IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,116,234
Granted Patent B2
US 7,116,234 · App. 10/487,948 · Granted Oct 3, 2006

Drowsiness detecting device and waking device operatively connected with the same

Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,116,234
App. No.
10/487,948
Granted
Oct 3, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A prompt, accurate and highly practical drowsiness detecting device and a waking device operatively connected with the same are provided. Drowsiness of a vehicle driver or the like is detected to wake him/her up to prevent the drowsiness from causing an accident. A waveform of blinking is detected by a stress-impedance effect sensor head ( 1 ) positioned on a temple bow of a glasses frame in the vicinity of his/her temple, and the drowsiness is determined by a microcomputer ( 2 ). Waking him/her up is accomplished by a milligauss AC magnetic field generator ( 4 ).

Claims (6)

1. A drowsiness detecting and waking device comprising:

(a) a high-sensitivity stress sensor combining stress-impedance effect of an amorphous magnetostrictive thin wire and a CMOS multivibrator circuit attached to a temple bow of a glasses frame at a position thereof in the vicinity of a temple of a user;

(b) a microcomputer that detects a blinking motion of eyelids of the user from information supplied from the high-sensitivity stress sensor and determines the drowsiness of the user on the basis of the detected information; and

(c) a milligauss ultra-low frequency AC magnetic field generator driven on the basis of a drowsiness signal from the microcomputer, wherein a magnetic field generated by the milligauss ultra-low frequency AC magnetic field generator is applied to the brain of the user.

2. The drowsiness detecting and waking device according to claim 1 , wherein a coil and a driving circuit for generating the milligauss ultra-low frequency AC magnetic field are disposed in the vicinity of the brain of the user.

3. The drowsiness detecting and waking device according to claim 1 , wherein a coil and a driving circuit for generating the milligauss ultra-low frequency AC magnetic field are disposed in the vicinity of a temple of the user.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2008
From: JAPAN SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
To: NAGOYA INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 021096/0086 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2004
From: MOHRI, KANEO
To: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
Reel/Frame 015256/0345 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2002-107337 · Apr 10, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040233060A1 · Nov 25, 2004