Technologies for vehicle turn blinker audio and display processing

A system and method for processing turn signal data for a vehicle. A turning signal module may activate a turn signal for the vehicle, while a turning audio module generates audio indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal, and a turning display module generates visual indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal. A processor may receive and process vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic, where the processor may be configured to provide modification data to modify one or more audio characteristics of the audio indicia generated by the turning audio module and/or one or more visual characteristics of the visual indicia generated by the turning display module in response to the determined vehicle characteristic.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed to vehicle turning component audio control. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to controlling audio generated from a turning audio module triggered by a turn switch, such as a vehicle turn stalk and the like.

Turn signal technology has existed in the vehicle industry for many years. In typical vehicle turn signal arrangements, a turn switch (e.g., turn stalk, locate in a turn wheel column) activates a turning signal mechanism in which visual indicia (e.g., blinking left/right arrows) and audio indicia (e.g., turn signal clicking) is provided to indicate to a driver whether a turn signal has been activated, and in which direction the turn signal is set. While conventional turn signal technology adequately provides notification of a turn signal condition, such notification is not always desired by a driver, and can become an annoyance when persistent turn signal audio is present.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a system is disclosed for processing turn signal data for a vehicle, comprising a turning signal module for activating a turn signal for the vehicle; a turning audio module for generating audio indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal; a turning display module for generating visual indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal; and processing means for receiving and processing vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic, wherein the processing means is configured to provide modification data to modify at least one of (i) one or more audio characteristics of the audio indicia generated by the turning audio module and (ii) one or more visual characteristics of the visual indicia generated by the turning display module in response to the determined vehicle characteristic, wherein the processing means is configured to modify the audio characteristics by modifying at least one of a volume and a frequency of the audio characteristic, and wherein the processing means is configured to modify the visual characteristics by modifying at least one of an illumination and a graphic display of the visual characteristic.

In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for processing turn signal data for a vehicle, comprising activating, by a turning signal module, a turn signal for the vehicle; processing, by a processor, vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic; and providing, by the processor, modification data in response to the determined vehicle characteristic to modify at least one of (i) one or more audio characteristics of audio indicia generated by a turning audio module in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal, and (ii) one or more visual characteristics of visual indicia generated by a turning display module in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal.

In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for processing turn signal data for a vehicle, comprising a turning signal module for activating a turn signal for the vehicle; a turning audio module for generating audio indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal; a turning display module for generating visual indicia in response to the turn signal module activating the turn signal; and a processor for receiving and processing vehicle data to determine a vehicle characteristic, wherein the processor is configured to provide modification data to modify at least one of (i) one or more audio characteristics of the audio indicia generated by the turning audio module and (ii) one or more visual characteristics of the visual indicia generated by the turning display module in response to the determined vehicle characteristic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It will also be understood that the term “module” as used herein does not limit the functionality to particular physical modules, but may include any number of tangibly-embodied software and/or hardware components. For example the various modules, logic, and other components of the present disclosure may form a portion of, or otherwise be established by, a processor (e.g., processor107) or other hardware components of a vehicle. Also, in some embodiments, one or more of the modules disclosed herein may be embodied as a circuit. In general, a computer program product in accordance with one embodiment comprises a tangible computer usable medium (e.g., standard RAM, an optical disc, a USB drive, or the like) having computer-readable program code embodied therein, wherein the computer-readable program code is adapted to be executed by a processor (working in connection with an operating system) to implement one or more functions and methods as described below. In this regard, the program code may be implemented in any desired language, and may be implemented as machine code, assembly code, byte code, interpretable source code or the like (e.g., via C, C++, C#, Java, Actionscript, Objective-C, Javascript, CSS, XML, etc.). Furthermore, the various modules of the environment200may be embodied as hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

Various embodiments will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they may obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

Turning toFIG. 1, the drawing illustrates an exemplary vehicle system100for a vehicle101comprising various vehicle electronics modules, subsystems and/or components. Engine/transmission module102is configured to process and provide vehicle engine and transmission characteristic or parameter data, and may comprise an engine control unit (ECU), and a transmission control. For a diesel engine, module102may provide data relating to fuel injection rate, emission control, NOx control, regeneration of oxidation catalytic converter, turbocharger control, cooling system control, and throttle control, among others. For a gasoline engine, module102may provide data relating to lambda control, on-board diagnostics, cooling system control, ignition system control, lubrication system control, fuel injection rate control, throttle control, and others. Transmission characteristic data may comprise information relating to the transmission system and the shifting of the gears, torque, and use of the clutch. Under one embodiment, an engine control unit and transmission control may exchange messages, sensor signals and control signals.

Global positioning system (GPS) and navigation module103provides navigation processing and location data for vehicle101. Sensors104provides sensor data which may comprise data relating to vehicle characteristic and/or parameter data (e.g., from102), and may also provide environmental data pertaining to the vehicle, its interior and/or surroundings, such as temperature, humidity and the like. Other sensors may include proximity sensors and/or cameras for sensing objects and/or traffic proximate to vehicle101. Still further sensors may include one or more microphones for sensing ambient audio within vehicle101. Radio/entertainment module105may provide data relating to audio/video media being played in vehicle101. Module105may be integrated and/or communicatively coupled to an entertainment unit configured to play AM/FM radio, satellite radio, compact disks, DVDs, digital media, streaming media and the like. Communications module106allows any of the modules to communicate with each other and/or external devices via a wired connection or wireless protocol, such as LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, etc. Turning signal module114may include processing circuitry and hardware for initiating turn signaling, as well as providing audio and visual (e.g., via display module110) indicia relating thereto. In one embodiment, modules102-106and114may be communicatively coupled to bus112for certain communication and data exchange purposes.

Vehicle101may further comprise a main processor107that centrally processes and controls data communication throughout the system100ofFIG. 1. In some embodiments, processor107may comprise multiple processors and/or sub-processors, and may also include peripheral processing devices. Storage108may be configured to store data, operating systems, software, media, files and the like. Digital signal processor (DSP)109may comprise a processor separate from main processor107, or may be integrated within processor107. Generally speaking, DSP109may be configured to take signals, such as voice, audio, video, temperature, pressure, position, etc. that have been digitized and then process them as needed. Display110may be configured to provide visual (as well as audio) indicia from any module inFIG. 1, and may be a configured as one or more of LCD, LED, OLED, or any other suitable display. Additionally, display110may include one or more graphics processors to enable the modification and display of visual indicia.

Display may also be configured with audio speakers for providing audio output. Illustrative displays include, but are not limited to, instrument clusters, heads-up displays, navigation displays, entertainment module displays, and the like. Display110may be configured as one or more discrete displays, or may include one or more integrated displays providing multiple display functionalities (e.g., navigation, entertainment) within a single display. Input/output module111is configured to provide data input and outputs to/from other peripheral devices, such as keyboards, key pads, key fobs, device controllers and the like. As discussed above, modules107-111may be communicatively coupled to data bus112for transmitting/receiving data and information from other modules.

Turning toFIG. 1A, an exemplary embodiment is illustrated, where a vehicle101(seeFIG. 1), is paired with one or more devices150(152,154) which may be registered to one or more users. Devices150may be registered with vehicle101using Bluetooth pairing or using Wi-Fi or NFC registration, as is known in the art. Preferably, device150registrations are stored (e.g.,108) at the vehicle according to a device ID or SIM ID, and may further include a device user profile associated with each ID that may include user device/vehicle usage history. In an illustrative embodiment, one or more user turn signal signaling preferences may be stored in devices150for use in vehicle101. Of course, turn signal signaling preferences may be directly input into vehicle101instead of, or in addition to, devices150. In the embodiment ofFIG. 2, devices152,154may configured to communicate turn signal signaling preferences with vehicle101, and may be further configured to communicate with each other. Portable devices150are also configured to communicate with wireless network156in order to send/receive data from one or more central servers158. Similarly, in one embodiment, vehicle101may also be configured to communicate with network156. Server158may be also configured to perform back-end processing for devices150and vehicle101, and further communicate with other remote servers for additional functionalities.

Turning now toFIG. 2, an illustrative embodiment200is provided for providing and controlling audio and visual indicia relating to turn signal switching. In the embodiment, turn signal system200comprises a battery201that provides power to turn signal system200, as well as other devices, components and modules in vehicle101. A portion of electrical power from battery201is provided to flashing circuit202as turn switch216(e.g., a turn stalk, configured within a vehicle steering column) is activated indicating either a left turn or a right turn. Flashing circuit202may be configured as a solid state flashing circuit, or may be configured as a flashing relay circuit. While flashing relay circuits are conventionally used for incandescent turn lamp configurations, such circuits are not typically compatible with modern light-emitting diode (LED) turn lamp configurations.

Depending on the orientation of the turn switch216(i.e., left turn, right turn), flashing circuit202provides a signal to either left illumination assembly204or right illumination assembly206. Each of left illumination assembly204and right illumination assembly206may comprise a plurality of illumination elements, where each illumination element may comprise a single bulb, a plurality of bulbs (e.g., an LED lamp assembly), or an illumination portion on display110(e.g., turn signal indication on instrument cluster and/or heads-up display). For example, activating turn switch216for a left turn may cause flashing circuit202to transmit power to a left illumination assembly204comprising a front left bulb, a rear left bulb for intermittent illumination, and further provide a signal to display110, via turning display module210to provide visual indicia of a left turn operation being activated by turn switch216. In this non-limiting example, the front and rear bulbs, and display portion of display110may be considered portions of left illumination assembly204.

In another example, activating turn switch216for a right turn may cause flashing circuit202to transmit power to the right illumination assembly206comprising a front right bulb, a rear right bulb for intermittent illumination, and further provide a signal to a right side-view mirror light assembly and to display210, via turning display module210, to provide visual indicia of a right turn operation being activated by turn switch216. In this non-limiting example, the front and rear bulbs, the side-view mirror light assembly and the display portion of display110may be considered portions of right illumination assembly206. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that multiple other types of illumination assemblies may be utilized for the present disclosure.

Continuing with the illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 2, turning display module210may be configured to control the display characteristics of turning visual indicia on display110. Such turning visual indicia characteristics may comprise graphics, text, animated graphics, and the like. Processor107may provide control instructions for turning display module (or work in conjunction with turning display module210) to alter a type or frequency of display signals provided to display110. In an illustrative embodiment, processor107may activate a display algorithm from storage108that alters the intermittent illumination frequency of a turn signal illumination provided from turning display module210to display110. In another illustrative embodiment, processor107may activate a display algorithm from storage108to change a color or a type of graphic used to indicate a turn operation from turning display module210to display110.

Turn signal system200also comprises a turning audio module208that is configured to generate turning audio (e.g., a turn click to coincide with intermittent illumination of an illumination assembly). Similar to turning display module201, processor107may be configured to provide control instructions for turning audio module208, or work in conjunction with turning audio module208, to alter one or more audio characteristics of audio signals. The audio from turning audio module208may be provided to speakers of display110, and/or may be provided to other speakers within vehicle101. In an illustrative embodiment, processor107may activate an audio algorithm from storage108that alters one or more characteristics (e.g., volume, audible frequency, etc.) of audio generated by turning audio module208. In another illustrative embodiment, processor107may activate an audio algorithm from storage108to change the kind of audio indicia used to indicate a turn operation from turning audio module208. Turn signal system200may also be operatively coupled to communications106, which may receive instructions for processor107to modify operation of turning display module210and/or turning audio module208. Such instructions may be received from a remote device (e.g.,150) and stored in storage108.

In some illustrative embodiments, turn switch216, flashing circuit202, left illumination assembly204and right illumination assembly206may be configured as a part of turning signal module114ofFIG. 1. Turning audio module208and turning display module210may be embodied as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or may be tangibly-embodied algorithms stored on storage108and executed by processor107. In some illustrative embodiments, turning audio module208and turning display module210may be integrated together and/or integrated within processor107itself.

Turning now toFIG. 3, an illustrative process300is shown for processing vehicle data320and communication data302for altering audio and/or display generation in vehicle101when a turn switch is activated in block312. As can be seen from block320, the processor (e.g.,107) may receive vehicle and/or data inputs comprising communication data302, engine/speedometer data304, GPS data306, data from one or more sensors308and radio/entertainment data310. Communication data302may comprise data received from one or more remote devices, such as portable devices150, wherein the data from once or more devices150may comprise instructions for processing vehicle data320. Alternately or in addition, communication data302may comprise instructions for processing, enabling, disabling and/or modifying at least one of audio and visual indicia via turning audio module208and turning display module210, discussed above. As will be explained in further detail below, each, some, all, or a combination of inputs302,320are processed in block314(e.g., via processor107), wherein a vehicle characteristic is determined by the processor107in block316. Generally speaking, vehicle characteristics for the present application may include, but are not limited to, a vehicle speed, gear, engine RPM, braking activation, speed increase/decrease, a vehicle location determined by GPS module103, activation of radio/entertainment module105, vehicle sensor module104data, and the like.

As one or more vehicle characteristics are determined in block316, pre-programmed instructions in storage108cause processor107to generate one or more instructions and/or data to turning audio module208and turning display module210in order to execute audio processing for turning audio in block318and/or display processing for visual in block320. In other words, prior to, or during the activation of a turn switch (e.g., turn switch216), processor107detects one or more specific vehicle conditions in or on vehicle101. In response to a detected condition , instructions are provided to enable, disable and/or modify audio and/or visual indicia.

Under various embodiments, turn signal system200is configured to modify audio and/or visual indicia to maintain and/or increase awareness of turn signal activation, while minimizing aspects of audio/visual turn signal notification that may be distracting or annoying to a driver. In an illustrative embodiment, processor receives data relating to a vehicle's speed via engine/speedometer module102. If the vehicle speed is detected below a specific amount (e.g., 10 mph), turning audio module208may be configured to disable audio for the turn signal. In addition, turning display module210may be configured to alter visual indicia for indicating turn switch activation. For example, turning display module210may alter the color and/or intensity of illumination in a turn signal icon, change an icon graphic on display110, or provide additional illumination (e.g., activate a secondary light in or near the instrument cluster) at the same time turning audio module208disables audio. Such configurations are advantageous in that the unwanted turn signal clicking is minimized at a moment when a driver comes to a stop, while modified/heightened visual indicia provides the driver with clear knowledge that the turn switch is activated.

In other advantageous embodiments, further audio processing may be performed on the audio to minimize annoyance to a driver. For example, turning audio module208is configured with audio digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry (which may be incorporated in DSP module109) allowing audio manipulation of the turn signal audio. Turning audio module208may be equipped with one or more audio filters comprising any of low-pass filters, high-pass filters and band-pass filters. By applying one, some or all of the filters alone or in combination, turn signal audio may be tuned such that frequencies objectionable to the drive may be filtered out. Such filters may be programmable, allowing processor107to apply filtering to achieve a desired effect.

Turning audio module208may also be equipped with a programmable variable-gain amplifier (also known as a voltage-controlled amplifier) that allows the volume of the turn signal audio to be gradually reduced and/or increased using processor107. Thus, in one example, if a particular speed is detected (e.g., 10 MPH) and a reduced rate of speed is also detected, turning audio module208may gradually decrease the volume of the turn signal audio to a rate proportional to the reduced rate of speed. Similarly, as an increased rate of speed is detected from an initial speed (e.g., from 0 MPH) the volume of the turn signal audio may be proportionately increased as well. Of course, depending on the application and desired effect, the programmable variable-gain amplifier may be pre-set to decrease and/or increase turn signal volume according to a linear, logarithmic and/or exponential algorithm. Furthermore, the programmable variable-gain amplifier and programmable filters may be combined to provide additional audio processing to the turn signal audio. Using processor107and/or a graphics processor of display110, visual indicia may be gradually modified as well (e.g., gradually increasing/decreasing illumination).

The algorithms for controlling/modifying turn signal audio and visual may be programmed directly into processor107and/or storage108. Furthermore, algorithms may be obtained by devices150from a remote server (e.g.,158) and then downloaded to storage108when one of devices150connects or pairs with communications106of vehicle101. Such a configuration advantageously provides highly customizable audio and/or visual preferences, and may allow for multiple audio and/or visual processing customizations for different drivers associated with different portable devices (152,154). In some illustrative embodiments, drivers may create multiple customizable turning signal environments, either through I/O111or through devices150, such that audio and/or visual processing may be altered “on the fly” to suit a particular mood of the driver. For example, a driver may create multiple turn signal notification environments, such as “city driving”, “traffic jam”, “night driving” or “open road”, such that, when a particular driving environment is selected, the associated audio and/or visual processing algorithms are loaded for use by processor107. Such a configuration may advantageously improve a driver's driving experience relative to turn signal notifications, in that unwanted audio and/or visual aspects of turn signal notification may be minimized, while still providing appropriate notification to maintain driver safety.

In addition to engine/speedometer data304, other vehicle characteristics may be used to generate different audio and/or visual processing. By utilizing GPS data306, for example, users may specify zones and/or geographic coordinates using a vehicle navigation unit or portable device navigation application in which specific audio/visual processing is performed on turning audio and visual(s). For example, a driver may specify an area on a navigational map that is within a specific geographical distance from a point of interest (e.g., “home”), which may be a subdivision comprising multiple closely-positioned roads and/or intersections. As the subdivision may contain multiple turns, but does not experience heavy general traffic, a user may specify in the audio algorithm that turn signal audio be made less audible or inaudible while the vehicle traverses this area. Alternately or in addition, the driver may specify different visual illumination characteristics in the geographic area as well.

Furthermore, vehicle sensor data308may be utilized to control audio and/or visual processing as well. For example, audio and/or visual turn signal notifications may be altered based on the detection of a vehicle brake being activated for longer than 5 seconds. Additional sensors, such as light sensors, may be used to modify the audio and/or illumination of turn signal notifications. Data310from radio/entertainment module105may also be used to control audio and/or visual processing. For example, a volume setting for an activated radio/entertainment module105may correlate to the volume and/or illumination of turn signal notification. As the volume of the radio/entertainment module105increases, the volume and illumination of a turn notification may increase as well. Alternately, if a driver wants to focus on the audio produced by radio/entertainment module105, the audio volume of the turn notification may be reduced or filtered to make it less noticeable.

Turning now toFIG. 4, another illustrative embodiment is shown, where processor107receives vehicle and data inputs302,320, and turning audio module208and turning display module210process turn signal notification similar to the embodiments described above in connection withFIGS. 2 and 3. In addition, a microphone402may provide input to processor107. Microphone402may be a vehicle101microphone configured within a cabin area of vehicle101, or alternately a microphone of a portable device150. Microphone401may serve to provide audio data to processor107to monitor decibel levels within a cabin area of vehicle101. Depending on the decibel level detected within the vehicle cabin area (which may also be considered a “vehicle characteristic” for the purposes of the present disclosure), processor107may alter turn signal audio to increase, as well as turn signal visual in some embodiments.