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KR-20260067580-A - DRIVING AUXILIARY DEVICE FOR OLD AGE DRIVER

KR20260067580AKR 20260067580 AKR20260067580 AKR 20260067580AKR-20260067580-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a driving assistance device for elderly drivers, and more specifically, to a driving assistance device for elderly drivers that operates using a cigarette lighter power source, installs pressure sensors on the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, and installs an LED bar on the dashboard to illuminate a red LED when the brake pedal is operated and a green LED when the accelerator pedal is operated, thereby allowing the driver and passenger to visually confirm whether the pedals are being operated, thus preventing malfunctions such as sudden acceleration.

Inventors

  • 양영모
  • 최현호

Assignees

  • 주식회사 시니어텍솔루션

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241106

Claims (6)

  1. A power supply unit that receives power from the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket and supplies the necessary voltage; First and second pressure sensors installed respectively on the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal of the vehicle; An LED bar installed on the dashboard of a vehicle that illuminates different colors according to the operation of the first and second pressure sensors and reflects the colors onto the front windshield; and A driving assistance device for an elderly driver, characterized by including a controller that receives signals from the first and second pressure sensors and lights up the LED bar, wherein the LED bar lights up red when pressure is detected by the first pressure sensor and lights up green when pressure is detected by the second pressure sensor.
  2. In Article 1, The above-mentioned driving assistance device for elderly drivers is, A biosensor module installed on the steering wheel of a vehicle at a position where it comes into contact with the fingers of an elderly driver, and which measures the elderly driver's heart rate and blood oxygen saturation and provides them to the controller; A driving assistance device for an elderly driver, characterized by further including a wireless communication module that transmits an emergency rescue signal via wireless communication with the elderly driver's smartphone under the control of the controller when the elderly driver's heart rate and blood oxygen saturation levels drop below a reference value from the biosensor module.
  3. In Article 1, The above-mentioned driving assistance device for elderly drivers is, A driving assistance device for an elderly driver, characterized by further including a CAN communication module that transmits an emergency braking signal to the vehicle's ECU via CAN communication under the control of the controller when the elderly driver's heart rate and blood oxygen saturation levels drop below a reference value from the biosensor module while connected to a CAN terminal module to enable communication with the vehicle's ECU.
  4. In Article 1, The above first and second pressure sensors are, A driving assistance device for elderly drivers characterized by being manufactured by being inserted into a silicone cover that surrounds the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal.
  5. In Article 1, The above controller is, A driving assistance device for elderly drivers characterized by varying the brightness of the LED bar according to the pressure intensity of the first and second pressure sensors.
  6. In Article 2, The above controller is, A driving assistance device for elderly drivers characterized by transmitting an emergency rescue signal and simultaneously flashing the LED bar with varying colors to notify the outside of an emergency situation.

Description

Driving Auxiliary Device for Old Age Driver The present invention relates to a driving assistance device for elderly drivers, and more specifically, to a driving assistance device for elderly drivers that operates using a cigarette lighter power source, installs pressure sensors on the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, and installs an LED bar on the dashboard to illuminate a red LED when the brake pedal is operated and a green LED when the accelerator pedal is operated, thereby allowing the driver and passenger to visually confirm whether the pedals are being operated, thus preventing malfunctions such as sudden acceleration. In 2024, the elderly population aged 65 or older in Korea was 9,938,235, accounting for 19.2% of the total population. It is projected that the elderly population will enter a super-aged society in 2025 with 20.3% of the total population, and reach 30.5% in 2036. Korea's aging population is progressing rapidly, and as the population ages, the fatality rate of traffic accidents involving elderly drivers is double the average of all drivers due to factors such as poor driving skills resulting from cognitive decline, lack of ability to cope with crisis situations, and various diseases. Meanwhile, the Korea Road Traffic Authority stated that while the number of traffic accidents last year decreased by 3.1% compared to the previous year (2021), the number of traffic accidents involving elderly drivers increased by 8.8% compared to the previous year, emphasizing the need to raise traffic safety awareness among elderly drivers. The Authority analyzed traffic accidents over the past three years (2020–2022) and found that while the total number of traffic accidents showed a decreasing trend with 209,654 cases in 2020, 203,130 cases in 2021, and 196,836 cases in 2022, traffic accidents involving elderly drivers increased with 31,072 cases in 2020, 31,841 cases in 2021, and 34,652 cases in 2022. Sudden acceleration accidents caused by pedal confusion among elderly drivers occur several times every year. Sudden acceleration typically refers to a phenomenon in which a high output unintended by the driver appears with a loud noise while the vehicle is stationary or starting at a very low speed, making it impossible to control the vehicle. To date, in the case of accidents involving sudden acceleration in automobiles, it is impossible to secure video footage to determine whether consumer negligence was involved, so the government has faced difficulties in investigating the cause of sudden acceleration, and there have been no cases in civil courts where a vehicle defect was recognized and the manufacturer was held liable. However, the number of consumer consultations claiming sudden acceleration averages 196 cases over five years, and since 2010, the number of consultations has been increasing above average. When the driving history of drivers involved in sudden acceleration accidents was checked, it was found that 64.3% (66 cases) of the drivers involved had a driving history of 20 years or more, while those with less than 10 years of experience accounted for only 10.9% (11 cases). It is difficult to view sudden acceleration solely as a result of driving inexperience, and with several accidents involving sudden acceleration caused by pedal confusion among elderly drivers occurring every year, and as the proportion of elderly drivers increases and the issue of traffic accidents caused by them becomes a social concern, there are calls to pay attention to technological solutions that can consistently prevent traffic accidents involving "vulnerable drivers" in general. As the issue of traffic accidents involving elderly drivers has emerged, the government is preparing countermeasures focused on strengthening the management of licenses for elderly drivers, such as making cognitive ability assessments and traffic safety education mandatory for drivers aged 75 or older when renewing their licenses, and shortening the renewal cycle from five years to three years. In addition, while local governments operate a voluntary driver's license surrender system, it is difficult to prevent accidents if driving ability deteriorates rapidly within one to two years even if the renewal cycle is shortened, and the voluntary surrender system is also limited in its effectiveness for cases where driving is unavoidable for livelihood. Therefore, attention should be paid to technical solutions with a focus on continuous prevention rather than periodic maintenance. Although Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have been developed based on a close analysis of the cognitive and behavioral characteristics and accident factors of vulnerable drivers, including the elderly, there are issues: ADAS must be installed at the time of vehicle delivery, which increases vehicle prices, and application is difficult for vehicles without ADAS. Meanwhile, prior art for detecting the operation of a driver's brake pedal and accelerator pe