Vibro-tactile alert and massaging system having directionally oriented stimuli
First Claim
1. A tactile alert system for an occupant support structure, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of vibratory transducers for location in plural zones of the support structure, wherein the support structure includes a pad for contacting a portion of an occupant, at least some of the vibratory transducers being imbedded in the pad;
(b) a seat belt for restraining the occupant, wherein at least some of the vibratory transducers are supportable outside of the pad in longitudinally spaced relation proximate the seat belt;
(c) a driver circuit for powering each of the transducers in response to a corresponding drive signal; and
(d) a controller responsive to external conditions for selectively activating the drive signals in a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of the occupant of the structure, successive alert stimulation cycles differing in at least one of intensity, frequency, and transducers activated, thereby to alert the occupant of the particular condition and to improve the occupant'"'"'s alertness.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation and massaging system for equipment such as a vehicle includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal; a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface; an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, a plurality of mode signals, and a plurality of region signals relating transducers to be enabled; and a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing the power signal separately for each of the transducers. The controller responds to the input elements to activate the transducers in: a massaging mode selectively producing activation of the drive signals at adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value; and an alert mode producing a predetermined sequence of vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation cycles, each alert stimulation cycle having idle portion between 1 and 30 seconds, and an active portion of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating the muscle groups of the driver for improving the driver'"'"'s alertness, the intensity of vibration in the alert mode being greater than the maximum intensity in the massaging mode. Additional transducers can be spaced along a restraining seat belt for imparting directionally oriented stimuli warning of an impending collision. Also disclosed are methods for alerting a vehicle driver and for tactile-signaling a directionally oriented external condition to a vehicle driver or occupant.
-
Citations
59 Claims
-
1. A tactile alert system for an occupant support structure, comprising:
-
(a) a plurality of vibratory transducers for location in plural zones of the support structure, wherein the support structure includes a pad for contacting a portion of an occupant, at least some of the vibratory transducers being imbedded in the pad;
(b) a seat belt for restraining the occupant, wherein at least some of the vibratory transducers are supportable outside of the pad in longitudinally spaced relation proximate the seat belt;
(c) a driver circuit for powering each of the transducers in response to a corresponding drive signal; and
(d) a controller responsive to external conditions for selectively activating the drive signals in a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of the occupant of the structure, successive alert stimulation cycles differing in at least one of intensity, frequency, and transducers activated, thereby to alert the occupant of the particular condition and to improve the occupant'"'"'s alertness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A tactile alert system for a user support structure, comprising:
-
(a) a first vibratory transducer for location in the support structure, wherein the support structure includes a pad for contacting a portion of a user, the first vibratory transducer being imbedded in the pad;
(b) a seat belt for restraining the user, having a second vibratory transducer supportable outside of the pad in longitudinally spaced relation proximate the seat belt;
(c) a driver circuit for powering the first vibratory transducer and the second vibratory transducer in response to a drive signal; and
(d) a controller responsive to external conditions for selectively activating the drive signal in a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for stimulating muscle tissue of the user of the structure thereby to alert the user of the particular condition and to improve the user'"'"'s alertness, each alert stimulation cycle having an active portion and an idle portion, wherein successive alert stimulation cycles differ in at least one of the intensity, frequency, active portion duration, and idle portion duration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
(a) a carrier having means for attachment to a body member of the user;
(b) a sensor transducer supported by the carrier for generating a sensor signal corresponding to a bodily function of the user, the sensor transducer being selected from the group consisting of a blood pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a body temperature sensor, and an EEG sensor;
(c) a radio transmitter supported by the carrier for communicating the sensor signal to a radio receiver.
-
-
19. The tactile alert system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of input elements connected to the controller for signaling operator input, the signaling including signals for setting a plurality of massaging modes and signals for setting an intensity control value, the tactile alert system also having an alert mode incorporating the alert stimulation cycles, and signals for setting an intensity control value, wherein the controller activates the drive signals at maximum intensity during at least a portion of the alert mode, and at adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value in at least one of the massaging modes, wherein the alert mode operates independently of the intensity control value.
-
20. A tactile alert system for an operator-driven vehicle having a seat for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the system comprising:
-
(a) a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal;
(b) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;
an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor controller in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, a plurality of mode signals, and a plurality of region signals relating transducers to be enabled;
(d) a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the transducers, the power signal; and
(e) the microprocessor controller being operative in response to the input elements for activating the transducers for operation thereof in a plurality of modes including;
(i) a massaging mode selectively producing activation of drive signals in response to the input elements at an adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value for soothingly massaging muscle groups of the driver; and
(ii) an alert mode producing a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles in response to external input and independently of the intensity control value, each alert stimulation cycle having an idle portion of between 1 second and 30 seconds, and an active portion of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating the muscle groups of the driver thereby to improve the driver'"'"'s alertness, wherein successive alert stimulation cycles differ in at least one of the intensity, frequency, active portion duration, and idle portion duration enabled, wherein the driver circuit produces a first limiting magnitude of the power signal in the massaging mode and a second limiting magnitude of the power signal in the alert mode, the second limiting magnitude being greater than the first limiting magnitude, wherein the tactile alert system includes an external electrical power having a source voltage, such that the driver circuit is powered substantially at the source voltage in the massaging mode, and wherein the tactile alert system further includes a power boost circuit for powering the driver circuit at a boost voltage in the alert mode, such that the boost voltage is greater than the source voltage. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
(a) the transducers in enabled zones corresponding to the signals in a select massaging mode;
(b) the enabled transducers in spaced intervals of time in a pulse massaging mode;
(c) the enabled transducers in sequential zones in a wave massaging mode; and
(d) alternating left and right ones of the transducers in sequential zones in a zig-zag massaging mode.
-
-
40. The tactile alert system of claim 39, wherein the signals further includes a speed input for determining a rate of sequencing mode component intervals, and wherein, during at least one of the massaging modes, the duration of operation in sequential activation of mode segments is responsive to the intensity control value.
-
41. The tactile alert system of claim 20, wherein the input elements further define a heat control input, the system further comprising:
-
(a) a heater element in the seat;
(b) a heater driver responsive to the output interface for powering the heater element, the microprocessor controller being further operative in response to the input elements for activating the heater element, and wherein a composite mode includes activation of the heater element.
-
-
42. The tactile alert system of claim 20, wherein the driver'"'"'s seat includes a pad for contacting a portion of the user, the vibratory transducers being imbedded in the pad.
-
43. The tactile alert system of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor controller is operative for activating the driver circuit to produce power signals up to the first limiting magnitude in the massaging mode and the second limiting magnitude in the alert mode, the second limiting magnitude being greater than the first limiting magnitude.
-
44. The tactile alert system of claim 43, wherein the first limiting magnitude corresponds to a transducer vibration frequency of less than approximately 75 Hz and the second limiting magnitude corresponds to a vibration frequency of at least approximately 100 Hz.
-
45. The tactile alert system of claim 43, including means for connecting to a source of electrical power at a first voltage, the system further comprising the power boost circuit connected between the power source and the driver circuit for selectively powering the driver circuit at the first voltage for producing the first limiting magnitude of the power signal and at a second voltage in response to the microprocessor controller for producing the second limiting magnitude of the power signal, the second voltage being higher than the first voltage.
-
46. The tactile alert system of claim 45, wherein the first voltage is approximately 12 volts and the second voltage is approximately 20 volts.
-
47. A directionally oriented tactile alert massaging system for an operator-driven vehicle having a seat for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the system comprising:
-
(a) a spaced plurality of vibratory transducers supported relative to the seat for stimulating corresponding body portions of the driver, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal;
(b) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;
(c) an input interface for receiving an external signal indicative of a sensed condition of the vehicle, the external signal having at least one directional component corresponding to a directional aspect of the sensed condition;
(d) a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the transducers, the power signal; and
(e) the microprocessor controller being operative for;
(i) activating particular ones of the transducers in response to the external signal thereby to directionally stimulate the driver in correspondence with the directional components in a first mode; and
(ii) selectively activating at least some of the transducers in at least one other mode for soothingly massaging the muscle tissue of the driver. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
(a) at least one of the transducers in a back zone of the seat; and
(b) a longitudinally spaced plurality of the transducers proximate the seat belt.
-
-
52. The tactile alert system of claim 47, wherein the external signal is a collision warning signal, and the directional component corresponds to a heading relative to a hazard object.
-
53. A method for alerting a vehicle driver, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a plurality of vibratory transducers in plural zones of a driver'"'"'s seat, a seat belt having the vibratory transducers, a driver circuit connected to the driver'"'"'s seat transducers and the seat belt transducers and having respective inputs for receiving corresponding drive signals, and a controller for producing the drive signals, the controller having an alert condition input;
(b) activating the alert condition input;
(c) operating the controller to produce the drive signals, in response to the alert condition input, in alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of the driver; and
(d) sequencing plural cycle segments of the alert stimulation cycles, successive cycles varying in at least one of the intensity, frequency, and duration enabled, thereby to alert the driver of the particular condition and to improve the driver'"'"'s alertness. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
-
-
56. A method for tactile-signaling a directionally oriented external condition to a vehicle driver, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) supporting a spaced plurality of vibratory transducers relative to a driver'"'"'s seat, at least some of the transducers being pointer transducers and spaced proximate a directional plane, wherein the pointer transducers include a laterally spaced pair of back transducers in the seat, and a plurality of belt transducers spaced along a driver-restraining seat belt of the seat and including a left-front vibrator and a right-front vibrator;
(b) providing a driver circuit connected to the transducers and having respective inputs for receiving corresponding drive signals, and a controller for producing the drive signals, the controller having a condition input for responding to the external condition and an associated direction thereof;
(c) activating the condition input;
(d) translating the condition input for enabling a directionally oriented subset only of the pointer transducers; and
(e) operating the controller to produce the drive signals, in response to the condition input, in alarm stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of the driver, thereby to appraise the driver of the existence and orientation of the external condition. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
-
Specification