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:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2000
Rene A. Najor, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A system for determining the alertness of a driver of a vehicle by monitoring the driver's seated posture. A pressure sensor array disposed in or on the seat produces output signals that indicate the pattern of pressure exerted by the driver's body at a plurality of points distributed over the seat surface. A microprocessor-based alertness evaluation module receives pressure pattern data from the sensor array and uses neural network processing techniques to determine a probable driver alertness level based upon changes in the pattern of pressure. The sensor array may also be used to supply data to an occupant restraint system control module. Using the sensor for two purposes avoids the additional cost of providing a dedicated alertness sensor is avoided.