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.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 2015

Filed:

Dec. 17, 2012
Applicant:

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL (US);

Inventors:

Jibo He, Champaign, IL (US);

Brian M. Fields, Normal, IL (US);

Steve Roberson, Normal, IL (US);

Steve Cielocha, Bloomington, IL (US);

Jufeng Peng, Normal, IL (US);

Julian Coltea, Hinsdale, IL (US);

Assignee:
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G08B 23/00 (2006.01); G08B 21/02 (2006.01); B60Q 9/00 (2006.01); B60K 28/06 (2006.01); B60W 40/08 (2012.01); G06Q 40/08 (2012.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G08B 21/02 (2013.01); B60Q 9/00 (2013.01); B60K 28/066 (2013.01); B60W 40/08 (2013.01); G06Q 40/08 (2013.01); G07C 5/008 (2013.01); B60W 2040/0818 (2013.01); B60W 2040/0827 (2013.01); B60W 2040/0836 (2013.01); B60W 2040/0845 (2013.01);
Abstract

The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated), alerting the vehicle operator when impairment is detected, and log data relating to vehicle operator impairment for further analysis. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using either or both of optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, one optical sensor may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Another optical sensor may monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. The accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration.


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