Device for testing the vigilance of a person

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said energy sources are adapted to illuminate all luminous indicators with the same brightness.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 2, comprising a luminous indicator energized for flickering illumination at the side of at least one luminous indicator energized for continuous illumination.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, for supervision of the starting circuit of a vehicle comprising a supervising circuit including switches associated each with one of the luminous indicators, an alternating current generator and means for connecting one of said luminous indicators to said generator in order to produce flickering of this one luminous indicator, said switches being adapted for opening and keeping open respectively said starting circuit upon operation of a hand switch not associated to said one flickering luminous indicator.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 4, comprising automatic means for changing the place of at least said one flickering luminous indicator.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5, comprising luminous indicators and hand switches associated therewith disposed in a centralsymmetrical arrangement on a rotatable support, said automatic means being operatively coupled with said support for rotating the same to arbitrary positions.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 4, comprising a change-over switch and a hand switch associated with each of said luminous indicators, all change-over switches being series-connected into the starting circuit when in their rest position, and each of said changeover switches being connected to one of said hand switches when in a test position, the change-over switch associated with the flickering luminous indicator being thrown into its test position.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 4, comprising timing means for operating said luminous indicators for limited time intervals.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 8, wherein said timing means are adapted for transitorily preparing said starting circuit, a hand-operable holding relay being connected in parallel with the timing means.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 1, comprising a number of luminous indicators simultaneously operable by sources of graduated frequencies.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 10, said luminous indicators being disposed in a vertical row.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 4, comprising a locking circuit operable for breaking the starting circuit during a limited time interval upon faulty operation of the device.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 10, comprising a grid of luminous indicators, generator means for illuminating said luminous indicators at graduated flicker frequencies in the one coordinate direction and resistor means for illuminating said luminous indicators with graduated luminosity in the other coordinate direction.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 1, comprising an alternating-voltage generator of adjustable frequency and a luminous indicator connected to the same and flickering at the generator frequency, a reference generator and a luminous indicator associated therewiTh and flickering at a reference frequency, said reference generator being adjusted to a predetermined reference frequency.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 14, comprising a comparing circuit connected to said generators and operable when the frequency of said alternating-voltage generator is equal to said reference frequency.

Claim 17

A device according to claim 14, comprising means for suppressing indication by the luminous indicator for the reference frequency.

Claim 18

A device according to claim 14, comprising a scale for indication of the adjusted generator frequency.

Claim 19

A device according to claim 17, comprising means for covering said scale.

Claim 20

A device according to claim 15, for supervision of a starting circuit of a vehicle, wherein said comparing circuit is operable for supervision of the starting circuit.

Claim 21

A device according to claim 19, comprising a start relay operable by said comparing circuit.

Claim 22

A device according to claim 20, comprising a manually operable start switch in said starting circuit, this start switch being selectively connected to an ignition circuit and a locking circuit respectively through a change-over switch of said start relay.

Claim 23

A device according to claim 21, wherein said manually operable switch is an ability-testing device connected into and closing said locking circuit upon faulty operation.

Claim 24

A device according to claim 21, said locking circuit comprising a monostable delay circuit and a breaking switch operable thereby in said starting circuit.

Claim 25

A device accordint to claim 23, comprising a starting unit operable through said ignition circuit and adapted to be deenergized by a main switch.

Claim 26

A device according to claim 24, wherein said starting unit has a circuit braker in the energizing circuit of said generators.

Claim 27

A device according to claim 25, comprising a time relay in the energizing circuit of said generators for operating them during limited time intervals.

Claim 28

A device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of luminous indicators simultaneously operable by sources of graduated intensities.

Claim 29

Apparatus for testing the vigilance of an individual based upon the individual flicker-fusion threshold of said individual, comprising at least two simultaneously and independently operable luminous indicators; means for energizing at least one of said luminous indicators for continuous illumination; means for energizing one of said luminous indicators disposed at the side of said continuously illuminated indicator, for flicker illumination within the range of the usual flicker fusion thresholds; and means operable by said individual to indicate recognition of the said comparative illumination states of said side-by-side indicators.

Claim 30

Apparatus for testing the vigilance of an individual based upon the individual flicker-fusion threshold of said individual, comprising at least two simultaneously and independently operable luminous indicators; means for energizing at least one of said luminous indicators for continuous illumination; means for energizing one of said luminous indicators disposed at the side of said continuously illuminated indicator, for flicker illumination within the range of the usual flicker fusion thresholds; and means operable by said individual to indicate recognition of the said comparative illumination states of said side-by-side indicators.