Vehicle state information transmission apparatus using tactile device

• US 20080174415A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kondo, Shugo, Tanida, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• 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 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A vehicle state information transmission apparatus includes a warning device for issuing a warning to the driver based on information pertaining to a vehicle state detected by a vehicle state detecting device, and a vehicle state information transmission device for transmitting the information pertaining to the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting device to the driver. The vehicle state information transmission device includes a tactile device, which transmits a change in the vehicle state via a vehicle operating device such as steering wheel to the driver as tactile information. The tactile device is operable in conjunction with the warning means.

Claims

1. A vehicle state information transmission apparatus comprising:

operation means actuatable by a driver of a vehicle for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle state detecting device for detecting a state of the vehicle;

warning means for issuing a warning to the driver based on information pertaining to the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting device; and

vehicle state information transmitting means for transmitting the information pertaining to the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting device to the driver,

wherein the vehicle state information transmitting means comprises a tactile device which transmits a change in the vehicle state via the operating means to the driver as tactile information, and the tactile device is operable in conjunction with the warning means.

2. The vehicle state information transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tactile device is capable of producing a movement of the tactility in different patterns that can be varied based on the information pertaining to the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting device.

3. The vehicle state information transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle state detecting device comprises a lane departure sensor for detecting a lane departure of the vehicle, and when the lane departure of the vehicle is detected by the lane departure sensor, the tactile device operates to issue a lane departure warning to the driver by way of the tactile information transmitted via the operation means to the driver.

4. A vehicle state information transmission apparatus comprising:

operation means actuatable by a driver of a vehicle for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle state detecting device for detecting a state of the vehicle; and

vehicle state information transmitting means for transmitting the information pertaining to the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting device to the driver,

wherein the vehicle state detecting device comprises a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle, and

wherein the vehicle state information transmitting means comprises a tactile device which transmits a change in the vehicle state via the operating means to the driver as tactile information, the tactile device having a variable action pattern which is variable with the progress of turning movement of the vehicle on the basis of information pertaining to the steering angle detected by the steering sensor.

7. The vehicle state information transmission apparatus of claim 4, wherein the operation means comprises a steering wheel of the vehicle, the steering wheel having a grip portion for being gripped by the driver, the tactile device being assembled in the grip portion of the steering wheel, the steering wheel further having a guard protrusion disposed in the grip portion and engageable with a hand of the driver to prevent the tactile device from being subjected to undue stress during steering operation.

5. A vehicle state information transmission apparatus comprising:

operation means actuatable by a driver of a vehicle for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle state detecting device for detecting a state of a vehicle; and

vehicle state information transmitting means for transmitting the information pertaining to the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting device to the driver; and

wherein the vehicle state detecting device comprises a travel direction sensor for detecting a travel direction of the vehicle, and

wherein the vehicle state information transmitting means comprises a tactile device which transmits a change in the vehicle state via the operating means to the driver as tactile information, the tactile device having a variable action pattern which is variable in accordance with the travel direction of the vehicle on the basis of information pertaining to the travel direction detected by the travel direction sensor.

8. The vehicle state information transmission apparatus of claim 5, wherein the operation means comprises an accelerator pedal of the vehicle, and the tactile device comprises a vibration generating mechanism assembled with the accelerator pedal.

6. A vehicle state information transmission apparatus comprising:

operation means actuatable by a driver of a vehicle for operating the vehicle;

a vehicle state detecting device for detecting a state of the vehicle, the vehicle state detecting device comprising a parked vehicle sensor for detecting the vehicle while being in a parked state; and

vehicle state information transmitting means for transmitting the information pertaining to the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting device to the driver, wherein the vehicle state information transmitting means comprises a tactile device which transmits a change in the vehicle state via the operating means to the driver as tactile information;

adjustment permission means for permitting an operation amount adjustment of the tactile device to start;

adjustment amount input means for inputting an adjustment amount to thereby increase or decrease the operation amount of the tactile device; and

simulation means for, on the basis of information pertaining to the parked vehicle detected by the parked vehicle sensor, information pertaining to the permission provided by the adjustment permission means, and information pertaining to the increase/decrease achieved by the adjustment amount input means, outputting information to activate the tactile device in the same manner as it does during traveling of the vehicle, while the vehicle is in a parked state.