System including integrated optical sensors for determination of impairment of motorized system operators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9549702-B1
Application number	US-201414565812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A system includes one or more optical sensors for the measuring and monitoring of physiological information of a motorized system operator. The system is configured to determine an incapacitation state of the motorized system operator based upon the measured physiological information. When the measured physiological information indicates an incapacitation state (intoxication level, stress level, and so forth), the system is configured to provide a response thereto including, but not limited to: lock out operation of the motorized system, provide a warning on a display, transmit a message from the motorized system, assume automatic control of the motorized system, and so forth. The system includes a plurality of light sources (e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs)), one or more photodetectors, and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of light sources and/or photodetectors to non-invasively measure physiological information (e.g., blood alcohol concentration, stress levels, and so forth).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor package for physiological measurements and responses thereto, comprising:
a plurality of light sources configured to emit a plurality of wavelengths, the plurality of light sources including a first light source configured to emit light having a first spectrum of wavelengths to detect a first physiological condition of a user and a second light source configured to emit light having a second spectrum of wavelengths to detect a second physiological condition of the user;
at least one photodetector; and
an application specific integrated circuit coupled to the plurality of light sources and the at least one photodetector, the application specific integrated circuit configured to detect and calibrate signal outputs from the at least one photodetector to determine an impairment state of the user based on the first physiological condition of the user and the second physiological condition of the user.

2. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the application specific integrated circuit is further configured to direct an action to be taken with respect to operation of a motorized system responsive to determination of the impairment state.

3. The sensor package as recited in claim 2 , wherein the action includes a lockout of operation of the motorized system.

4. The sensor package as recited in claim 2 , wherein the action includes display of the impairment state.

5. The sensor package as recited in claim 2 , wherein the action includes transmission of a message from the motorized system.

6. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the impairment state corresponds to a blood alcohol concentration.

7. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the impairment state corresponds to a stress level.

8. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the impairment state corresponds to a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration.

9. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one photodetector is configured to detect at least one of a blood alcohol concentration, a heart rate, a pulse, a stress level, and a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration.

10. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a body portion operably coupled with one or more of the plurality of light sources, the at least one photodetector, and the application specific integrated circuit, the body portion configured for coupling with a component of a motorized system.

11. The sensor package as recited in claim 10 , wherein the component of the motorized system includes one or more of a steering wheel, a start button, a key fob, and a button on an external surface of the motorized system.

12. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a finger print sensor.

13. A system configured to measure physiological conditions and respond thereto, comprising:
a motorized system; and
a sensor package integrated into the motorized system, the sensor package including:
a plurality of light sources configured to emit a plurality of wavelengths, the plurality of light sources including a first light source configured to emit light having a first spectrum of wavelengths to detect a first physiological condition of a user and a second light source configured to emit light having a second spectrum of wavelengths to detect a second physiological condition of the user;
at least one photodetector; and
an application specific integrated circuit coupled to the plurality of light sources and the at least one photodetector, the application specific integrated circuit configured to detect and calibrate signal outputs from the at least one photodetector to determine an impairment state of the user based on the first physiological condition of the user and the second physiological condition of the user and to direct an action to be taken with respect to operation of the motorized system.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the action includes a lockout of operation of the motorized system.

15. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the action includes display of the impairment state.

16. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the action includes transmission of a message from the motorized system.

17. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the action includes assumption of automatic control of the motorized system.

18. A process for determining impairment of a motorized system operator and responding thereto, comprising:
emitting light from at least a first light source and a second light source, the first light source configured to emit light having a first spectrum of wavelengths to detect a first physiological condition of a user, the second light source configured to emit light having a second spectrum of wavelengths to detect a second physiological condition of the user;
sensing an output of light scattered from an operator of a motorized system with a photodetector, the output of light corresponding to at least a portion of the emitted light from the first light source and the second light source;
determining an impairment state of the operator of the motorized system based on the sensed output of light; and
directing an action of the motorized system based on the determined impairment state.

19. The process as recited in claim 18 , wherein the action includes at least one of a lockout of operation of the motorized system, display of the impairment state, transmission of a message from the motorized system, and assumption of automatic control of the motorized system.

20. The sensor package as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources further includes a third light source, and wherein the first light source is configured to produce light in a red visible spectrum, the second light source is configured to produce light in an infrared spectrum, and the third light source is configured to produce light in a spectrum from one micron to three microns.

Assignees

• Maxim Integrated Products

Inventors

• Kerness Nicole D
• Jones Joy T
• Emadi Arvin

Classifications

• A61B5/18 Primary

  for vehicle drivers {or machine operators} · CPC title

• A61B5/02427

  Details of sensor · CPC title

• A61B5/0064

  Body surface scanning · CPC title

• B60W50/00

  Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit {, e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces} · CPC title

• A61B5/1455

  using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters · CPC title