Three-dimensional corporeal figure for communication with a passenger in a motor vehicle

• US 8,909,414 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Christie, Cameron, Appelboum, Yuval, Meissner, Gantimur
• Primary Examiner(s): MUSTAFA, IMRAN K
• Application Number:
  US12/636,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/31.4, 701/32.7
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/834 Docking arrangements
• 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: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

For a three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, wherein the three-dimensional corporal figure may be locked in place in the motor vehicle, it is in particular provided that a communication from a passenger and a driver of the motor vehicle, respectively, to the three-dimensional corporal figure is carried out acoustically and/or haptic, and that a communication from the three-dimensional corporal figure to a driver or a passenger of the motor vehicle is carried out optically and/or acoustically.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, the figure comprising:

a portable three-dimensional body including a rounded housing having three-dimensional contours,

a touch-sensitive area of the portable three-dimensional body for identifying a contact with the three-dimensional body of the figure via a haptic control, the touch-sensitive area arranged on a flattened portion of the rounded housing;

a display, separate from the touch-sensitive area;

a wireless interface device configured to wirelessly receive motor vehicle data from a corresponding wireless interface device of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle data comprising data detected by the motor vehicle regarding operating conditions of the vehicle, and

a control device configured to;

dynamically select a facial expression based at least on motor vehicle data wirelessly received from the motor vehicle, and

display the dynamically selected facial expressions on the display; and

wherein the portable three-dimensional corporal figure maintains a constant shape during operation and comprises autonomously unmoveable extremities.

2. The figure of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive area is arranged in an upper portion of the figure.

3. The figure of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive area is at least arranged at the highest point of the figure.

4. The figure of claim 1, wherein the figure has a height being less than the with of the figure.

5. The figure of claim 1, wherein the width of the figure is 1.5 times to 3 times the height of the figure.

6. A motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising:

a sensor for measuring an operational state of the motor vehicle;

a portable three-dimensional corporal figure including a rounded housing for communicating with a passenger in the motor vehicle via a haptic control, wherein the figure is detachably mounted in the motor vehicle;

a touch-sensitive area of the portable three-dimensional corporal figure for identifying a contact with the three-dimensional body of the figure, the touch-sensitive area arranged on a flattened portion of the rounded housing; and

a wireless communications link between a wireless interface device of the motor vehicle and a wireless interface device of the figure for transmitting the operational state of the motor vehicle measured by the sensor to the figure;

wherein the figure comprises;

a display separate from the touch-sensitive area; and

a control device configured to;

dynamically select a facial expression based at least on the operational state of the motor vehicle received from the motor vehicle via the wireless communications link; and

display the dynamically selected facial expressions on the display; and

wherein the portable three-dimensional corporal figure maintains a constant shape during operation and comprises autonomously unmoveable extremities.

7. The figure of claim 6, wherein the touch-sensitive area is arranged in an upper region of the figure.

8. The figure of claim 6, wherein the touch-sensitive area is at least arranged at the highest point of the figure.

9. The figure of claim 6, wherein the figure has a height which is less than the width of the figure.

10. The figure of claim 9, wherein the width of the figure is 1.5 times to 3 times the height of the figure.

11. A portable three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, the figure comprising:

a portable three-dimensional body including a rounded housing having three-dimensional contours and configured for mounting in the motor vehicle,

a touch-sensitive area of the portable three-dimensional body for identifying a contact with the three-dimensional body of the figure, the touch-sensitive area arranged on a flattened portion of the rounded housing;

a display separate from the touch-sensitive area of the portable three-dimensional body configured to dynamically display a variety of different facial expressions based on at least one of user input and detected data regarding operating conditions of the vehicle, wherein the user input comprises a haptic input, and

a wireless interface device configured to wirelessly communicate with other portable three-dimensional corporal figures.

12. A portable three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, the figure comprising:

a portable three-dimensional body including a rounded housing having three-dimensional contours and configured for mounting in the motor vehicle,

a touch-sensitive area of the portable three-dimensional body for identifying a contact with the three-dimensional body of the figure, the touch-sensitive area arranged on a flattened portion of the rounded housing;

a display separate from the touch-sensitive area of the portable three-dimensional body configured to dynamically display a variety of different facial expressions based on at least one of user input and detected data regarding operating conditions of the vehicle, wherein the user input comprises a haptic input, and

a wireless interface device configured to wirelessly communicate with other wireless mobile devices.

13. The figure of claim 12, wherein the wireless interface device configured to wirelessly communicate with other wireless mobile devices comprises a Bluetooth interface.