System and method for dynamic vehicle control affecting sleep states of vehicle occupants

• US 9,463,805 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kirsch, David M., Vashi, Harinkumar, Chen, Bonnie
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/573,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20160176409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 : the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 : characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/96 : Presence, absence or inactivity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 : the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 : with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/919 : Positioning and locking mechanisms B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 : Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0827 : due to sleepiness
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 : Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 : Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 : Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 : related to drivers or passengers

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for dynamic vehicle control affecting sleep states of vehicle occupants includes connecting a wearable computing device associated with a vehicle occupant to a vehicle, and determining a state of the vehicle occupant based on physiological data received from at least one of the wearable computing device and the vehicle. The method includes determining a target sleep state of the vehicle occupant based on at least one of the state of the vehicle occupant, the physiological data and vehicle system data, and controlling a vehicle system of the vehicle based on the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state. The method includes monitoring the state of the vehicle occupant including monitoring the physiological data of the vehicle occupant in response to controlling the vehicle system and controlling the vehicle system according to the monitoring in relation to the target sleep state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamic vehicle control affecting sleep states of vehicle occupants, comprising:

connecting a wearable computing device associated with a vehicle occupant to a vehicle;

determining a state of the vehicle occupant based on physiological data received from at least one of the wearable computing device and the vehicle;

determining a target sleep state of the vehicle occupant based on at least one of the state of the vehicle occupant, the physiological data and vehicle system data;

controlling a vehicle system of the vehicle by transmitting a vehicle control command to the vehicle system based on the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state;

monitoring the state of the vehicle occupant including monitoring the physiological data of the vehicle occupant in response to controlling the vehicle system; and

modifying control of the vehicle system by transmitting a second vehicle control command to the vehicle system in response to the monitoring and based on the monitored state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further including determining a vehicle occupant type of the vehicle occupant, wherein the vehicle occupant type is at least one of an adult, a teen, a child, an infant, and a pet.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further including determining one or more physical characteristics of the vehicle occupant based on at least one of the physiological data and a vehicle occupant profile.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein controlling the vehicle system is based on the vehicle occupant type and one or more physical characteristics of the vehicle occupant.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the target sleep state is an increased state of sleepiness in relation to the state of the vehicle occupant and wherein controlling the vehicle system based on the sleep state in relation to the target sleep state induces the increased state of sleepiness.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the target sleep state is based on a length of a vehicle trip received from the vehicle, wherein the value of the target sleep state is a function of the length of the vehicle trip.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the state of the vehicle occupant further includes determining an updated state of the vehicle occupant.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the state of the vehicle occupant further includes determining a positive or negative effect on the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein upon determining a negative effect on the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state, controlling the vehicle system further includes controlling a different vehicle system.

10. A system for dynamic vehicle control affecting sleep states of vehicle occupants, comprising:

a wearable computing device associated with a vehicle occupant;

a vehicle including a vehicle system, vehicle sensors and a processor, the processor operably connected for computer communication to the wearable computing device;

a state determination module of the processor determines a state of the vehicle occupant based on physiological data received from at least one of the wearable computing device and the vehicle, the state determination module determines a target sleep state of the vehicle occupant based on at least one of the state of the vehicle occupant, the physiological data and vehicle system data;

a vehicle control module of the processor controls the vehicle system based on the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state by transmitting a vehicle control command to the vehicle system; and

a state monitoring module of the processor monitors the state of the vehicle occupant including monitoring the physiological data of the vehicle occupant after controlling the vehicle system, and the vehicle control module modifies control of the vehicle system by transmitting a second vehicle control command to the vehicle system based on the state of the vehicle occupant monitored after controlling the vehicle system in relation to the target sleep state.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle system includes a passenger detection system, and wherein the state determination module determines a vehicle occupant type of the vehicle occupant based on vehicle data from the passenger detection system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle control module controls the vehicle system based on the vehicle occupant type and the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the state determination module determines the target sleep state as an increased state of sleepiness in relation to the state of the vehicle occupant.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle system is a vehicle suspension system and the vehicle control module controls a parameter of the vehicle suspension system in relation to the vehicle occupant to induce the target sleep state.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle system is a vehicle seat configuration system and the vehicle control module controls a parameter of the vehicle seat configuration system in relation to the vehicle occupant to induce the target sleep state.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a parameter of the vehicle seat configuration system is a firmness of the vehicle seat occupied by the vehicle occupant.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method, comprising:

connecting a wearable computing device associated with a vehicle occupant to a vehicle;

receiving physiological data associated with the vehicle occupant from at least one of the wearable computing device and the vehicle, and receiving vehicle system data from the vehicle;

determining a state of the vehicle occupant based on the physiological data and determining a target sleep state based on at least one of the state of the vehicle occupant, the physiological data and vehicle system data;

transmitting a vehicle control command to a vehicle system of the vehicle based on the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state;

monitoring the physiological data of the vehicle occupant in response to controlling the vehicle system and transmitting a second vehicle control command to the vehicle system in response to the monitoring, the second vehicle control command based on the monitoring in relation to the target sleep state.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further including determining the vehicle control command based on the state of the vehicle occupant and vehicle data in relation to the target sleep state.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the targets sleep state is an increased state of sleepiness in relation to the state of the vehicle occupant.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein monitoring the physiological data of the vehicle occupant further includes determining a positive or negative effect on the state of the vehicle occupant in relation to the target sleep state and determining the second vehicle control command based on the determination of the positive or negative effect.