METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VEHICULAR ADAPTATION TO DRIVER STATE

• US 20180118218A1
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MILOSER, James Andrew
• Application Number:
  US15/335,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20180118218A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/165 Videos and animations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/26 using acoustic output
• 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: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/54 Audio sensitive means, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/085 Taking automatic action to adjust vehicle attitude in preparation for collision, e.g. braking for nose dropping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to determine an emotional state of a vehicle occupant based on information gathered from a vehicle sensor. The processor is also configured to determine if an emotional state response action has been predesignated for responding to the emotional state and enact the predesignated emotional state response action to alter a physical vehicle characteristic.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine an emotional state of a vehicle occupant based on information gathered from a vehicle sensor;

determine if an emotional state response action has been predesignated for responding to the emotional state; and

enact any predesignated emotional state response action to alter a physical vehicle characteristic.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle sensor includes a vehicle camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle sensor includes a vehicle microphone.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle sensor includes a biometric sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the emotional state corresponds to a fear state and wherein the predesignated emotional state response includes preconditioning a vehicle for an accident.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the preconditioning includes automatically reducing vehicle speed.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the preconditioning includes automatically changing a vehicle traction control setting.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the preconditioning includes automatically steering a vehicle to the side of a detected forward obstruction.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the emotional state corresponds to an unhappy state and wherein the predesignated emotional state response includes changing vehicle lighting.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the emotional state corresponds to an unhappy state and wherein the predesignated emotional state response includes playing predefined audio.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the emotional state corresponds to an unhappy state and wherein the predesignated emotional state response includes playing predefined video.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the emotional state corresponds to an unhappy state and wherein the predesignated emotional state response includes playing predefined audio or video on speakers or a display, respectively, assigned to a location of the vehicle occupant exhibiting the emotional state.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

responsive to detection of an occupant emotional state using a vehicle sensor, enacting a predefined change to a vehicle environment, designated for enactment responsive to a particular emotional state, wherein a plurality of predefined changes are locally stored on a vehicle and correlated to varied emotional states.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the change includes a vehicle interior lighting change.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the change includes a vehicle audio output change.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the change includes a vehicle video output change.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the change includes accident preconditioning.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of changes include at least accident preconditioning correlated to a fear or shock state and audio or lighting changes correlated to an unhappy state.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting a location of the occupant originating the detected emotional state; and

enacting the change based in part on the detected location.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

responsive to detection by one or more vehicle sensors of a predefined emotional state of a passenger, enacting a predefined change to a vehicle environment in a predefined proximity to a location of the passenger originating the detected predefined emotional state.