Patent ID: 6218947
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
A driver sleep alarm for a vehicle for detecting the onset of sleepiness or inattentive driving of a driver, comprising:a first capacitive sensitive element adapted to be positioned on a vehicle steering element;a second capacitive sensitive element adapted to be positioned on said vehicle steering element spaced apart from said first capacitive sensitive element;a monitoring circuit electrically connected to said second capacitive sensitive element for measuring the capacitance thereof corresponding to touching of said steering element proximate said second capacitive sensitive element by a hand of the driver;an alarm; andmeans connected to said monitoring circuit for activating said alarm upon a decrease in capacitance measured by said monitoring circuit indicative of a release of a driver's hand from proximate contact with said second capacitive sensitive element, said activating means deactivating said alarm upon an increase in capacitance measured by said monitoring circuit indicative of touching of said steering element proximate said second capacitive sensitive element by a hand of the driver.