Warning a vehicle occupant before an intense movement
First Claim
1. A safety system for an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a camera configured to take images of an occupant of the vehicle;
a computer configured to estimate, based on the images, whether the occupant is engaged in a certain activity that involves handling an object that can harm the occupant in a case of a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (SDRS);
the computer is further configured to receive, from an autonomous-driving control system, an indication indicative of whether an SDRS event is imminent;
responsive to both receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, the computer is further configured to command a user interface to provide a first warning to the occupant shortly before the SDRS event; and
responsive to receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and not estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, the computer is further configured not to command the user interface to warn the occupant, or to command the user interface to provide a second warning to the occupant, shortly before the SDRS event;
wherein the second warning is less noticeable than the first warning.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety system for an autonomous vehicle that may be used to warn an occupant engaged in a certain activity that involves handling an object that can harm the occupant in an event of a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (an SDRS event). The safety system includes a camera that takes images of the occupant and a computer that estimates, based on the images, whether the occupant is engaged in the certain activity. The computer receives from an autonomous-driving control system an indication of whether an SDRS event is imminent. Responsive to both receiving an indication of an imminent SDRS event and estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, the computer commands a user interface to warn the occupant shortly before the SDRS event.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A safety system for an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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a camera configured to take images of an occupant of the vehicle; a computer configured to estimate, based on the images, whether the occupant is engaged in a certain activity that involves handling an object that can harm the occupant in a case of a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (SDRS); the computer is further configured to receive, from an autonomous-driving control system, an indication indicative of whether an SDRS event is imminent; responsive to both receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, the computer is further configured to command a user interface to provide a first warning to the occupant shortly before the SDRS event; and responsive to receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and not estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, the computer is further configured not to command the user interface to warn the occupant, or to command the user interface to provide a second warning to the occupant, shortly before the SDRS event;
wherein the second warning is less noticeable than the first warning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for warning an occupant of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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receiving images of the occupant; estimating, based on the images, whether the occupant is engaged in a certain activity that involves handling an object that can harm the occupant in a case of a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (SDRS); receiving, from an autonomous-driving control system, an indication indicative of whether an SDRS event is imminent; responsive to both receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, commanding a user interface to provide a first warning to the occupant shortly before the SDRS event; and responsive to receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and not estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, commanding the user interface to provide a second warning to the occupant, or not commanding the user interface to warn the occupant, shortly before the SDRS event;
wherein the second warning is less noticeable than the first warning. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use in a computer to warn an occupant of an autonomous vehicle, the computer comprises a processor, and the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
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program code for receiving images of the occupant; program code for estimating, based on the images, whether the occupant is engaged in a certain activity that involves handling an object that can harm the occupant in a case of a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (SDRS); program code for receiving, from an autonomous-driving control system, an indication indicative of whether an SDRS event is imminent; program code for commanding a user interface to provide a first warning to the occupant shortly before the SDRS event, responsive to both receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity; and program code for commanding the user interface to provide a second warning to the occupant, or not commanding the user interface to warn the occupant, shortly before the SDRS event, responsive to receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and not estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity;
wherein the second warning is less noticeable than the first warning.
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Specification