Systems and methods for awareness in vehicles using haptic effects

• US 10,232,773 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Modarres, Ali, Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Grant, Danny A., Olien, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US15/797,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20180056867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 3404072, 3404071, 704346, 704275, 715702, 715780, 715816
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/00 Input parameters relating to overall vehicle dynamics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/00 Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system

Abstract

A system for generating haptic effects in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a seat and a seat belt, is provided. The system comprises one or more haptic output devices positioned at or attached to the seat belt. The system further comprises a processor configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor that is configured to sense information associated with the vehicle'"'"'s environment or the vehicle'"'"'s condition. The system is further configured to determine whether to generate a haptic effect based on the sensor signal, and to output a haptic control signal and communicate the haptic control signal to the one or more haptic output devices in response to a determination to generate the haptic effect. The one or more haptic output devices are configured to generate the haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

Claims

1. A system for generating haptic effects in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a seat and a seat belt, the system comprising:

a first haptic output device positioned at or attached to the seat belt; and

a second haptic output device disposed on or within the seat,

a processor configured

to receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense information indicative of presence of a second vehicle in an environment of the vehicle, wherein the sensor signal is based on the information that is sensed,

to detect, based on the sensor signal, the second vehicle approaching the vehicle from behind,

to determine that the second haptic output device is to generate a first haptic effect in response to detecting the second vehicle approaching the vehicle from behind,

to control the second haptic output device to generate the first haptic effect by outputting a first haptic control signal and communicating the first haptic control signal to the second haptic output device in response to a determination to generate the first haptic effect, wherein the second haptic output device is configured to receive the first haptic control signal from the processor and generate the first haptic effect based on the first haptic control signal,

to detect, after the second vehicle approaches the vehicle from behind, the second vehicle passing the vehicle,

to determine that the first haptic output device is to generate a second haptic effect in response to detecting the second vehicle passing the vehicle, and

to control the first haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect by outputting a second haptic control signal and communicating the second haptic control signal to the first haptic output device in response to a determination to generate the second haptic effect, wherein the first haptic output device is configured to receive the second haptic control signal from the processor and generate the second haptic effect based on the second haptic control signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first haptic output device is part of a tensioning mechanism for the seat belt and is configured to generate the second haptic effect as a kinesthetic haptic effect by adjusting tension in the seat belt.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first haptic output device comprises vibrotactile haptic output device embedded within the seat belt.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third haptic output device disposed on or within the seat, wherein the processor is configured to detect the second vehicle entering a blind spot zone of the vehicle, and to control the third haptic output device to generate a third haptic effect at the seat in response to detecting the second vehicle entering the blind spot zone of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a steering wheel, and wherein the system further comprises a third haptic output device disposed at or within the steering wheel.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the third haptic output device is configured to cause deformation at multiple points on the steering wheel.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor configured to sense a condition of the vehicle, wherein the condition of the vehicle is at least one of:

speed of the vehicle, tire pressure of the vehicle, an engine condition of the vehicle, whether there is a brake failure in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is running too hot, or whether an engine of the vehicle is running out of fuel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is part of the system and is a proximity sensor configured to sense the presence of the second vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a biometric sensor configured to sense a condition of a driver of the vehicle.

10. A system for generating haptic effects in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a seat, the system comprising:

a plurality of haptic output devices positioned at different respective locations on or within the seat; and

a processor configured

to receive a first sensor signal from a first sensor configured to sense information associated with an environment of the vehicle or a condition of the vehicle, wherein the sensor signal is based on the information that is sensed,

to determine whether to generate a haptic effect based on the sensor signal,

to receive a second sensor signal from one or more force-sensitive resistor (FSR) sensors disposed on or within the seat, wherein the one or more FSR sensors are separate from the first sensor,

to locate, based on the second sensor signal, one or more contact points on the seat at which there is driver contact or passenger contact with the seat, and

to output a haptic control signal in response to a determination to generate the haptic effect, wherein the haptic control signal is output to only one or more haptic output devices that are at the one or more contact points, wherein the one or more haptic output devices are a subset of the plurality of haptic output devices,

wherein the one or more haptic output devices are configured to receive the haptic control signal from the processor and generate the haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more FSR sensors include a strain gauge.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each haptic output device of the plurality of haptic output devices, upon receiving the haptic control signal, is configured to generate a deformation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to determine a level or imminence of danger based on the first sensor signal, and to cause a magnitude of the deformation to be based on the level or imminence of danger.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured

to detect a second vehicle approaching the vehicle,

to detect a zone which the second vehicle is in, wherein the zone is selected from among a plurality of zones that are defined relative to the vehicle, and

to select one of the plurality of haptic output devices to output the haptic effect based on which zone the second vehicle is in.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of zones is a blind spot zone of the vehicle, such that the processor is configured to cause one of the plurality of haptic output devices to output the haptic effect when the second vehicle enters the blind spot zone.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices include a first haptic output device disposed at a first location on the seat corresponding to a shoulder contact point, and include a second haptic output device disposed at a second location on the seat corresponding to a back contact point, and include a third haptic output device disposed at a third location on the seat corresponding to a leg contact point.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the seat includes an armrest, and wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic output devices is disposed on or within the armrest.

18. A system for generating haptic effects in a vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more haptic output devices disposed in the vehicle; and

a processor configured

to receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense whether an engine of the vehicle is running too hot, and

to control the one or more haptic output devices to generate a haptic effect by outputting a haptic control signal and communicating the haptic control signal to the one or more haptic output devices in response to a determination that the engine of the vehicle is running too hot,

wherein the one or more haptic output devices are configured to receive the haptic control signal from the processor and generate the haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle has a seat, a seat belt, and a steering wheel, and wherein the one or more haptic output devices are disposed on or within the steering wheel of the vehicle.