Technologies for vehicle turn blinker audio and display processing

• US 9,527,440 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Smith, Shea
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMSON, SARA B
• Application Number:
  US14/583,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20160185282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

A system and method for processing turn signal data for a vehicle. A turning signal module may activate a turn signal for the vehicle, while a turning audio module generates audio indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal, and a turning display module generates visual indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal. A processor may receive and process vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic, where the processor may be configured to provide modification data to modify one or more audio characteristics of the audio indicia generated by the turning audio module and/or one or more visual characteristics of the visual indicia generated by the turning display module in response to the determined vehicle characteristic.

Claims

1. A system for processing turn signal data for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a turning signal module for activating a turn signal for the vehicle;

a turning audio module for generating audio indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal;

a turning display module for generating visual indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal; and

processing means for receiving and processing vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic, wherein the processing means is configured to provide modification data to modify (i) one or more audio characteristics of the audio indicia generated by the turning audio module and (ii) one or more visual characteristics of the visual indicia generated by the turning display module in response to the determined vehicle characteristic,

wherein the processing means is configured to modify the audio characteristics by modifying at least one of a volume and a frequency of the audio characteristic based on the modification data provided based on the determined vehicle characteristic,

wherein the processing means is configured to modify the visual characteristics by modifying an illumination, a frequency of illumination, and a graphic display of the visual characteristic based on the modification data provided based on the determined vehicle characteristic, and

wherein the vehicle data comprises data received from one or more of an engine module, a speedometer module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, and a radio/entertainment module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing means is configured to receive communication data comprising instructions for providing the modification data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication data comprises instructions received from a portable device communicatively coupled to the vehicle, wherein the instructions are associated with a turning signal environment for the vehicle.

4. A method for processing turn signal data for a vehicle, the method comprising:

activating, by a turning signal module, a turn signal for the vehicle;

processing, by a processor, vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic;

providing, by the processor, modification data in response to the determined vehicle characteristic to modify

(i) one or more audio characteristics of audio indicia generated by a turning audio module in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal based on the modification data provided based on the determined vehicle characteristic, and

(ii) one or more visual characteristics, of visual indicia generated by a turning display module in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal based on the modification data provided based on the determined vehicle characteristic wherein providing modification data comprises providing data to modify at least one of an illumination and a graphic display of the visual characteristic,

wherein providing modification data comprises providing data to modify at least one of an illumination and a graphic display of the visual characteristic, and

wherein processing vehicle data comprises processing data received from one or more of an engine module, a speedometer module, a global positioning system (GPS module, and a radio/entertainment module.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing modification data comprises providing data to modify at least one of a volume and a frequency of the one or more audio characteristics.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein providing modification data comprises providing data to gradually modify at least one of a volume and a frequency of the audio characteristic.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein providing modification data comprises.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving communication data comprising instructions for providing the modification data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication data comprises instructions associated with a turning signal environment for the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication data comprises instructions received from a portable device communicatively coupled to the vehicle.

11. A system for processing turn signal data for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a turning signal module for activating a turn signal for the vehicle;

a turning audio module for generating audio indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal;

a turning display module for generating visual indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal; and

a processor for receiving and processing vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic, wherein the processor is configured to provide modification data to modify (i) one or more audio characteristics of the audio indicia generated by the turning audio module based on the modification data provided based on the determined vehicle characteristic and (ii) one or more visual characteristics of the visual indicia generated by the turning display module in response to the determined vehicle characteristic based on the modification data provided based on the determined vehicle characteristic,

wherein the vehicle data comprises data received from one or more of an engine module, a speedometer module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, and a radio/entertainment module, and

wherein the processor is configured to modify the visual characteristic by modifying at least one of an illumination and a graphic display of the visual characteristic.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to modify the audio characteristics by modifying at least one of a volume and a frequency of the audio characteristic.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to gradually modify at least one of a volume and a frequency of the audio characteristic.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive communication data comprising instructions for providing the modification data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication data comprises instructions associated with a turning signal environment for the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication data comprises instructions received from a portable device communicatively coupled to the vehicle.