System and method of haptically communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a keyless entry device

• US 8,493,177 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Flaherty, Natasha Margaret Minenko, Birnbaum, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US12/696,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/566, 340/683, 340/7.6
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/10 using Doppler effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

Various systems, devices, and methods for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a keyless entry device are provided. The system may include a keyless entry device for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a user. The keyless entry device may include a haptic actuator and one or more processors that may establish a communication channel with a vehicle, communicate, via the communication channel, a command to the vehicle, receive a response to the command from the vehicle, and cause the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect based on the response. The vehicle may include a vehicle device that may obtain vehicle information that relates to a vehicle, determine and output a control signal that corresponds to the vehicle information. The control signal may cause the keyless entry device to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information to the user.

Claims

1. A keyless entry device for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a user, comprising:

a haptic actuator; and

one or more processors configured to;

establish a communication channel with a vehicle;

communicate, via the communication channel, a command to the vehicle that instructs the vehicle to perform one or more vehicle functions;

receive a response to the command from the vehicle via the communication channel, wherein the response is unrelated to and independent from the command; and

cause the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect based on the response.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the response comprises an information associated with warnings from the vehicle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the response comprises maintenance information of the vehicle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive an indication that the vehicle information has been received by the user; and

communicate the indication to the vehicle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the control signal causes the haptic actuator to vary the first haptic effect based on a distance between the keyless entry device and the vehicle, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine the distance; and

cause the haptic actuator to output a second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect, wherein the difference between the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect is a function of the distance, thereby communicating a different haptic effect when the distance changes.

6. The device of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to:

receive a second control signal that causes the haptic actuator to output a second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect, wherein the difference between the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect is a function of a distance between the keyless entry device and the vehicle.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive a second response;

store the second response in a memory of the keyless entry device; and

cause the haptic actuator to output a second haptic effect after the first haptic effect based on the stored second response.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause the haptic actuator to output the second haptic effect when the keyless entry device is not within communication range of the vehicle.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

store the response in a memory of the keyless entry device; and

cause the haptic actuator to output the haptic effect when the keyless entry device is not within communication range of the vehicle.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine that the command was not communicated; and

cause the haptic actuator to output a second haptic effect that indicates that the command was not communicated.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive an indication that a user has received the haptic effect; and

cause the haptic actuator to output the haptic effect again at a later time.

14. The device of claim 5, wherein the first haptic effect is greater in magnitude of force than the second haptic effect, and wherein the distance when the first haptic effect is output is greater than the distance when the second haptic effect is output.

15. The device of claim 6, wherein the first haptic effect is greater in magnitude of force than the second haptic effect, and wherein the distance when the first haptic effect is output is greater than the distance when the second haptic effect is output.

7. A system for haptic communication between a keyless entry device and a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle device coupled to the vehicle; and

a keyless entry device, comprising;

a haptic actuator; and

one or more first processors configured to;

establish a communication channel with the vehicle device; and

receive a control signal from the vehicle device via the communication channel, wherein the control signal corresponds to vehicle information and causes the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information;

wherein the vehicle device comprises one or more second processors configured to;

establish the communication channel with the keyless entry device;

receive a command from the keyless entry device;

obtain the vehicle information;

determine the control signal based on the vehicle information; and

output, via the communication channel, the control signal to the keyless entry device, wherein the vehicle information is unrelated to and independent from the command.

8. A method of haptic communication between a vehicle and a keyless entry device that includes a haptic actuator, the method comprising:

establishing, by the keyless entry device, a communication channel with the vehicle;

communicating, by the keyless entry device via the communication channel, a command to the vehicle that instructs the vehicle to perform one or more vehicle functions;

receiving, by the keyless entry device, a response to the command from the vehicle via the communication channel, wherein the response is unrelated to and independent from the command; and

causing the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect at the keyless entry device based on the response.