IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,526,166
Granted Patent B2
US 11,526,166 · App. 16/983,832 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Smart vehicle

Inventor: Ha Q Tran (Saratoga, CA)
G05D1/0061A61B5/02416A61B5/4845A61B5/6802A61B5/6893B60H1/00735B60Q9/00B60W30/09B60W40/08B60W50/14G05D1/0088G05D1/0214B60N2/56B60R11/04B60R2011/0003B60W2040/0836B60W2050/143B60W2420/42B60W2540/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,526,166
App. No.
16/983,832
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of providing safety in a level 3 autonomous vehicle by mounting a plurality of cameras in a vehicular cabin to detect edges; translating the edges into motions of a human or a biological entity; and monitoring safety conditions for the human or biological entity.

Claims (46)

1. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a plurality of cameras in a vehicular cabin to detect edges;

translating the edges into motions of a driver, a human or a biological entity; and

monitoring safety conditions for the driver, human or biological entity from the edges and motions with a processor to determine user motions to control the vehicle, the processor further controlling vehicle operation in response to the monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising sensing alcohol level by optically analyzing skin condition.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising monitoring the driver's driving pattern to confirm driver impairment.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising monitoring distance from start of braking to stopping the vehicle to determine driver impairment.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising storing in advance a best pattern to stop the vehicle in case of driver impairment and sending actuation instructions to components in the vehicle to safely stop the vehicle during driver impairment.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising selecting a maneuver based on objects near the vehicle, traffic characteristic, and weather characteristic and detected component damage; and moving the vehicle in accordance with the selected maneuver to a safe resting point.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising sensing heart rate and alcohol level by optically contacting

a skin and detecting reflected light using an optical window on or a wearable device contacting the skin or on a spot on a driving wheel gripped by hands.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising detecting an object external to the vehicle and maneuvering in response to the object.

9. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a plurality of cameras in a vehicular cabin to detect edges;

translating the edges into motions of a driver, a human or a biological entity;

monitoring an impairment for the driver, human or biological entity; and

accelerating the vehicle slowly or turn more or less tightly in response to the impairment.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising autonomously and without direct human assistance navigate to a safe location, request help, and return to its original location after the driver has been assisted.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

mounting a plurality of cameras in a vehicular cabin to detect edges of an object;

sensing alcohol level with a set of breath sensors or touch-sensitive contact points from a driver of the vehicle and determining driver impairment level; and

monitoring safety conditions for the human or biological entity.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological entity comprises a child, an elderly person, a pet, or a living entity.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a child is in a child safety seat; identifying a dangerous condition in a vehicle, and generating an alarm on the dangerous condition, wherein the alarm comprises a siren or a wireless signal to a car driver.

14. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a plurality of cameras in a vehicular cabin to detect edges;

translating the edges into motions of a driver, a human or a biological entity;

monitoring safety conditions for the driver, human or biological entity; and

controlling temperature of a driver and front passenger seats by monitoring an arm gesture and a finger gesture, wherein the number of fingers affect a seat temperature.

15. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

predicting a likely behavior of medical condition of the biological entity based on prior behavior data;

preparing the vehicle to respond based at least in part on the likely behavior of the medical condition.

16. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

detecting an object external to a vehicle using one or more sensors;

predicting a likely driver behavior in response to a likely behavior of a detected health condition based on prior behavior data;

preparing the vehicle to respond based at least in part on the likely behavior of the detected object and the driver.

17. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

tracking a neighboring vehicle using one or more sensors;

predicting a behavior of the neighboring vehicle based on at least the current state of the vehicle and the current state of an environment of the vehicle, wherein the at least one predicted behavior comprises the neighboring vehicle changing lanes; determining at least one confidence level, wherein the at least one confidence level represents a likelihood of the neighboring vehicle performing the at least one predicted behavior, and wherein the at least one confidence level is based on the at least one predicted behavior, the current state of the vehicle, and the current state of the environment of the vehicle;

preparing the vehicle to respond based at least in part on the likely behavior of the neighboring vehicle and the driver; and

notifying a driver of options based on the likely behavior.

18. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

sensing alcohol level with a set of breath sensors or touch-sensitive contact points from a driver of the vehicle;

determining driver impairment level; and adjusting autonomous driving to maximize safety.

19. The method of claim 1 , comprising sensing alcohol level by optically analyzing skin condition.

20. The method of claim 1 , comprising monitoring the driver's driving pattern to confirm driver impairment.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2024
From: IP3 2023, SERIES 923 OF ALLIED SECURITY TRUST I
To: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067619/0131 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2024
From: TRAN, BAO
To: IP3 2023, SERIES 923 OF ALLIED SECURITY TRUST I
Reel/Frame 066109/0195 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2023
From: TRAN, HA
To: TRAN, BAO
Reel/Frame 065336/0697 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16574072 · Sep 17, 2019
Related Publication 20210080950A1 · Mar 18, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,346,109