Controlling access to an in-vehicle human-machine interface

• US 9,969,268 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, Adam Leonard, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US15/238,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20160355191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/197 Blocking or enabling of input functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/199 for avoiding maloperation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• 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 35/29 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0022 for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0027 : for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/003 : characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 : characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 : Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 : Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 : Wired data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 : Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/24 : Capacitance type, e.g. as level indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 : Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 : Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/21 : Voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 : Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 : Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 : Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 : specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 : for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 : adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 : to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

An in-vehicle computer is programmed to determine that a driver'"'"'s hands are at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel, determine that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and provide passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one electrocardiogram sensor; and

a computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to;

determine that data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor is from a driver of the vehicle;

detect the driver as distinguished from a passenger based on the data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor;

based on the data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor, determine that the driver'"'"'s hands are in at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermined location including a location on a steering wheel;

determine that the passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and

provide passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one capacitive sensor arranged to assist in locating at least one of the driver'"'"'s hands.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein determining that the driver'"'"'s hands are at the at least one predetermined location includes determining that palms and fingers of both of the driver'"'"'s hands are on the steering wheel.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in a display of the human machine interface arranged to provide data concerning a location of at least one of the driver'"'"'s hands.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to perform a validation to determine whether signals from the at least one electrocardiogram sensors represent a human heartbeat.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second sensors to provide the inputs for determining whether the passenger is in the safe position, and wherein the second sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

determine that the driver is coaching the passenger with respect to operation of the human-machine interface; and

revoke the passenger'"'"'s access to the operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the human-machine interface includes at least one of a visual display, a touchscreen, a speaker, and a microphone.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the safe position includes the passenger being spaced from the human-machine interface at least by a specified distance.

11. A method, comprising:

determining that data from at least one electrocardiogram sensor is from a driver of a vehicle;

detecting the driver as distinguished from a passenger based on the data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor;

determining, based on the data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor, that the driver'"'"'s hands are in at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermined location including a location on a steering wheel;

determining that the passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and

providing passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of a computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data from at least one capacitive sensor to assist in locating at least one of the driver'"'"'s hands.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining that the driver'"'"'s hands are at the at least one predetermined location includes determining that palms and fingers of both of the driver'"'"'s hands are on the steering wheel.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data from a sensor in a display of the human machine interface to assist in locating at least one of the driver'"'"'s hands.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising performing a validation to determine whether signals from the at least one electrocardiogram sensors represent a human heartbeat.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein a plurality of second sensors provide the inputs for determining whether the passenger is in the safe position, and wherein the second sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that the driver is coaching the passenger with respect to operation of the human-machine interface; and

revoking the passenger'"'"'s access to the operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the human-machine interface includes at least one of a visual display, a touchscreen, a speaker, and a microphone.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the safe position includes the passenger being spaced from the human-machine interface at least by a specified distance.