System for providing alerts to vehicle occupants
First Claim
1. A method for generating an alert to one or more occupants of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first input signal from a first vehicle safety system, said first input signal indicative of a first alert condition;
generating a first output signal responsive to said first input signal; and
,wirelessly transmitting said first output signal to a first portable device having a first haptic actuator, the first portable device configured to be mechanically disconnected from the vehicle while in physical contact with a first occupant of the vehicle;
wherein said first output signal is configured to activate the first haptic actuator to cause a first vibratory movement of the first portable device;
wherein, prior to receiving the first input signal, a signal is wirelessly transmitted to the first portable device, the signal configured to prevent activation of the haptic actuator in the absence of the first output signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for generating an alert to one or more occupants of a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an input signal from a vehicle safety system. The input signal is indicative of an alert condition (e.g. an impending collision). The method further includes generating an output signal responsive to said input signal and wirelessly transmitting the output signal to the portable device. The portable device, such as a cellular communications device, has a haptic actuator and is configured to be mechanically disconnected from the vehicle while in physical contact with an occupant of the vehicle. The output signal, which may be transmitted directly to the portable device using short-range wireless communication protocols, is configured to activate the haptic actuator to cause a vibratory movement of the portable device and alert the vehicle occupant to the alert condition.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for generating an alert to one or more occupants of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first input signal from a first vehicle safety system, said first input signal indicative of a first alert condition; generating a first output signal responsive to said first input signal; and
,wirelessly transmitting said first output signal to a first portable device having a first haptic actuator, the first portable device configured to be mechanically disconnected from the vehicle while in physical contact with a first occupant of the vehicle; wherein said first output signal is configured to activate the first haptic actuator to cause a first vibratory movement of the first portable device; wherein, prior to receiving the first input signal, a signal is wirelessly transmitted to the first portable device, the signal configured to prevent activation of the haptic actuator in the absence of the first output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for generating an alert to one or more occupants of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first input signal from a first vehicle safety system, said first input signal indicative of a first alert condition; receiving a second input signal from one of the first vehicle safety system and a second vehicle safety system, said second input signal indicative of a second alert condition different from said first alert condition; generating a first output signal responsive to said first input signal; generating a second output signal responsive to said second input signal; wirelessly transmitting said first and second output signals to a first portable device having a haptic actuator, the first portable device configured to be mechanically disconnected from the vehicle while in physical contact with a first occupant of the vehicle wherein said first output signal is configured to activate the haptic actuator to cause a first vibratory movement of the first portable device and said second output signal is configured to activate the haptic actuator to cause a second vibratory movement of the first portable device, the second vibratory movement different from the first vibratory movement in at least one of duration, frequency and intensity; associating the first vibratory movement with said first input signal responsive to a first configuration signal; and
,associating the second vibratory movement with said second input signal responsive to a second configuration signal; wherein, prior to receiving the first and second input signals, a signal is wirelessly transmitted to the first portable device, the signal configured to prevent activation of the haptic actuator in the absence of one of the first and second output signals. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A system for generating an alert to one or more occupants of a vehicle, comprising:
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a first vehicle safety system; and
,a controller coupled to said first vehicle safety system and configured to; receive a first input signal from said first vehicle safety system, said first input signal indicative of a first alert condition; generate a first output signal responsive to said first input signal; and
,wirelessly transmit said first output signal to a first portable device having a haptic actuator, the first portable device configured to be mechanically disconnected from the vehicle while in physical contact with a first occupant of the vehicle; wherein said first output signal is configured to activate the haptic actuator to cause a first vibratory movement of the first portable device; wherein, prior to receiving the first input signal, a signal is wirelessly transmitted to the first portable device, the signal configured to prevent activation of the haptic actuator in the absence of the first output signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification