Abstract: A method and a control unit are provided for detecting when the driver of a motor vehicle becomes inattentive. In order to be able to reliably draw conclusions about the presence of inattentiveness of the driver, it is proposed to observe not only a steering inactivity phase but also a steering action which follows the steering inactivity phase. A detected implementation of the steering inactivity phase and of the steering action are logically combined with one another, and the result of this logic combination is then used as a measure of the severity of the inattentiveness of the driver. In addition, the measure of the severity of the inattentiveness of the driver depends on at least one driver-specific parameter which is determined during the execution of the method. The inattentiveness of the driver can also be detected during the time interval in which the at least one driver-specific parameter is determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle telematics device for driver monitoring for accident avoidance for drowsiness and distraction conditions. The distraction and drowsiness is detected by facial processing of driver's face and pose tracking as a function of speed and maximum allowed travel distance, and issuing a driver alert when a drowsiness or distraction condition is detected. The mitigation includes audible alert, as well as other methods such as dim blue night to perk up the driver. Adaptation center of driver's gaze direction and allowed maximum time for a given driver and camera angle offset as well as temporary offset for cornering for shift of vanishing point and other conditions is also performed.

Abstract: A method is provided for assessing the attentiveness of the driver of motor vehicle traveling in a lane including, but not limited to detecting the position of the motor vehicle on the lane transverse to the direction of travel, determining the extent of fluctuations of the position, and assessing the attentiveness as insufficient if within an observation period at least one first significant period is detected in which the extent of fluctuations of the position falls below a first low limiting value and a second significant period is detected in which the extent of the fluctuations exceeds a second high limiting value.

Abstract: A monitoring and alerting system for installation in an air traffic control facility. The alerting system monitors the outgoing transmissions from the control facility to secondary locations, the responsiveness of the control facility personnel to aircraft communications or both. The monitoring and alerting system utilizes multiple stages of alerts for the air traffic controllers. In a first stage, a light source is displayed within the control facility. In a second stage, an audible noise is sounded within the control facility. In a third stage, an audible noise of increased volume is sounded in or near the control facility, a notice is sent to command and control and/or an indication is sent to a Central Control Facility. The three stages of alerts are progressively activated if the personnel in the control facility fail to adequately utilize connected equipment monitored by the alerting system within predetermined time periods.

Abstract: A vibrating pulse monitored alarm bracelet consists of control panel/display/capacitive touchscreen, a flash memory to collect and communicate data, two rechargeable batteries which serve as the power source for the device, sensors to collect pulse rate data, vibrating pads to provide silent, electric pulse stimuli, and a neoprene band to secure the device to its wearer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes registering at least one medical condition associated with a vehicle occupant. The method also includes monitoring environmental conditions for the onset of a trigger likely to cause complications with regards to the medical condition. The method further includes warning the vehicle occupant about the onset of the trigger. The method also includes adjusting a vehicle component or system, via the VCS, in response to the onset of the trigger.

Abstract: A wakefulness-maintaining device capable of maintaining a driver's wakefulness by making the driver aware of changes in sound characteristics.

Abstract: An intelligent medical vigilance system that observes and analyzes, and, only in the event of a clinically significant negative condition, notifies and reports the event to the care staff utilizing the hospital's existing nurse call system. The device includes a bedside unit connected to a pad or coverlet with a sensor array (placed under the patient) and also to an existing hospital nurse call system via an interface. The bedside unit is a wall-mounted unit with a display that becomes active when an alarm condition is enabled. Vigilance alarms are suspended if a patient is detected out of bed. An unable-to-measure alert is provided if the system is unable to reliably monitor. An alert message is generated and maintained on the display screen to inform a responding caregiver of the time and reason for any alarm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wake-up assisting apparatus including: an electrode which comes into contact with the parietal of the human body; a signal processing part which detects brain waves through the electrode, determines the sleep stage from the thus detected brain waves, and decides the wake-up time according to the sleep stage; and a stimulating part which gives stimuli to the human body at the wake-up time.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments of driver alertness monitoring systems, devices, and associated methods based on steering variability and/or lane variability are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for detecting alertness of a driver operating a vehicle includes recording a steering position of the vehicle with a steering sensor and transmitting the recorded steering position to a processor. With the processor, the method also includes deriving a steering variability based on the recorded steering position of the vehicle over time, calculating a lane variability based on the derived steering variability and a transfer function of the vehicle, and estimating an alertness of the driver based on both the derived steering variability and the calculated lane variability.

Abstract: A stimulation execution portion of a sleep system applies a stimulus (S112) determined based on the difference between the present sleep depth of a target person (S111), which has been measured by a stimulation effect calculation portion (S105) and a target sleep depth for the target person.

Abstract: A drowsiness-estimating device capable of improving the precision of drowsiness estimation by eliminating the effect of individual differences. In the device, a recurrence required time-calculating part (103) calculates the recurrence required time, which is the time needed, after a detection time when an action is detected, for a drowsiness estimation parameter value acquired after the detection time to return to the value of the drowsiness estimation parameter acquired before the detection time. A drowsiness-estimating part (104) estimates the level of drowsiness of the drowsiness-estimation subject on the basis of the calculated recurrence required time. To be specific, the drowsiness-estimating part (104) maintains a drowsiness level-estimating table in which each of multiple time ranges is correlated with a possible drowsiness level, and specifies a possible drowsiness level that corresponds to the time range, among the multiple time ranges, with which the recurrence required time is associated.

Abstract: An alarm unit includes an apparatus and a method of maximizing the efficiency of an alarm function that wakes up a sleeping user. An image input unit capable of photographing an eye image as a criterion for determining if the user has woken up is mounted on an alarm control apparatus. The image input unit mounted alarm control apparatus photographs a face image of the user, detects the eye region from the face image, and then determines a state of whether the user has woken up or not based on movement of the pupils in the eye region. If it is determined that the user keeps a waking state for a certain time, an alarm function is cancelled. By doing this, the alarm unit can help prevent the user from easily cancelling an alarm and maximize the efficiency of an alarm function that wakes up a sleeping user.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for use by a subject with a sleep disorder, such as nocturnal enuresis. The system (10) comprises at least one sensor (11) that detects at least one attribute of the sleep disorder, for example urine, and outputs at least a first signal on or after detection of that attribute. The system (10) further comprises a control device (12) that comprises an arousal device (14), such as a loudspeaker, that activates on or after receipt of the first signal, an interactive device (15) that is actuable by the subject to deactivate or modify the operation of the arousal device (14) and an output device (16) for delivering an output to the subject. The output being delivered on or after deactivation or modification of the arousal device (14).

Abstract: The Snooze Alert is a device that prevents a person from falling asleep while driving a vehicle, truck, buss or for any reason that requires a person to stay awake and alert. The advantage of this device is that it does not hang on the ear and it has three sources of power. The Snooze Alert is incased in a soft pouch with an adjustable strap that holds the pouch between the lower chin and the upper chest area. When a person's head tilts forward or to the side, like when falling asleep the chin depresses the activator switch which send an electrical current that activates the vibrator and the buzzer and thereby instantly waking up the person.

Abstract: A control system is employed in a vehicle to assist a user to operate the vehicle effectively and safely. In accordance with the invention, the system provides driving assistance to the user by taking into account the user's physical condition, the vehicle condition and the surrounding conditions. The surrounding conditions include, e.g., road, weather and traffic conditions, external to the vehicle. The vehicle condition concerns the conditions of the brakes, steering, tires, radiator, etc. of the vehicle. Signs of fatigue, stress and illness of the user are monitored by the control system to assess the user's physical condition.

Abstract: A verification value is calculated for an estimation result. The estimation result is corrected on the basis of the calculated verification value. This allows for output of a highly reliable estimation result. If it is determined that the class to which the state of a driver belongs has transitioned continuously, the estimation result is outputted. If it cannot be determined that the class to which the state of the driver belongs has transitioned continuously, a previous estimation result is outputted instead of the latest estimation result. This allows for output of a highly reliable estimation result.

Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a detecting portion that detects a state of a user, a location information acquiring portion that acquires location information of a current location of the user, and a controlling portion configured to determine whether the user is in a drowsing state or a wakeful state, based on the state of the user detected by the detecting portion. If the controlling portion determines that the user is in a drowsing state, the controlling portion drives the location information acquiring portion so as to acquire the location information for the current location, and if the controlling portion determines that the user is in a wakeful state, the controlling portion stops the location information acquiring portion.

Abstract: An electronic alerting device may include an earpiece adapted to be worn at the driver ear. The earpiece may include a microchip and a sensor located at an outer surface of the earpiece. The sensor may be capable of detecting when the driver eyelid closes and opens by generating and transmitting eyelid detection signals to the microchip when the driver eyelid closes and opens respectively. A transducer may be attached to the earpiece and adapted to be placed in the driver ear. A communication interface may be used to enable the microchip to communicate with the transducer. The microchip may determine a number of continuous occurrences of the eyelid detection signals and thereby generates and transmits control signals to the transducer when the number of continuous occurrences of the eyelid detection signals is above and below a threshold number of continuous occurrences within a unit of time.

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.

Abstract: Method and system for monitoring a vehicle driver includes an optical imaging system that obtains images of the driver, and a processor coupled to the optical imaging system and arranged to analyze the images obtained by the optical imaging system to locate a head of the driver in the images and monitor the driver's head or a part thereof over time. The processor also determines, based on the monitoring of the driver's head or part thereof, whether the driver has lost the ability to operate the vehicle. A reactive component is affected by the processor's determination that the driver has lost the ability to operate the vehicle, and requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to operate the vehicle or exerting control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a lane departure warning device capable of generating almost no false warning if a driver performs an avoiding operation of a lane departure.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting the state of a driver are described. In the process, the curve of a signal which characterizes the state of the driver is evaluated, and a signal indicating the state of the driver is generated in response to a typical curve.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a driver is disclosed. Firstly, an inner cabin image of a vehicle's cabin is continuously captured. Next, a face detection of a driver for the inner cabin image is performed to obtain a face detection result. Next, the inner cabin image and the face detection result corresponding to the inner cabin image are stored. When the system observes that either the face of the driver is not detected or the face is not shown within a reasonable face region of at least two continuous inner cabin images according to each face detection result, the system outputs a warning signal to alert the driver. The invention determines a driving state of a driver in a cabin with a method of analyzing a position of a face or a head and using an image extractor having large capture range and a low resolution.

Abstract: A grip responsive sleep alert system includes a normally-closed trigger mechanism, an audible alert device electrically connected to the trigger mechanism and a battery electrically connected to the trigger mechanism and the audible alert device.

Abstract: Provided are a physiological condition estimation device and a vehicle control device capable of preventing an error in the operation of an apparatus, such as a vehicle, and improving the safety of the operation of the apparatus. The physiological condition estimation device includes an eye-open time acquiring unit that acquires the eye-open time of the driver, a variation calculating unit that acquires a variation in the eye-open time acquired by the eye-open time acquiring unit, and a drowsiness predicting unit that determines the physiological condition of the driver on the basis of the variation in the eye-open time acquired by the variation calculating unit. In this way, since the physiological condition is determined on the basis of the variation in the eye-open time, it is possible to detect a slight reduction in the arousal level and estimate a significant reduction in the arousal level to a value that will cause an error in the driving of the vehicle in the future.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a microsleep event in a subject. The method includes determining a number of eye openness factors by measuring a number of distances between an upper eyelid and a lower eyelid of at least one eye over a time period. Graphical representations of the eye openness factors are then generated. Changes in the eye openness factors over the time period are correlated with a reference eye closure pattern indicative of the microsleep event. Also disclosed is a microsleep event detection device.

Abstract: A system is provided for the detection of user hand position on a steering wheel, the system having: a sensor array disposed on the circumference of the wheel configured to detect contact of first and second user hands with the sensor array; a processor whereby data from the sensor array is received and processed generating user hand size, location and movement data; at least one feedback device whereby a user is alerted to an unsafe hand position.

Abstract: An alarm unit includes an apparatus and a method of maximizing the efficiency of an alarm function that wakes up a sleeping user. An image input unit capable of photographing an eye image as a criterion for determining if the user has woken up is mounted on an alarm control apparatus. The image input unit mounted alarm control apparatus photographs a face image of the user, detects the eye region from the face image, and then determines a state of whether the user has woken up or not based on movement of the pupils in the eye region. If it is determined that the user keeps a waking state for a certain time, an alarm function is cancelled. By doing this, the alarm unit can help prevent the user from easily cancelling an alarm and maximize the efficiency of an alarm function that wakes up a sleeping user.

Abstract: A vehicle state determination unit receives vehicle data from a vehicle sensor and position data from a position sensor with a certain frequency. A mode selection unit selects a driving operation mode on the basis of the data received from the vehicle state determination unit and passes the data to a data comparison unit. The data comparison unit reads out model data of the driving operation mode specified by the mode selection unit, from a model data storage unit, compares data received from the vehicle state determination unit and the model data, and passes the comparison result to a driving state determination unit. The driving state determination unit statistically processes the comparison result received from the data comparison unit and passes the result of the determination to a warning display unit.

Abstract: A user settings system includes a trigger module, an image acquisition module, a microprocessor and a database. The trigger module implements the image acquisition module to capture a pupil image of a driver. The database is coupled with the microprocessor, and stores at least one pupil image of at least one authorized user and the personalized settings of the authorized user. The microprocessor includes a comparison module, a response module, and an implementation module. The comparison module compares the pupil image of the driver captured by the image acquisition module with the stored pupil images in the database and generates a result notification to the response module. The response module determines whether or not a matching pupil image is found. The implementation module automatically activates the personalized settings stored in the database.

Abstract: An anti-drowsing device includes: an ECU that outputs a warning via a buzzer when a collision possibility between a preceding object and the vehicle is detected; a warning control ECU that establishes an early-warning mode in which a warning is output earlier from that used in a normal mode; and a driver monitor camera and a driver monitor ECU that monitors a driver's eyes. The warning control ECU establishes the early-warning mode when the eye-closing period of the driver becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold value, and thereafter maintains the early-warning mode until the eye-closing period of the driver falls below a second threshold value.

Abstract: Upon reception of content information (step S1), a control unit decides a different notification sound in accordance with an identifier attached to the received content information (step S4). The control unit causes a reproduction unit (5) to reproduce the decided notification sound. Thus, the user can guess the content of the received content information.

Abstract: A person monitoring system is operable to predict the onset of an adverse condition of a person. The system receives first information corresponding to a feature of a person support apparatus and second information corresponding to a physiological characteristic of the person. The system calculates a condition score as a function of the first and second information. In some instances, the system alerts a caregiver if the condition score exceeds a predetermined threshold. Alternatively or additionally, the person monitoring system alerts a caregiver when a person supported on a person support apparatus is regaining consciousness by monitoring one or more of a change in position, a heart rate, and a respiration rate. A person monitoring system that monitors a person's quality of sleep and presents information concerning the quality of sleep to one or more interested parties is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drowsiness detection system and method uses Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) signal processing to detect whether a vehicle driver is drowsy. The system uses a decomposed component of the steering wheel signal to extract specific features representing the steering control degradation phases. The system classifies the measured features into alert or drowsy state. The detection system is independent of the road geometry and automatically compensates steering control performance variability between drivers. The system is accurate in detecting the drowsy periods and drowsy-related lane departures. The detection system is unobtrusive and can be applied on-line.

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.

Abstract: A portable terminal includes an alarm control. A method for controlling an alarm includes determining whether an input fact to analyze an exceptional situation of an alarm operation is generated; analyzing the exceptional situation by rule using at least one fact; and when there is an alarm which is placed in the exceptional situation, cancelling the alarm.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed including detecting a brainwave pattern associated with a particular mental and/or physical state of a user, classifying the detected brainwave pattern to identify the particular mental/physical state of the user, and generating an alarm signal to notify the user, other authority, and/or to be used otherwise. In various embodiments, the brainwave pattern data may be recorded and used for statistical analysis, work or process scheduling, or other management decisions. In various embodiments, the brainwave pattern is detected and/or recorded using a cap or harness with embedded electrodes, a controller for controlling the electrodes, collecting data, transmitting the data to a local or central data storage device, and generating an alarm.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus detects drowsiness of a driver of a vehicle while having a drowsy driving preventing function for awaking the driver having feeling of drowsiness. When erroneous detection of drowsy driving occurs frequently, the driver may deactivate the drowsy driving preventing function into an off state. The driving assistance apparatus determines a stress of the driver due to driving based on travel states of the vehicle obtained from a navigation apparatus such as traffic around the vehicle, a width and shape of a road traveled, installation states of traffic signals, and a velocity and steering angle of the vehicle. When the stress due to driving changes from a high status to a low status, the driver is regarded as being in a state of tending to be drowsy. The drowsy driving preventing function is thereby activated or turned on into an on state compulsorily.

Abstract: An eye part detecting device has an image input section (21) for acquiring a face image, an eyelid edge labeling section (24) for detecting upper eyelid candidates and lower eyelid candidates which satisfy predetermined conditions for upper eyelids or lower eyelids in the face image, and an eyelid determination section (27) for comparing combinations of the upper and lower eyelid candidates to determine the combination of the upper and lower eyelid candidates whose relation best satisfies a predetermined condition as the upper and lower eyelids. The eyelid edge labeling section (24) classifies the horizontal edges and vertical edges calculated by an edge calculating section (23) into the upper eyelid candidates and the lower eyelid candidates according to a degree of how well the predetermined conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: Intelligent alarm clock arrangement adapted into an electric device and utilizing the microphone, loudspeaker or other alarming device, memory unit, processor and timer feature thereof. The apparatus is located near a sleeping subject so as to sample and analyze the statistical properties of sound signals produced by the movements of the sleeping subject and to classify the sleep states according to the analyzed signals into a peaceful calm deep sleep, a light sleep with arousals and awake periods associated with the movements. An alarm wakes up the subject during a pre-programmed time window, if there are arousals, awake state and movements present at that time to induce the awakening at a biologically advantageous instant. Instead of the local alarm function, the device may perform a remote alarm using a call or sending a message to a pre-programmed phone number when the awakening of the sleeping subject is detected.

Abstract: A stimulation execution portion of a sleep system applies a stimulus (S112) determined based on the difference between the present sleep depth of a target person (S111), which has been measured by a stimulation effect calculation portion (S105) and a target sleep depth for the target person.

Abstract: A method of analyzing data based on the physiological orientation of a driver is provided. Data is descriptive of a driver's gaze-direction is processing and criteria defining a location of driver interest is determined. Based on the determined criteria, gaze-direction instances are classified as either on-location or off-location. The classified instances can then be used for further analysis, generally relating to times of elevated driver workload and not driver drowsiness. The classified instances are transformed into one of two binary values (e.g., 1 and 0) representative of whether the respective classified instance is on or off location. The uses of a binary value makes processing and analysis of the data faster and more efficient. Furthermore, classification of at least some of the off-location gaze direction instances can be inferred from the failure to meet the determined criteria for being classified as an on-location driver gaze direction instance.

Abstract: A drowsiness detection method for detecting drowsiness of a detection target is provided. The method includes a data collecting process including steps of: detecting physiological symptom information of the detection target; determining whether the detection target satisfies a predetermined drowsiness threshold condition according to the physiological symptom information; when the detection target satisfies the predetermined drowsiness threshold condition, triggering a stimulation event on the detection target; determining whether a response event is received from the detection target in response to the stimulation event; when the response event is not received, determining whether the stimulation event satisfies a threshold strength condition; and recording the physiological symptom information as a corresponding drowsiness detection condition of the detection target when the stimulation event satisfies the threshold strength condition.

Abstract: Treatment of sleep conditions is disclosed, particularly snoring, sleep apnea and the related problem of dozing while driving or engaging in activity requiring full attention. Also disclosed are means and methods of pinpointing sleep patterns, particularly therapeutic treatment of sexual disorders. Monitoring of REM sleep cycles to optimize the time for awakening one from sleep is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method and a device for detecting the drowsiness of a driver in a motor vehicle, a drowsiness model is provided to determine a value characterizing the drowsiness of the driver as a function of at least one output quantity of a driver-activity sensor array. Moreover, the device for detecting drowsiness includes a brightness sensor as well as a correction model for correcting the value characterizing the drowsiness of the driver as a function of at least one output quantity of the brightness sensor.

Abstract: A method is provided for dismissing or altering a user-configured alarm upon detection of the user's sleep state. The method includes associating an alarm device with the user's body by securing a wearable device to the user's wrist, placing the device in a pocket, integrating the device into the user's clothing such as a belt, or otherwise placing the device in contact with or adjacent to the user. The device includes one or more sensors for detecting physiological and/or environmental parameters such as heart, respiration, or pulse rate, body movements, eye movements, ambient light, and the like. If the user is asleep, the alarm is actuated in a typical manner. If the user is awake, the alarm is suppressed. If the user is neither asleep nor fully awake, the alarm is adjusted to provide an appropriate level of stimulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a camera for detecting a driver's drowsiness state, which can increase the number of pixels in an image of a driver's eye even when using an image sensor having the same number of pixels as a conventional camera instead of a high definition camera. The camera of the present invention is, thus, capable of determining whether the driver's eyes are open or closed. The camera for detecting the driver's state according to the present invention includes a cylindrical lens mounted in front of the camera configured so as to enlarge an image in the vertical direction, a convex lens located in the rear of the cylindrical lens, an image sensor for taking an image of a driver's face formed by the cylindrical lens and the convex lens, and an image processor for extracting an eye area from the image of the driver's face and determining whether the driver's eyes are open or closed.

Abstract: A method is provided for alerting a user of scheduled tasks prior to falling asleep. The method includes associating an alarm device with a user's body by securing a wearable device to the user's wrist, placing the device in a pocket, integrating the device into the user's clothing such as a belt, or otherwise placing the device in contact with or adjacent to the user. The device includes one or more sensors for detecting physiological and/or environmental parameters such as heart, respiration, or pulse rate, body movements, eye movements, ambient light, and the like. Upon detecting a pre-sleep state, the device gathers information about tasks which the user desires to perform or attend to prior to going to sleep, and alerts the user before falling asleep.