Moveable internal shock-absorbing energy dissipation padding in an autonomous vehicle

• US 9,988,008 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atnomity Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Active Knowledge Ltd
• Inventors: Thieberger, Gil, Frank, Ari M
• Primary Examiner(s): MELTON, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US15/335,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20170113641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0034 lying down
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01013 Means for detecting collision, impending collision or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0273 automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/343 using deformable body panel, bodywork or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/346 means outside vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/055 Padded or energy-absorbing fittings , e.g. seat belt anchors sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/06 Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass B60R21/026 , B60R21/11, B60R21/12, B60R21/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/06 of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 : Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 : Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

Described herein is utilization of nontransparent Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP) in an autonomous on-road vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a side window located at eye level of an occupant who sits in the vehicle. The side window enables the occupant to see the outside environment. A motor is configured to move the SAEDP over a sliding mechanism between first and second states. A processor is configured to command the motor to move the SAEDP from the first state to the second state responsive to an indication that a probability of an imminent collision reaches a threshold. In the first state, the SAEDP does not block the occupant'"'"'s eye level view to the outside environment, and in the second state, the SAEDP blocks the occupant'"'"'s eye level view to the outside environment in order to protect the occupant'"'"'s head against hitting the side window during collision.

Claims

1. An autonomous on-road vehicle, comprising:

a side window located at eye level of an occupant who sits in the vehicle;

whereby the window enables the occupant to see the outside environment;

a nontransparent Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP);

a motor configured to move the SAEDP between first and second states multiple times without having to be repaired; and

a processor configured to receive an indication that a probability of an imminent collision reaches a threshold, and to command the motor to move the SAEDP from the first state to the second state;

wherein in the first state the SAEDP does not block the occupant'"'"'s eye level view to the outside environment, and in the second state the SAEDP blocks the occupant'"'"'s eye level view to the outside environment in order to protect the occupant'"'"'s head against hitting the side window during collision.

2. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive from an autonomous-driving control system the indication that the probability of the imminent collision reaches the threshold, and the processor is further configured to receive an updated indication that the probability of the imminent collision does not reach a second threshold, and to command the motor to move the SAEDP to the first state;

whereby the second threshold denotes a probability for a collision that is equal or lower than the threshold.

3. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to move the SAEDP over a sliding mechanism, and the processor is configured to command the motor to start moving the SAEDP to the second state at least 0.2 second before the collision.

4. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a display configured to present to the occupant a video of the threat in order to explain why the SAEDP moved to the second state.

5. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the side window is a power window;

the power window comprises a window regulator that transfers power from a window motor to the side window glass in order to move it up or down; and

wherein the SAEDP is coupled to an SAEDP regulator that transfers power from an SAEDP motor to the SAEDP in order to move it up or down;

wherein the SAEDP regulator is located closer to the inner side of the compartment relative to the window regulator.

6. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the SAEDP comprises a passive material, which is less stiff than a standard automotive glass window;

and wherein the passive material has a thickness ranging from 1 cm to 15 cm.

7. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a camera configured to take video of the outside environment while the SAEDP is in the second state, a computer configured to generate a representation of the outside environment based on the video, and a display configured to present the representation of the outside environment to the occupant.

8. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 7, wherein the camera is coupled to the SAEDP, and thus moves with the SAEDP when it is moved between the first and second states.

9. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 7, wherein the display is coupled to the SAEDP, and thus moves with the SAEDP when it is moved between the first and second states.

10. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 9, wherein the display is a flexible display that is configured to show, at eye level, a representation of the outside environment when the SAEDP is in the second state.

11. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 7, wherein the camera comprises multiple cameras directed to multiple directions around the vehicle, and the computer is configured to generate at least two different representations of the outside environment, from at least two different points of view, for two occupants who sit in the vehicle.

12. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the SAEDP moves upwards when switching from the first state to the second state, and the top of the SAEDP has a shape in the form of a triangle or a quarter circle;

whereby said shape reduces the risk of squeezing the occupant'"'"'s fingers or limb between the top of the SAEDP and an upper frame when moving the SAEDP to the second state.

13. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein when moving the SAEDP quickly from the first state to the second state, the SAEDP is configured not to cover a range of 1 to 5 cm of the top height of the window;

whereby said range reduces the risk of squeezing the occupant'"'"'s fingers or limb by the edge of the SAEDP when moving the SAEDP to the second state.

14. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a storage space in a door of the vehicle;

wherein the storage space is configured to store the SAEDP in the first state.

15. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a storage space in the roof of the vehicle;

wherein the storage space is configured to store the SAEDP in the first state.

16. An autonomous on-road vehicle, comprising:

a compartment;

a nontransparent Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP) that is coupled to the compartment and is located, during normal driving, at eye level to the left of the occupant who sits in a front seat of the vehicle;

wherein the SAEDP obstructs at least 30 degrees out of the horizontal unaided field of view (FOV) to the outside environment to the left of the occupant at eye level;

a stiff element configured to support the SAEDP and to resist deformation during collision in order to reduce compartment intrusion;

wherein the stiff element is located, during normal driving, at eye level between the SAEDP and the outside environment;

a camera configured to take video of the outside environment to the left of the occupant; and

a computer configured to generate, based on the video, a representation of the outside environment to the left of the occupant at eye level.

17. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 16, wherein the SAEDP is fixed to the left door of the vehicle, and the vehicle has just one seat, or the vehicle has two front seats and the occupant sits in the left front seat.

18. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 16, wherein the SAEDP comprises a passive material, which is less stiff than a standard automotive glass window;

and wherein the passive material has a thickness ranging from 1 cm to 15 cm.

19. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 16, wherein the SAEDP obstructs at least 45 degrees out of the horizontal unaided FOV to the outside environment to the left of the occupant at eye level.

20. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a second SAEDP located at eye level to the right of the occupant who sits in the front seat, and a second stiff element located at eye level between the second SAEDP and the outside environment;

wherein the second SAEDP obstructs at least 20 degrees out of the horizontal unaided FOV to the outside environment to the right of the occupant at eye level, and the computer is further configured to generate a second representation of the outside environment to the right of the occupant.