Patent ID: 7982620
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: B60K,B60W,B64D,G08B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for reducing driver boredom in a driver of a vehicle, the vehicle having a vehicle environment, the apparatus comprising: a vehicle environment monitor, operable to provide environment data representative of the vehicle environment, the vehicle environment monitor including a traffic sensor operable to sense other vehicles in the vehicle environment; an electronic circuit, receiving the environment data from the vehicle environment monitor, and operable to determine if there is a likelihood of driver boredom from the environment data, an absence of other vehicles in the vehicle environment being indicative of the likelihood of driver boredom, the environment data further including vehicle operation data, the electronic circuit being operable to determine the likelihood of driver boredom using the vehicle operation data, substantially constant vehicle operation data over a predetermined time period being further indicative of the likelihood of driver boredom, the predetermined time period being at least thirty minutes, said circuit generating a signal when there is the likelihood of driver boredom; an interactive communication device, said device querying the driver as to whether the driver is bored upon receiving the signal from the electronic circuit; said interactive device receiving a response from the driver regarding whether the driver is bored; and a driver stimulation device, operable to provide psychological stimulation to the driver if the driver responds that the driver is bored.