Exhibit 1007
`
`
`
`MUK Patent Application WGB <11)2 286 369 MA
`
`(43) Date ofA Publication 16.08.1995
`
` (51)
`INT (:1.6
`(21) Application No 94021133
`6093 9/052
`(22) Date of Filing 11.02.1994
`
`(71) Applicantls)
`
`Solvit Scientific Engineers Limited
`
`
`
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service
`
`R.T Herrod
`92 Buckingham Gardens, Hurst Park,
`
`WEST MOLESEY, Surrey, KT8 9TN, United Kingdom
`
`
`(Incorporated in the United Kingdom)
`
`92 Buckingham Gardens, Hurst Park, East Molesey,
`Surrey, KT8 9TN, United Kingdom
`
`(72)
`
`|nventor(s)
`R.T Herrod
`
`(52) UK CL (Edition N }
`37H HOA
`
`(55) Documents Cited
`FR 002667962 A1
`
`
`
`US 3885324 A
`
`(58)
`
`Field of Search
`UK CL (Edition N) B7H HOA
`lNT CL6 6076 5/08 , 6093 9/04 9/052
`Online: EDOC, WPI
`
`(54) Equipment to measure driver acceleration patterns and report associated accident risks
`
`(57) A computer based logging device, including dual-axis accelerometers and capable of measuring
`forward and lateral accelerations, is installed in a road vehicle. Using acceleration data which has been
`measured over a period of time, the device classifies the driver into one of several groups, each of which is
`associated with a different level of accident risk. The device has a display panel to indicate to the driver the
`group to which he or she is currently assigned and advice on how to make his or her driving safer.
`Each driver is identified by a separate programming means, to be applied to the logging device before
`driving the vehicle. The programming means is also used to transfer the results from the logger to a remote
`database, where accident risk and driver group parameters are determined.
`
`G)
`on
`
`N N 0
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`0
`O)
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`U.)
`03
`(O
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`> 1
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`Liberty Mutual
`
`Exhibit 1007
`
`Page 00000
`
`

`

`EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE DRIVER ACCELERATION PATTERNS
`
`AND REPORT ASSOCIATED ACCIDENT RISKS
`
`Background
`
`There is a widely acknowledged need for driver training, both immediately
`following the driving test and repeatedly during a lifetime spent driving
`on the roads. However,
`the cost and inconvenience of using human trainers
`and examiners are major obstacles. Consequently,
`there may be some
`interest in computer based equipments that are easily installed in road
`vehicles and which can measure safety related features of the driving.
`Such devices can act as both driver training aids and driver performance
`assessors .
`
`Accidents are such rare events that individual drivers may not be aware of
`how their driving habits are contributing to the level of risk. However, a
`computer equipment could be programmed with information obtained from an
`extensive survey of drivers, so making the required experience available
`to the driver.
`
`Reckless drivers could be detected by the equipment and their habits
`reported and possibly corrected before accidents are caused. This
`information could be of use to vehicle owners and insurers. By the same
`token, safe drivers would be able to demonstrate their competence to
`insurance companies.
`
`Theory
`
`This invention concerns an electronic device for measuring and recording
`the levels of acceleration applied by the drivers of road vehicles. These
`accelerations include forward acceleration, backward acceleration
`(braking) and left and right accelerations (cornering). The device
`contains a computer, which processes accumulated acceleration data to
`determine to which of several behavioural groups the driver belongs. Each
`group is associated with a significantly different level of accident risk.
`Measurements made on many drivers over a long period are used to establish
`these levels of accident risk.
`
`The device supports a display panel, which indicates to the driver the
`group to which he or she has been assigned,
`together with a code indexing
`advice on how to change his or her driving habits to reduce accident risk.
`
`A user manual explains the basis for the measurements and presents the
`mean time between accidents for drivers in each of the groups. The manual
`also contains instructions for using the device and advice on how to
`reduce accident risk,
`indexed by the group and advice codes.
`
`The accident statistics are obtained from a national survey of drivers
`using the device. They might be updated annually and circulated to all
`registered users of the device.
`
`Page 000002
`
`

`

`-2-
`
`The device is programmed and set up for a particular driver and vehicle.
`This may be achieved by inserting a suitable thin card or disk into an
`integral drive unit. Different programs are carried by different drivers,
`so that any driver with a suitable card or disk can be monitored whilst
`driving any equipped vehicle.
`
`(eg card or disk) are initialised by a separate
`The programming means
`computer, which is also used to read the recorded acceleration patterns
`and the time history of driver group and advice codes. This information is
`added to a database, which is used to update the algorithms used for
`analysing the acceleration patterns and the accident statistics.
`
`in the form of driver questionnaires, may be required to
`Further input,
`maintain accurate accident statistics.
`
`The database might also be used by driver training officers, fleet vehicle
`operators or insurance companies, who wish to monitor the standard of
`driving of certain vehicles.
`
`Description
`
`The device is contained in a rigid rectangular box, which may have a
`spirit level on the top,
`to enable the user to install it in a level
`plane. The device comprises:-
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`d)
`
`e)
`
`f)
`
`g)
`
`dual-axis accelerometers, aligned with the sides of the box,
`horizontal plane (The vertical acceleration component is not
`considered to depend on the driving style);
`
`in the
`
`an electronic computer which reads the accelerometers periodically
`and processes the acceleration data,
`to keep a running average of
`the driver's acceleration pattern. The computer may contain or
`access a clock, so that the data can be time stamped;
`
`a microphone (which may be external) and circuits to switch on the
`computer when the vehicle exhaust makes noise;
`
`a stabilised power supply for the computer,
`powered from the vehicle electrical system;
`
`to enable it to be
`
`to maintain power to the computer if the vehicle
`a backup battery,
`supply should fall temporarily, eg when cranking the motor;
`
`(or connections to a standard vehicle information
`a display panel
`display system), used to display the driver group and advice code;
`
`a means of programming the computer and of storing and removing the
`measured data, such as a thin card drive or a disk drive.
`
`mu
`
`:1)
`
`The device has a power lead, which should be connected to the vehicle
`supply (ie the battery).
`
`Page 000003
`
`

`

`Arrows on the top of the device indicate which side should face the front
`of the vehicle. The indicated axis of the device must be aligned with the
`wheelbase of the vehicle. The user must install it in the correct
`orientation and approximately level, with the vehicle standing on level
`ground. The device should be clamped or wedged to prevent it from moving
`about.
`
`(eg card or disk)
`The driver must apply his or her programming means
`the device before starting up the engine of the vehicle. When this is
`done, all subsequent acceleration data is attributed to that driver, until
`the device is re-programmed.
`
`to
`
`the computer is switched on by the microphone
`When the engine is started,
`circuit and acceleration data is logged. If the engine stops for longer
`than a programmed time interval,
`the computer terminates the logging and
`switches itself off.
`
`The logging is resumed at the start of each journey, so that a cumulative
`pattern develops over a period of time spent driving. When sufficient data
`has been obtained to give a result,
`the device displays the driver group
`and advice code using the display means. This information may be latched
`so that it remains on display when the logging computer is off.
`
`Programs in the computer determine how much data is needed to achieve a
`reliable result and this result is constantly updated using the most
`recent data recorded.
`
`The time history of the driver's result and the corresponding patterns are
`stored on the programming means
`(eg removable card or disk) so that they
`can be processed by a remote computer installation.
`
`Page 000004
`
`

`

`CLAIMS
`
`An electronic device using accelerometers, mounted in a road
`vehicle, which measures and records the vector accelerations of the
`vehicle,
`to build up a pattern that is used by the device to
`classify the driver. This classification is between several groups,
`each of which is associated with a different level of accident risk.
`
`The provision to the driver of the equipped vehicle in Claim 1 of
`advice on how to reduce his or her accident risk, by changing the
`levels of acceleration habitually applied.
`
`Page 000005
`
`

`

`(i) UK Cl (Ed.N)
`(ii) Int Cl (Ed.6)
`
`B7H (HQA)
`GO7C 5/08R2; G09B 9/04, 9/052
`
`Databases (see below)
`(i) UK Patent Office collections of GB, EP, W0 and US patent
`specifications.
`
`Documents considered relevant
`following a search in respect of
`Claims :-
`
`1,2
`
`(ii) ONLINE: WPI, EDOC
`
`Categories of documents
`
`
`Application number
`Patents Act 1977
`GB 9402713.3
`Examiner’s report to the Comptroller under Section 17
`
`
`(The Search report)
`
`Search Examiner
`
`
`Relevant Technical Fields
`JOHN TWIN
`
`
`
`
`Date of completion of Search
`
`6 MARCH 1995
`
`
`
`
`X:
`
`Y:
`
`A:
`
`X
`
`X
`
`Document indicating lack of novelty or of inventive step.
`
`Document indicating lack of inventive step if combined With
`one or more other documents of the same category.
`
`P:
`
`E:
`
`Document published on or after the declared priority date
`but before the filing date of the present application.
`
`Patent document published on or after, but with priority date
`earlier than. the filing date of the present application.
`
`Document indicating technological background and/or state
`of the art.
`
`8::
`
`Member of the same patent family; correspondingdocument.
`
`Relevant to
`
`claim(s)
`
`1,2
`
`FR 2667962 A]
`
`(OPTl PILOTE) see eg WP] abstract accession No
`92-185972/23
`
`US 3885324 A
`
`(DAVENPORT)
`
`1,2
`
`__________________________——————_————
`
`DatabaseszThe UK Patent Office database comprises classified collections of GB, 13?, W0 and Us patent specifications as outlined periodically in the Oflici-l Journal
`(Patents). The on-line databases considered for search are also listed periodically in the Official Journal (Patents).
`
`T6 - 17815
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`Page 1 of 1
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`Page 000006
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