System and Method of Haptically Communicating Vehicle Information From a Vehicle to a Keyless Entry Device

• US 20110187498A1
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Flaherty, Natasha Margaret Minenko, Birnbaum, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/10 using Doppler effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

Various systems, devices, and methods for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a keyless entry device are provided. The system may include a keyless entry device for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a user. The keyless entry device may include a haptic actuator and one or more processors that may establish a communication channel with a vehicle, communicate, via the communication channel, a command to the vehicle, receive a response to the command from the vehicle, and cause the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect based on the response. The vehicle may include a vehicle device that may obtain vehicle information that relates to a vehicle, determine and output a control signal that corresponds to the vehicle information. The control signal may cause the keyless entry device to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information to the user.

Claims

1. A keyless entry device for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a user, comprising:

a haptic actuator; and

one or more processors configured to;

establish a communication channel with a vehicle;

communicate, via the communication channel, a command to the vehicle that instructs the vehicle to perform one or more vehicle functions;

receive a response to the command from the vehicle via the communication channel; and

cause the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect based on the response.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the response is unrelated to the command.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the response is related to the command.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the response includes a status of the command.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the status includes a confirmation that the command has been successfully performed at the vehicle.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the response includes maintenance information for the vehicle or warnings from the vehicle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive an indication that the vehicle information has been received by the user; and

communicate the indication to the vehicle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the control signal causes the haptic actuator to vary the first haptic effect based on a distance between the keyless entry device and the vehicle, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine the distance; and

generate a second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect, wherein the difference between the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect is a function of the distance, thereby communicating a different haptic effect when the distance changes.

9. The device of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine a distance between the keyless entry device and the vehicle; and

receive a second control signal that causes the haptic actuator to output a second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect, wherein the difference between the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect is a function of the distance.

10. A keyless entry device for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a user, comprising:

a haptic actuator; and

one or more processors configured to;

establish the communication channel with the vehicle when the keyless entry device and the vehicle are within communication range of one another; and

receive a control signal from the vehicle via the communication channel before a command to control one or more vehicle functions is communicated from the keyless entry device to the vehicle,

wherein the control signal causes the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information.

11. A vehicle device for communicating vehicle information to a keyless entry device operated by a user, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

establish a communication channel with the keyless entry device;

obtain vehicle information that relates to a vehicle;

determine a control signal that corresponds to the vehicle information and causes a haptic actuator of the keyless entry device to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information to the user; and

output, via the communication channel, the control signal to the keyless entry device, thereby communicating the vehicle information to the user at the keyless entry device.

12. The vehicle device of claim 11, the one or more processors further configured to:

output the control signal after the communication channel is established with the keyless entry device and prior to receipt of a command from the keyless entry device.

13. The vehicle device of claim 11, the one or more processors further configured to:

receive a command from the keyless entry device; and

output the control signal in response to the command.

14. The vehicle device of claim 11, the one or more processors further configured to:

establish a second communication channel with a secondary contact; and

communicate the vehicle information via the second communication channel to the secondary contact.

15. The vehicle device of claim 11, wherein the vehicle information is communicated to the secondary contact when the vehicle device does not receive an indication that the keyless entry device received the vehicle information.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the control signal causes the haptic actuator to vary the first haptic effect based on a distance between the keyless entry device and the vehicle, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine a distance between the keyless entry device and the vehicle,

wherein said determine a control signal further comprises determination of a control signal that causes the haptic actuator to vary the first haptic effect as a function of the distance, thereby communicating a different haptic effect to the user when the distance changes.

17. The vehicle device of claim 11, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine a distance between the vehicle and the keyless entry device;

generate a second control signal that causes the haptic actuator to output a second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect, wherein the difference between the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect is a function of the distance.

18. A system for haptic communication between a keyless entry device and a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle device coupled to the vehicle; and

a keyless entry device operated by a user, the keyless entry device comprising;

a haptic actuator; and

one or more first processors configured to;

establish a communication channel with the vehicle device; and

receive a control signal from the vehicle device via the communication channel, wherein the control signal corresponds to vehicle information and causes the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information to the user,

wherein the vehicle device comprises one or more second processors configured to;

establish the communication channel with the keyless entry device;

obtain the vehicle information;

determine the control signal; and

output, via the communication channel, the control signal to the keyless entry device.

19. A vehicle interface component coupled to a vehicle and operated by a user, the vehicle interface component comprising:

a haptic actuator; and

one or more processors configured to;

receive a control signal from the vehicle, wherein the control signal corresponds to vehicle information that includes vehicle maintenance information or vehicle warnings information, and wherein the control signal causes the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information to the user.

20. The vehicle interface component of claim 19, wherein the vehicle interface component is selected from the group consisting of:

a steering wheel, a transmission shifter, a radio interface member, a seat, a climate control interface member, a navigation interface member, a door handle, and a window switch.

21. A method of haptic communication between a vehicle and a keyless entry device that includes a haptic actuator, the method comprising:

establishing, by the keyless entry device, a communication channel with the vehicle;

communicating, by the keyless entry device via the communication channel, a command to the vehicle that instructs the vehicle to perform one or more vehicle functions;

receiving, by the keyless entry device, a response to the command from the vehicle via the communication channel; and

causing the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect at the keyless entry device based on the response.

22. A method of haptic communication between a vehicle and a keyless entry device that includes a haptic actuator, the method comprising:

establishing, by the keyless entry device, the communication channel with the vehicle when the keyless entry device and the vehicle are within communication range of one another; and

receiving, by the keyless entry device via the communication channel, a control signal from the vehicle before a command to control one or more vehicle functions is communicated from the keyless entry device to the vehicle,

wherein the control signal causes the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect at the keyless entry device that haptically communicates the vehicle information.