ADAPTIVE INSTRUCTION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20100057308A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hill, Scott E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

Disclosed herein are instruction systems for a vehicle. One system comprises a condition sensor configured to detect and generate an output indicative of at least one vehicle condition, a user interface device and a position sensing system configured to detect and generate an output indicative of a user'"'"'s position relative to a vehicle component. Each instruction is associated with a state of the at least one vehicle condition and the user'"'"'s position relative to the vehicle component. A controller is programmed and configured to select one of the plurality of instructions based upon the vehicle condition as indicated by the condition sensor output and the user'"'"'s position as indicated by the position sensing system. The instructions are provided to the user through the user interface device. Methods for using the system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An instruction system for a vehicle comprising:

a condition sensor configured to detect and generate an output indicative of at least one vehicle condition;

a user interface device;

a position sensing system configured to detect and generate an output indicative of a user'"'"'s position relative to a vehicle component;

a memory containing a plurality of instructions, each instruction associated with a state of the at least one vehicle condition and the user'"'"'s position relative to the vehicle component; and

a controller programmed and configured to select one of the plurality of instructions based upon the vehicle condition as indicated by the condition sensor output and the user'"'"'s position as indicated by the position sensing system; and

to provide the instruction to the user interface device.

2. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the position sensing system is a handheld transmitter.

3. The instruction system of claim 2, wherein the user interface device and the handheld transmitter are housed in one device.

4. The instruction system of claim 3, wherein the one device is a key fob.

5. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the instructions provided through the user interface device are audible instructions.

6. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the instructions provided through the user interface device are visual instructions.

7. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the user interface device comprises an audio output device and a visual display configured to provide the instructions to the user.

8. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to select one of the plurality of instructions only after the user'"'"'s position has remained unchanged for at least a predetermined time threshold.

9. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to select one of the plurality of instructions only after the vehicle condition has remained unchanged for at least a predetermined time threshold.

10. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle condition is at least one of brake pedal status, gear shift position status, door position status, trunk lid position, door lock and unlock requests, ignition switch status, alarm status and gas cap status.

11. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to perform one or both of stopping the instructions and selecting different instructions based on at least one of a user action via the user interface device, a user action via a vehicle information display, a change in the condition sensor output and a change in the position sensing system output.

12. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the controller is located within the vehicle.

13. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the controller is located with the user interface device.

14. The instruction system of claim 1, wherein the position sensing system comprises a transmitter configured to transmit the output indicative of the user'"'"'s position and a vehicle-mounted receiver configured to receive the output indicative of the user'"'"'s position.

15. A method of providing instructions to a user of a vehicle comprising:

providing a controller preprogrammed with a plurality of instructions, each instruction associated with a state of at least one vehicle condition and a user'"'"'s position relative to a vehicle component;

detecting the at least one vehicle condition with a condition sensor and generating an output indicative of the at least one vehicle condition from the condition sensor;

detecting the user'"'"'s position relative to the vehicle component with a position sensing system and generating an output indicative of the user'"'"'s position;

receiving with the controller the condition sensor output and the position sensing system output;

selecting with the controller one of the plurality of instructions based upon the vehicle condition as indicated by the condition sensor output and the position sensing system output; and

providing the instruction through a user interface device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the position sensing system is a handheld transmitter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface device and the handheld transmitter are housed in one device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one device is a key fob.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the instructions provided through the user interface are provided audibly.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the instructions provided through the user interface are provided visually.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface device comprises an audio output device and a visual display configured to provide the instructions to the user.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein selecting one of the plurality of instructions occurs only after the user'"'"'s position has remained unchanged for a threshold time period.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein selecting one of the plurality of instructions occurs only after the vehicle condition has remained unchanged for a threshold time period.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one vehicle condition is at least one of brake pedal status, gear shift position status, door position status, trunk lid position, door lock and unlock requests, ignition switch status, alarm status and gas cap status.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

at least one of stopping the instructions and selecting different instructions based on at least one of a user action via the user interface device, a user action via a vehicle information display, a change in the condition sensor output and a change in the position sensing system output.

26. An instruction system for a vehicle, comprising:

a condition sensor configured to detect and generate an output indicative of at least one vehicle condition;

a portable user interface device;

at least one position sensor configured to detect a user'"'"'s position relative to a vehicle component;

a memory containing a plurality of instructions, each instruction associated with a state of the at least one vehicle condition and a user'"'"'s position relative to the vehicle component; and

a controller configured to determine the user'"'"'s position based on an output from the at least one position sensor, select one of the plurality of instructions based upon the vehicle condition as indicated by the condition sensor output and the user'"'"'s position as determined by the controller; and

provide the instruction to the user interface device.

27. The instruction system of claim 26, wherein the at least one position sensor is a handheld transmitter.

28. The instruction system of claim 27, wherein the user interface device and the handheld transmitter are housed in one device.

29. The instruction system of claim 28, wherein the one device is a key fob.

30. The instruction system of claim 26, wherein the user interface device is a handheld device configured to emit a signal indicative of the user'"'"'s position and the at least one position sensor detects a strength of the signal from the handheld device.