I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 111111111111111 1111111111 111111111111111111
`US009047170B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Naboulsi
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,047,170 B2
`*Jun. 2, 2015
`
`(54) SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(71) Applicant: MouhamadAhmad Naboulsi, West
`Bloomfield, MI (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: MouhamadAhmad Naboulsi, West
`Bloomfield, MI (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`DE
`JP
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1,103,438 A
`3,223,926 A
`
`7/1914 Scheibert
`12/1965 Maugans
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`10/2004
`10352733 Al
`3/1987
`62-048845
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/663,085
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 29, 2012
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2013/0124038 Al
`
`May 16, 2013
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Division of application No. 10/838, 708, filed on May
`4, 2004, now Pat. No. 8,301,108, which is a
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 17100
`G0SB 21106
`
`(Continued)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC ............. G06F 17100 (2013.01); B60R 11/0264
`(2013.01); B60R 2011/001 (2013.01); G0SB
`21106 (2013.01)
`
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC ............. 701/36, 41, 29.1, 408,468; 455/345,
`455/411, 556.1, 557,565,567,569.1,
`455/569.2, 575.9; 340/438, 441, 525, 575,
`340/576, 901
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`Delphi Corporation Selected to Lead Comprehensive Driver Distrac(cid:173)
`tion Research Program; Delphi News Release; Oct. 30, 2002; (3
`pages), Troy, Michigan.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Richard Camby
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Vivacqua Law, PLLC;
`Raymond J. Vivacqua; Pete N. Kiousis
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present
`invention, a safety control system for vehicles, includes, a
`communication device having at least one of an input acces(cid:173)
`sible from within the vehicle and an output communicated
`within the vehicle, at least one sensor operable to sense at
`least one condition related to vehicle operation, and a con(cid:173)
`troller communicated with the sensor and the communication
`device to selectively suppress at least one of said input and
`said output in response to a sensed parameter of said at least
`one condition being outside of a threshold. When an input is
`suppressed, the driver is prevented from accessing or input(cid:173)
`ting information into the communication device. When an
`output is suppressed, communication between the device and
`the driver of a vehicle is suppressed to, among other things,
`avoid distracting the driver during certain driving situations
`or conditions relating to the driver, vehicle and/or environ(cid:173)
`ment.
`
`31 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 1
`
`

`

`US 9,047,170 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`continuation of application No. 10/287,299, filed on
`Nov. 4, 2002, now Pat. No. 6,731,925, which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/279,447, filed on
`Oct. 24, 2002, now abandoned.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/336,293, filed on Oct.
`24, 2001, provisional application No. 60/390,877,
`filed on Jun. 21, 2002.
`
`Int. Cl.
`B60R 11/02
`B60R 11/00
`
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
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`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 2
`
`

`

`US 9,047,170 B2
`Page 3
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2004/0198306 Al
`2004/0204795 Al
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`
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`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
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`
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`2000-301964
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`
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`
`Volvo Owners Club, Volvo Press Releases; Sep. 8, 2003; (9 pages)
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`2003; (2 pages), United Kingdom.
`Duncan Graham-Rowe; Smart Assistant Will Cut Driver Distraction
`(NewScientist.com); Dec. 7, 2003 (2 pages).
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`Gets Underway (its@ertico); Feb. 3, 2004; (3 pages), Europe.
`Memorandum of Understanding for Realisation oflnteroperable In(cid:173)
`Vehicle eCall (Safety Forum eCall Driving Group); May 28, 2004; (7
`pages), Europe.
`Dr. Juergen Schwarz; Response 3-Code of Practice for Develop(cid:173)
`ment, Validation and Market Introduction of ADAS-A PReVENT
`Project (DaimlerChrysler AG); Jun. 3, 2005; (9 pages), Stuttgart,
`Germany.
`Maria Rimini-Doering, et al.; I-TSA Traffic Safety Assessment in a
`Simulator Experiment with Integrated Information and Assistance
`Systems (Fourth International Driving Symposium on Human Fac(cid:173)
`tors in Driver Assessment, Training and Vehicle Design); Jul. 9-12,
`2007; (9 pages), Stevenson, Washington.
`New Solution to Texting While Driving can Save Lives (Cum(cid:173)
`mingHome ); Jul. 11, 2007; (2 pages), Georgia.
`Wheel (Version: 12); Author Unknown, Date Unknown, Where Pub(cid:173)
`lished Unknown.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.2,2015
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`s 11 ~ / -
`
`l
`
`S8
`
`FIG - 1
`----------------- 5
`---- ,,....-----·-·1 r-·----, ·=s--,
`s1 ~ 2
`·
`. ,
`( ______ J ~? ~--
`.. s~~-----s~ (s10
`,Q~
`3 S 5 , - - - - - - 1 ""--,
`.5.
`9
`11J=
`I __, . ...,,,,,_,
`I
`,
`~,.,,__.
`--={ 1r c'fl 1c::' ____ j
`- - - - 8.....__.-....,,."A
`··
`...._
`~
`1..;·
`\
`.6.
`-w ,-:·
`"
`I
`\.
`I
`1-- -
`-
`,f' ,-:-
`"
`____ J( I( e, \) \.=.-=-"7-=.-=-:::; r_-=-- -.-::...
`'I
`.. --:-...
`,.--:--._
`"
`'.¼,
`\, --
`\, --
`____ . /
`s6 7 s4 • 't._.J· I
`_____ /
`. ~:--J· /
`s7
`.
`.
`
`2
`
`,
`
`/
`
`FIG - 2
`
`4
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.2,2015
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`HAND -GRIPPING
`SENSOR S1
`
`HAND-GRIPPING
`SENSOR s2
`
`GRIPPING FORCE
`SENSORS 1, S2
`
`PULSE, TEMP,
`SKIN COND.
`SENSOR S1, s2
`
`STEERING
`l"\IRl=r.Tl("ll'J
`SENSOR S3
`
`GAS PEDAL
`SENSOR S4
`
`BRAKE PEDAL
`SENSOR S5
`
`TRANSMISSION
`SENSOR S5
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`33
`
`PROXIMITY
`SENSORS s 7, s 8
`
`DARKNESS
`SENSOR Sg
`
`RAIN
`SENSOR S10
`
`TURN - INDICATOR
`SENSOR 811
`
`NAVIGATION
`SOFTWARE
`
`mP
`
`20
`
`DISABLE
`TELEPHONE
`OUTGOING
`CALLS
`
`DISABLE
`TELEPHONE
`RINGER SIGNAL
`AND INCOMING
`CALLS
`
`DISABLE
`COMPUTER
`ACCESS TO
`INTERNET
`
`ACTUATE
`VISUAL
`INDICATOR
`
`ACTUATE
`AUDIBLE
`ALARM
`
`42
`
`43
`
`44
`
`FIG - 3
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.2,2015
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`50
`
`START
`
`53
`
`54
`
`DISABLE
`>--......--t_TELEPHONE,
`COMPUTER,
`ETC
`
`ACTIVATE
`VISUAL
`INDICATOR
`
`y
`
`N
`
`ACTUATE
`AUDIO
`ALARM
`
`63
`
`FIG - 4
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.2,2015
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`'• T1me-Out-FfagAfte-remergencies-(cid:173)
`) For Distress
`,~, For Busv
`• Predictive Algorithms
`c, Off Ramp From Highway Speed
`On Ramp to Highway speed
`Blind View Ahead
`Driving Drift Detected
`Straight Ahead Vector
`· • Fool proofing/counter circumventing
`mea sp.1iillJMlli'1Wi!Y
`longCall_s anti distraction feature
`•
`• Driver Biometrics and in Cabin activity
`. - - - -... , MDAS & MDAS update (Telematicability) ;
`•
`Intelligent Vehicle features
`• Service monitor
`'• Natural Environment
`• Vehicle Operation Dynamics
`• Switches decision Algorithm
`, • Accident Occurred Algorithm
`: • Sanity Check Algorithm
`
`• Intelligent Alarms
`,,
`long calls/ Anti distraction reminder via
`I nternal/Extemal Rear view Mirrors
`o Collision Imminent notification Via
`Internal/External Rear vie\~ Mirrors
`
`,.
`
`•
`
`Telematics Equipment Connections
`c) T.~t~J?b9-..r:t~
`o Navigation
`Directory
`o Messattrecorder
`o E~.r:
`o e-mail
`Internet Browsing
`intelligent collision Alarms
`'"
`o Long call anti distraction
`c
`PDA
`c Phon.e.bookj Adress book
`
`•
`
`Telematics Equipment
`Announcements/ Feedback/ Alarms etc.
`
`Figure 5A
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.2,2015
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`~
`• Turn,rg s,gnal Left/Right
`• Emergency Flasher
`• HVAC ac:,v,rncn
`• Wiper act1VatIcn
`I ntell1gent food and beverage
`•
`holder
`• Dr,•,er Sea: Belt
`• Accessories act1vat1on
`l"Ofrl activation
`•
`•
`!SORSP, ISORSU, iSORSD, SSORSP,
`SSORSU, SORD
`
`Annoyances
`• Deg Strap
`• Child C ry1ng
`• Dog barking detector
`• Cigarette smoke
`
`Physiology
`• Alcohol cevel
`• Hear~ Rate
`• Press1;re or Steering Mechanism
`• Sweat sensor
`• Driver Temperature
`•
`voice Monitor
`
`Security
`• On·,er Seat Pos1t1on/Recl1ner
`Sensor
`• Driver Seat/Back weight Sensor
`• Steering Tilt wheel pos1t1on
`
`Frcm BUS or $ENSOR OR CALCULATED VALUES
`Qlli:!
`• Parking Gear
`• Neutral Gear
`• OnveGear
`• Clutch depressed (M/T Only)
`• Tr ansm15s1on Shift UP/Oo•.vn
`• Brake activation
`• G Force/Two planes
`• Throttle position, posmon/t1me
`• Gas Pedal pos1t1cn, pos1:ion/t1me
`valves lnt.i ke I Exhaust pos1t1on sensor
`•
`• Tachometer-Engine RPM rate/time
`• Valves intake/Exhaust pos1tIon ser.scr
`• Tachometer-Engine RPM rateit1me
`• Automatic Transmission Flywheel dynamic
`change in Pressure sensor Change m Cenrr1p1tal
`force.
`• Steenng member angle, angle/time
`•
`Inclinometer
`• Rollover sensor
`• Airbag deploynieni
`• Rell/Bank
`• T,res Pressure,,:::. FL, RR, RL
`
`Active Onver Ass1stan: Systems
`• ABSact1vat1on S1gnal(nme)
`• Adapt1ve/lntell1gent cruise conrrol
`• Night v1s1on
`• Tr action Control signal
`•
`£SP/Stability controls/Ant, Roll
`Intersection Collision Warnmg
`•
`•
`Lane/Road departure
`
`Environment
`Lightmg cond1t1on Night/Day
`•
`•
`',Mper Setting
`• High beam light
`• Fog Lamp
`• HVAC Sett,ng
`• ToralVeh,cie Weigh:
`veh,cle speed
`•
`• Number of Passergers
`• Beanng/Lcng1tude/LatItude/ Altitude
`• Proximity Alarm, Front Rear Blind spo,
`
`Figure 58
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 8
`
`

`

`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`1
`SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES
`
`REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
`
`2
`Herbert eta!., U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,315 and Brown, U.S. Pat.
`No. 6,353,778, disclose systems for avoiding preset poten(cid:173)
`tially dangerous conditions while operating a vehicle having
`a vehicle telephone, but the systems described in those patents
`5 are of relatively limited application, and do not provide for
`avoiding dangerous conditions or to managing risk and indi(cid:173)
`vidualizing the warnings to individual driving skills or appli(cid:173)
`cation and to combinations of events and environmental con(cid:173)
`ditions.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 10/838,708 filed May 4, 2004 (now U.S. Pat.
`No. 8,301,108) which is a continuation of U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 10/287,299, filed Nov. 4, 2002 (now U.S. Pat.
`No. 6,731,925), which claims the benefit of a priority from
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/279,447, filed Oct. 24, 10
`2002, Provisional Application No. 60/390,877 filed Jun. 21,
`2002, and Provisional Application No. 60/336,293 filed Oct.
`24, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
`reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to the field of telematics,
`namely to the field of integrating information, communica(cid:173)
`tion, computing and entertainment technologies into vehicles
`for civilian or military use. The invention particularly relates
`to safety control systems for vehicles to reduce driver distrac(cid:173)
`tion, avoiding potentially dangerous conditions tending to
`produce accidents.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`One potentially dangerous condition is the use of a vehicle
`telephone by the vehicle driver while driving the vehicle. The
`use of telematics in general and particularly cellular tele(cid:173)
`phones by drivers while driving has been found to increase the
`possibility of an accident since such a telephone not only
`diverts the driver's attention from driving, but also generally
`requires the use of at least one of the driver's hands and
`distract the driver's eyes from the road and traffic. In fact,
`many states and countries have enacted legislation requiring
`that telephones used in vehicles by drivers while driving must
`be of the "hands free" type and usually telematics equipment
`carries a warning to educate and discourage the driver about
`the risk of using these devices while driving. However, such
`legislation is difficult to enforce and education is not usually
`effective in assuring driver compliance. Moreover, even
`where the vehicle is equipped with a "hands free" telephone,
`drivers nevertheless still frequently use one hand for holding
`or dialing the telephone. When one hand is occupied by
`holding a telephone, the danger of causing an accident in an
`emergency situation is increased because of the additional
`reaction time required to properly grip the steering wheel
`with both hands. Similar danger exists when the driver
`attempts to control audio and video equipment, e.g. Radio, 50
`Music CD, DVD, Books on tape etc., or when the driver
`attempts to change environmental controls like adjusting the
`heat or air conditioning, or other vehicle settings.
`There are other potentially dangerous conditions and
`inherent risks in driving that depends on the driving act itself, 55
`such as rapidly accelerating or decelerating, excessive
`maneuvering, merging to or exiting a freeway, passing,
`changing lanes, changing gears, depressing the clutch, driv(cid:173)
`ing at high speed, negotiating a turn, braking, reverse-driving,
`or a stress condition on the part of the driver, that could 60
`increase the possibility of an accident should the driver be
`distracted by activation of the telephone or other signal or
`device. This inherent risk is also dependent on the driving
`purpose as well, for example, the risk in driving a police
`cruiser is inherently riskier then in driving a sedan, and driv(cid:173)
`ing a delivery van has different risk than driving the family
`van.
`
`An object of at least some presently preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention is to provide a safety control
`15 system for vehicles tending to reduce the possibility of acci(cid:173)
`dents in one or more of the above respects. Another object of
`at least some presently preferred embodiments of the inven(cid:173)
`tion is to provide a method of reducing or avoiding driver
`distraction during potentially dangerous conditions encoun-
`20 tered while operating a vehicle.
`According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present
`invention, a safety control system for vehicles, includes, a
`communication device having at least one of an input acces(cid:173)
`sible from within the vehicle and an output communicated
`25 within the vehicle, at least one sensor operable to sense at
`least one condition related to vehicle operation, and a con(cid:173)
`troller communicated with the sensor and the communication
`device to selectively suppress at least one of said input and
`said output in response to a sensed parameter of said at least
`30 one condition being outside of a threshold. When an input is
`suppressed, the driver is prevented from accessing or input(cid:173)
`ting information into the communication device. When an
`output is suppressed, communication between the device and
`the driver of a vehicle is suppressed to, among other things,
`35 avoid distracting the driver during certain driving situations
`or conditions.
`According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided a safety control system for
`vehicles including a telephone or other input or output device
`40 and one or more sensors for sensing instantaneous driver
`stimuli and/or a potentially dangerous condition and for auto(cid:173)
`matically disabling or suppressing the telephone or other
`input or output device when sensing such stimuli and condi(cid:173)
`tion. In one form, the sensors include two sensors mounted on
`45 a steering member to provide an indication of the presence of
`the driver's hands on the vehicle steering member, and effec(cid:173)
`tive to suspend use of the telephone or other input/output
`device when the two hands of the driver are not sensed as
`present on the steering member while the vehicle is in motion.
`This system is modular, dynamic, interactive, and adaptive to
`each individualized user. In one implementation, the inven-
`tion employs a method for automated machine prioritizing to
`provide assistance to the to driver and optimize the function(cid:173)
`ality of telematics features accessibility by arranging them
`according to a user's needs and preferences based on usage
`frequency of individual features and/or application or as cus-
`tomized individually by the user preferences, skills and
`events. In another embodiment, sensors on a steering member
`are used to measure changes in driver physiology. Other
`methods can be used for sensing driver physiology, e.g. via
`infrared detection, camera and image/color recognition etc.
`Smart Speaker: Incoming calls are routed to a speaker that
`reflects and bounce sounds of front windshield at driver Look
`Ahead, Eye Level. Or simulate such action so that a driver
`65 focuses or has his/her attention directed toward the wind-
`shield just like he would do if he is carrying a conversation
`with another person.
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 9
`
`

`

`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`3
`According to further aspects in the described preferred
`embodiment, the steering member is a steering wheel, and the
`sensors include two sensors on opposite sides of the steering
`wheel located to sense the presence of the driver's hands on
`the steering wheel. Preferably, the two sensors are located
`approximately on or between the "two" and "ten" and the
`"three" and "nine" clock positions of the steering wheel.
`It will thus be seen that such a system, requiring both hands
`to be on the steering wheel in order for the driver to operate
`the input/output devices, not only requires the vehicle to be
`equipped with a "hands free" interface for the input/output
`devices, or a system that can be used as such with an adapter
`or when docked to the system gateway, but also enforces the
`use of the "hands free" feature by sensing that the driver
`actually has both hands placed on the steering member before
`the input/output devices can be operated accessed or dis(cid:173)
`played to the driver. Disabling the operation of the device
`would preferably include not only disabling making outgoing
`and receiving incoming telephone calls, but also disabling the
`signal (typically audible tones, vibrations, or visible light) of
`an incoming call, fax, e-mail, the display of non-urgent
`vehicle status or warning indicators, since such signals, indi(cid:173)
`cators or displays can distract the driver. Such distractions are
`problematic at times and conditions wherein operation of the
`vehicle requires more than usual driver attention and interac(cid:173)
`tion, or when other distractions are already present for the
`driver.
`According to further features in the described preferred
`embodiment, the vehicle may also include a computer or the
`driver may also use a portable multi-function telematics
`device in the vehicle allowing access to the Internet or other
`network for transmitting and/or receiving faxes or e-mail or
`browsing the web or accessing a WAN, with the sensors also
`disabling driver initiated access to such devices when the two 35
`hands of the driver are not sensed on the steering member
`while the vehicle is in motion.
`In most cases, the steering member would be a steering
`wheel as presently included in conventional vehicles. How(cid:173)
`ever, in certain applications the steering member could be a
`joystick, or other type of steering member. In such case, the
`sensors are placed in areas a driver is recommended or
`required to grip the steering member to safely control the
`vehicle.
`According to further optional features in the preferred
`embodiment of the invention described below, the sensors
`may further include devices for sensing vehicle acceleration,
`deceleration, merging onto or exiting a freeway, passing,
`changing lanes, changing gears, depressing the clutch, a
`reverse-drive condition of the vehicle, the braking of the 50
`vehicle, the undue proximity of the vehicle to another vehicle,
`excessive maneuvering, and/or an unduly high velocity of the
`vehicle, any one of which conditions, or combination of con(cid:173)
`ditions, may also be effective to disable the operation of the
`telephone, computer, or other potentially distracting equip- 55
`ment, display or indicator within the vehicle.
`According to still further optional features in the preferred
`embodiment of the invention described below, at least one of
`the sensors on the steering member also senses a physiologi-
`cal condition of the driver and disables the input/output 60
`devices when a predetermined physiological condition is
`sensed. For example, the physiological conditions sensed
`could be a predetermined gripping force applied by a hand of
`the driver while gripping the steering wheel, or a predeter(cid:173)
`mined pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen 65
`level, and/or skin conductivity of the driver. Such physiologi-
`cal conditions may indicate a stress condition of the driver
`
`4
`and, when sensed, can lead to disabling or suppressing opera(cid:173)
`tion of the input/output devices to avoid aggravating the
`stressed condition.
`The system may also sense a drowsiness condition of the
`5 vehicle operator. For example, the system may include a
`steering direction sensor that actuates a drowsiness alarm
`when sensing a failure to change the steering direction within
`a predetermined time, distance interval while accounting for
`vehicle speed in indicating a possible drowsiness condition in
`10 the driver. Additionally, such sensor when monitored with
`respect to changes overtime will indicate jerk reaction, which
`indicates that the driver was not paying attention and the
`system will temporarily suspend all telematics to give the
`15 driver a chance to recover. Another application for such a
`sensor is the monitoring ofan OFF Zero angle for an extended
`period of time/distance which can indicate a blind curve or
`hard curve, and again, here the system will temporarily sus(cid:173)
`pend the telematics and/or input/output devices from inter-
`20 acting with the driver, and vice versa, until normal driving
`functions are restored.
`According to another aspect of the present invention, there
`is provided a method of avoiding potentially dangerous con(cid:173)
`ditions while operating a vehicle having an input/output
`25 device and a steering mechanism including a steering mem(cid:173)
`ber to be manipulated by the driver, comprising: providing the
`steering member with two sensors for sensing the presence on
`the steering member of the two hands of the driver; and
`disabling the input/output device when the two sensors fail to
`30 sense the presence on the steering member of both hands of
`the driver while the vehicle is in motion.
`According to further features in the described preferred
`embodiment, the input/output devices may also be disabled
`when the vehicle is traveling in the reverse direction, or is
`being braked, or is within a predetermined proximity of
`another vehicle, or is traveling at a high velocity, accelerating,
`decelerating, merging onto or exiting a freeway, passing,
`changing lanes, changing gears, depressing the clutch, or a
`driver is occupied using other accessories in the vehicle or
`40 otherwise distracted. Since a high degree of attention of the
`driver is required under all the foregoing conditions, opera(cid:173)
`tion of the vehicle telephone, for example, even the ringing
`signal of an incoming telephone call, could be highly distract(cid:173)
`ing to the driver and is therefore disabled to avoid the possi-
`45 bility of increasing the risk of an accident.
`To assure that the driver and the vehicle as well as on board
`communication devices as described above are working har(cid:173)
`moniously together, one presently preferred embodiment of
`the system includes the following
`The Driving Systems, (Man, Machine, Environment,
`Regulation, and History)
`Man: the driver, the passengers, the pedestrians, society;
`Machine: the car, the telematics, the infrastructure;
`Environment: the driving environment (in the car and
`outside the car and the infrastructure used)
`History: the personal driving experience, the equipment
`maintenance history
`Regulation: the existing laws and common safe driving
`etiquette into, society and the infrastructure regula(cid:173)
`tion.
`All of these elements will be harmonized by the system as it
`isolates the drivers from non driving related distractions and
`helps them comply with driving related laws and etiquette via
`reminders and passive assistance.
`Further features and advantages of at least some of the
`embodiments or implementations of the invention will be
`apparent from the description below.
`
`FORD EX. 1030, p. 10
`
`

`

`5
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`US 9,047,170 B2
`
`6
`tion, radio volume or station, CD-track etc. The system will
`restore operation of the input/output devices when conditions
`are normalized and will notify driver of all missed activities.
`Vehicle 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a conventional vehicle
`including a steering mechanism, generally designated 3, hav(cid:173)
`ing a steering wheel 4, a propulsion device such as a motor or
`engine 5 for driving the vehicle via a transmission or other
`torque converting means schematically indicated 6, an accel(cid:173)
`eration pedal 7, and a braking pedal 8 for controlling the
`10 vehicle. Vehicle 2 further includes one or more visual indica-
`tor and audio alarms 9, e.g. mounted within the forward-look
`ahead viewing or hearing by the driver.
`FIG.1 further schematically illustrates a cellular telephone
`10 within the vehicle, and a computer 11 or other multifunc-
`15 tion telematic device allowing access to the Internet for trans(cid:173)
`mitting and/or receiving faxes or e-mail, WAN and Web
`access, or other input/output device. Other input/output
`devices include vehicle fault/warning lights (battery, tem-
`perature, washer fluid, etc.) or other signal or alarm (open
`door, low fuel level, seat belt monitor, etc.). Vehicle 2 illus(cid:173)
`trated in FIG. 1 may also include many other components
`conventionally provided on vehicles at the present time or to
`be provided in the future.
`The safety control system included in vehicle 2 illustrated
`25 in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of sensors for sensing various
`conditions with respect to the vehicle driver, the vehicle itself
`and/or the environment. These signals are collected via direct
`tapping to existing or added sensors or via vehicle bus and
`user specified values. These include sensors Sl and S2
`30 applied to the steering wheel 4 of the vehicle; sensor S3
`applied to the steering mechanism 3 of the vehicle to sense
`changes in the steering direction and/or actuation of the turn(cid:173)
`ing indicator. The turning signal indicator switch/lever can
`also act as a blind spot collision avoidance actuator. When a
`35 driver actuates the tum signal indicator by moving the turning
`signal lever in advance of making a turn, subsequent momen(cid