INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20090295558A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kameyama, Shogo
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• 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: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

An information service system for a vehicle includes: an information obtaining element for obtaining information, which includes classification information for defining an importance level and an urgency level; a plurality of information output elements having various sensory types so that the information output elements inform the information of an user with various sensory types; a user load detector for detecting a physical and mental load of the user; a selector for selecting one or more information output elements according to the classification information; and a controller for controlling to output the information with the one or more information output elements. The selector selects the one or more information output elements based on the physical and mental load and a priority order of the information.

Claims

1. An information service system for a vehicle comprising:

an information obtaining element for obtaining information, which includes classification information for defining an importance level and an urgency level;

a plurality of information output elements having various sensory types so that the information output elements inform the information of an user with various sensory types;

a user load detector for detecting a physical and mental load of the user;

a selector for selecting one or more information output elements according to the classification information; and

a controller for controlling to output the information with the one or more information output elements,

wherein the selector selects the one or more information output elements based on the physical and mental load and a priority order of the information.

2. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the information output elements include a first type information output element and a second type information output element,

wherein the first type information output element includes at least one of an audio information output element and a haptic information output element,

wherein the second type information output element includes at least one of a visual information output element and an olfactory information output element,

wherein the audio information output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with auditory sense,

wherein the haptic information output element output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with haptic sense,

wherein the visual information output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with visual sense,

wherein the olfactory information output element output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with olfactory sense,

wherein the selector selects the first type information output element when the urgency level of the information is high, and

wherein the selector selects the second type information output element when the urgency level of the information is low.

3. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the selector prohibits to operate the audio information output element or the olfactory information output element when the physical and mental load of the user is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value.

4. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the haptic information output element includes a vibrator.

5. The system according to claim 4,

wherein the vibrator is embedded in a seat of the vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the olfactory information output element includes a fragrance generator.

7. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the information output elements include a visual information output element and a non-visual information output element,

wherein the non-visual information output element includes at least one of a haptic information output element, an audio information output element and an olfactory information output element,

wherein the audio information output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with auditory sense,

wherein the haptic information output element output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with haptic sense,

wherein the visual information output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with visual sense,

wherein the olfactory information output element output element outputs the information to be recognized by the user with olfactory sense,

wherein the selector selects both of the visual information output element and the non-visual information output element when the importance level is high,

wherein the selector selects only one of the visual information output element and the non-visual information output element when the importance level is low.

8. The system according to claim 7,

wherein the selector selects the visual information output element and two of the haptic information output element, the audio information output element and the olfactory information output element when the importance level is high and the urgency level of the information is high.

9. The system according to claim 8,

wherein the selector selects both of the visual information output element and the haptic information output element when the importance level is high and the urgency level of the information is high, and

wherein the selector selects both of the visual information output element and the olfactory information output element when the importance level is high and the urgency level of the information is low.

10. The system according to claim 9,

wherein the visual information output element includes an image display and a luminescent indicator,

wherein the selector selects the image display as the visual information output element when the importance level is high and the urgency level of the information is low, and

wherein the selector selects the luminescent indicator as the visual information output element when the importance level is high and the urgency level of the information is high.

11. The system according to claim 7,

wherein the selector selects the non-visual information output element when the importance level is low and the urgency level of the information is high, and

wherein the selector selects the visual information output element when the importance level is low and the urgency level of the information is low.

12. The system according to claim 11,

wherein the selector selects the audio information output element when the importance level is low and the urgency level of the information is high.

13. The system according to claim 2,

wherein the audio information output element includes a buzzer and a speaker;

wherein the haptic information output element includes a vibrator,

wherein the visual information output element includes a luminescence indicator, a head-up display and a monitor display, and

wherein the olfactory information output element includes a fragrance generator.

14. The system according to claim 13,

wherein the user load detector includes a face camera for detecting a face image of the user and an infrared light detector for detecting body temperature of the user.