VEHICLE DATA INPUT CONTROL METHOD

• US 20100250044A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Abubaker, Ahmed, Alasry, Bilal
• Application Number:
  US12/414,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250044A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14

Abstract

A method of controlling data input to a vehicle data input system determines a speed of a vehicle, determines an occupancy state of a non-driver position of the vehicle based on a presence of a non-driver in the non-driver position, determines a behavior of a driver based on input from a driver behavior system, and adjusts an input functionality of a vehicle data input system based on the vehicle speed, the occupancy state of the passenger, and the behavior of the driver.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a speed of a vehicle;

determining an occupancy state of a front passenger seat of the vehicle based on a presence of a passenger in the front passenger seat;

determining a behavior of a driver based on input from a driver behavior system, wherein the behavior includes whether the driver is controlling the vehicle; and

adjusting an input functionality of a vehicle data input system based on the vehicle speed, the occupancy state of the front passenger seat, and the behavior of the driver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the input functionality of the vehicle data input system includes activating a drive enforcement state to reduce the input functionality and releasing the drive enforcement state to provide full input functionality.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

activating the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and the occupancy state indicates no presence of a passenger in the front passenger seat.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

activating the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and the driver is not controlling the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, the occupancy state indicates the presence of a passenger in the front passenger seat, and the driver is controlling the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the driver is controlling the vehicle based on input from a first driver input device and a second driver input device, wherein the first and second driver input devices are accessible by the driver of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a steering wheel of the vehicle is provided with the first driver input device and the second driver input device such that the driver is required to use a first hand to actuate the first driver input device and a second hand to actuate the second driver input device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a gearshift is provided with the first driver input device and a steering wheel is provided with the second driver input device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the passenger occupancy state based on a signal from an occupant classification system provided with the front passenger seat.

11. A method comprising:

determining a speed of a vehicle;

determining an occupancy state of a non-driver seat of the vehicle based on a presence of a non-driver in the non-driver seat, wherein the occupancy state is based on a signal from an occupant classification system provided with the non-driver seat;

determining whether the driver is controlling the vehicle based on input from a first driver input device and a second driver input device, wherein the first and second driver input devices are accessible by the driver of the vehicle; and

adjusting an input functionality of a vehicle data input system based on the vehicle speed, the occupancy state of the non-driver seat, and the behavior of the driver, wherein adjusting the input functionality of the vehicle data input system includes activating a drive enforcement state to reduce the input functionality and releasing the drive enforcement state to provide full input functionality.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

activating the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and the occupancy state indicates no presence of a non-driver in the non-driver seat; and

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

activating the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and the driver is not controlling the vehicle; and

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, the occupancy state indicates the presence of a non-driver in the non-driver seat, and the driver is controlling the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of a steering wheel and a gearshift of the vehicle is provided with at least one of the first driver input device and the second driver input device such that the driver is required to use a first hand to actuate the first driver input device and a second hand to actuate the second driver input device.

16. A method comprising:

determining a speed of a vehicle;

determining an occupancy state of a front non-driver seat of the vehicle based on a presence of a non-driver in the front non-driver seat;

determining a behavior of a driver based on a first driver input device and a second driver input device, wherein the first and second driver input devices are accessible by the driver of the vehicle; and

adjusting an input functionality of a vehicle data input system based on the vehicle speed, the occupancy state of the front non-driver seat, and actuation of the first and second driver input devices by the driver, wherein adjusting the input functionality includes activating a drive enforcement state to reduce the input functionality and releasing the drive enforcement state to provide full input functionality.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

activating the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and the occupancy state indicates no presence of a non-driver in the non-driver seat; and

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

activating the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and the driver is not controlling the vehicle; and

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined speed threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

releasing the drive enforcement state when the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, the occupancy state indicates the presence of a non-driver in the non-driver seat, and the driver is controlling the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the driver is required to use a first hand to actuate the first driver input device and a second hand to actuate the second driver input device.