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Patent applications address distracted driving (Mazda)

Similar claims are presented in three Mazda patent applications 20170203688, 20170203689 and 20170202501.

1. A driving assistance system comprising: a distracted driving sensing unit configured to determine whether or not a driver is distracted from driving; an alerting unit configured to alert, if the distracted driving sensing unit has determined the driver to be distracted from driving, him or her to the fact of distracted driving; and a driving assistance unit configured to provide, if the driver is still distracted from driving even when alerted by the alerting unit, driving assistance that enhances his or her motivation to drive by encouraging him or her to drive actively and thereby increase his or her internal focus on driving.

1. A driving assistance system comprising: a distracted driving sensing unit configured to determine whether or not a driver is distracted from driving; and a driving assistance unit configured to provide, if the distracted driving sensing unit has determined the driver to be distracted from driving, driving assistance that enhances his or her motivation to drive by encouraging him or her to drive actively and thereby increase his or her internal focus on driving.

1. A driving assistance system comprising: a tension gauging unit configured to determine whether or not a driver is tensed by being forced to drive his or her vehicle passively and highly increase his or her external focus on driving; and a driving assistance unit configured to provide, if the tension gauging unit has found the driver tensed, driving assistance that enhances the driver’s motivation to drive by encouraging him or her to drive actively and thereby increase his or her internal focus on driving.

The claims are interesting in that they claim a motivational effect on the human driver: The claimed device provides driving assistance that enhances his or her motivation to drive. A driver assistance system that rewards the driver with a piece of chocolate for driving actively might meet the claim limitation.