Vehicle communication system and method

• US 20090192677A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: O'Boyle, Michael Edmund, Cech, Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A vehicle communication system and communication steering wheel is provided. The communication steering wheel includes a display, a wireless transceiver configured to operably connect to a wireless device, a sensor, configured to obtain directional steering information and a controller, configured to receive input from the wireless transceiver and the sensor and output a signal to the display based on the received input.

Claims

1. A communication steering wheel, comprising:

a display;

a wireless transceiver configured to operably connect to a wireless device;

a sensor, configured to obtain directional steering information; and

a controller, configured to receive input from the wireless transceiver and the sensor and output a signal to the display based on the received input.

2. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is configured to output information to a driver.

3. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display comprises one or more of an inorganic LED, an organic LED, an LCD display, a TFT display, an incandescent bulb, a plasma display and a CRT display.

4. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless device using a short-range, low power communication protocol.

5. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless device using the Bluetooth®

protocol.

6. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless device using a wireless fidelity protocol.

7. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless device is any one of a cell phone, PDA, laptop or other portable electronic device.

8. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least one of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angle rate, tilt and inertia.

9. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal can convey information of any one of telephony commands, caller ID information, audio, text, video, images, navigation information, turn-by-turn directions, point of interest information, vehicle information or financial information.

10. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a navigation system, configured to receive input from the wireless device via the wireless transceiver.

11. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker, configured to receive a signal from the controller and output an audio signal.

12. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to initiate communication with third party devices using the wireless device.

13. A communication steering wheel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured to input data to the controller.

15. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a navigation system, operably connected to the controller, configured to receive input from the wireless device; and

at least one vehicle sensor, configured to collect and provide sensor information about the vehicle to the navigation system.

16. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor information is at least one of directional heading, acceleration, braking, velocity, yaw, and pitch.

17. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the display is configured to output information to a driver.

18. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the display comprises one or more of an inorganic LED, an organic LED, an LCD display, a TFT display, an incandescent bulb, a plasma display and a CRT display.

19. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless device using a short-range, low power communication protocol.

20. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless device using the Bluetooth®

protocol.

21. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless device using a wireless fidelity protocol.

22. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless device is any one of a cell phone, PDA, laptop or other portable electronic device.

23. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the steering sensor is configured to measure at least one of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angle rate, tilt and inertia.

24. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signal can convey information of any one of telephony commands, caller ID information, audio, text, video, images, navigation information, turn-by-turn directions, point of interest information, vehicle information or financial information.

25. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a speaker, configured to receive a signal from the controller and output an audio signal.

14. A vehicle communication system, comprising:

a steering wheel, comprising;

a wireless transceiver configured to operably connect to a wireless device;

a steering sensor, configured to obtain directional steering information; and

a controller, configured to receive input from the wireless transceiver and the sensor and output a signal to the display based on the received input.

26. A method for providing driver guidance, comprising:

receiving navigation information from a wireless device;

receiving data from one or more sensors;

determining whether a current heading is accurate based on the received navigation information and received data; and

displaying a message to the driver based on an accuracy of the current heading.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the message is configured to warn the driver of excessive speed, excessive acceleration, excessive braking, insufficient braking, under-steering or over-steering.

28. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the message is configured to warn the driver of a incorrect heading or incorrect turn.