Method for monitoring a driver of a vehicle by means of a measuring system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring a vehicle driver having at least one sensor for measuring pressure and/or humidity. The sensor includes at least one capacitor having at least two electrodes, which may be arranged horizontally on a flexible support material. At least one dielectric layer may be arranged between the electrodes. At least one electrode, and/or the dielectric layer, and at least one, at least partially liquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing moisture layer may be arranged on a side facing away from a support material. At least one electrode and/or the dielectric layer may be arranged transversely between the support material and the moisture layer. A capacitance may be changed by liquid on the dielectric layer, and a processing unit measures and/or stores values from the sensor, creating a capacitive humidity sensor. The processing unit may send the to a central CPU, wherein this data may be processed by the processing unit.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a driver of a vehicle by means of a measurement system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) providing a sensor, wherein, at least one capacitors has at least two electrodes which are arranged in a horizontal direction along and on a flexible carrier material with respect to one another, at least one dielectric layers being arranged between the at least two electrodes, and the sensor has at least one further capacitors which is arranged in a transverse direction above or below the at least one capacitors and is arranged spaced apart from the at least one capacitors by a water-impermeable layer, so that a capacitor stack is formed, and both the at least one capacitors and the at least one further capacitors are constructed in the same way, and further wherein the at least one capacitors and the at least one further capacitors forming the capacitor stack perform the same tasks, and further wherein the measuring system comprises at least two sensors, in communication with a Central Processing Unit (CPU) wherein the at least two sensors are divided into groups of at least one sensor, functionally by the CPU, based on at least the following criteria: arrangement location of the at least two sensors on the carrier material, wherein the carrier material is divided into area regions, and within an area region only sensors of one group are arranged, wherein, at least one of the capacitors is arranged on a side facing away from the carrier material having at least one electrodes and/or the at least one dielectric layers, at least one at least partially liquid-permeable and/or liquid-absorbing moisture layers is arranged at least in places on a side of the at least one electrodes facing away from the carrier material and/or the at least one dielectric layers, the at least one electrodes and/or the at least one dielectric layers thus being arranged in a transverse direction between the carrier material and the at least one moisture layers so that a capacitance is at least partially changed by a liquid at least partially impinging on the dielectric layers, wherein a processing unit is set up and provided for measuring and/or storing the capacitance change, so that a capacitive humidity sensor is produced, wherein the sensor is additionally a capacitive pressure sensor, wherein the processing unit is additionally adapted and provided for measuring and/or storing a capacitance change of the capacitive pressure sensor caused by external pressure, and further wherein the capacitive pressure sensor is one in which the capacitance change due to the deflection of a membrane and the resulting change in a plate spacing is evaluated as a sensor effect, so that the membrane is the at least one dielectric layer or the at least one electrodes, b) providing at least one measurement system for measuring pressure and/or humidity, wherein the measurement system is coupled to at least one vehicle element or is installed with at least one in an integrated manner and the measurement system has at least one of the sensors for measuring a stress level of the driver such that the sensor measures pressure and/or humidity; c) subsequent forwarding of the pressure and/or humidity values, to the central processing unit (CPU) of the measurement system; d) detecting and recognizing a stress level of the driver based on the pressure and/or humidity values; and e) determining a selected action based on the pressure and/or humidity values as measured by the measurement system, wherein the action is selected from the actions consisting of: setting up a call to a remote support center, transmitting the stress level value to a remote support center, generating an audible alarm and generating a visual alarm, adjusting a volume of speakers in the vehicle, adjusting a seat position of a vehicle seat of the vehicle, and displaying break recommendations to the driver.

2. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the sensor measures only the pressure or the humidity to determine the stress level of the driver.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is installed in a steering wheel and/or a joystick and/or a vehicle seat of the vehicle such that the driver directly touches the steering wheel and/or the joystick and/or the vehicle seat.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a memory of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) stores limit values of pressure and/or humidity, wherein the pressure and humidity values measured in a time-discrete or continuous manner in each case are compared to the limit values stored in the memory of the CPU, wherein the CPU determines an action to execute if at least one of the humidity and pressure values is exceeded.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the memory of the CPU stores factor limit values of pressure and/or humidity, wherein the pressure and humidity values measured in a time-discrete and continuous manner in each case are compared to the factor limit values stored in the memory of the CPU, wherein the CPU determines an action to execute if at least one of the humidity and pressure values is exceeded, wherein the factor limit value is defined as a factor of the respective pressure and humidity value, in particular wherein the sensor measures both pressure and humidity values at the same time.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure and the humidity values are in each case measured at different times within a predetermined measurement time interval.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that within the predetermined measurement time interval, the pressure and/or a temperature is/are measured first and the humidity and/or the temperature is/are only measured afterwards, wherein the pressure and the humidity are measured only once within each measurement time interval.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that a time interval between two measurement intervals immediately adjacent to each other in terms of time is greater than the period of at least one of the measurement intervals, in particular wherein no measurement takes place in measurement breaks generated thereby.

9. An apparatus for monitoring a driver of a vehicle by means of a measurement system for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized by the measurement system for measuring pressure and/or humidity, wherein the measurement system is coupled to at least one vehicle element or is installed or installable with at least one in an integrated manner, wherein the measurement system has at least one sensor for measuring a pressure and/or humidity values and subsequently calculates and transmits a driver stress level from such values.

Description

(1) FIG. 1A shows a method 200 and an apparatus 100 for monitoring a driver of a vehicle by means of a measurement system 1000.

(2) In this case, the method 200 comprises a first step according to which a measurement system 1000 for measuring pressure and/or humidity is provided, wherein the measurement system 1000 is coupled to at least one vehicle element 100A or is installed with at least one in an integrated manner, and the measuring system 1000 has at least one sensor 1 for measuring a stress level, preferably only one stress level of the driver such that the sensor 1 measures pressure and/or humidity.

(3) Subsequently, the measured stress level values, i.e. the pressure and/or humidity values, are forwarded to a processing unit 5 of the measurement system 1000, wherein the stress level of the driver is recognised on the basis of the stress level values in a further step.

(4) In a further step, an action is selected based on the recognition by the measurement system 1000, wherein the action is selected from a list consisting of: setting up a call to a remote support centre, transmitting the stress level values to a remote support centre, generating an audible alarm and generating a visual alarm, adjusting a volume of speakers in the vehicle, adjusting a seat position of a vehicle seat of the vehicle, and displaying break recommendations to the driver.

(5) In this case, a memory of a CPU 40, which can be seen in FIG. 2A, stores limit values of pressure and/or humidity, wherein the pressure and temperature values measured in a time-discrete or continuous manner in each case are compared to the values stored in the memory of the CPU 40, wherein the CPU 40 determines an action to execute if at least one of these values (humidity and pressure) is exceeded.

(6) FIG. 1B shows, in one possible embodiment, that a pressure P1 and a humidity F1 are in each case measured at different times within a predetermined measurement time interval M100. However, it is also possible to measure both values at the same time.

(7) FIG. 2A shows a section of a schematic structure of a measurement system 1000 according to the invention described here. A processing unit 5, which is in data communication with a plurality of sensors 1, can be seen. The processing unit 5, together with the sensors 1, forms an apparatus 100. The humidity and/or pressure values measured by the individual sensors 1 are sent to a CPU 40 in order to be stored there and/or further processed. In addition, a temperature sensor 60 is shown which measures an ambient temperature and/or a temperature of the sensor 1 and forwards it to the processing unit 5 of the apparatus 100 and/or to the CPU 40.

(8) FIG. 2B schematically shows the entire measurement system 1000 with a plurality of sensor groups which are formed by the individual apparatuses 100 for measuring pressure and/or humidity and which each show a processing unit 5. Each processing unit 5 is therefore associated with a plurality of sensors 1.

(9) FIG. 2C schematically shows an installation and integration of the measurement system 1000 into a chair, in particular into an office chair.

(10) As can now be seen in FIG. 3, an apparatus 100 for measuring pressure and/or humidity is shown in detail there.

(11) By way of example, a sensor 1 is shown there, wherein the sensor 1 shows a capacitor stack having a capacitor 20 as well as a capacitor 30, wherein the individual electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitors 20, 30 are arranged one above the other in the horizontal direction H1, wherein an arrangement of the individual electrodes 10, 11 of a single capacitor 20, 30 can of course alternatively, however, extend or be arranged in the transverse direction Q1 which is perpendicular to the horizontal direction H1 and thus also perpendicular to the main extension direction of the sensor 1 shown there.

(12) The individual electrodes 10, 11 are arranged on a support material 13. The support material 13 can in particular be a woven fabric, in particular a flexible woven fabric.

(13) A water-impermeable layer 4 is arranged on the support material 13, wherein the two electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitor 20 are printed on this water-impermeable layer 4 in the horizontal direction H1.

(14) The electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitor 20 are completely surrounded by another water-impermeable layer 14. The further capacitor 30 is printed in the same manner on this water-impermeable layer 14 with corresponding electrodes 10, 11. In the present embodiment, exposed outer surfaces of the individual electrodes 10, 11 of the further capacitor 30 are also preferably completely surrounded by a water-permeable and/or water-absorbing moisture layer 3.

(15) Water can impinge on a dielectric layer 4 via this moisture layer 3, which dielectric layer is, in the present case, arranged in the horizontal direction H1 between the respective electrodes 10, 11 of a capacitor 20, 30.

(16) In the present embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the water-impermeable layer 4 itself forms a dielectric layer 4 of the capacitor 20. The same applies to the further water-impermeable layer 14 with respect to the further capacitor 30.

(17) Due to the impingement and penetration of moisture via the moisture layer 3, the dielectric properties, in particular of the dielectric layer 4 of the further capacitor 30, are changed.

(18) In addition, a processing unit 5 can be seen which is connected to the two capacitors 20, 30 by way of data technology, wherein this processing unit 5 is configured and provided to measure a change in the relative humidity of the environment and/or in the moisture layer 3.

(19) The ‘stackwise’ arrangement shown in FIG. 4 and the fact that the further water-impermeable layer 14 prevents the capacitor 20 from coming into contact with moisture therefore make it possible to provide that only the further capacitor 30 and its dielectric layer 4 are exposed to moisture. For this purpose, the processing unit 5 can then compare a change in the capacitance of the further capacitor 30 with the stable capacitor capacitance of the capacitor 20 such that a particularly simple comparison of the change in the relative humidity and/or the respective loading pressure can be produced.

(20) The arrow shown in FIG. 3 also shows the direction in which pressure is applied to the sensor 1. Both can preferably be measured, evaluated and stored by the sensor 1 and in particular by the apparatus 100. This purpose is served in particular by the processing unit 5 shown as being essential in the invention, which can additionally measure and evaluate corresponding pressure values and thus related changes in the capacitance of the individual sensors 1 such that the processing unit 5 is additionally configured and provided for measuring and/or storing a capacitance change of the capacitor 20 and in particular of the other capacitor 30 caused by external pressure.

(21) The moisture layer 3 can be flexible or non-flexible. In addition, it is possible for the moisture layer 3 to be formed as a woven fabric. In particular, it can be a woven fabric which has been mentioned by way of example in the introductory part of the present application. In addition, however, it is also possible for the moisture layer 3 to be a substrate which was applied, for example glued, onto the further capacitor 30, for example in the form of an epitaxial or adhesive process.

(22) The water-impermeable layer 14 and/or the water-impermeable layer 15 can also be designed to be flexible and non-flexible, in particular also designed in the form of a woven fabric or a substrate in the same way as the moisture layer 3.

(23) In addition, it is advantageously conceivable for the electrodes 10, 11 of the two capacitors 20, 30 to have been printed on the water-impermeable layer 14 and on the further water-impermeable layer 15 in the form of a printing process, for example in the form of an inkjet printing process.

(24) FIG. 3 is an exploded view, wherein the respective arrangement of the electrodes 10, 11 of the capacitors 20, 30 is shown in particular in FIG. 3. The force acting on the sensor 1 shown by the direction of the arrow, as well as moisture acting by way of the individual, schematically shown droplets can again be seen. In particular, it can again be seen that the moisture in particular penetrates between the electrodes 10, 11 and has, for example, a considerable effect on the electrical property of the respective water-permeable layer 14 such that the capacitance of at least the further capacitor 30 changes in each case as illustrated in FIG. 1.

(25) FIG. 4 shows, in a further embodiment of the invention described here, that the sensor 1 can consist of two electrodes 10, as well as one electrode 11. The electrodes 10 have a polarity (preferably the same polarity), whereas the electrode 11 has a different polarity, wherein the lower part of FIG. 3, however, shows the exploded view of the left part of FIG. 3 and it can be seen that three water-impermeable layers 4, 14, 15 are used. The electrodes 10 can also have different polarities and/or electrical potentials. The electrodes 10 can also be electrically connected to each other.

(26) For example, the electrodes 10, 11 can each also have and/or generate a separate polarity and/or a separate electrical potential. The same can also apply to the following drawings with respect to the electrodes.

(27) For example, the lowermost water-impermeable layer is in turn the water-impermeable layer 4 and the subsequent water-impermeable layer 14 and the water-impermeable layer 15 arranged thereon in the transverse direction Q1 are another water-impermeable layer, wherein in each case one electrode 10, 11 is applied, in particular printed on a separate water-impermeable layer in each case.

(28) In this stacking of the individual water-impermeable layers 4, 14 and 15, the capacitor 20 shown in the left part of FIG. 4 is therefore produced by merging these layers, wherein the electrodes 10 can, in each case, be arranged on different planes in the transverse direction Q1, as can be seen in the corresponding partial illustration.

(29) Alternatively, the electrode 11 can be applied in a common plane, i.e. on or in a common water-impermeable layer 4, 14, 15, together with at least one of the electrodes 10 such that, for example, only the second of the electrodes 10 must be stacked on a separate water-impermeable layer 4, 14, 15.

(30) In principle, therefore, the individual electrodes 10, 11 can be arranged in different planes relative to one another in the Q1 direction. For example, a paired association between exactly one water-impermeable layer 4, 14, 15 and exactly one electrode 10, 11 applies.

(31) The invention is not limited by the description with reference to the embodiment. On the contrary, the invention encompasses each novel feature, as well as any combination of features, in particular including any combination of features in the claims, even if this feature or this combination itself is not explicitly mentioned in the claims or in the embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(32) 1 sensor

(33) 3 moisture layer

(34) 4 dielectric layer/water-impermeable layer

(35) 5 processing unit

(36) 10 electrode

(37) 11 electrode

(38) 13 support material

(39) 14 water-impermeable layer

(40) 15 water-impermeable layer

(41) 20 capacitor

(42) 30 capacitor

(43) 40 CPU

(44) 60 temperature sensor

(45) 100 apparatus

(46) 100A vehicle element

(47) 200 method

(48) 1000 measurement system

(49) P1 pressure

(50) F1 humidity

(51) H1 horizontal direction

(52) M100 measurement time interval

(53) Q1 transverse direction