Headrest cover for car seats with sensor button and alarm circuit included.

Abstract

Headrest cover for vehicle seats with sensor button and alarm circuit, comprising an elastic headrest cover for vehicle seats (1), a sensor button (2) and an associated circuit, characterized in that the pressure sensor surface (2) is firmly connected to the elastic material of the cover (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a novel alarm device which can inventively counteract the dreaded microsleep of a surprisingly tired driver at the wheel of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Studies have proven that a very large proportion of all accidents on highways are due to sudden microsleep.

[0003] Microsleep is partly due to sleep deprivation, but also to false signals to the brain, which mistakenly believes it has entered a resting phase because the person has been sitting comfortably for too long. Microsleep is an involuntary sleep, caused, for example, by prolonged periods of comfortable sitting, during which baroreceptors signal a state of rest to the brain, causing it to switch off the arousal center. Furthermore, monotonous visual impressions can understimulate attention. According to this embodiment of the invention, such false signals should not occur. In particular, the invention should be applicable regardless of the year of manufacture, model, and type of the motor vehicles being driven.

[0004] The invention is therefore not equipment and / or vehicle-specific accessories of a motor vehicle.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of preventing a falsely reported state of rest to the brain in the event of unexpected fatigue in the driver of a motor vehicle by means of muscle action, without having to access permanently installed components or components integrated into the vehicle circuit.

[0006] In order to control his own state of alertness, the surprisingly tired driver must permanently suppress a previously activated alarm tone by pressing the back of his head against the sensor in the overcoat.

[0007] The invention can prevent a surprisingly tired driver from falling asleep for a period of time until a suitable rest area or motorway exit is reached.

[0008] The retaining part (1) in this first embodiment is an inventively manufactured cover made of elastic material for neck supports on car seats (1) in the surface of which at least one pressure sensor and / or push button (2) is arranged, which, when pressure is increased from the back of the driver's head, opens a further opening contact (9a) in series with a switching circuit opened by means of a microswitch (6).

[0009] Only when this opening contact (9a) is open, the on / off switch (6) is switched on; the alarm tone then sounds when the pressure against the neck support decreases.

[0010] The sensors are preferably pneumatic sensors made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

[0011] In the first embodiment described here, the inventive circuit is presented as a relay circuit, whereas in further developments of the invention transistor or IC circuits are provided which will not be discussed in more detail here.

[0012] The inventive system therefore includes a headrest cover (1) as a retaining part with an integrated pressure sensor (2) which is connected to the corresponding control unit (5) via a connecting cable (4).

[0013] The system works by the activated microswitch (6) not triggering an alarm as long as the previously increased pressure with the back of the head against the pressure sensor (2) keeps the opening contact (9.a) open.

[0014] Only when the driver no longer exerts increased pressure of the back of their head against the headrest does the acoustic alarm sound, which keeps the driver awake and prompts them to increase pressure of the back of their head against the headrest again, something that is only possible when the driver is awake. A key inventive feature is that a pressure sensor can be attached to the headrest of a vehicle seat so easily and quickly, and that the sensor (2) can make contact with the back of the driver's head.

[0015] In this first embodiment, the invention functions without being a permanently installed component of a vehicle, by sounding an alarm tone without any delay and simultaneously when a fatigued driver loses concentration. Passengers are also warned when a driver's concentration wanes.

[0016] In its further development, the sensor can also be installed directly in a neck support.

[0017] The invention will be discussed in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows the cover (1) according to the invention with the control unit (5) which is connected to the sensor (2) via the connecting cable (4). Figure 5a shows a rear battery compartment of the control unit (5). Also visible is the control unit with the acoustic signal generator (7), a control LED (8), and the on / off switch (6). Fig. 1 is shown with (9) a power cable with USB connector. Fig. Figure 2 shows the inventive arrangement in the installed state. It is clearly shown that the arrangement consisting of the cover (1) and the sensor (2) is placed over a headrest belonging to the vehicle seat. Fig. Figure 3 shows the attached headrest cover (1) with the sensor (2) that contacts the back of the driver's head. Fig. Figure 4 shows the inventive circuit with a relay (9) which, with its normally closed contact (9.a), is arranged upstream of the acoustic signal generator (7) and downstream of the on / off switch (6). When (6) closes, the signal generator (7) sounds an alarm tone. When the sensor (2) closes the circuit to the relay (9), contact (9.a) opens and the alarm tone stops. The function of the inventive system is clearly recognizable, whereby, to become operational, the sensor (2) first opens contact (9a) by pressing the back of its head against the neck support before the on / off switch (6) is switched on. Summary

[0018] The new warning system against microsleep in drivers, preferably without being part of the vehicle itself, is designed to prevent falling asleep by engaging the neck muscles, thus preventing the driver's brain from falsely registering a period of rest. False signals occur, for example, during prolonged periods of comfortable sitting, when receptors signal rest periods to the brain, subsequently deactivating the wakefulness center.

[0019] The power switch (6) is only activated when the sensor (2) has interrupted the circuit to the acoustic signal generator (7) via (9, 9a). If, when the switch is on, the pressure of the back of the head against the headrest is not firm enough, this is indicated acoustically. An LED (8) shows whether the pressure is sufficient or whether the force must be increased to activate the switch (6) without triggering the alarm.

[0020] As is well known, a driver of a motor vehicle is not permitted to continue driving if suddenly fatigued, nor may they pull over and sleep on the hard shoulder. Therefore, the invention is not intended to allow completely exhausted drivers to continue long journeys. Rather, it aims to increase safety on shorter journeys or in traffic jams when fatigue suddenly sets in, until, for example, a suitable rest area can be reached.

Claims

[1] Headrest cover for vehicle seats with sensor button and alarm circuit consisting of an elastic headrest cover for vehicle seats (1), a sensor button (2) and an associated circuit characterized by , that the pressure sensor surface (2) is firmly connected to the elastic material of the cover (1), [2] according to previous claim 1 characterized by , that the pressure sensor (2) in the cover (1) is arranged such that it is held essentially centrally and in the middle of the back of the head / neck contact surface of the neck support of a vehicle seat Fig. 1, Fig. 2, [3] according to any of the preceding claims characterized by , that the pressure sensor (2) in the rest state has a reading in the control unit Fig. 1 (5) with the switch Fig. 4 (6) triggered acoustic alarm Fig. 1, Fig. 5 (7) allows and when pressure is applied the sensor Fig. 4 (2) suppresses this alarm Fig. 1, [4] according to any of the preceding claims characterized by , that the pressure sensor (2) is permanently installed in the neck support (1a) for vehicle seats and that it is centrally located on the back of the head / neck contact surface of the neck support (1a) of a vehicle seat and is integrated into the alarm circuit of the remote control unit (5). Fig. 2, [5] according to any of the preceding claims characterized by , that the power supply for the on / off switch (6) for the alarm tone and the LED (8) is arranged in an external control unit (5). Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, [6] according to one of the preceding claims circuit characterized by , that the alarm device (7) can be switched off and on using the switch (6). [7] according to one of the preceding claims circuit characterized by , that the alarm transmitter (7) with the pressure sensor (2) can only be switched off and on if the switch (6) has been closed beforehand. [8] according to one of the preceding claims circuit characterized by , that the light-emitting diode (8) in the control unit (5) can be switched on and off by means of the pressure sensor (2) even when the on / off switch (6) is switched off. Fig. 4.

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