Vehicle interface based on the weight distribution of a user

• US 8,620,494 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joshua D. Coombs
• Original Assignee: Joshua D. Coombs
• Inventors: Coombs, Joshua D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US13/341,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20120101665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 701/4
• US Class Current: 701/4
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/00 Rider-operated controls specially adapted for cycles, i.e. means for initiating control operations, e.g. levers, grips specially adapted to cycle brake mechanisms B62L3/00

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is an interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle. The interface preferably includes a support system to support at least a portion of the weight of a user, a sensor system to sense the weight distribution of the user, and a processor to interpret a vehicle command based on the weight distribution of the user and to communicate the vehicle command to a vehicle.

Claims

1. An interface for a vehicle comprising:

a user support structure coupled to the vehicle and comprising a first support region and a second support region, the user support structure configured to support a portion of a body of a user across the first support region and the second support region;

a sensor system comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor configured to detect a force applied to the first support region by the body of the user, the second sensor configured to detect a force applied to the second support region by the body of the user; and

a processor coupled to the sensor system and configured to detect a change in weight distribution of the body of the user across the first support region and the second support region, to interpret the shift in weight distribution as an indicator for an upcoming vehicle situation, and to generate a command to adjust a motion dynamic characteristic of the vehicle in response to the upcoming vehicle situation, the command is isolated from a vehicle direction of motion input and excluding a vehicle direction of motion adjustment component.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the user support system is coupled to the vehicle that is selected from the group consisting of a bicycle, a motorcycle, a tricycle, a car, a truck, a tracked vehicle, a jet ski, a motorboat, a snowmobile, and a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a seat, wherein the first support region comprises a left seat bolster, and wherein the second support region comprises a right seat bolster wherein the processor generates the command that comprises a “

roll left”

command commensurate with a detected shift in weight distribution of the user toward the left seat bolster.

4. The interface of claim 3, wherein the left and right seat bolsters are operable between an engaged mode and a relaxed mode, the left and right seat bolsters configured to contact the torso of the user occupying the seat in the engaged mode, and the left and right seat bolsters retracted from the torso of the user in the relaxed mode.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a footbase, wherein the first support region comprises a left foot rest wherein the second support region comprises a right foot rest, and wherein the processor generates the command that comprises a “

roll left”

command commensurate with a detected shift in weight distribution of the user toward the left foot rest.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first support region comprises a handbase, wherein the second support region comprises a footbase, and, wherein the processor generates the command that comprises a “

pitch rearward”

command commensurate with a detected shift in weight distribution of the user from the handbase to the footbase.

7. The interface of claim 1, wherein the user support system is coupled to the vehicle that comprises a multi-wheeled road vehicle with a suspension system and a steering system, and wherein the processor generates the command to adjust a setting of the suspension system exclusive of a position of the steering system.

8. The interface of claim 7, wherein the support structure comprises a seat, wherein the first support region comprises a seat bottom, wherein the second support region comprises a seat back, and wherein the processor generates the command to lower the vehicle over the suspension system commensurate with a detected shift in weight distribution of the user from the seat back to the seat bottom.

9. The interface of claim 7, wherein the support structure comprises a seat, wherein the first support region comprises a seat bottom, wherein the second support region comprises a seat back, and wherein the processor generates the command to stiffen a portion of the suspension system commensurate with a shift in weight distribution of the user from the seat bottom to the seat back.

10. The interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure further comprises a third support region, wherein the sensor system further comprises a third sensor configured to detect a force applied to the third support region by the body of the user, and wherein the processor is configured to detect a change in weight distribution of the body of the user across the first support region, the second support region, and the third support region.

11. The interface of claim 10, wherein first support region comprises a footbase, the second support region comprises a seat, and the third support region comprises a handbase.

12. The interface of claim 11, wherein the support system is coupled to the vehicle that comprises a ride-on vehicle, wherein the second support region comprises a ride-on seat, and wherein the handbase is configured to receive a vehicle direction of motion input that comprises a steering input isolated from motion dynamic characteristics of the vehicle.

13. The interface of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to ignore an isolated change in applied weight the first support region exclusive of the second support region and to generate the command in response to the chance in weight distribution of the body of the user across the first support region and the second support region.

14. The interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprise a handbase, the first support region comprises a left handgrip of the handbase, and the second support region comprises a right handgrip of the handbase, wherein the first sensor is arranged in the left handgrip and the second sensor is arranged in the right handgrip.

15. The interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprise a footbase, the first support region comprises a left footrest of the footbase, and the second support region comprises a right footrest of the footbase, wherein the first sensor is arranged in the left footrest and the second sensor is arranged in the right footrest.

16. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a load cell.

17. The interface of claim 1, wherein the processor interfaces with the sensor system sensor to detect a shift in a position of the torso of the user.

18. The interface of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate the command further according to at least one of the speed of the vehicle, a yaw rate of the vehicle, and a preference of the user.

19. The interface of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to predict an upcoming vehicle direction of motion input from the user, and wherein the processor is configured to generate the command further in response to the predicted upcoming vehicle direction of motion input.

20. The interface of claim 1, wherein the user support system is arranged within the vehicle that comprises an aircraft, and wherein the processor is configured to generate the command to adjust a shape of a wing of the aircraft.

21. The interface of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to interpret a shift in weight distribution across the first support region and the second support region as a user reaction to a visible object ahead of the vehicle, and wherein the processor is configured to interpret the user reaction as the upcoming vehicle situation.

22. The interface of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate the command prior to user entry of a vehicle direction of motion input that comprises a steering command.