Shock-absorbing energy dissipation padding placed at eye level in an autonomous vehicle

• US 10,717,402 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2018
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• 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
• Application Number:
  US15/871,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20180154852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 919 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

A Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP) is coupled to the compartment of an autonomous on-road vehicle, and is located, during normal driving, at eye level in front of an occupant who sits in a front seat of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a stiff element that supports the SAEDP and resists deformation during collision in order to reduce compartment intrusion. The stiff element is located, during normal driving, at eye level between the SAEDP and the outside environment. Optionally, a camera takes video of the outside environment in front of the occupant, and a computer generates for the occupant a representation of the outside environment.

Claims

1. 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 in front of an occupant who sits in a front seat of the vehicle; and

a stiff element configured to support the SAEDP.

2. 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;

whereby the SAEDP protects the occupant'"'"'s head against hitting the inner side of the vehicle compartment during a collision.

3. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 2, wherein the passive material has thickness greater than 1 cm.

4. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the SAEDP comprises an automotive airbag configured to protect the occupant'"'"'s head against hitting the inner side of the vehicle compartment during collision;

wherein during normal driving the airbag is located, at its stowed state, at eye level in front of the occupant.

5. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the SAEDP comprises a pneumatic pad configured to inflate in order to protect the occupant'"'"'s head against hitting the inner side of the vehicle compartment during collision.

6. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second SAEDP coupled to the outer front of the vehicle to minimize damage to a pedestrian during a pedestrian-vehicle collision.

7. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stiff element is nontransparent, it resists deformation during collision in order to reduce compartment intrusion, and is located, during normal driving, at eye level between the SAEDP and the outside environment.

8. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stiff element is an automotive window and is located, during normal driving, at eye level between the SAEDP and the outside environment.

9. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a camera configured to take video of the outside environment in front of the occupant, and a computer configured to generate, based on the video, a representation of the outside environment in front of the occupant at eye level.

10. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 9, wherein the representation is generated from the point of view of the occupant.

11. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a display configured to present the representation to the occupant.

12. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 11, wherein the display is supported by at least one of the SAEDP and the stiff element, and the display is flexible enough such that it does not degrade the performance of the SAEDP by more than 20% during a collision.

13. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a head-mounted display (HMD) configured to present the representation to the occupant, and a communication system configured to transmit the representation to the HMD.

14. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 9, wherein the camera comprises multiple cameras directed to multiple directions around the vehicle, and the multiple cameras support generating multiple representations of the outside environment from different points of view.

15. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 9, wherein the computer is further configured to manipulate the representation in order to improve the look of the outside environment.

16. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 15, wherein manipulating of the representation includes at least one of the following manipulations:

converting captured video of a winter day to video of a sunny day by preserving main items in the captured video and applying effects of a sunny day, converting unpleasant environment to a nice one, and converting standard vehicles to futuristic or old fashion vehicles.

17. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a crumple zone located at eye level between the stiff element and the outside environment.

18. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle weighs less than 1,000 kg and is designed to carry up to two occupants.

19. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle weighs less than 500 kg without batteries and comprises an engine that is able to sustain continuously at most 40 horsepower.

20. The autonomous on-road vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle weighs less than 400 kg without batteries and is designed to carry up to two occupants.