Anti-vibration driver assist

• US 11,292,516 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 04/05/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Castro Guzman, Christian, Pulido Plauchud, Maria Fernanda, Perez Barrera, Oswaldo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US16/468,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20190315401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 1882667
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1101 Detecting tremor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/222 acting on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/26 Handlebar grips twist grips B62K23/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/005 using electro- or magnetostrictive actuation means generating of mechanical vibrations operating with electrostriction B06B1/06, with magnetostriction B06B1/08; vehicle suspension arrangements characterised by use of piezoelectric elements B60G17/01941; piezoelectric, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive devices per se H10N30/00

Abstract

A vehicle anti-vibration device includes a vibration sensor programmed to detect vibrations and output a vibration signal representing the vibrations detected. The device further includes a motor that vibrates in accordance with a vibration dampening signal, a communication interface programmed to wirelessly transmit the vibration signal to a remote device, and a processor programmed to process the vibration signal and generate the vibration dampening signal to dampen the vibrations detected.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-vibration device comprising:

a vibration sensor programmed to detect vibrations and output a vibration signal representing the vibrations detected;

an electroactive stiffener that stiffens in accordance with a vibration dampening signal;

a communication interface programmed to wirelessly transmit the vibration signal to a remote device; and

a processor programmed to process the vibration signal and generate the vibration dampening signal to dampen the vibrations detected;

the processor is further programmed to decrease the stiffness of the electroactive stiffener to dampen the vibrations detected.

2. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to output the vibration signal to a user interface located in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

3. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing; and

a first strap disposed on the housing for attaching the vehicle anti-vibration device to a steering wheel.

4. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 3, further comprising a second strap disposed on the housing and spaced from the first strap.

5. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the vibration sensor, the electroactive stiffener, the communication interface, and the processor are located inside the housing.

6. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface includes an input/output port for connecting to the remote device.

7. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 1, further comprising a battery that outputs electrical energy to at least one of the vibration sensor, the communication interface, and the processor.

8. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to command the communication interface to transmit the vibration signal to the remote device.

9. The vehicle anti-vibration device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to command the communication interface to transmit historical data to the remote device with the vibration signal.

10. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:

at least one vibration sensor programmed to detect vibrations and output a vibration signal representing the vibrations detected;

an electroactive stiffener that stiffens in accordance with a vibration dampening signal;

a communication interface programmed to wirelessly transmit the vibration signal to a remote device; and

a processor programmed to process the vibration signal and generate the vibration dampening signal to dampen the vibrations detected;

the processor is further programmed to decrease the stiffness of the electroactive stiffener to dampen the vibrations detected.

11. The vehicle steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the processor is programmed to output the vibration signal to a user interface located in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

12. The vehicle steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the electroactive stiffener is formed from an electroactive polymer having a stiffness that increases in accordance with an electric field.

13. The vehicle steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the communication interface includes an input/output port for connecting to the remote device.

14. The vehicle steering wheel of claim 10, further comprising a battery that outputs electrical energy to at least one of the vibration sensor, the communication interface, and the processor.

15. The vehicle steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the processor is programmed to command the communication interface to transmit the vibration signal to the remote device.

16. The vehicle steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the processor is programmed to command the communication interface to transmit historical data to the remote device with the vibration signal.

17. A handlebar comprising:

at least one vibration sensor programmed to detect vibrations and output a vibration signal representing the vibrations detected;

an electroactive stiffener that stiffens in accordance with a vibration dampening signal;

a communication interface programmed to wirelessly transmit the vibration signal to a remote device; and

a processor programmed to process the vibration signal and generate the vibration dampening signal to dampen the vibrations detected;

the processor is further programmed to decrease the stiffness of the electroactive stiffener to dampen the vibrations detected.

18. The handlebar of claim 17, wherein the communication interface includes an input/output port for connecting to the remote device.

19. The handlebar of claim 17, wherein the processor is programmed to command the communication interface to transmit the vibration signal and historical data to the remote device.