Drowsy driver detection

• Main Author: Gan Su-Yin
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.11.2017
• Subjects: ALARM SYSTEMS; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ORDIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TOTHE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT; SIGNALLING; SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

In embodiments of drowsy driver detection, a drowsy driver mode is initiated on a wearable wireless device being worn by a user in response to detecting that the user is driving a vehicle. The drowsy driver mode causes the wearable wireless device to use a first sensor to generate first sensor data which can be analyzed to detect a drowsy driver condition. In response to detecting the drowsy driver condition, a second sensor on the wearable wireless device is activated to generate second sensor data that can be analyzed to confirm the drowsy driver condition. In response to confirming the drowsy driver condition, one or more alerts are initiated. Generally, the alerts are intended to wake up the user, warn other passengers in the vehicle that the user is drowsy or otherwise impaired, and/or notify an emergency operator.