Patent ID: 7528731
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
1. A system for mitigating driver distraction and/or drowsiness for a vehicle having steering wheel and a windshield, the system comprising: a wiper arm attached to the vehicle and adapted to sweep a portion of an exterior surface of the windshield in front of the steering wheel; means for operating the wiper arm to sweep the exterior surface of the windshield; one or more electrically activated light emitting devices attached to the wiper arm and visible to a driver seated behind the steering wheel for providing a visual signal when activated that is visible to the driver seated behind the steering wheel to capture the driver's attention; a control device for actuating said means to operate the wiper and for activating the light emitting devices; and a driver distraction and/or drowsiness monitor for detecting a distracted or drowsy condition of a driver and providing a signal in response to detection of a distracted or drowsy condition of said driver to activate said control device to cause said control device to actuate said means for operating the wiper arm and to activate said light emitting devices for providing said visual signal.