugene Anderson, III, Charles T. Liamos
  • Patent number: 9734721
    Abstract: A method comprising receiving sensor information from at least one sensor, determining that a vehicle was involved in an accident based, at least in part, on the sensor information, determining that an informative notification criteria is satisfied based, at least in part, on the accident, sending an informative notification in response to the determination that the informative notification criteria is satisfied, determining whether a remedial request criteria is satisfied based, at least in part, on the accident and the sensor information, in circumstances where the remedial request criteria is satisfied, sending a remedial request based, at least in part, on the satisfaction of the remedial request criteria, and in circumstances where the remedial request criteria fails to be satisfied, precluding sending of the remedial request based, at least in part, on the failure of satisfaction of the remedial request criteria is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Leon Oliver Stenneth
  • Patent number: 9710717
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating data representative of vehicle operator distractions. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating data representative of vehicle operator distractions based on vehicle interior image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Jason Sanchez, Aaron Scott Chan
  • Patent number: 9701314
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Offenhaeuser
  • Patent number: 9697709
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems using merchandise activity sensors for increasing the awareness of interactivity with merchandise on retail store displays (shelves, peg hooks, merchandise pushers, and other Point of Purchase displays) in order to facilitate more effective customer service, reduce theft and to provide additional analysis data related to merchandise/shopper interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Indyme Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg King, Derek Morikawa, Barry Baldwin, Bill Kepner, Steve Deal
  • Patent number: 9694680
    Abstract: A system for determining a drowsy state of a driver includes: a heartbeat measurement module configured to detect a heartbeat rate of the driver and output a heartbeat signal corresponding to the detected heartbeat rate; a vehicle signal measurement module configured to measure a driving state of a vehicle being driven by the driver and output a vehicle signal corresponding to the measured driving state; a drowsy pattern detection module configured to determine whether a driver has fallen asleep while driving based on the heartbeat signal and the vehicle signal and output a warning signal as a drowsy warning in response to determining that the driver has fallen asleep while driving; and a warning module configured to output a warning to the driver based on the warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Kwon Kim, Byoung Joon Lee, Hwal Ly Lee, Ho Choul Jung, Sam Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 9694791
    Abstract: At a time of causing a parking mechanism to execute parking process to switch a parking gear to a locked state when a predetermined parking condition is established and a detected road surface gradient is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is determined whether a foot brake has been operated, operation of an automatic braking system is controlled to make a travel speed of the vehicle greater than zero but equal to or less than a set speed if it is determined that the foot brake has not been operated, and the parking process is then executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunji Kamo
  • Patent number: 9688271
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an occupant monitoring system and a processing circuit coupled to the occupant monitoring system. The occupant monitoring system is configured to acquire occupant data regarding an occupant of the vehicle. The processing circuit is configured to receive the occupant data; determine a vehicle operation command based on the occupant data, the vehicle operation command configured to affect operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is in a robotic driving mode; and provide the vehicle operation command to a vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 9684767
    Abstract: According to another example, a wearable medical device controller is provided. The device controller includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to determine a correlation between a phenomenon identifiable by the wearable medical device controller and at least one response pattern associated with a patient and store, responsive to detecting the correlation, an adaptation path to address the at least one response pattern, the adaptation path specifying an adaptation of at least one characteristic of an alarm. The at least one response pattern may include a plurality of response patterns and the adaptation path may reflect adaptations made to address at least some of the plurality of response patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kaib, Shane S. Volpe, John G. Clark, Ryan D. Macel, Phillip Hier Amsler
  • Patent number: 9671492
    Abstract: A method for sensing occupancy status within an automotive vehicle uses a radar sensor system, the radar sensor system includes an antenna system, at least one sensor and processing circuitry. The method comprises illuminating, using the antenna system, at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with continuous wave (CW signals), the CW signals being frequency modulated in time. At least one sensor signal (y(t,f1 . . . y(t,fn)) reflected as a result of the CW signals, is received using at least one sensor the at least one sensor defining a plurality of receive channels (1 . . . i), each channel having a different frequency (f1 . . . fi). Processing circuitry is operable for applying, for each receive channel (1 . . . i), DC offset removal to the corresponding sensor signal (y(t,f1 . . . y(t,fn)) to generate a modified signal (y?(t, f1) . . . y?(t,fn)); and generating, based on the modified signals (y?(t, f1) . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Andreas Diewald
  • Patent number: 9672335
    Abstract: A method of user logon to a computing device or computer system that, distinct from requiring entry of a set of known logon credentials such as a username and password, introduces an additional thought-directed user interface whereby the user must respond to one or more prompts that measure the user's cognitive function at the time of logon or during an active logon session. The user's responses to these prompts are evaluated for several purposes, including determining whether the user demonstrates the required level of cognitive function to gain access to the computer system or continue an active logon session. The user's responses and associated data may also be stored and retrieved at a later time for various purposes, including determining whether and to what extent the user's level of cognitive function is improving, diminishing, or remaining static over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventors: Laird H Shuart, Dustin Matthew Engelhaupt, Sharon Elizabeth Jankowski, Bruce David Jankowski, Marcia L. Shuart
  • Patent number: 9662976
    Abstract: An improved ignition interlock system being of the type including a plurality of ignition interlock devices. A vehicle is provided in which each device is installed. The plurality of service centers are provided with each service center having an associated computer adapted to extract data. A wireless transceiver is associated with each device. A wireless transceiver is associated with each service center. Computing functionality is associated with the service centers and with the devices and adapted such that when any of the vehicles attends any of the service centers, the computer associated with that service center can extract the data from the device disposed within that vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (International) Inc.
    Inventors: Felix J. E. Comeau, Denise L. Connerty
  • Patent number: 9659475
    Abstract: According to another example, a wearable medical device controller is provided. The device controller includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to determine a correlation between a phenomenon identifiable by the wearable medical device controller and at least one response pattern associated with a patient and store, responsive to detecting the correlation, an adaptation path to address the at least one response pattern, the adaptation path specifying an adaptation of at least one characteristic of an alarm. The at least one response pattern may include a plurality of response patterns and the adaptation path may reflect adaptations made to address at least some of the plurality of response patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kaib, Shane S. Volpe, John G. Clark
  • Patent number: 9648346
    Abstract: Multi-view video that is being streamed to a remote device in real time may be encoded. Frames of a real-world scene captured by respective video cameras are received for compression. A virtual viewpoint, positioned relative to the video cameras, is used to determine expected contributions of individual portions of the frames to a synthesized image of the scene from the viewpoint position using the frames. For each frame, compression rates for individual blocks of a frame are computed based on the determined contributions of the individual portions of the frame. The frames are compressed by compressing the blocks of the frames according to their respective determined compression rates. The frames are transmitted in compressed form via a network to a remote device, which is configured to render the scene using the compressed frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Cha Zhang, Dinei A. Florencio
  • Patent number: 9637135
    Abstract: A driving assistance device includes: a switch information acquisition section that acquires switch information indicating a switch from a first travelling operation state to a second travelling operation state, in which the occupant drives manually; a degree of tension information acquisition section that acquires information indicating a degree of tension of an occupant; a perception state presentation section that presents a perception state indicating a state of stimulus perceived by the occupant using touch; and a controller that, when the switch information has been acquired, causes a first perception state corresponding to the degree of tension to be presented by the perception state presentation section as the perception state, and causes presentation by the perception state presentation section so as to transition from the first perception state to a second perception state determined for when the occupant manually drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9637120
    Abstract: A cognitive-driver-assist system includes an object-detection device, an operator-detection device, a control-override device, and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect when an object is proximate to a host-vehicle. The operator-detection device is operable to determine when an operator of the host-vehicle is aware of the object. The control-override device is operable to limit operator-authority of the operator while the operator is driving the host-vehicle. The controller is configured to operate the control-override device in accordance with the operator-authority to override the operator and avoid interference with the object when the operator is not aware of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Laur, Serge Lambermont, John P. Absmeier
  • Patent number: 9637079
    Abstract: An instrument panel assembly having structure designed to restrict the motion of a panel member of the instrument panel assembly in certain situations, such as airbag deployment is disclosed. A panel member is secured to the instrument panel main body. A primary alignment post extends from the back surface of the panel member and includes a retention notch. The retention notch catches on a first edge of a first aperture of the instrument panel and restricts the motion of the panel member when a force of the second type is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chae Hon An, James L. Belanger
  • Patent number: 9622708
    Abstract: A device to detect a state of a human being is provided. The device determines a time-series waveform of a frequency from a time-series waveform of a biological signal acquired from an upper body of a human being, and determines time-series waveforms of a frequency slope and frequency variation to analyze these frequencies. Upon analyzing the frequencies, it determines power spectrums of frequencies corresponding to a preset functional adjustment signal, fatigue reception signal, and activity adjustment signal, and then determines a state of the human being from a time-series change in each power spectrum. Dominant degrees of the functional adjustment signal and activity adjustment signal are compared as distribution rates thereof, in addition to a degree of progress of fatigue, to determine a state of the human being, for example a relaxed state, fatigued state, prominent state of sympathetic nervous, prominent state of parasympathetic nervous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Yoshika Nobuhiro
  • Patent number: 9616887
    Abstract: A driving assistance device for a vehicle includes an object detection section for detecting objects present on the periphery of an own vehicle and determines whether the own vehicle is located within a predetermined region from an intersection. The driving assistance device extracts, from the detected objects, a first moving object which may come into collision with the own vehicle as the own vehicle enters the intersection. The driving assistance device extracts, from the detected objects, a second moving object crossing a road on which the first moving object is traveling between the own vehicle and the first moving object, and acquires motion information of the second moving object crossing the intersection. The driving assistance device determines that the own vehicle can enter the intersection when acquiring the motion information of the second moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Takagi
  • Patent number: 9619078
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing user distraction is provided herein. During operation a user device will show content for limited periods of time during a context where the user is not to be distracted. So for example, a police officer driving may only be able to look at the screen of his device for a first period of time (e.g., 3 seconds). After that period of time, the device will prevent further viewing (preferably by turning off the screen). After a second period of time (e.g., 10 seconds), the device will again allow the officer to look at the screen for the first period of time. When the device has determined that user distraction does not need to be prevented, the device will allow full access to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Alain D Abbate
  • Patent number: 9604571
    Abstract: A system and method for warning a third party about a temperature condition for a forgotten occupant based upon an estimated temperature. The system and method include retrieving a weather forecast for an area in which the vehicle is located and estimating a future temperature of the passenger compartment in response to determining that the drive system of the vehicle has been shut off and that the driver has exited the vehicle, the method determines whether an occupant remains in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The future temperature of the passenger compartment is a temperature of the passenger compartment of the vehicle after a lapse of a predetermined time period. In response to determining that the estimated future temperature is outside of the predetermined temperature range send a warning to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenan Kurtovic
  • Patent number: 9599986
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an automated control system having a memory and a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor system is configured to perform a method including determining that a body area network of an occupant of a vehicle has reported, during operation of the vehicle, a medical emergency event, and controlling operation of the vehicle based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam Harley Eugene Eberbach, John M. Wagner, Carolyn A. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 9592850
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes an assist deviation calculator calculating an assist deviation, a follow deviation calculator calculating a follow deviation, a unit converter converting a measurement unit, a weighting factor setter setting a weighting factor, a deviation mixer calculating a controlled deviation by mixing the deviations, and an instruction value generator generating an assist instruction value that drives a motor to output (i) an automatic steering torque and (ii) an assist torque. The assist instruction value is generated based on the calculated controlled deviation, and by decreasing the controlled deviation in a feedback manner, so that the drive of the motor leads to a decrease of the calculated controlled deviation, thereby switching the assist and follow control without a wrong steering feeling, and without deterioration of each of assist/follow functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoaki Kataoka, Hisaya Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 9582979
    Abstract: In a system for supervising the safety on a site with at least one movable object, a drowsiness detection system is arranged at the movable object for supplying data related to a drowsiness state of an operator of the movable object. A monitoring system remote from the movable object receives the drowsiness state related data and logs and/or evaluates this drowsiness state related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Urban Mader, Peter Arnold Stegmaier, Urs Martin Rothacher
  • Patent number: 9573598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to system for determining a movement of a control device and a system for detecting drowsiness of a driver of a vehicle, as well as an according processing unit used for this purpose and an according method. The system (12) for determining a movement comprises a plurality of light sensors (16), a processing unit (14) and an interface (18), wherein the light sensors (44-58) are able to transmit light intensity information to the processing unit (14) and the latter is able to provide information to a user. Further, the processing unit (14) is able to determine the movement of the control device based on the light intensity information submitted by the light sensors (44-58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Igor Berezhnyy, Gary Nelson Garcia Molina, Mirela Alina Weffers-Albu
  • Patent number: 9573522
    Abstract: Arrangements related to the operation of an autonomous vehicle are described. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle seat. It can be determined whether a future planned driving maneuver of the autonomous vehicle includes a change in a current motion of the autonomous vehicle. Responsive to determining that the future planned driving maneuver includes a change in the current motion of the autonomous vehicle, the vehicle seat can be caused to provide a haptic indication of the future planned driving maneuver prior to implementing the future planned driving maneuver. In this way, a vehicle seat occupant can be alerted to the future planned driving maneuver. The haptic indication can include a movement of the vehicle seat. In one or more arrangements, the movement of the vehicle seat can correspond to a sensation that a vehicle seat occupant will experience during at least a portion of the future planned driving maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. James
  • Patent number: 9542847
    Abstract: A method/system for lane departure warning/assistance that warns the driver that the vehicle is about to leave a current lane and enter an adjacent lane. The driver is identified, and a corresponding profile is accessed. The driver's pupils may be measured and compared to pupil size baseline data stored in the accessed profile. If the difference in pupil size exceeds a pupil size baseline by more than a deviation level, the method/system may adjust a lane departure warning/assistance threshold of a lane departure detector that warns the driver each time the vehicle is getting too close to an adjacent lane, thus alerting the driver that the vehicle may drift into the next lane. Driving patterns, such as steering angles and braking force, may also be used to adjust the lane departure warning/assistance threshold and determine whether the driver may benefit from lane departure warning/assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rini Sherony, Hideki Hada
  • Patent number: 9533603
    Abstract: A B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit (10) comprises a support plate (12) having a top surface (20) and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (14), which define an upper surface (18) of the unit. The top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed the upper surface. A first foam pad (22) is disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate. A recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the first foam pad, accommodates a second foam pad (23) carrying a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26). The recess has a depth exceeding the total height of the pressure-responsive membrane switch and the second foam pad. The pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond opposite edges of the second foam pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Markus Kordel, Dietmar Jungen, Konstantin Weires, Manuel Wampach
  • Patent number: 9527508
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle safety apparatus and a safety monitoring method thereof are provided. The safety monitoring method is as follows. A physiological status of a driver is determined according to an electrocardiogram signal and electrocardiogram history data, and the mobile vehicle is driven according to the physiological status of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chen-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 9518881
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a force effect comprises two electrical conductors which run at a distance from one another, a deformable spacer which is arranged between the two electrical conductors, a first measuring device which is electrically connected to one end of the two electrical conductors in each case and an electrical component which is electrically connected to the respective other end of the two electrical conductors. The first measuring device is designed to detect a change in a variable which can be measured by the measuring device, which change is caused by a change in the distance between the two electrical conductors which is caused by a force effect at at least one place along the two electrical conductors, in order to detect the force effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 9514626
    Abstract: A method of detecting impairment of a driver of a vehicle. The method includes sensing, using a sensor, a position of the driver's head at a plurality of time points; determining, using a microprocessor, changes in the position of the driver's head between the plurality of time points; evaluating, using a microprocessor, whether the changes in the position of the driver's head between the plurality of time points exhibit at least one of a periodic and a quasi-periodic pattern; determining whether the driver is impaired based on the pattern of the changes in the position of the driver's head; and if the driver is impaired, alerting the driver using an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Riheng Wu, Jason Turner, Caleb Browning, Travis Brummett
  • Patent number: 9508201
    Abstract: Approaches are provided for identifying the origin of a vehicular impact and selectively exchanging data pertaining to the impact. An approach includes determining whether an impact to a vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold. The approach further includes when the impact exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal that includes impact information and identifier information stored in a persistent storage device. The approach further includes receiving signals from one or more other vehicles within a predetermined proximity of the vehicle. The approach further includes comparing impact information from the signals to the impact information stored in the persistent storage device. The approach further includes when the impact information from the signals matches the impact information stored in the persistent storage device within a tolerance threshold, storing the impact information and identifier information from the signals in the persistent storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Gregory J. Boss, Jill S. Dhillon, Rick A. Hamilton, II
  • Patent number: 9505412
    Abstract: A system includes a primary vehicle operable by a driver. The driver is associated with a first device having a plurality of features with which the driver may interact. The system further includes a second device integral with the primary vehicle and in communication with the first device. The second device is configured to detect an interaction between the driver and at least one of the features of the first device, and calculate a driver distraction level based upon the interaction between the driver and the at least one feature of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sue Bai, Radovan Miucic
  • Patent number: 9475387
    Abstract: A drunk driving prevention system for a vehicle includes an eye symptom detector adapted for supporting in the vehicle at a position to detect eye symptoms of a driver, a control module operatively linked to the eye symptom detector for determining and analyzing whether the eye symptoms of the driver match with alcohol influenced eye symptoms, and a signal module operatively linked control module for generating a drunk driving signal in response to the alcohol influenced eye symptoms that suspect an alcohol concentration of the driver is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Roger Li-Chung Wu
  • Patent number: 9472083
    Abstract: A system for event triggering comprises an interface and a processor. An interface configured to receive a face tracking data and receive a sensor data. The processor configured to determine a degree of drowsiness based at least in part on the face tracking data and the sensor data; in the event that the degree of drowsiness is greater than a first threshold, capture data; and in the event that the degree of drowsiness is greater than a second threshold, provide a warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Lytx, Inc.
    Inventor: Syrus C. Nemat-Nasser
  • Patent number: 9469176
    Abstract: A safety system and a method configured to determine whether a passenger compartment of a vehicle is occupied whether the temperature of the passenger compartment is outside an acceptable temperature range, and to take a safety countermeasure if needed. An occupant is detected by sounds received by an audio transducer within the passenger compartment connected to an infotainment system. The temperature is detected by a temperature sensor connected to the heating, ventilation and air condition system of the vehicle. Example safety countermeasures include activating the horn, transmitting a wireless signal indicating that an unattended occupant is in the vehicle to a remote wireless receiver, and/or at least partially opening a vehicle window. A pair of high frequency speakers connected to the infotainment system may be used to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals so that an occupant may be detected using ultrasonic motion detection techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Boyer, John F. Heffron
  • Patent number: 9435417
    Abstract: An automatic torque compensating drive system for a hydrostatic transmission, having a torque compensating control mechanism adjusting the swash plate of the hydraulic motor, the swash plate being spring biased to a low-torque, high-speed position and rotatable through a range of positions to a high-torque, low-speed position in response to increasing hydraulic system pressure. When used with a pair of transmissions, a linkage may join the control mechanisms of each transmission to synchronize their torque adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Nathan W. Bonny, K. Mike McCoy
  • Patent number: 9426292
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method for allocating assignments based on workload and physiological stress. The method comprises maintaining a queue of logged-in service representatives, and, in response to receiving a service request for a new assignment, scanning the queue to determine a subset of potential service representatives to assign the new assignment to. A corresponding workload level of each service representative of the subset is the smallest among all service representatives of the queue. For each service representative of the subset, a corresponding anxiety level is determined based on physiological sensor data captured by a wearable tracking device attached to the service representative. The new assignment is assigned to a service representative of the subset, the service representative having a corresponding anxiety level that is the smallest among all service representatives of the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Griffith, Anil Kalavakolanu, Srinivasa R. Muppala, Srinivasa M. Raghavan, Yanhua Yang
  • Patent number: 9418494
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for providing real-time information using an analysis factor of road and traffic conditions. The real-time information service apparatus may include a calculating unit to calculate at least one of a topographical factor related to a road and a behavioral factor related to a speed, and a providing unit to provide real-time notification information to a driver based on at least one of the topographical factor and the behavioral factor. The real-time notification information may include at least one of a light signal of an indicator lamp, an alarm signal, a video signal, and an audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: THINKWARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyung Min Jin, Deuk Yeong Seong, Tae Hyeon Park
  • Patent number: 9403531
    Abstract: A system and a method of controlling a vehicle using a turning degree are disclosed. The method includes detecting input variables including a driving input variable and a turning input variable and calculating a driving tendency index based on the driving input variable. A turning degree related to the number of consecutive turnings is calculated based on the turning input variable and then the vehicle is operated based on the driving tendency index and the turning degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donghoon Jeong, Byeongwook Jeon
  • Patent number: 9402577
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a driver's fatigue detection system and method. The system comprises a vital sign detection device generating at least one personal vital sign value; a storage device storing a linear statistic equation; a processor electrically connected with the vital sign detection device and the storage device; and a display device electrically connected with the processor. The processor receives the personal vital sign value, retrieves the linear statistic equation, substitutes the personal vital sign value into the linear statistic equation to generate a predictive vehicle deviation value, and determines whether the predictive vehicle deviation value is over a preset vehicle deviation value. If yes, the processor generates an alert signal to the display device to present an alert image. The present invention determines whether the stability of the driver is decreasing according to his physiological status and reminds the driver to avoid a traffic accident beforehand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Test Center
    Inventors: Ming-Kuan Ko, Yen-Cheng Feng
  • Patent number: 9378637
    Abstract: According to another example, a wearable medical device controller is provided. The device controller includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to determine a correlation between a phenomenon identifiable by the wearable medical device controller and at least one response pattern associated with a patient and store, responsive to detecting the correlation, an adaptation path to address the at least one response pattern, the adaptation path specifying an adaptation of at least one characteristic of an alarm. The at least one response pattern may include a plurality of response patterns and the adaptation path may reflect adaptations made to address at least some of the plurality of response patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kaib, Shane S. Volpe, John G. Clark
  • Patent number: 9376079
    Abstract: An automated vision inspection system detects whether a cushion of a side curtain airbag assembly system is twisted. The cushion is provided a plurality of markings arrayed along a longitudinal extent of the cushion. Each marking can be defined by a group of four distinct characters or indicia. Each indicium can be defined by polygonal shaped pixels which allow the inspection system to find clear edges of the marking and thereby determine marking orientation. By determining orientation, the inspection system can compare the inspected marking to a master image of the marking to determine if the cushion is in a twisted state or non-twisted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James Wesley Adams, Alec Peter Bacon
  • Patent number: 9355546
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for analyzing a concentration level of a driver, the method including analyzing quantitative data associated with a time at which a line of sight (LOS) of a driver is dispersed and a time at which the LOS of the driver is focused, analyzing a reaction speed of a human machine interface (HMI) when a command based on device input information, voice information, and gesture information is input, and evaluating a degree of LOS dispersion of the driver based on the quantitative data of the driver and the reaction speed of a user interface (UI) of the HMI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kim, Tae Man Han
  • Patent number: 9333859
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a vehicle infotainment system includes: detecting, by one or more sensors of a vehicle, whether a user of the vehicle is located in the vehicle when a door event of the vehicle occurs; and controlling, by a controller of the vehicle, an infotainment system of the vehicle so as to pause multimedia data that is playing in the infotainment system, when the one or more sensors detect that the user is not located in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chang Woo Chun
  • Patent number: 9333880
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle. A sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor. A control unit is configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in controlling movement of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Farquhar, David A. Hein, Arjun Yetukuri
  • Patent number: 9296298
    Abstract: An alcohol detection system incorporates a resistive touch sensor mountable in a vehicle for determining presence of alcohol based on changed skin resistance. An ignition interlock is provided in the vehicle and a microcontroller is connected to and receives data from the touch sensor and provides a signal to open the interlock to disable the vehicle upon receipt of data from the touch sensor exceeding a predetermined value. The system also employs operator identification and vehicle location systems with a data logger allowing the microcontroller to store data on test results, operator identification and vehicle location. Additionally, the system may employ a cellular communication system to allow reporting of the data to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Transbiotec, Inc.
    Inventors: Nolann George Williams, Ronald Louis Williams
  • Patent number: 9288840
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a first sensor configured to detect a blowing action on the mobile terminal; a second sensor configured to detect an input action of a user; and a controller configured to execute a prescribed function on the mobile terminal when detecting the input of the user, detecting the blowing action on the mobile terminal, and detecting a release of the input action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Mihyun Park, Hyejin Eum, Saeyoung Ahn, Hongjo Shim, Seonghyok Kim
  • Patent number: 9283846
    Abstract: A vehicular warning system includes an image information generating module for generating image information associated with a driver and a position of a vehicle, an operation information generating module for generating operation information associated with operation of the vehicle, and a processing module determining first and second risk values respectively with reference to the image information and the operation information, determining a risk index with reference to the first and second risk values, and generating an alert-triggering signal to be received by an alert module that generates an alert signal of one of sound, light and pictures in response to the alert-triggering signal when the risk index reaches a predetermined index threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Chen, Chan-Wei Hsu, Ming-Kuan Ko
  • Patent number: 9278696
    Abstract: Vehicle onboard safety systems against deception during driving-under-influence (DUI) test, using cheiloscopy sensor or bite mark sensor as biometrics have been invented. The systems have an engine interlock system, which controls the engine ignition based on the onboard DUI testing result. The systems also have a smart phone locker designed to take the smart phone away from the driver in order to avoid any driving distraction, while allowing connection to external network and resource through tethering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ge Yi, Dujiang Wan