Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1982-05-06
1986-01-21
Caldwell, Sr., John W.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
340 52R, 340575, 180272, B60Q 100
Patent
active
045659974
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a warning system for an automotive vehicle and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a warning system for a vehicle which detects dozing of a vehicle driver and produces a warning in response.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
If a vehicle driver dozes while driving the vehicle, driving operations distinct from operations performed under normal waking conditions will occur. Therefore, by detecting abnormal driving operations occurring when the driver dozes at the wheel, dozing of the driver can be detected. The dozing of the driver can be thus corrected by warning the driver when abnormal driving operations are performed.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a warning system for a vehicle which detects specific driving operations likely to be performed during dozing of the driver to produce a warning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-mentioned and other objects are accomplished by a warning system for a vehicle according to the present invention, which detects the frequency of steering operation within a unit time and produces a warning when the detected steering operation frequency exceeds a predetermined frequency which is preset to a frequency higher than that performed during normal driving. Furthermore, according to the present invention, if steering operations in the same direction are performed at an excessive frequency, the discrimination that the vehicle driver is steering through a curve will be made to prevent the device from producing the warning.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the warning device for the vehicle comprises steering angle detecting means for detecting steering angle and steering direction and for producing a signal representative of detected steering angle and steering direction, a dozing detecting circuit for counting the occurrences of steering operations within a predetermined period, for clearing the counted value when a signal indicative of a constant steering direction is produced for a time duration longer than a predetermined time, and for producing a warning signal when the counted value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a warning means for producing the warning in response to the warning signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a warning device according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a steering angle sensor employed by the warning device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a section taken along line A--A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of the steering angle sensor of FIG. 2, viewed from an angle revealing the movable contact thereof;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of part of the steering angle sensor of FIG. 2, viewed from an angle revealing the upper surface thereof;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the steering angle sensor rotated toward clockwise direction;
FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 6 and showing the steering angle sensor at a neutral position;
FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 6 and showing the steering angle sensor rotated counterclockwise;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the steering angle pulse generator of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a timing chart for the warning device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the warning device of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a timing chart for the warning device of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the warning device of the present invention; and
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the warning device of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of a warning system according to the present invention. The steering angle of the vehicle is detected by a steering angle sensor 12. The steering angle sensor produces a steering angle signal S.sub.1 representative of the ste
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Seko Yasutoshi
Yanagishima Takayuki
Caldwell Sr. John W.
Heim Michael F.
Nissan Motor Company Limited
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