The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 2024
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2023
Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, JP;
Wataru Yoshida, Hiroshima, JP;
Akira Kaino, Hiroshima, JP;
MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, Hiroshima, JP;
Abstract
A driver state determination apparatus detects the decline of the physical function of a driver and confirms the determination of an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to drive. A vibration apparatus vibrates a steering wheel; a vibration detector detects the vibration of the steering wheel; and a controller controls the vibration apparatus. The controller provides vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus, calculates a steering torque level at the excitation frequency based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, and determines that a driver is in an abnormal state when an average value of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and/or a standard deviation of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a second threshold value.