Wearable ultrasonic sensors with haptic signaling for blindside risk detection and notification

• US 10,210,723 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mappus, Rudolph, Padala, Surekha, Blackwell, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Baghdasaryan, Hovhannes
• Application Number:
  US15/295,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20180108225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/725 Marker, boundary, call-sign or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1618 using ultrasonic detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

Devices, non-transitory computer-readable media and methods for providing a haptic signal based upon a detection of an object are disclosed. For example, the processor of a device may transmit a first ultrasonic signal via an ultrasonic emitter and detect an object based upon a receiving of a reflected signal via an ultrasonic detector, where the reflected signal comprises a reflection of the first ultrasonic signal from the object. The processor may further monitor for a second ultrasonic signal via the ultrasonic detector. The device may be associated with a user, and the second ultrasonic signal may be associated with a teammate of the user. The processor may also select whether to provide an instruction to a haptic actuator when the object is detected, based upon whether the second ultrasonic signal is received via the ultrasonic detector.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first ultrasonic emitter to transmit a first ultrasonic signal;

an ultrasonic detector to receive a reflected signal, the reflected signal comprising a reflection of the first ultrasonic signal from an object;

a processor to perform operations comprising;

detecting the object based upon a receiving of the reflected signal via the ultrasonic detector;

monitoring for a second ultrasonic signal via the ultrasonic detector wherein the device is associated with a user, and wherein the second ultrasonic signal comprises an emitted signal received from a second ultrasonic emitter associated with a teammate of the user; and

selecting whether to provide an instruction to a haptic actuator when the object is detected, based upon whether the second ultrasonic signal is received via the ultrasonic detector, wherein the selecting comprises;

when the object is detected and in response to the second ultrasonic signal being received;

providing the instruction to the haptic actuator, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to generate a first pattern for a haptic signal, or determining to not send the instruction to the haptic actuator; and

when the object is detected and in response to the second ultrasonic signal not being received within a time period;

providing the instruction to the haptic actuator, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to generate a second pattern for the haptic signal; and

the haptic actuator to generate the first pattern or the second pattern for the haptic signal based upon whether the instruction is provided from the processor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first pattern for the haptic signal is indicative of a detection of the object and is indicative that the object is the teammate of the user.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second pattern for the haptic signal is indicative of a detection of the object and is indicative that the object is not the teammate of the user.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ultrasonic emitter comprises a capacitive ultrasonic transducer.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first ultrasonic emitter comprises a parametric array.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic detector is aligned with the first ultrasonic emitter, and wherein the first ultrasonic signal comprises a directional ultrasonic wave that is focused in a given direction, with side lobes having lesser intensities as compared to the given direction.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a speed sensor, wherein the speed sensor comprises;

a global positioning system unit;

or

a tachometer;

wherein the processor is to perform further operations, comprising;

determining a speed of the device based upon measurements from the speed sensor; and

correcting the reflected signal for a Doppler shift based upon the speed of the device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ultrasonic signal comprises a first frequency, and wherein the second ultrasonic signal comprises a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a wearable unit, and wherein the first ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic detector are oriented in a direction behind the user when the wearable unit is worn by the user.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the wearable unit comprises:

a vest;

a shirt;

a helmet;

a pair of pants;

or

a pair of shorts.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ultrasonic emitter, the ultrasonic detector, and the haptic actuator comprise a first sensor unit, wherein the first sensor unit comprises one of a plurality of sensor units of the device, wherein the plurality of sensor units has different orientations.

8. The device of claim wherein 1, wherein the processor is to perform further operations comprising:

determining a distance to the object based upon a time difference between a transmission of the first ultrasonic signal via the first ultrasonic emitter and a receiving of the reflected signal via the ultrasonic detector; and

adjusting the first pattern for the haptic signal or the second pattern for the haptic signal based upon the distance to the object that is determined.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

transmitting a first ultrasonic signal via a first ultrasonic emitter;

detecting an object based upon a receiving of a reflected signal via an ultrasonic detector, wherein the reflected signal comprises a reflection of the first ultrasonic signal from the object;

monitoring for a second ultrasonic signal via the ultrasonic detector, wherein the processor is associated with a user, and wherein the second ultrasonic signal comprises an emitted signal received from a second ultrasonic emitter associated with a teammate of the user; and

selecting whether to provide an instruction to a haptic actuator when the object is detected, based upon whether the second ultrasonic signal is received via the ultrasonic detector, wherein the selecting comprises;

when the object is detected and in response to the second ultrasonic signal being received;

providing the instruction to the haptic actuator, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to generate a first pattern for a haptic signal, or determining to not send the instruction to the haptic actuator; and

when the object is detected and in response to the second ultrasonic signal not being received within a time period;

providing the instruction to the haptic actuator, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to generate a second pattern for the haptic signal.

14. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

transmitting a first ultrasonic signal via a first ultrasonic emitter;

detecting an object based upon a receiving of a reflected signal via an ultrasonic detector, wherein the reflected signal comprises a reflection of the first ultrasonic signal from the object;

monitoring for a second ultrasonic signal via the ultrasonic detector, wherein the device is associated with a user, and wherein the second ultrasonic signal comprises an emitted signal received from a second ultrasonic emitter associated with a teammate of the user; and

selecting whether to provide an instruction to a haptic actuator when the object is detected, based upon whether the second ultrasonic signal is received via the ultrasonic detector, wherein the selecting comprises;

when the object is detected and in response to the second ultrasonic signal being received;

providing the instruction to the haptic actuator, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to generate a first pattern for a haptic signal, or determining to not send the instruction to the haptic actuator; and

when the object is detected and in response to the second ultrasonic signal not being received within a time period;

providing the instruction to the haptic actuator, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to generate a second pattern for the haptic signal.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first pattern for the haptic signal is indicative of a detection of the object and is indicative that the object is the teammate of the user.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the second pattern for the haptic signal is indicative of a detection of the object and is indicative that the object is not the teammate of the user.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a distance to the object based upon a time difference between a transmission of the first ultrasonic signal via the first ultrasonic emitter and a receiving of the reflected signal via the ultrasonic detector; and

adjusting the first pattern for the haptic signal or the second pattern for the haptic signal based upon the distance to the object that is determined.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the first ultrasonic signal comprises a first frequency, and wherein the second ultrasonic signal comprises a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a wearable unit.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the wearable unit comprises:

a vest;

a shirt;

a helmet;

a pair of pants;

or

a pair of shorts.