Three-Dimensional Corporeal Figure for Communication with a Passenger in a Motor Vehicle

• US 20110144856A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Christie, Cameron, Appelboum, Yuval, Meissner, Gantimur
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/834 Docking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/148 Input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/193 for improving awareness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 Control of displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/55 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/589 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/834 Docking
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 : Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/213 : Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 : characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• 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 35/50 : Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 : Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 : for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 : Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 : Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 : Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

For a three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, wherein the three-dimensional corporal figure may be locked in place in the motor vehicle, it is in particular provided that a communication from a passenger and a driver of the motor vehicle, respectively, to the three-dimensional corporal figure is carried out acoustically and/or haptic, and that a communication from the three-dimensional corporal figure to a driver or a passenger of the motor vehicle is carried out optically and/or acoustically.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, the figure comprising:

a touch-sensitive area for identifying a contact with the figure.

2. The figure of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive area is arranged in an upper portion of the figure.

3. The figure of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive area is at least arranged at the highest point of the figure.

4. The figure of claim 1, wherein the figure does not comprise autonomously movable extremities.

5. The figure of claim 1, wherein the figure has a height being less than the width of the figure.

6. The figure of claim 1, wherein the width of the figure is 1.5 times to 3 times the height of the figure.

7. The figure of claim 5, the figure further comprising:

a display; and

a control for displaying variable facial expressions on the display.

8. A three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, wherein the figure does not comprise autonomously movable extremities.

9. The figure of claim 8, wherein die figure has a height which is less than the width of the figure.

10. The figure of claim 9, wherein the width of the figure is 1.5 times to 3 times the height of the figure.

11. The figure of claim 8, the figure further comprising:

a display; and

a control for displaying variable facial expressions on the display.

12. A three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, wherein the figure has a height which is less than the width of the figure.

13. The figure of claim 12, wherein the width of the figure is 1.5 times to 3 times the height of the figure.

14. The figure of claim 12, die figure further comprising:

a display; and

a control for displaying variable facial expressions on the display.

15. A three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, the figure comprising:

a display; and

a control for displaying variable facial expressions on the display.

16. A motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising:

a sensor for measuring an operational state of the motor vehicle;

a three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in the motor vehicle, wherein the figure is detachably locked in place in the motor vehicle; and

a communications link for transmitting the operational state of the motor vehicle measured by means of the sensor to the figure.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 16, the figure further comprising:

a touch-sensitive area for recognizing a contact with the figure.

18. The figure of claim 17, wherein the touch-sensitive area is arranged in an upper region of the figure.

19. The figure of claim 17, wherein the touch-sensitive area is at least arranged at the highest point of the figure.

20. The figure of claim 16, wherein the figure does not comprise autonomously movable extremities.

21. The figure of claim 16, wherein die figure has a height which is less than the width of the figure.

22. The figure of claim 21, wherein the width of the figure is 1.5 times to 3 times the height of the figure.

23. The figure of claim 16, the figure further comprising:

a display; and

a control for displaying variable facial expressions on the display.