ALERT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20130342337A1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: KIEFER, RAYMOND J., GREEN, CHARLES A., GRIMM, DONALD K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/16 operating with systems involving rotary unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/981 Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle is provided. The method includes: receiving alert settings configured by a user through a user interface; and selectively generating an alert pattern for at least one of a haptic alert device, an auditory alert device, and a visual alert device based on the alert settings.

Claims

1. A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving alert settings configured by a user through a user interface; and

selectively generating an alert pattern for at least one of a haptic alert device, an auditory alert device, and a visual alert device based on the alert settings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the alert settings is based on a user selecting at least one of an alert conditions type, a vehicle conditions type, a driving scenarios type, or a group of conditions type of an alert type selection menu of the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the alert settings is based on a user selecting a particular alert condition of an alert condition selection menu of the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the alert settings is based on a user selecting a particular group of conditions of a group of conditions selection menu of the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the alert settings is based on a user selecting a particular driving scenario of a driving scenario selection menu of the user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the receiving the alert settings is based on a user selecting a vehicle condition of a vehicle conditions selection menu of the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the alert settings is based on a user selecting a driver of a driver selection menu.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the alert settings is based on a key fob, where each driver of the vehicle is associated with a different key fob.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the alert settings is based on a user selecting an alert device from an alert device selection menu of the user interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert settings are based on at least one of a location of the alert within an alert device, an auditory type of the alert, a visual type of the alert, a duration of the alert, a rate of a vibration pulse of the alert, a rate of a sound of the alert, a rate of a visual of the alert, a frequency of a vibration pulse of the alert, a frequency of a sound of the alert, and a frequency of a visual of the alert.

11. A control system for alerting a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

a first module that receives alert settings configured by a user through a user interface; and

a second module that generates an alert pattern for at least one of a haptic alert device, an auditory alert device, and a visual alert device based on the alert settings.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives the alert settings based on a user selecting at least one of an alert conditions type, a vehicle conditions type, a driving scenarios type, or a group of conditions type of an alert type selection menu of the user interface.

13. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives the alert settings based on a user selecting a particular alert condition of an alert condition selection menu of the user interface.

14. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives the alert settings based on a user selecting a particular group of conditions of a group of conditions selection menu of the user interface.

15. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives the alert settings based on a user selecting a particular driving scenario of a driving scenario selection menu of the user interface.

16. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives the alert settings based on a user selecting a vehicle condition of a vehicle conditions selection menu of the user interface.

17. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives the alert settings based on a user selecting a driver of a driver selection menu.

18. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives the alert settings based on a user selecting an alert device from an alert device selection menu of the user interface.

19. The control system of claim 11, wherein the alert settings are based on at least one of a location of the alert within an alert device, an auditory type of the alert, a visual type of the alert, a duration of the alert, a rate of a vibration pulse of the alert, a rate of a sound of the alert, a rate of a visual of the alert, a frequency of a vibration pulse of the alert, a frequency of a sound of the alert, and a frequency of a visual of the alert.

20. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one collision avoidance system that generates conditions data; and

a control module that receives that the conditions data, that receives alert settings configured by a user through a user interface, and that generates an alert pattern for at least one of a haptic alert device, an auditory alert device, and a visual alert device based on the alert settings and the conditions data.