Vehicle interface to communicate a safety alert mode command

• US 20070078569A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Schox, Joshua Coombs
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Schox, Joshua Coombs
• Inventors: Schox, Jeffrey, Coombs, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US11/239,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/02 Spring characteristics , e.g. mechanical springs and mechanical adjusting meansB60G17/005, B60G17/015 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/90 Other conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/222 during collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/224 automatically, based on dangerous living style
• 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: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/00 Safety equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/00 Rider-operated controls specially adapted for cycles, i.e. means for initiating control operations, e.g. levers, grips specially adapted to cycle brake mechanisms B62L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/042 operated by hand
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/044 operated by feet, e.g. pedals

Abstract

One of the embodiments of the invention includes an interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle. The interface preferably includes an engagement system to engage the torso and an appendage of a user, a sensor system to sense forces imparted by the user, and a processor to interpret a vehicle “safety alert mode” command based on a shift of the user and to communicate the vehicle “safety alert mode” command to a vehicle. The vehicle, armed with this vehicle “safety alert mode” command, may initiate a defensive action, such as tightening the suspension, lowering the vehicle, inflating an external and/or internal airbag, or any other suitable action.

Claims

1. An interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle, comprising:

an engagement system adapted to engage the torso and an appendage of a user;

a sensor system coupled to the engagement system and adapted to sense forces imparted by the user; and

a processor coupled to the sensor system and adapted to interpret a vehicle “

safety alert mode”

command based on a shift of the user and to communicate the vehicle “

safety alert mode”

command to a vehicle.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the engagement system includes a handbase.

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein the handbase is a steering wheel.

4. The interface of claim 2, wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense forces imparted by the appendage of the user on the handbase.

5. The interface of claim 3, wherein the sensor system includes a load cell coupled to the handbase.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein the engagement system includes a seat back.

7. The interface of claim 6, wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense forces imparted by the torso of the user on the seat back.

8. The interface of claim 7, wherein the sensor system includes a load cell coupled to the seat back.

9. The interface of claim 1, wherein the engagement system includes a seat bottom.

10. The interface of claim 9, wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense forces imparted by the torso of the user on the seat bottom.

11. The interface of claim 10, wherein the sensor system includes a load cell coupled to the seat bottom.

12. The interface of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle “

safety alert mode”

command based on a shift of the user that braces the user for a perceived potential collision of the vehicle.

13. The interface of claim 1, wherein the vehicle, when armed with the vehicle “

safety alert mode”

command, is adapted to initiate a defensive action.

14. The interface of claim 13, wherein the defensive action includes one or more of the following:

tightening a suspension of the vehicle, lowering the height of the vehicle, and inflating a supplemental inflatable restraint of the vehicle.

15. The interface of claim 1, wherein the vehicle “

safety alarm mode”

command is communicated to more than one vehicle.