Methods and systems for controlling vehicle body motion and occupant experience

• US 9,868,332 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Zackary Martin, Giovanardi, Marco, Ekchian, Jack A., Godwin, Olivia D., Tucker, Clive, Laplante, John A., Graves, William, Avadhany, Shakeel, Finnegan, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US15/303,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20170136842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/017 characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes 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 2400/05 Attitude
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/016 Yawing condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/002 Suspension details of the suspension of the vehicle body on the vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• 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: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 : rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 : actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 : Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 : using a database
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/042 : providing simulation in a real vehicle G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

In one embodiment, one or more suspension systems of a vehicle may be used to mitigate motion sickness by limiting motion in one or more frequency ranges. In another embodiment, an active suspension may be integrated with an autonomous vehicle architecture. In yet another embodiment, the active suspension system of a vehicle may be used to induce motion in a vehicle. The vehicle may be used as a testbed for technical investigations and/or as a platform to enhance the enjoyment of video and/or audio by vehicle occupants. In some embodiments, the active suspensions system may be used to perform gestures as a means of communication with persons inside or outside the vehicle. In some embodiments, the active suspensions system may be used to generate haptic warnings to a vehicle operator or other persons in response to certain road situations.

Claims

1. A method of mitigating motion sickness in a vehicle, the method comprising:

mitigating motion of at least a portion of the vehicle within a first frequency range by a first degree during a first mode of operation;

detecting an event indicating an increased likelihood of motion sickness of at least one occupant of the vehicle;

mitigating motion of the portion of the vehicle within the first frequency range by a second degree, different than the first degree, during a second mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating at least one actuator that controls movement in the vertical direction of the vehicle to mitigate the motion of the vehicle body in the first mode and the second mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one actuator comprises an active suspension system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second degree is greater than the first degree.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the active suspension system consumes more average power during the second mode of operation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein mitigation of motion in a second frequency range during the second mode is more than during the first mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first frequency range is between or equal to about 0.05 Hz and 10 Hz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first frequency range is between or equal to about 2 Hz and 8 Hz.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event indicating increased likelihood of motion sickness includes receiving an occupant input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event indicating increased likelihood of motion sickness includes detecting motion patterns associated with motion sickness.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event indicating increased likelihood of motion sickness includes detecting a physiological response of at least one occupant of the vehicle that is associated with the increased likelihood of motion sickness.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological response is measured using at least one of a sensor in the vehicle and a wearable electronic device in wireless communication with a controller of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the event indicating increased likelihood of motion sickness includes using GPS coordinates of the vehicle to identify areas associated with the increased likelihood of motion sickness.

14. A vehicle comprising:

an active suspension system;

an active suspension system controller in communication with the active suspension system;

at least one sensor or an input in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the controller detects an increased likelihood of motion sickness of an occupant of the vehicle using information from the at least one sensor or input, and wherein the controller operates the active suspension system to mitigate motion in a frequency range to a greater degree when the increased likelihood of motion sickness of the occupant has been detected.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the active suspension system consumes more average power when the active suspension system mitigates motion in the frequency range to a greater degree.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the frequency range is between or equal to about 0.05 Hz and 10 Hz.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the frequency range is between or equal to about 2 Hz and 8 Hz.

18. A method of operating an active suspension system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting movement of a vehicle within a first frequency range with a first magnitude;

operating the active suspension system of the vehicle to induce motion in the vehicle within a second frequency range with a second magnitude.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are approximately equal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are offset in phase.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first magnitude is less than or equal to the second magnitude.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first magnitude is greater than the second magnitude.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the first frequency is between 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz.