Integrated sensor arrangement for automated auxiliary component adjustments

• US 10,286,810 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NIO Technology Company Limited (NIO, Inc. (China))
• Original Assignee: Nio Usa Inc. (NIO, Inc. (China))
• Inventors: Stevens, Colin, Young, Geoffrey D., Eckert, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US15/441,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20180244285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0022 for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0028 of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0279 for detecting objects outside the vehicle, e.g. for user identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/22 Optical; Photoelectric; Lidar [Light Detection and Ranging]
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/00 Computerised treatment of data for controlling of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle adjustment assembly including sensors for adjusting the position of an auxiliary component of the vehicle is disclosed. The sensor is connected to the vehicle and is configured to detect a user'"'"'s characteristics. The sensor generates data regarding the user'"'"'s characteristics, and a computer receives the data generated by the sensor related to the user'"'"'s characteristics. The auxiliary system is adjusted via input signals from the computer in response to the data generated by the sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle adjustment assembly comprising:

a sensor connected to a vehicle that detects physical characteristics associated with a body of a user and generate measurement data regarding distances between parts of the body of the user based on the detected physical characteristics;

a computer that receives the measurement data generated by the sensor regarding the distances between parts of the body of the user and determines a reach zone for the user based on the measurement data; and

an auxiliary system including touch buttons on a display, wherein a position of the touch buttons on the display are adjusted via input signals from the computer in response to determining the reach zone for the user such that the touch buttons on the display are adjusted to a position within the reach zone of the user;

wherein the sensor detects that a seat belt of the vehicle is positioned too high or too low relative to a torso of the user, and wherein the display renders an alert for adjusting the seat belt to a predetermined position.

2. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of sensors.

3. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to detect a gait of the user and generate data regarding a health associated with the user.

4. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary system includes a plurality of auxiliary systems, and the computer sends signals to each auxiliary system of the plurality of auxiliary systems for adjustments based on the measurement data generated by the sensor.

5. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor.

6. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

7. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the computer generates a three-dimensional model that is representative of the user based on the measurement data generated by the sensor.

8. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 7, wherein the computer stores a plurality of three-dimensional models that are representative of multiple users.

9. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged on an external surface of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged on an internal surface of the vehicle.

11. A method of adjusting auxiliary components in a vehicle comprising:

detecting physical characteristics associated with a body of a user and generating measurement data related to distances between parts of the body of the user based on the detected physical characteristics via a sensor;

sending the measurement data generated by the sensor to a vehicle computer;

determining, via the vehicle computer, a reach zone for the user based on the distances between parts of the body of the user in the measurement data; and

adjusting an auxiliary component of the vehicle based on the measurement data from the sensor provided to the vehicle computer, wherein the auxiliary component includes touch buttons on a display, and wherein a position of the touch buttons on the display are adjusted to a position within the reach zone of the user;

wherein the sensor detects that a seat belt of the vehicle is positioned too high or too low relative to a torso of the user, and wherein the display renders an alert for adjusting the seat belt to a predetermined position.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a three-dimensional model of the user based on the measurement data generated by the sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting the auxiliary component of the vehicle based on characteristics of the three-dimensional model of the user.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing a plurality of three-dimensional models for different users based on the measurement data generated by the sensor.

15. A vehicle adjustment assembly comprising:

a computer configured to receive measurement data associated with a body of a user of a vehicle and determine a reach zone for the user inside the vehicle based on the measurement data received; and

an auxiliary system including touch buttons on a display inside the vehicle, wherein a position of the touch buttons on the display are adjusted via input signals from the computer in response to determining the reach zone for the user inside the vehicle such that the touch buttons on the display are adjusted to a position within the reach zone of the user;

wherein a sensor of the vehicle detects that a seat belt of the vehicle is positioned too high or too low relative to a torso of the user, and wherein the display renders an alert for adjusting the seat belt to a predetermined position.

16. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a movement sensor inside the vehicle configured to detect when the user shifts in a seat of the vehicle while the user is operating the vehicle.

17. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 16, wherein the computer dynamically adjusts the auxiliary system as the user operates the vehicle.

18. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 17, wherein the auxiliary system includes a pedal, and wherein the pedal is adjusted by the computer system based on a height of the user.

19. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 15, wherein the alert includes information for the user to manually adjust the seat belt to the predetermined position.

20. The vehicle adjustment assembly of claim 15, wherein the measurement data associated with the body of the user is input to the computer via the user based on non-sensor generated body part measurements taken apart from the sensor of the vehicle.