Method For Monitoring Operation Of A Vehicle And Graphically Conveying G-Force To A Driver

• US 20150219681A1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: VARUGHESE, Sibu, NESPOLO, Martin, GOLSCH, Kyle, UPMANUE, Vikas, ZHANG, Yu, MCBRIDE, Justin, DAMAN, Laith, HORVATH, Cary, KRZYZAK, Thomas Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,465,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/167 Vehicle dynamics information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values

Abstract

A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle. The method includes the following: setting a gravitational force (g-force) threshold for operation of the vehicle; measuring a g-force onboard the vehicle; and conveying to an operator of the vehicle that operation of the vehicle has resulted in the measured g-force exceeding the g-force threshold

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle comprising:

setting a gravitational force (g-force) threshold for operation of the vehicle;

measuring a g-force onboard the vehicle; and

conveying to an operator of the vehicle that operation of the vehicle has resulted in the measured g-force exceeding the g-force threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the g-force threshold to 0.6 g.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the g-force threshold to 0.4 g.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the g-force threshold based on operator driving experience such that the g-force threshold is higher for more experienced operators.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising visually conveying to the operator of the vehicle that operation of the vehicle has resulted in the measured g-force exceeding the g-force threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising visually conveying the measured g-force with a graphical display controlled by a controller, the graphical display including a ball and a basket, the ball remains within the basket when the measured g-force is equal to or below the g-force threshold, and the ball moves out from within the basket when the measured g-force is above the g-force threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising moving the ball in a direction corresponding to the direction of the measured g-force such that:

the ball moves towards a front of the basket during vehicle acceleration, the ball moves towards a rear of the basket during vehicle deceleration, the ball moves towards a right side of the basket when the vehicle turns left, and the ball moves towards a left side of the basket when the vehicle turns right.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising illuminating a base portion of the basket when the vehicle is stationary or nearly stationary, illuminating an intermediate portion of the basket when the measured g-force is greater than zero and equal to or less than the g-force threshold, and illuminating an outer rim portion of the basket when the measured g-force is greater than the g-force threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the g-force using an accelerometer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

measuring the operator'"'"'s historical driving performance based on how many times the measured g-force exceeds the threshold;

alerting a third party external to the vehicle when the number of times that the measured g-force has exceeded the threshold is greater than a predetermined limit; and

generating a report of driving behavior or driving trends for self-awareness.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring the operator'"'"'s historical driving performance based on how many times the measured g-force exceeds the threshold; and

conveying the number of times the measured g-force has exceeded the threshold visually to the driver with a historical driving performance gauge.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the gauge includes a plurality of indicators;

the method further comprising subtracting one of the plurality of indicators each time the measured g-force exceeds the threshold, and adding one of the plurality of indicators after the vehicle is operated such that the measured g-force is at or below the threshold for a predetermine period of time or distance traveled.

13. A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle comprising:

setting a gravitational force (g-force) threshold for operation of the vehicle;

measuring a g-force onboard the vehicle;

graphically conveying direction and magnitude of the measured g-force to an operator of the vehicle;

graphically conveying to the operator that operation of the vehicle has resulted in the measured g-force exceeding the g-force threshold;

measuring the operator'"'"'s historical driving performance based on how many times the measured g-force has exceeded the g-force threshold; and

conveying the number of times that the measured g-force has exceeded the g-force threshold visually to the driver with a historical driving performance gauge.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising setting the g-force threshold based on operator experience such that the g-force threshold is higher for more experienced vehicle operators.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising subtracting one of a plurality of indicators included with the gauge each time the measured g-force exceeds the g-force threshold.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

conveying the measured g-force with a graphical display controlled by a controller, the graphical display including a ball and a basket, the ball remains within the basket when the measured g-force is equal to or below the g-force threshold, and the ball moves out from within the basket when the measured g-force is above the g-force threshold;

moving the ball in a direction corresponding to the direction of the measured g-force such that the ball moves towards a front of the basket during vehicle acceleration, the ball moves towards a rear of the basket during vehicle deceleration, the ball moves towards a right side of the basket when the car turns left, and the ball moves towards a left side of the basket when the car turns right;

illuminating a base portion of the basket when the vehicle is stationary or nearly stationary, illuminating an intermediate portion of the basket when the measured g-force is greater than zero and equal to or lower than the g-force threshold, and illuminating an outer rim portion of the basket when the measured g-force is greater than the g-force threshold; and

sending an alert for a third party external to the vehicle when the number of times that the measured g-force has exceeded the threshold is greater than a predetermined limit, the alert including video and audio of the operator'"'"'s driving performance.

17. A system configured to monitor operation of a vehicle comprising:

an accelerometer configured to be mounted to the vehicle to measure a gravitational force (g-force) onboard the vehicle;

a controller configured to receive an input setting a g-force threshold for operation of the vehicle, and to measure the operator'"'"'s historical driving performance based on how many times the measured g-force has exceeded the g-force threshold; and

a driving performance display configured to be operated by the controller to;

graphically convey to an operator of the vehicle direction and magnitude of the measured g-force;

graphically convey to the operator that operation of the vehicle has resulted in the measured g-force exceeding the g-force threshold; and

convey to the driver the number of times the measured g-force has exceeded the g-force threshold with a historical driving performance gauge including a plurality of indicators.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein controller is configured to subtract one of the plurality of indicators each time the measured g-force exceeds the g-force threshold.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to at least one of:

generate an alert for a third party external to the vehicle when the number of times that the measured g-force exceeds the threshold is greater than a predetermined limit;

add one of the plurality of indicators when the vehicle is operated at or below the g-force threshold for a predetermined distance of travel; and

generate a report of driving behavior or driving trends for driver self-awareness.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the alert includes video of the operator'"'"'s performance before, during, and after the measured g-force exceeds the g-force threshold.