ES1294990U - Detection and warning system to combat driver sleep (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Detection and warning system to combat drivers' sleep, using microelectromechanical sensors, which consists of a system made up of sensors: Accelerometers, gyroscopes or inertial systems, which, forming part of a microchip or module and placed in a place of the head or glasses detect the movements of a person's head, having warning means that inform or wake up the person when he nods. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Detection and warning system to combat driver sleep

Technical sector

In safety devices for vehicle drivers in general, work with dangerous machines, etc.

The object of the invention consists of:

Use a simple and very useful system to detect and notify drivers when they are drowsy or fall asleep.

Use a system that uses microaccelerometers, microgyroscopes or inertial microsystems, very tiny, precise and cheap. Nanoaccelerometers and nanogyroscopes can also be used.

Detect both the tilt angles of the head and its linear displacement.

Avoid accidents and even deaths. Especially when they are passenger transport vehicles.

Background of the invention

Currently there are no warning systems, or detection and warning of sleep, in drivers and in dangerous jobs in general. Or the ones that exist are complex and need large or multiple devices, cameras, etc. to detect the effects of sleep. Therefore, there are times when consciousness is lost and with it control of the vehicles. With the present invention said problems are solved.

Explanation of the invention

Problem to solve.

Currently, many accidents occur due to the sleep of drivers, with a high degree of deaths in them.

The detection and warning system to combat sleepiness of drivers of the invention consists of microelectromechanical sensors: Accelerometers and gyroscopes or inertial systems, which are part of a microchip, and placed in a place on the head, glasses, etc. ., detect the movements of the head of a person, driver, etc., having warning means, to wake up the driver or person who nods, when he is in a state of unconsciousness due to sleep. (In cases where the driver makes the conscious move, of course, no action needs to be taken.) MEMS (Micro Electromechanical Systems) type accelerometers and gyroscopes can be used, such as the ADXL335 three-axis accelerometer. The LPR 530 AL two-axis gyroscope. whose output signal does not need an external amplifier. The Module is even better: MPU60506DOF that combines a three-axis accelerometer and gyroscope or the MPU9250. They can have 6 axes. In addition to capacitive accelerometers, accelerometers can also be used: Piezoresistive, Tunneling current, Piezoelectric, Optical, Thermal and Resonant. The dimensions of MEMS are between one millimeter and one micrometer. If necessary, NEMS range from a micrometer to a nanometer.

Internally, the MPU-9250 sensor incorporates an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), MPU-6500, which in turn is made up of a 3DOF accelerometer and a 3DOF gyroscope, and an AK8963 3DOF magnetometer manufactured by Asahi. Kasei Microdevices Corporation. For its part, the MPU-9150 is made up of an MPU-6050 IMU and an AK8975 magnetometer.

The communication can be carried out both by SPI bus and by I2C bus, so it is easy to obtain the measured data. The supply voltage is low voltage between 2.4 to 3.6V.

They are often integrated into modules that incorporate the necessary electronics to connect them easily to an Arduino. On most modules, this includes a voltage regulator that allows 5V to be fed directly.

It is a sensor consumes 3.5mA, with all sensors and the DMP activated. It has an embedded temperature sensor, a high-precision clock and programmable interrupts. It can also connect with other I2C devices.

It has 16-bit analog digital converters (ADC). The accelerometer range can be adjusted to ±2g, ±4g, ±8g, and ±16g, the gyroscope range to ±250, ±500, ±1000, and ±200°/sec, and the magnetometer range up to ±4800pT.

The MPU-9250 incorporates an internal processor (DMP Digital Motion Processor) that executes complex MotionFusion algorithms to combine the measurements of the internal sensors, avoiding having to carry out filters externally. It is a new generation IMU, which provides superior results to other IMUs such as the MPU-6050. By incorporating a magnetometer, the MPU-9250 eliminates the drift that can appear in other IMUs after a few hours of use.

We will use the MPU-9250 when we need a higher specification IMU.

The gyroscopes detect the angle of inclination which is compared with one or more of reference with which the degree of abnormality produced is determined. Similarly, accelerometers detect the degree of acceleration, which is compared with one or more references, which also determines the degree of abnormality produced. The comparison can also be made with changes in acceleration or angle of the vehicle, so that if they are simultaneous, it indicates that they are not due to sleep. Sensitivity is adjusted with potentiometers, which determine the degrees of throttle and lean along with the rate of turn.

The warning means may consist of a fixed or intermittent light, sound or vibration. The signal can be applied to the vehicle's processor so that it gives the acoustic warning.

Due to the small dimensions of the circuit, they can be camouflaged inside and outside the ears, on the temples of glasses and in some cases, attached under the hair. It can also be integrated into one of the temples of the glasses, in the area next to the ears. You can take the signals from the vehicle's gyroscopes and accelerometers or add these to it. the announcer acoustic can be included in or together with the detector module or can be applied directly to the ear.

Brief description of the drawings

Figures 1 to 4 show schematic and side views of a user with the sleep detector and warning module of the invention in the head area.

Figures 5 and 6 show schematic views of a portion of the capacitive-type microelectromechanical accelerometer in two modes of action.

Figure 7 shows a view of an accelerometer and gyroscope assembly.

Figure 8 shows a block diagram of the sleep detector and warning system.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

Figure 1 shows a user with an embodiment of the invention, consisting of a detection and warning module (1), placed in the posterior or superior external zone of the external ear. It can be fastened with a C-hook on the outer ears, or ears. Figure 2 shows a user with an embodiment, consisting of a detection and warning module (1a), placed in the ear shell (similar to hearing aids).

Figure 3 shows a user with an embodiment of the invention, consisting of a detection and warning module (1b), placed in a temple of the glasses.

Figure 4 shows a user with an embodiment, consisting of a detection and warning module (1c), placed behind the lobe of one ear, attached to it by means of a clip, attached to the hair or with a hook in the form of an ear. C in the external ears.

Figure 5 shows the capacitive accelerometer formed by the oscillating (seismic) mass, to which it is attached or anchored at points (6). The strips (5) allow the plate (3) to oscillate between the fixed plates (4 and 4a). Under normal conditions they are two fixed capacitors and of equal capacity.

Figure 6 shows the capacitive accelerometer formed by the oscillating (seismic) mass, which is attached or anchored at the points (6), the straps or springs (5) allow it to oscillate and also the plate (3) between the plates. fixed (4 and 4a). In the figure it is moved oscillating and generating two capacitors with variable capacities between the plate (3) and (4 and 4a). That is to say that the acceleration causes a movement in the sensor. The movement causes the change in the capacity of the capacitors to occur. Changing the capacitance of the capacitors creates a variable output signal or voltage.

Figure 7 shows the relative size of an accelerometer and a 6-axis gyroscope.

Figure 8 shows a microprocessor to which signals are applied: On and off, accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial system, manual adjustment of the degree of sensitivity of the sensors, and command or button that is pressed indicating the warning has been received, this can be allowed only once. This can also be controlled by voice. The signals sent by the microprocessor are: Audio, visual, vibrator or buzzer signals.

Mode of a possible way of operation:

For head displacement angles ADC 1°- 5°... Intermittent warning.

For head displacement angles ADC >5°... Continuous warning.

If the displacement of the head (DC) is (accelerated or linear) 1-2 cm... Intermittent warning. If head displacement (DC) is (accelerated or linear) >2 cm... Continuous warning. Figure 7 shows the relative size of a 6-axis accelerometer-gyroscope with a finger.

Claims (13)

1. Detection and warning system to combat drivers' sleep, using microelectromechanical sensors, which consists of a system made up of sensors: Accelerometers, gyroscopes or inertial systems, which, forming part of a microchip or module and placed in a place of the head or glasses detect the movements of a person's head, having warning means that inform or wake up the person when he nods. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection and warning microchip or module (1) is placed in the posterior or superior external zone of the external ear, attached with a C-shaped hook in the external ears, or ears. 3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection and warning microchip or module (1a) is placed in the ear shell. 4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the microchip or detection and warning module (1b) is placed on the temple of a pair of glasses. 5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the microchip or detection and warning module (1c) is placed camouflaged or under the hair, behind the lobe of one ear, is attached to it by means of a clip, attached to the hair or with a hook C-shaped in the external ears. 6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the microchip or detection module consists of a microprocessor to which signals are applied for: On and off, accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial systems, manual adjustment of the degree of sensitivity of the sensors, and control or button that is pressed indicating the warning has been received, or is controlled by voice, in turn the microprocessor sends signals through the warning means: Visual, audio, vibrator or buzzer. 7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the vibrator or buzzer signals are intermittent. 8. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the vibrator or buzzer signals are continuous. 9. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the signals of the warning means are applied in the detection module itself. 10. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the signals of the warning means are applied in the area of the ear. 11. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal is applied to the vehicle's processor which gives the audible warning signal. 12. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the accelerometers and gyroscopes are of the type: Piezoresistive, Capacitive, Tunneling Current, Piezoelectric, Optical, Thermal and Resonant, and with 3 or 6 axes. 13. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the accelerometers and gyroscopes used are microaccelerometers, microgyroscopes, nanoaccelerometers or nanogyroscopes.