US5585785A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Driver alarm
Assignee: GWIN BETTY A
•
Filing: 1995-03-03
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Granted: 1996-12-17
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Expires: 2015-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A pressure transducer is attached along the circumference of the steering wheel of a vehicle and measures total hand grip pressure on the wheel. A control unit having a microcontroller monitors the variable pressure signal from the transducer and sounds an alarm when the pressure falls below a lower limit and when the transient behavior of the pressure signal deteriorates substantially. A display unit, attached to the steering wheel and having a number of LED's, gives a visual indication of the driver's drowsiness level.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronnie Gwin
- 👤 Betty A. Gwin
- 👤 Charles R. Hyde
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:02
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/06; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/0076; B60Q1/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A driver alarm for alerting a driver of a hazardous condition of the onset of sleepiness or lack of attentiveness, wherein the driver alarm comprises: a transducer, adapted to be attached to a steering element on a vehicle, for converting hand grip pressure on the steering element into a variable, electrical pressure signal corresponding to the hand grip pressure; a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle's speed and creating a speed signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed; alarm means for alerting the driver of the hazardous condition; and control means for monitoring the speed signal and the pressure signal, creating an alarm point based on the monitored speed signal and a portion of the monitored pressure signal during an initial start-up interval of each session of operation of the driver alarm, and determining that the hazardous condition occurs when the alarm point is exceeded, and activating the alarm means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A driver alarm for alerting a driver of a hazardous condition of the onset of sleepiness or lack of attentiveness, wherein the driver alarm comprises: a transducer, adapted to be attached to a steering element on a vehicle, for converting hand grip pressure on the steering element into a variable, electrical pressure signal corresponding to the hand grip pressure; a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle's speed and creating a speed signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed; alarm means for alerting the driver of the hazardous condition; and control means for monitoring the speed signal and the pressure signal, creating an alarm point based on the monitored speed signal and a portion of the monitored pressure signal during an initial start-up interval of each session of operation of the driver alarm, and determining that the hazardous condition occurs when the alarm point is exceeded, and activating the alarm means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the status of the control means' assessment of the existence of the hazardous condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 2, wherein the control means further comprises: a microcontroller for monitoring the pressure signal and speed signal and for activating the alarm means; a data interface for translating the pressure signal and speed signal into a form usable by the microcontroller, and for sending a display signal to the display means; and a power switch for supplying power to the microcontroller and the data interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 3, wherein the microcontroller will not determine that the hazardous condition exists until the vehicle's speed exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 1, wherein the alarm means is an electroacoustic transducer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
166 words
A driver alarm for alerting a driver of a hazardous condition of the onset of sleepiness or lack of attentiveness, wherein the driver alarm comprises: a transducer, adapted to be attached to a steering element on a vehicle, for converting hand grip pressure on the steering element into a variable, electrical pressure signal corresponding to the hand grip pressure; a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle's speed and creating a speed signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed; an electroacoustic transducer for alerting the driver of the hazardous condition; a power switch; a microcontroller for monitoring the pressure signal and the speed signal, for creating an alarm point based on the monitored speed signal and a portion of the monitored pressure signal during an initial start-up interval of each session of operation of the driver alarm, and for activating the electroacoustic transducer when the alarm point is exceeded; and a data interface for translating the pressure signal and speed signal into a form usable by the microcontroller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
166 words
A driver alarm for alerting a driver of a hazardous condition of the onset of sleepiness or lack of attentiveness, wherein the driver alarm comprises: a transducer, adapted to be attached to a steering element on a vehicle, for converting hand grip pressure on the steering element into a variable, electrical pressure signal corresponding to the hand grip pressure; a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle's speed and creating a speed signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed; an electroacoustic transducer for alerting the driver of the hazardous condition; a power switch; a microcontroller for monitoring the pressure signal and the speed signal, for creating an alarm point based on the monitored speed signal and a portion of the monitored pressure signal during an initial start-up interval of each session of operation of the driver alarm, and for activating the electroacoustic transducer when the alarm point is exceeded; and a data interface for translating the pressure signal and speed signal into a form usable by the microcontroller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 6, further comprising a display, driven by a display signal generated by the microcontroller, for displaying the status of the microcontroller's assessment of the existence of the hazardous condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 6, wherein the microcontroller will not determine that the hazardous condition exists until the vehicle's speed exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
A driver alarm for alerting a driver of a hazardous condition of the onset of sleepiness or lack of attentiveness, wherein the driver alarm comprises: a transducer, adapted to be attached to a steering element on a vehicle, for converting hand grip pressure on the steering element into a variable, electrical pressure signal corresponding to the hand grip pressure; a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle's speed and creating a speed signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed; alarm means for alerting the driver of the hazardous condition; and control means for monitoring the pressure signal and the speed signal, creating an alarm point based on the monitored speed signal and a portion of the pressure signal during an initial start-up interval of each session of operation of the driver alarm, determining that the hazardous condition occurs when said alarm point is exceeded, and activating the alarm means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
A driver alarm for alerting a driver of a hazardous condition of the onset of sleepiness or lack of attentiveness, wherein the driver alarm comprises: a transducer, adapted to be attached to a steering element on a vehicle, for converting hand grip pressure on the steering element into a variable, electrical pressure signal corresponding to the hand grip pressure; a speed sensor for detecting the vehicle's speed and creating a speed signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed; alarm means for alerting the driver of the hazardous condition; and control means for monitoring the pressure signal and the speed signal, creating an alarm point based on the monitored speed signal and a portion of the pressure signal during an initial start-up interval of each session of operation of the driver alarm, determining that the hazardous condition occurs when said alarm point is exceeded, and activating the alarm means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 9, further comprising display means for displaying the status of the control means ' assessment of the existence of the hazardous condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 10, wherein the control means comprises: a microcontroller for the monitoring of the pressure signal and speed signal and for the activating of the alarm means; a data interface for translating the pressure signal and speed signal into a form usable by the microcontroller, and for sending a display signal to the display means; and a power switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 11, wherein the microcontroller will not determine that the hazardous condition exists until the vehicle's speed exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A driver alarm as recited in claim 9, wherein the alarm means is an electroacoustic transducer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-17 | 2000-06-17 | 2000-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-17 | 2004-06-17 | 2004-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-17 | 2008-06-17 | 2008-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |