System for controlling vehicle information user interfaces

• US 6,181,996 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lai, Jennifer, Levas, Anthony, Moskowitz, Paul Andrew, Chou, Paul Bao-Luo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TO, TUAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/442,454
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/200, 348/118, 381/71.4, 345/158, 345/166, 345/175, 345/173, 340/990, 340/439, 781/213, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/141 Activation by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/739 the user being the passenger
• 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 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A system for controlling a vehicle information system user interface with at least one sensor for sensing the presence of a passenger and a controller for controlling a vehicle information system user interface based upon an output signal from the sensor.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a vehicle information system user interface comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a presence of a non-driving passenger in a vehicle; and

a controller for controlling the vehicle information system user interface to selectively provide an appropriate level of interaction therewith for a driver, based upon an output signal from said at least one sensor.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ones of said at least one sensor are provided at predetermined positions in said vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises an electronic control unit (ECU) for processing said output signal from said at least one sensor.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said controller further comprises a vehicle communication bus for carrying data to said electronic control unit.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said controller further comprises a plurality of electronic control circuits connected to said vehicle communication bus.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of electronic control circuits connected to said vehicle communication bus are selectively interfaced with a plurality of devices.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises means for controlling adjustable control parameters.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor for sensing the presence of a passenger senses a weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat for a non-driving passenger.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor senses a weight of a passenger and outputs a value representing said weight to said controller.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a car bus electrically connected to said sensor,

wherein said bus comprises one of a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1850 bus and a Controller Area Network bus.

11. The system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a car bus electrically connected to said sensor,

wherein said bus comprises one of a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1850 bus and a Controller Area Network bus.

12. The system according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of devices comprise at least one of a visual display device, an audio system, a keyboard, a telecommunications device, a fax machine, a touch screen, a speech synthesis system, a voice recognition interface, a wireless remote control device, a scent dispenser, a heating device, and a cooling device.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is for use with at least one of diagnostics, e-mail, news, weather, traffic, concierge, emergency help, and entertainment.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller controls the vehicle information system user interface in an operable mode to selectively provide an active, attenuated level of interaction therewith for the driver.

13. A system for detection of a vehicle occupant and control of a user interface comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a presence of a vehicle occupant; and

a controller for selecting one of a plurality of modes of use for a vehicle system user interface to selectively provide an appropriate level of interaction therewith for a driver, based on a composition of said vehicle occupant.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of ones of said at least one sensor are provided at predetermined positions in said vehicle.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes comprises:

a mode for a vehicle with a driver and no passengers.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes of use comprises:

a plurality of modes of use for application to a vehicle with a driver and a plurality of non-driving passengers having a plurality of characteristics.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes comprises:

a plurality of modes of audio presentation comprising at least one of enriched speech, simplified speech, reduced sound intensity, frequency-filtered sound, audio balance shifted to driver, and audio balance shifted to passenger.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes comprises:

a plurality of modes of video presentation comprising at least one of enriched video, simplified video, video display disabled, and video display enabled.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes comprises:

a plurality of modes of mechanical presentation comprising at least one of video display directed to driver, and video display directed to passenger.

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein said controller comprises means for controlling adjustable control parameters.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said parameters are programmable by a user.

22. The system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes of use for a vehicle are selected manually by a user.

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of characteristics includes said non-driving passenger having a predetermined measure of weight.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein a second characteristic of said plurality of characteristics includes said non-driving passenger having a weight less than said predetermined measure of weight.

27. The system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a manually-controlled sensor.

28. The system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a user-programmable sensor.

32. The system, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes are coupled such that a change in a value of a first mode is offset by a change in a value of a second mode such that a total value of said coupled modes remains substantially the same.

33. The system of claim 13, wherein two or more modes of said plurality of modes are adjusted simultaneously and qualitatively to supplement each other.

35. The system of claim 13, wherein said system is for use with at least one of diagnostics, e-mail, news, weather, traffic, concierge, emergency help, and entertainment.

37. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller controls the vehicle information system user interface in an operable mode to selectively provide an active, attenuated level of interaction therewith for the driver.

25. A system for detection of a vehicle occupant and control of a user interface comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a presence of a vehicle occupant; and

a controller for selecting one of a plurality of modes of use for a vehicle system user interface based on a composition of the group of vehicle occupants,

wherein said plurality of modes comprises a plurality of modes for a vehicle with a driver and a plurality of non-driving passengers having a plurality of characteristics, and

wherein said plurality of characteristics includes a heartbeat of a non-driving passenger having a predetermined heartbeat rate.

26. A system for detection of a vehicle occupant and control of a user interface comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a presence of a vehicle occupant; and

a controller for selecting one of a plurality of modes of use for a vehicle system user interface based on a composition of the group of vehicle occupants,

wherein said plurality of modes comprises a plurality of modes for a vehicle with a driver and a plurality of non-driving passengers having a plurality of characteristics, and

wherein said plurality of characteristics includes a heartbeat pattern of a non-driving passenger having a predetermined shape.

29. A system for controlling a vehicle information system user interface comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a presence of a non-human passenger, said non-human passenger being an animal;

a controller for controlling a vehicle information system user interface based upon an output signal from said sensor; and

a scent dispenser coupled to said at least one sensor,

wherein when said non-human presence is sensed, said scent dispenser is activated.

30. A system, for controlling a vehicle information system user interface comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a presence of a non-human passenger; and

a controller for controlling a vehicle information system user interface based upon an output signal from said sensor,

wherein said presence of a non-human passenger is sensed by at least one of sensing a predetermined heartbeat rate and a predetermined heartbeat shape.

31. A system for controlling a vehicle information system user interface comprising:

at least one manually-controlled sensor, manually controllable by said user, for sensing a presence of a non-human passenger, said non-human passenger being an animal;

a controller for controlling a vehicle information system user interface based upon an output signal from said at least one manually-controlled sensor; and

a scent dispenser coupled to said at least one sensor,

wherein when said non-human presence is sensed, said scent dispenser is activated.