Vehicle Operator Control Input Assistance

• US 20110063425A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tieman, Craig A.
• Application Number:
  US12/559,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/20 Optical features of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/141 Activation by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/152 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/20 Optical features of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A vehicle operating system that assists a vehicle operator with locating a control input of a vehicle device so as to minimize operator distraction when operating the vehicle device. The system includes a camera having a first perspective view of the control input, a display readily observed by the operator, and a processor configured to process a signal from the camera to determine a hand position of a hand approaching the control input and output a display signal having a second perspective view of the control input that is dependent on the operator'"'"'s hand position relative to the control input. The second perspective view corresponds to that of a virtual camera attached to the operator'"'"'s forearm or wrist, and so provides a perspective view that is substantially fixed relative to the hand.

Claims

1. A vehicle operating system comprising:

a device in a vehicle having a control input for an operator to control the device;

a camera arranged to have a first perspective view of the control input and configured to output a camera signal corresponding to the first perspective view;

a display arranged to be readily observed by the operator; and

a processor configured to receive the camera signal, determine a hand position of a hand approaching the control input based on the camera signal, and output a processed camera signal to the display for assisting the operator with locating the control input, wherein said processed camera signal provides a second perspective view corresponding to a virtual camera arranged to have a view that is substantially fixed relative to the hand.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second perspective view corresponds to a virtual camera coupled substantially close to the hand.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, said processor configured to determine the hand position from the camera signal by comparing the camera signal to a prior camera signal.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, said processor coupled to the control input, said control input configured to output an indication that the control input is being touched, and said processor configured to receive the indication that the control input is being touched and include in the processed camera signal an indication that the control input is being touched.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, said processor coupled to the control input, said control input configured to output an indication that the control input is being actuated, and said processor configured to receive the indication that the control input is being actuated and include in the processed camera signal an indication that the control input is being actuated.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second perspective view corresponds to a virtual camera coupled substantially close to the hand.

6. A method of operating a vehicle comprising a device in the vehicle having a control input for an operator to control the device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a camera signal having a first perspective view of the control input;

determining a hand position of a hand approaching the control input based on the camera signal;

generating a processed camera signal having a second perspective view that is substantially fixed relative to the hand; and

displaying a processed camera signal to assist the operator with locating the control input.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of determining a hand position includes comparing the camera signal to a prior camera signal.

9. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said control input is configured to output an indication that the control input is being touched, and the step of generating a processed camera signal includes providing an indication that the control input is being touched.

10. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said control input is configured to output an indication that the control input is being actuated, and the step of generating a processed camera signal includes providing an indication that the control input is being actuated.