MOTOR VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH A DEVICE FOR ALERTING A DRIVER OF FATIGUE

Abstract: A motor vehicle provided with a device for alerting a driver of fatigue, said device comprising an alarm and a sensor so arranged that, in use, muscular tension deactivates said alarm and muscular relaxation activates said alarm.

Description: Motor Vehicle Provided with a Device for Rlerting a Driver of Fatigue This invention relates to a motor vehicle provided with a device for alerting a driver of fatigue. One of the major causes of motoring accidents on motorways is drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Often this occurs after long periods of driving during which the driver progressively becomes less and less aware of his surroundings and finally succumbs to sleep. The aim of the present invention is to provide the driver with a warning that he is becoming fatigued, hopefully well before he succumbs to sleep. According to the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle provided with a device for alerting a driver of fatigue, said device comprising an alarm and a sensor which is disposed in the footwell of said vehicle and is responsive to the position of one of the driver's feet, the arrangement being such that, in use, when said device is activated said user can maintain said alarm in a deactivate state by applying muscular tension to maintain his foot in a first position, movement of said foot from said first position due, for example to fatigue resulting in muscular relaxation, serving to activate said alarm. Preferably, said sensor is a switch. It is presently preferred that the switch is so mounted in the footwell such that said alarm can be deactivated by upward pressure from the driver's foot. This is a particularly advantageous position since the foot tends to pivot downwardly when the body shows the slightest sign of fatigue. The switch may conveniently be mounted on the clutch pedal. If the clutch pedal comprises a footplate it may be preferable to mount the switch on the under- side of the footplate, and most preferable towards the rear of said footplate. The switch advantageously comprises a body and an elongate actuator which projects away from said body. The alarm may be an audible alarm and/or a visual alarm which may comprise a stable or flashing light. If a flashing light is included it is preferably placed in a position where it may be visible to other road users thereby warning them of a potentially hazardous situation. Preferably, the motor vehicle is provided with a black box device for recording at least one event, for example the number of times said alarm is activated, the time and date of each activation of said alarm, the frequency with which said alarm is activated, and/or the duration of the activation of said alarm. If desired said event is used to activate a secondary function, for example to increase the intensity of the alarm. Advantageously, the black box device further com- prises a motion sensor and a time and/or date recording device for recording the time and/or date of activation of said motion sensor. The present invention also provides a kit of parts for providing a motor vehicle with means to alert a driver of fatigue, said kit of parts comprising an alarm and a sensor which can be arranged in the footwell of said motor vehicle in a position such that, in use, said driver can maintain said alarm in a deactivated state by applying muscular tension to maintain his foot in a first position, movement of said foot from said first position due, for example to fatigue resulting in muscular relaxation, serving to activate said alarm. For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of a motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the motor vehicle shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmenting perspective view showing the footwell and part of the dashboard of the motor vehicle shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a circuit diagram; Figure 5 is a schematic side view showing a driver driving with his foot deactivating the alarm; Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing the position of the driver's foot when his muscles relax; Figure 7 is a fragmenting perspective view showing the footwell and part of the dashboard of a second embodiment of the motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 is a plan view of the control pedals of a third embodiment of a motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention; Figure 9 is a side view of the clutch pedal with a driver's foot deactivating the switch; Figure 10 is a side view of the clutch pedal with the driver's foot relaxed; Figure 11 is a scrap view showing a pressure switch deactivated by pressure from a driver's foot; Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but with the driver's foot relaxed; Figure 13 is a scrap view showing a switch in its activated position; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 showing the switch in its deactivated position; Figure 15 and 16 shows an alternative sensor in use; Figure 17 is a side view of a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 9; Figure 18 is a top plan view of the modification shown in Fig. 17; and Figure 19 shows the circuit diagram of Figure 4 with an additional device. Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown a motor vehicle which is generally identified by the reference numeral 100. The motor vehicle 100 has a footwell 101 in which is disposed a switch 102 which is secured in position by a mounting bracket 103. An audible alarm 104 is mounted on the transmission tunnel 105 adjacent a main switch 106. Finally, a warning light 107 is placed in the rear windscreen of the motor vehicle 100. In use, when a driver feels it appropriate, for example when cruising on a clear motorway, he moves the main switch 106. The audible alarm 104 immediately sounds and the warning light 107 starts flashing. As soon as this occurs the driver places his foot under switch 102 and depresses it by raising his foot as shown in Figure 5. This opens the electric circuit and deactivates both the audible alarm 104 and the warning light 107. The audible alarm 104 and warning light remain deactivated whilst the driver maintains the switch 102 depressed. However, should he relax his muscles, for example due to fatigue his foot will drop (Figure 6) and the alarm 104 will sound to alert him. At the same time the warning light 107 will flash thereby drawing other road users' attention to a potentially hazardous situa- tion. Figure 4 is a circuit diagram showing how the components are electrically connected. In particular, the positive terminal 108 of a battery 109 is connected to one side of the main switch 106 the other side of which is connected to one side of the switch 102. The other side of the switch 102 is connected to one side of the audible alarm 104 and the warning light 107 which are connected in parallel. The other sides of the audible alarm 104 and the warning light 107 are connec- ted to the negative terminal 110 of the battery 109. An indicator light 111 is provided to indicate to the driver when the main switch 106 is active. The embodiment thus far described is primarily concerned with modifying existing vehicles. Figure 7 shows the interior of a new motor vehicle. The main differences are that the switch 202 is incorporated in the body of the motor vehicle, the main switch 206 is disposed on the dashboard and the alarm 204 is positioned in the footwell 201 to the right of the driver's foot. The indicator light 211 is mounted in the centre of the main switch 206. In certain motor vehicles, particularly commercial motor vehicles, it may be convenient to mount the switch on the side of the clutch pedal . Such an arrangement is shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 where the clutch pedal is identified by the reference numeral 312. As shown in Figure 9 the driver rests his heel on the floor of the footwell and uses his toes to deactivate the switch 302. As soon as fatigue sets in the driver's foot pivots to the position shown in Figure 10 and the alarm (not shown) is actuated. The switch may be constituted by a pressure pad as shown in Figures 11 and 12 where the switch has been identified by reference numeral 402. In Figures 13 and 14 the switch 502 is associated with a pivotally mounted flap 513. Under normal conditions the flap 513 pivots under its own weight to the position shown in Figure 13. However, when the flap 513 is lifted by the driver's foot the switch 502 moves to the open position as shown in Figure 14. In Figures 15 and 16 the sensor comprises a light source (not shown) and a light detector 602. When the driver's toes are raised they cover the light detector 602 and deactivate the alarm. When the driver's foot relaxes light falls on the light detector 602 which activates the alarm. Referring to Figures 17 and 18 there is shown a modification of the arrangement shown in Figures 9 and 10 in which the switch 302 ** a has been mounted on the underside of the footplate 312 1 of a clutch pedal 312 1 . The switch 302 1 , which is mounted towards the rear of the footplate 302 ** a, is provided with a elongate actuator 302" * a which projects forwardly from the switch 302 1 and is curved upwardly below the front portion of the footplate 312 ** a. This particular arrangement is particularly easy to fit to existing commercial vehicles and also appears to be both easy to use and reliable. Any of the above described embodiments of the invention may be used in conjunction with a "black box" device . Referring to Figure 19 there is shown the circuit diagram of Figure 4 with the addition of a "black box" device 112. The "black box" device 112 comprises a circuit which carries out any or all of the following events : a) counts the number of times the alarm 104 has been activated; b) records the time and date of each activation of the alarm; c) records the frequency of the activations of the alarm 104; and d) the duration of the alarm upon each activation. The black box device 112 may increase the intensity of the alarm 104 or deactivate the car (or lorry) ignition system upon a predetermined pattern of any of the above events. For example, if the driver chooses to ignore a first alarm and a second alarm one minute later, the black box device 112 will increase the intensity of the alarm from, for example 100 dB to 110 dB. The black box device may also be used to record the above described events for post facto analysis. The recordings could, for example, be used for academic study. The black box device 112 may also comprise a motion sensor and a further time and date recording device. In the event of an accident, the motion sensor would be activated. The time and date recording device would record this event. This additional aspect to the function of the black box device 112, would aid post crash analysis.

Claims: CLAIMS : - 1. A motor vehicle provided with a device for alerting a driver of fatigue, said device comprising an alarm and a sensor which is disposed in the footwell of said vehicle and is responsive to the position of one of the driver's feet, the arrangement being such that, in use, when said device is activated said user can maintain said alarm in a deactivate state by applying muscular tension to maintain his foot in a first position, ove- ment of said foot from said first position due, for example to fatigue resulting in muscular relaxation, serving to activate said alarm. 2. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said sensor is a switch. 3. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said switch can be activated by upward pressure from the driver ' s foot . 4. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 , wherein said switch is mounted on the clutch pedal. 5. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said clutch pedal comprises a footplate and said switch is mounted on the underside of said footplate. 6. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said switch is mounted towards the rear of said footplate. 7. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein said switch comprises a body and an elongate actuator which projects away from said body. 8. A motor vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said alarm is audible. 9. A motor vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said alarm is visual. 10. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said visual alarm is placed in a position where it may be seen by other road users. 11. A motor vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a black box device for recording at least one event. 12. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said event is counting the number of times said alarm acti- vates . 13. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein said event is recording the time and date of each activation of said alarm. 14. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein said event is the frequency that said alarm is activated. 15. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein said event is the duration of the activation of said alarm. 16. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claims 11 to 15, wherein the recording of said at least one event is used to activate a secondary function. 17. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said secondary function is to increase the intensity of said alarm. 18. A motor vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 17, wherein said black box device further comprises a motion sensor and a time and/or date recording device for recording the time and/or date of activation of said motion sensor. 19. A kit of parts for providing a motor vehicle with means to alert a driver of fatigue, said kit of parts comprising an alarm and a sensor which can be arranged in the footwell of said motor vehicle in a position such that, in use, said driver can maintain said alarm in a deactivated state by applying muscular tension to maintain his foot in a first position, movement of said foot from said first position due, for example to fatigue resulting in muscular relaxation, serving to activate said alarm.

Inventors: BOOREE JEAN-MARIE-PIERRE, BOOREE, JEAN-MARIE-PIERRE
Applicants: BOOREE JEAN MARIE PIERRE, BOOREE, JEAN-MARIE-PIERRE
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G08B21
IPC codes: G08B21