SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED CONTINUOUS AWARENESS IN VEHICLES USING HAPTIC FEEDBACK

• US 20160107570A1
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: MODARRES, Ali, CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan Manuel, GRANT, Danny A., OLIEN, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 9,827,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2520/00 Input parameters relating to overall vehicle dynamics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/00 Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00
• 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: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system

Abstract

A system for a vehicle includes a sensor configured to sense information associated with the vehicle'"'"'s surroundings, environment and/or condition and output a sensor signal based on the sensed information, a processor configured to receive the sensor signal, determine haptic feedback for the system to display based on the sensor signal, and output a haptic control signal, and a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic control signal from the processor and generate the haptic feedback to a driver of the vehicle based on the haptic control signal.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense information associated with the vehicle'"'"'s surroundings, environment and/or condition and output a sensor signal based on the sensed information;

a processor configured to receive the sensor signal, determine haptic feedback for the system to display based on the sensor signal, and output a haptic control signal; and

a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic control signal from the processor and generate the haptic feedback to a driver of the vehicle based on the haptic control signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is located in a seat of the driver of the vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the information sensed by the sensor comprises a location of a second vehicle relative to the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the haptic feedback comprises kinesthetic feedback that moves within the seat to indicate the location of the second vehicle relative to the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the information sensed by the sensor comprises a location of a marker on a road on which the vehicle is travelling relative to the vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the haptic feedback comprises a kinesthetic haptic effect that moves within the seat to indicate the location of the marker on the road relative to the vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is located at a steering wheel of the vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the haptic output device is configured to cause a deformation or change of stiffness of the steering wheel for the haptic feedback.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is located at a seat belt of the driver.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the haptic feedback comprises kinesthetic feedback and/or vibrotactile feedback.

11. A method comprising:

sensing information from a vehicle'"'"'s surroundings, environment and/or condition with at least one sensor;

determining haptic feedback to generate to a driver of the vehicle based on the information sensed by the sensor and generating a haptic control signal with a processor; and

generating the haptic feedback to the driver with a haptic output device based on the haptic control signal received from the processor.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the haptic feedback comprises kinesthetic feedback.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the haptic feedback comprises vibrotactile feedback.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s seat;

a seat belt;

a steering wheel; and

a system for providing haptic feedback to a driver of the vehicle, the system comprising

a sensor configured to sense information associated with the vehicle'"'"'s surroundings, environment and/or condition and output a sensor signal based on the sensed information,

a processor configured to receive the sensor signal, determine haptic feedback for the system to display based on the sensor signal, and output a haptic control signal, and

a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic control signal from the processor and generate the haptic feedback to the driver of the vehicle based on the haptic control signal.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the haptic output device is configured to generate kinesthetic feedback.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising a second haptic output device, wherein the second haptic output device is configured to generate vibrotactile feedback.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the haptic output device is located in the driver'"'"'s seat.

18. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the haptic output device is located in the steering wheel.

19. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the haptic output device is operatively connected to the seat belt.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the haptic output device is part of a tensioning mechanism for the seat belt and is configured to generate kinesthetic feedback.

21. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the haptic output device is embedded within the seat belt and is configured to generate vibrotactile feedback.