CONTROLLING ACCESS TO AN IN-VEHICLE HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE

• US 20160016473A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Van Wiemeersch, Adam Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/197 Blocking or enabling of input functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/199 for avoiding maloperation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• 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 35/29 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/24 Capacitance type, e.g. as level indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 : Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 : Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/21 : Voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 : Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 : Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 : Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 : specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 : for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 : adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 : to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

An in-vehicle computer is programmed to determine that a driver'"'"'s hands are at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel, determine that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and provide passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

Claims

1. A system, comprising an in-vehicle computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the in-vehicle computer is programmed to:

determine that a driver'"'"'s hands are at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel;

determine that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and

provide passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors to provide the inputs for determining whether a driver'"'"'s hands are at the at least one predetermined location.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensors include at least one of a plurality of electrocardiogram sensors and at least one capacitive sensor.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensors include a sensor in a display of the human machine interface.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer is further programmed to perform a validation to determine whether signals from the sensors represent a human heartbeat.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors to provide the inputs for determining whether a passenger is in the safe position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

determine that the driver is coaching the passenger with respect to operation of the human-machine interface; and

revoke the passenger'"'"'s access to the operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein determining that a driver'"'"'s hands are at the at least one predetermined location includes determining that palms and fingers of both of the driver'"'"'s hands are on the steering wheel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the human-machine interface includes at least one of a visual display, a touchscreen, a speaker, and a microphone.

12. A method, comprising:

determining that a driver'"'"'s hands are at least one predetermined location in a vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel;

determining that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and

providing passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of sensors provide the inputs for determining whether a driver'"'"'s hands are at the at least one predetermined location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensors include at least one of a plurality of electrocardiogram sensors and at least one capacitive sensor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensors include a sensor in a display of the human machine interface.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising performing a validation to determine whether signals from the sensors represent a human heartbeat.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of sensors provide the inputs for determining whether a passenger is in the safe position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining that the driver is coaching the passenger with respect to operation of the human-machine interface; and

revoking the passenger'"'"'s access to the operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein determining that a driver'"'"'s hands are at the at least one predetermined location includes determining that palms and fingers of both of the driver'"'"'s hands are on the steering wheel.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the human-machine interface includes at least one of a visual display, a touchscreen, a speaker, and a microphone.