205 results about "Driver Distractions" patented technology

Systems, methods, and devices for controlling and limiting use of functions, such as calling, texting, chatting, emailing, Internet surfing, and similar applications, on a mobile device when the mobile device is in a moving vehicle, includes use of an on-board computer installed within the vehicle, a transmitter in electronic communication with the on-board computer that periodically transmits speed data of the vehicle to a receiver installed on the mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes suitable software and a rules-based policy that define and control when and which functions of the mobile device are disabled or interrupted by the software when the vehicle is in motion above a minimum threshold speed. Policies are set by default but may be customized for particular individuals, devices, or circumstances. Policies may also be customized for particular groups or subgroups of employees or contractors for company or legal compliance to reduce distracted driving.

This invention relates to a display method and apparatus, and more particularly, this invention relates to a user interface with multiple applications which can be operated concurrently and / or independently by using simple finger gestures. Furthermore, the user is allowed to intuitively operate and control digital information, functions, applications, etc. to improve operability. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user is able to use finger gesture to navigate the user interface via a virtual spindle metaphor to select different applications. The user can also split the user interface to at least two display segments which may contain different applications. Moreover, each display segment can be moved to a desirable location on the user interface to provide a seamless operation environment. This invention can also be used in vehicle navigation systems to reduce driver distraction when the display segments can be split and each application can be moved around, so that the passenger can operate the navigation system while the user is driving.

Driver distraction is reduced by providing information only when necessary to assist the driver, and in a visually pleasing manner. Obstacles such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and road defects are detected based on analysis of image data from a forward-facing camera system. An internal camera images the driver to determine a line of sight. Navigational information, such as a line with an arrow, is displayed on a windshield so that it appears to overlay and follow the road along the line of sight. Brightness of the information may be adjusted to correct for lighting conditions, so that the overlay will appear brighter during daylight hours and dimmer during the night. A full augmented reality is modeled and navigational hints are provided accordingly, so that the navigational information indicates how to avoid obstacles by directing the driver around them. Obstacles also may be visually highlighted.

Disclosed are what I call “Reconfigurable Tactile Control Displays” particularly suited for applications such as automobile instrument panels where large displays and controls are desirable to provide a wide range of information, with minimal driver distraction and the safe input of data to vehicle subsystems or for communication based activities. Preferred embodiments utilize rear projection displays with electro-optically sensed controls and offer, at low cost, a maximum of reconfigurability to different car lines, drivers, and tasks. Also disclosed are novel implementations for military vehicles, and other applications such as control of appliances, heating and other household functions which may share common control and display presentation with those used in the vehicle.

A user interface for use in a vehicle navigation and traffic information device. Various adaptable menu commands and intuitive UI elements are provided to ease user navigation of the interface and to minimize driver distraction while providing information in an optimized manner.

A method and apparatus for combating distracted driving that is the result of using an electronic device in a vehicle inhibits the device or its distracting functions when the device is traveling over walking speed. The system is especially useful in combating distracted driving due to texting.

A drowsy driving prevention apparatus employing a facial recognition technology and a drowsy driving prevention system employing the same is provided. A GPS and a communication unit for informing a central control center or a traffic accident prevention management institute of information about a drowsy driving state and the position of a vehicle are mounted in the drowsy driving prevention apparatus. Thus, traffic accidents can be prevented. A management server is informed of a driver's drowsiness and a driver can access a portable telephone of an external helper over a network using wireless Internet communication technologies, such as Wibro (also called Mobile WiMAX), HSDPA & HSUPA, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), TD-SCDMA, TRS, GPRS GSM and CDMA. It is therefore possible to prevent traffic accidents caused by drowsy driving in synthetic and multidimensional ways.

A system and method for monitoring apps in a vehicle to reduce driver distraction is disclosed. A controller operating inside or in combination with the head unit of the vehicle may monitor operation of the vehicle, and generate alerts indicative of operation of the vehicle (such as an alert indicative that the vehicle is operating at a predetermined speed). In response to the alert, the operation of the app in the vehicle may be modified.

Software and computer processor implemented system and method of providing customized automated responses to different types of incoming electronic messages from various contact sources, particularly useful for preventing distracted driving. Here the invention's software, often in the form of an app, runs on a smartphone or other computerized device configured to automatically connect to various peripherals, such as automobile associated Bluetooth peripherals. When operating, the app causes connected peripherals to automatically trigger auto response mode in response to incoming messages. Optionally, different automated responses to be assigned to different peripheral identification codes or different incoming message originators. Various prioritization schemes, such as last peripheral connected dominates, and various ways in which different contact specific automated responses may interact with various peripheral specific automated responses, are also discussed.

A safety device for vehicles. The device inhibits use of communication devices that run the risk of distracting a driver / operator while the vehicle is in motion. Several techniques for inhibiting use are described which can be used individually or in a complementary combinations. In one technique, a rapidly varying signal level is created local to the communication device. The variations exceed the operational limits of the system, thereby inhibiting communications. The device may be in a constant-on mode, unless it detects an attempt to make a communication classified as appropriate. Such a device may inhibit short messages, such as “text” messages and may also allow or, in some embodiments, place emergency calls.

A system includes a primary vehicle operable by a driver. The driver is associated with a first device having a plurality of features with which the driver may interact. The system further includes a second device integral with the primary vehicle and in communication with the first device. The second device is configured to detect an interaction between the driver and at least one of the features of the first device, and calculate a driver distraction level based upon the interaction between the driver and the at least one feature of the first device.

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating turn instructions on a turn-by-turn navigation system. The turn instructions can include a turn icon as well as visual and audio prompts. A countdown bar is typically embedded within the turn icon to provide upcoming turn information in intuitive graphic form, in order to reduce driver distraction. The turn-by-turn navigation system can generally be produced more economically than a typical premium system having a full complement of costly features, such as a color map display. Moreover, the turn-by-turn navigation system can be configured with only those features deemed most useful to a broad-based market segment, in order to further reduce manufacturing costs.

A user interface for use in a vehicle navigation and traffic information device. Various adaptable menu commands and intuitive UI elements are provided to ease user navigation of the interface and to minimize driver distraction while providing information in an optimized manner.

The invention discloses a system and method for calculating driving risks and assisting automobile insurance pricing based on multi-source data. The system includes an intelligent mobile internet terminal and a remote server connected with each other; a plurality of data sensing acquisition units and applications are installed in the intelligent mobile terminal; and the remote server is provided with a risk model algorithm system and includes a scene driving risk analysis sub module, a distracted driving model recognition sub module, a user travel behavior analysis sub module and a driving behavior evaluation and grading system sub module. According to the system and method of the invention, data acquired by the intelligent mobile internet terminal and road traffic information acquired by the remote server are analyzed, and the scores of the sub modules are calculated, and automobile insurance pricing is carried out according to the scores. With the system and method of the invention adopted, based on multi-source data acquisition and fusion, the driving behaviors of users are analyzed, and the travel habits, driving habits and driving risks of the drivers can be effectively calibrated, and therefore, theoretical basis and technical support can be provided for driving behavior-based automobile insurance pricing models.

A display system and method for presenting scrolling text on a display is provided in a manner that generally minimizes driver distraction. The system includes a display for displaying scrolling text. The system also includes a gaze monitor having an imaging camera oriented to capture images of a person, such as a vehicle driver, including at least portions of the driver's head, and determining a gaze vector or head orientation vector. The system further includes a controller for determining whether the driver is expected to be viewing the display based on the gaze vector. The controller pauses the scrolling text presented on the display when the driver is not viewing the display.

A system and method for monitoring apps in a vehicle or in a smartphone to reduce driver distraction is disclosed. A controller operating inside or in combination with the head unit of the vehicle or operating inside or in combination with the smartphone may monitor operation of the vehicle, and generate alerts indicative of operation of the vehicle (such as an alert indicative that the vehicle is operating at a predetermined speed). In response to the alert, the operation of the app in the vehicle or in the smartphone may be modified.

Disclosed are a system and method of regulating access to devices that can distract a driver that is operating a motor vehicle based on received Vehicle-to-Everything communications including Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure information. One example method may include determining a vehicle is approaching a vehicle movement restriction location requiring a vehicle movement restriction, determining an amount of time associated with the vehicle movement restriction, and determining whether a device located inside the vehicle will be made accessible to a user during the vehicle movement restriction based on the amount of time associated with the vehicle movement restriction.

A control system for a vehicle situated device includes a shut-out arrangement denying access to, or disabling an adjustment feature of the device but permitting the device to operate in a predetermined mode of operation when the vehicle is in a first state of operation. The shut-out means is disabled or overridable when the vehicle is in an alternate state of operation, thereby permitting the respective adjustment feature to be accessed or enabled. The shut-out arrangement is typically operated to deny access to or disable the relevant adjustment feature of the vehicle situated device when the vehicle engine is running and / or when the vehicle is in motion. The arrangement reduces driver distraction and thereby reduces driver error and the risk of accident.

A solution to mitigate organizational risks and exposure from damages and harm related to distracted driving. The invention includes a system, method, and devices that enable the organization to manage, monitor, and enforce corporate Mobile Device policies, in particular policies to deter and prevent distracted driving and encourage safe alternatives. A system for preventing distracted driving, including an Organizational Policy for anti-distracted driving including a rule and a Mobile Device configured to restrict, disable, or enable a feature of the Mobile Device based upon the rule.

Provided is a lane departure alarming method with a driving distraction state considered. The method comprises the steps that whether a driver is in a distracted driving state at present is judged according to the traveling track of an automobile and the operation information of the driver; distinguished alarming strategies are provided according to the detecting result of distracted driving, and when driving distraction is not detected, the time for lane departure alarming is delayed. A lane departure alarming system for achieving the method comprises an environment sensing unit, an information control unit, a data processing unit, a distraction detecting unit, a road virtual unit and an alarm decision making unit. The yaw angle of the automobile and the rotating speed signal of a steering wheel are acquired from the environment sensing unit and the information control unit, corresponding standard deviation statistical data can be obtained after data processing, and driving distraction detection is conducted. The alarm decision making unit makes alarm decisions, and judges whether the current alarm signal is restrained or not. The lane departure alarming method and system can provide the distraction driver with timely lane departure alarm, and meanwhile avoid frequent false alarm to the focused driver so that disturbing to the driver can be reduced.

A visually-distracted-driving detection device that can detect visually distracted driving with high accuracy. The visually-distracted-driving detection device includes a visually-distracted-driving determination unit that determines that a driver is visually distracted if the direction in which the driver is looking is greater than or equal to a predetermined angle with respect to the front of the driver; and a prohibition unit that, if it is specified that the present position of the vehicle as specified by a present-position specifying unit is within a first predetermined distance from an intersection, prohibits a process that is performed in cases where it is determined that the driver is visually distracted.

The invention relates to an environmental-sanitation operation control method and system and a washing and sweeping vehicle. The method comprises the steps that environmental-sanitation images of environmental-sanitation information reflecting the periphery of an environmental-sanitation vehicle are collected; the environmental-sanitation images are processed, and the parameters representing the quantity of to-be-cleaned garbage are estimated; and the parameters and the preset threshold values corresponding to all environmental-sanitation operation modes are compared, and environmental-sanitation operation is conducted according to the determined environmental-sanitation operation modes matched with the parameters. The collected environmental-sanitation images of the periphery of the environmental-sanitation vehicle are processed, the parameters representing the quantity of the to-be-cleaned garbage are estimated, and then the suitable environmental-sanitation operation modes are determined through comparison of the estimated parameters and the threshold values of the environmental-sanitation operation modes to conduct environmental-sanitation operation. According to the environmental-sanitation operation control method and system and the washing and sweeping vehicle, under the condition that a driver does not conduct control, the suitable environmental-sanitation operation modes are automatically adjusted according to the environmental-sanitation conditions, the environmental-sanitation operation effect is improved, the situation that attention of the driver is diverted for operation mode adjustment is avoided, thus the driver can pay attention to driving, and the safety of the operation process is improved.