Patent ID: 6239707
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: A61B,G08B

Abstract:
A driver condition monitoring apparatus for checking a physical condition of a driver driving any one of transportation devices including an airplane, ship, vehicle, two-wheeled vehicle and heavy equipment and informing the driver of the checked physical condition, comprising:a pulse sensor installed in a steering wheel of a given one of said transportation devices for sensing a pulse signal (electrocardiogram signal) from the palm or fingers of either or both of the left and right hands of said driver;an amplifier for amplifying the pulse signal sensed by said pulse sensor and removing a noise component therefrom;a keypad including a plurality of keys for inputting information about said driver;a data storage unit for storing said driver information inputted through said keypad from said driver and reference data based on a pulse signal from the palm or fingers of either or both of the left and right hands of said driver, sensed by said pulse sensor when said driver selects a reference data input mode in his normal healthy condition;a controller for comparing pulse signals from the palm or fingers of either or both of the left and right hands of said driver, sensed by said pulse sensor before, after and while driving, respectively with said reference data stored in said data storage unit, analyzing each of the compared results, judging the current condition of said driver from the analyzed result and visually and aurally informing said driver of the judged result respectively through a display and speaker;an audio processor responsive to a first control signal from said controller for converting a specified one of various voice data stored in said data storage unit into an audio signal, amplifying the converted audio signal and outputting it to said speaker;said display responsive to a second control signal from said controller for displaying the measured condition of said driver in a numerical value or picture; anda power supply for supplying an operating voltage to said driver condition monitoring apparatus using a self power source of said given transportation device.