Input apparatus, remote controller and operating device for vehicle

• US 8,106,783 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Wada, Hiromune, Aoki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US12/401,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 340/576, 340/575, 340/573.1, 340/426.11, 340/426.22, 340/426.24, 340/426.15, 345/3.1, 348/77, 348/78, 348/66
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• 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: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

An input apparatus for a vehicle includes: an operation element operable by an occupant of the vehicle; a biological information acquisition element acquiring biological information of the occupant; an unawakened state detection element detecting an unawakened state of the occupant based on the biological information, wherein the unawakened state is defined by a predetermined state different from an awakened state; and an operation disabling element disabling an operation input from the operation element when the unawakened state detection element detects the unawakened state.

Claims

1. An input apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an operation element operable by an occupant of the vehicle;

a biological information acquisition element acquiring biological information of the occupant;

an unawakened state detection element detecting an unawakened state of the occupant based on the biological information, wherein the unawakened state is defined by a predetermined state different from an awakened state; and

an operation disabling element disabling an operation input from the operation element when the unawakened state detection element detects the unawakened state;

wherein the occupant is a driver of the vehicle,

wherein the operation element is a remote operation element, which is arranged at a position nearer a driver seat than a main operation device, and

wherein the remote operation element is separately disposed from the main operation device, and

wherein the remote operation element executes remote input into the main operation device.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification element notifying the occupant of disabling of the operation when the operation disabling element disables the operation.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a display arranged on a front side of the vehicle and visible by the occupant, who sits down on a seat of the vehicle,

wherein the notification element controls the display to change a part of or all of a screen image on the display when the operation disabling element disables the operation.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an awakening element awakening a driver of the vehicle,

wherein the occupant is the driver, and

wherein the awakening element awakens the driver when the operation disabling element disables the operation.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a notification element notifying the occupant of disabling of the operation when the operation disabling element disables the operation,

wherein the notification element functions as an awakening element for awakening a driver of the vehicle,

wherein the occupant is the driver, and

wherein the awakening element awakens the driver when the operation disabling element disables the operation.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the awakening element executes at least one of increasing an operation reaction force of the operation element, vibrating the operation element, increasing an operation sound of the operation element, changing the operation sound of the operation element, outputting an alarm sound, increasing a force for tightening a seat belt of the vehicle, vibrating the seat belt, and supplying air from an air conditioner of the vehicle.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the occupant is a driver of the vehicle,

wherein the biological information acquisition element acquires the biological information of the driver, and

wherein the operation element is arranged at a position where at least the driver sitting on a seat of the vehicle is configured to operating the operation element.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information acquisition element includes a pupil detection element for detecting a chronological change of a pupil of the occupant,

wherein the pupil detection element includes an eye image capturing element for capturing an eye image of the occupant, and

wherein the pupil detection element detects the chronological change of a pupil size of the occupant based on the eye image.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information acquisition element includes a blink detection element for detecting a blink of the occupant,

wherein the blink detection element includes an eye image capturing element for capturing an eye image of the occupant, and

wherein the blink detection element detects the blink based on the eye image.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information acquisition element includes a biological waveform detection element for acquiring at least one of a pulse waveform, a heartbeat waveform, an electrocardiographic waveform and a brain waveform of the occupant, and

wherein the biological waveform detection element contacts the occupant sitting on a seat of the vehicle.

11. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation element includes a touch operation panel so that the occupant touches the panel to input operation.

12. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation element is arranged at a position where the occupant is permitted to operate the operation element even when the occupant sits down on a seat of the vehicle with leaning the occupant back on a backrest of the seat.

13. The input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display arranged on a front side of the vehicle and visible by the occupant, who sits down on a driver seat or a front passenger seat,

wherein the main operation device is a touch panel mounted on the display, and

wherein the remote operation element is arranged between a bottom of the driver seat and a bottom of the front passenger seat.

14. The input apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a hand image capturing element capturing a hand image of an operator, who operates the remote operation element;

a hand image display element specifying an indicating position on the display based on the hand image and superimposing a position indication image at the indicating position on the display;

a display mode setup element setting one of a display disabling mode and a display enabling mode of the hand image display element,

wherein the display disabling mode is set when the unawakened state detection element detects the unawakened state,

wherein the display enabling mode is set when the unawakened state detection element does not detect the unawakened state,

wherein the display disabling mode prohibits the hand image display element from superimposing the position indication image on the display, and

wherein the display enabling mode allows the hand image display element to superimpose the position indication image on the display.

15. An input apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an operation element operable by an occupant of the vehicle;

a biological information acquisition element acquiring biological information of the occupant;

an unawakened state detection element detecting an unawakened state of the occupant based on the biological information wherein the unawakened state is defined by a redetermined state different from an awakened state; and

an operation disabling element disabling an operation input from the operation element when the unawakened state detection element detects the unawakened state;

wherein the operation element is at least one of an air conditioner operation part, an audio operation part, a navigation operation part, a power window operation part and a seat adjusting operation part.