An apparatus for driver behavior analysis

Abstract

This invention relates to driver behavior analysis for safety proposes and more particularly discloses an apparatus for providing a score for insurance risk estimation and management. The apparatus comprises a microcontroller, an enclosure, an accelerometer and gyroscope sensor, an e-ink display, a solar cell, an initialization key, and the microcontroller measures the acceleration and rotation by means of the accelerometer and gyroscope sensor, and calculates an score based on a predefined formula, and the apparatus shows the time and score on the e-ink display by means of a QR-code, and the apparatus is placed on the rear or back window of a car.

Description

An Apparatus for Driver Behavior Analysis

[0001] This invention relates to driver behavior analysis for safety proposes and more particularly discloses an apparatus for providing a score for insurance risk estimation and management.

[0002] In this filed of the art there are some methods for monitoring and analyzing driver behavior using various technologies, including GPS, accelerometer data, and machine learning algorithms. These systems collect data on vehicle speed, acceleration, braking, and other relevant parameters to identify potential safety risks and provide real-time feedback to drivers. One disadvantage of prior methods is that they are not privacy proven due to access to position data and because of complex architecture they usually need to connect to subsystems of a car and are not capable to work independently.

[0003] US Patent No. US11393264 entitled “Apparatus and system for utilizing a mobile device in a vehicle for notifications” by Tsuyoshi Nakashima, has disclosed a server in communication with a mobile device connected to a vehicle including a wireless transceiver configured to collect data from the mobile device and the vehicle, wherein the data includes accelerometer data, GPS location data, and driver historical data. The server includes a processor in communication with the transceiver. The processor is programmed to receive the accelerometer data, GPS location data, and driver historical data, define one or more rules associated with driving behavior of the vehicle, a driver of the vehicle, wherein the rules ignore violations at a first instance, determine utilizing the accelerometer data, GPS location data, and driver historical data that one or more rules have been violated by the vehicle and driver on at least a second instance, and send a notification to the mobile device, wherein the notification includes instruction to output a message indicating a violation of the rule.

[0004] China Patent No. CN110197588 entitled “GPS trajectory data-based truck driving behavior assessment method and device” by LI YING et al, has disclosed a GPS trajectory data-based truck driving behavior assessment method. The method comprises the following steps of screening all the pieces of moving trajectory data of a to-be-detected vehicle from original GPS data; processing the moving trajectory data to obtain effective moving trajectory data; analyzing and processing the effective trajectory data to obtain an effective research trajectory; and calculating a risk driving behavior index of the effective research trajectory so as to assess the driving behavior. The invention further discloses a GPS trajectory data-based truck driving behavior assessment device. According to the method and device, mass GPS original data is mined to extract effective trajectory strokes, the main moving routes of the vehicles are recognized, and the moving trajectory data can be correctly restored through establishing driving behavior trajectory scoring mechanisms of the truck drivers with different indexes and different weights, thereby improving the stroke trajectory division accuracy, correctly putting forward driving security assessment parameters and assessing the potential risk driving behaviors and overweight driving loads.

[0005] China Patent No. CN108639062 entitled “Vehicle intelligent control system” by CHENG LEI et al, has disclosed a vehicle intelligent control system. The vehicle intelligent control system comprises a manipulation box, a display and operation integrated machine, a data storage, a controller, a sensor and a GPS receiver which conduct data transmission mutually in a bus communication mode. The manipulation box and the display and operation integrated machine are mounted in a cab and used for collecting operation behavior data; the data storage is mounted in the cab and used for storing the operation behavior data; the controller is mounted in the cab and used for analyzing and processing the operation behavior data; the sensor is mounted at a vehicle body and used for collecting detection data; and the GPS receiver is mounted in the cab and used for collecting vehicle position data.

[0006] China Patent No. CN104200687 entitled “Driver speed control behavior monitoring device and method” by Chen Tao et al, has disclosed a driver speed control behavior monitoring device and method. The device based on a China national highway geographic information system comprises a vehicular industrial personal computer, a speed sensor, a vehicular GPS (global positioning system) receiver and an alarm, the vehicular GPS receiver is used for receiving a GPS signal, a China national highway geographic information database and a BP neural network unit are mounted in the industrial personal computer, and the alarm is used for giving an alarm according to an alarm signal sent out by the vehicular industrial personal computer. By the device, speed control behaviors of a driver under a free flow state can be learnt, speed selection of the driver on different road alignments are memorized, speed control low of the driver is learnt, a driver speed control behavior monitoring model is established, probable operation of the driver on a road ahead is monitored, warning information is provided for possible accidents, and accordingly occurrence of the accidents is avoided; particularly, warning information is provided for accidents possibly happening on a curve.

[0007] Despite these and other improvement in the art, still further improvements are necessary in the field of driver behavior analysis.

[0008] This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of this invention, and is not intended to identify essential elements or key elements of the subject matter, nor is intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed implementations. The proper scope of this invention may be ascertained from the claims set forth below in view of the detailed description and the drawings.

[0009] In accordance with certain preferred embodiment of present invention, this disclosure proposes an apparatus for driver behavior analysis. The exemplary apparatus can comprise, a microcontroller; an enclosure, the enclosure protects all elements of the apparatus from mechanical and electrical inference; an accelerometer and gyroscope sensor, the accelerometer and gyroscope sensor is connected to the microcontroller; an e-ink display, the e-ink display is connected to the microcontroller, and is placed on rear side of the enclosure; a battery, the battery provides electrical energy for the microcontroller, the accelerometer and gyroscope sensor and the e-ink display; a solar cell, the solar cell is connected to the battery and charges the battery and the solar cell is placed on back side of the enclosure; an initialization key, the initialization key provides a initialization signal to the microcontroller and it is accessible from outside the enclosure; and the microcontroller measures the acceleration and rotation by means of the accelerometer and gyroscope sensor, and calculates an score based on a predefined formula, time and boundary condition of the formula is reset only one time by means of the initialization key, and the apparatus shows the time and score on the e-ink display by means of a QR-code, and the apparatus is placed on the rear or back window of a car.

[0010] In the Drawings, identical reference numbers identify same elements. The size and shape and relative position of elements are not necessarily drawn to scale. Further, the shapes of the elements as drawn, are not exactly as the actual shape of particular elements and are schematic and have been selected for ease of recognition in the drawings. The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accordance to the present disclosure, by way of example only, not by way of limitation.Fig.1

[0011] . shows schematic diagram of main elements of the inventionFig.2

[0012] . shows the enclosure of an exemplary embodiment of the invention.Fig.3

[0013] . shows how the apparatus attached to a car.Fig.4

[0014] . shows acceleration and angular velocity vectors and the formula for the score.

[0015] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of various implementation of this disclosed invention. A skilled person in relevant art could realize an embodiment of this invention may be practiced with parts of these specific details, or with other methods, circuits, components, materials, etc. In other instance, well-known structures associated with electronic systems, or details of circuit design have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of implementation and the focus of this disclosure is on core inventive concept including novelty, inventive step and applicability of the invention.

[0016] The words “comprising” and “including” are synonym , throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, and is inclusive or open ended (i.e. doesn’t exclude additional, unrecited elements or method acts). In this specification and claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” further include plural referents unless the context dictates otherwise. It also important to be noted that the term “or” is employed in its sense including “and / or” unless context dictates otherwise. It means the term “or” in this disclosure means logical “OR” definition which any operates equal to true then result is true.

[0017] Fig.1is a schematic block diagram of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the microcontroller110manages, controls and measures the accelerations and angular velocities by means of accelerometer and gyroscope sensor118, and proper settings114including sampling rate, resolution, and other important settings is sent by the microcontroller to the sensor118at first initialization step. Then, the sensor118sends data116to the microcontroller. The microcontroller112is responsible to calculate the score of driving behavior according to data gathered by means of the sensor118. As the structure of score formula is shown inFig.4, amplitude of vector acceleration in three main axes (ax, ay, az) and amplitude of angular velocity vector in three main axes (α, β, γ) are measured and calculated by the microcontroller112, and a combination of these two amplitude ( , ) based on a predefined weighted formula is utilized to calculate a score. The score is integration and sum over a predefined period of time. For instance, sum of amplitude of acceleration vector, and angular velocity vector, which is measured atdtinterval overtperiod is the score of driving at any given time, treading, is the final score, Sfinal. The zero time is measured from initialization key120signal122and thus at any given time the treadingis incremental. Starting time or zero time in the formula is set by means of initialization key120and the signal122to microcontroller112. The time is one time reset only, and when the microcontroller is initialized the time counter is only incremental and the user cannot reset the global time counter (treading) after initialization by signal122.

[0018] To show the score of driver, the microcontroller112, shows a QR code on the E-Ink display108by means of bus110. The microcontroller shows Treadingand Sfinalon the E-Ink Display at a given time, and user can scan and read the score by a mobile or tablet. Electrical power of the microcontroller, sensors and e-ink display106is provided by means of a battery104, the battery104, is charged102by means of a solar cell100.

[0019] shows the embodiment of the disclosed invention, the solar cell202is attached on the front side of the enclosure200and the E-Ink display204is attached on another side of the enclosure. The enclosure protects all parts, elements and printed circuit board from mechanical and electrical and electromagnetic inference. As shown inthe apparatus is place in front of rear window302or back window304inside the car300.

[0020] The detailed description has set forth various implementations of the method and apparatus by means of block diagram, schematic, and example. One skilled in the art understand that each operation and function proposed in block diagrams, schematics, and examples can be implemented individually, collectively, by wide range of hardware, software, firmware, components or virtually any combination thereof. Designing the circuitry and writing the code for software and firmware would be well done within the skill of one ordinary skilled in the art and by means of details of this disclosure. Many of methods and components described herein may implement additional acts, may omit some acts, and may execute acts in a different order than specified, and this is simply recognizable by an ordinary skilled person in the art. For instance, the invention may not impalement a microcontroller and may be hardwired to provide some or all of the functionality disclosed herein.

Claims

An apparatus for driver behavior analysis, comprising:a microcontroller;an enclosure, the enclosure protects all elements of the apparatus from mechanical and electrical and electromagnetic inference;an accelerometer and gyroscope sensor, the accelerometer and gyroscope sensor is connected to the microcontroller;an e-ink display, the e-ink display is connected to the microcontroller, and is placed on rear side of the enclosure and shows a QR code;a battery, the battery provides electrical energy;a solar cell, the solar cell is connected to the battery and charges the battery and the solar cell is placed on back side of the enclosure;an initialization key, the initialization key provides a onetime initialization signal to the microcontroller; andthe microcontroller measures the acceleration and angular velocity by means of the accelerometer and gyroscope sensor, and calculates an score based on a predefined formula after the onetime initialization signal, and the apparatus shows the time and score on the e-ink display by means of the QR-code, and the apparatus is placed on the rear or back window of a car.

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