Patent Publication Number: US-2017359519-A1

Title: Vehicle information system and method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technical field generally relates to vehicle infotainment and telematics systems, and more particularly, the technical field relates to systems and methods to present and display information to an operator or passenger of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicle technology has evolved to permit autonomous, semi-autonomous, and otherwise automated vehicles. Automated vehicles offer unprecedented freedom to a vehicle operator to engage in tasks within the vehicle apart from attending to the operation of the vehicle. However, while automated vehicles allow the operator to divert their attention from operation of the vehicle for brief time periods, operators are still encouraged to observe the vehicle surroundings and status of the vehicle&#39;s systems, including the autonomous operating systems. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods to present vehicle surrounding information, operating information and data and other forms of information and data to an occupant, such as the operator or a passenger, of a vehicle during autonomous operating modes and when the occupant is facing other than forward in the vehicle. It is also desirable to provide methods, systems, and vehicles incorporating such systems and utilizing such methods. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the herein described non-limiting embodiments will be apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a first non-limiting example, a display is disposed within the interior of a vehicle with the display coupled to information system. The display is positioned within the vehicle to be viewable by an occupant of the vehicle who is not looking forward through the vehicle windshield and/or or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward-looking occupant. The information system may be coupled to receive data from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. The information system configures the data for display to the operator via the display. 
     In another non-limiting example, a method provides information to an occupant of a vehicle who is not looking forward through the vehicle windshield and/or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward-looking occupant. The method includes obtaining information from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. The obtained information is then configured for display and displayed on at least one display positioned within the vehicle to be viewable by the occupant. 
     In another non-limiting example, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a display disposed within the interior of a vehicle with the display being coupled to an information system. The display is positioned within the vehicle to be viewable by an occupant of the vehicle who is not looking forward through the vehicle windshield and/or or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward-looking occupant. The information system may be coupled to receive data from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. The information system configures the data for display to the occupant via the display. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more examples will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
         FIG. 1  is a graphic depiction of a communication system that may be adapted in accordance with herein described non-limiting embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating an information system in accordance with herein described non-limiting embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  is a first graphic depiction of a portion of a vehicle that may be adapted in accordance with herein described non-limiting embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a second graphic depiction of a portion of a vehicle that may be adapted in accordance with herein described non-limiting embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a display in accordance with a herein described non-limiting embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with a herein described, non-limiting embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses of the herein described embodiments. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that utilize a communication system that may include infotainment systems and telematics systems along with land network and call center functions, linkages to vehicle systems and controls and camera or imaging devices to deliver information to an occupant of the vehicle, e.g., the driver or a passenger. 
     In a first non-limiting example, at least one display is disposed within the interior of a vehicle with the display being coupled to an information system. The display is positioned within the vehicle to be viewable by an occupant of the vehicle who is not looking forward within the vehicle and/or or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward-looking occupant. The information system may be coupled to receive data from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras or imaging devices disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. The information system configures the data for display on the display. 
     In another non-limiting example, a method provides information to an occupant of a vehicle who is not looking forward within the vehicle and/or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward-looking occupant. The method includes obtaining information from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras or imaging devices disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. The obtained information is then configured for display and is displayed on at least one display positioned within the vehicle to be viewable by the occupant. 
     In another non-limiting example, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a display disposed with the interior of a vehicle with the display being coupled to an information system. The display is positioned within the vehicle to be viewable by an occupant of the vehicle who is not looking forward through the vehicle windshield and/or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward looking occupant. The information system may be coupled to receive data from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras or imaging devices disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. The information system configures the data for display on the display. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a non-limiting example of a communication system  10  that may be used together with examples of the apparatus/systems disclosed herein or to implement examples of the methods disclosed herein. Communication system  10  generally includes a vehicle  12 , a wireless carrier system  14 , a land network  16  and a call center  18 . It should be appreciated that the overall architecture, setup and operation, as well as the individual components of the illustrated system are merely exemplary and that differently configured communication systems may also be utilized to implement the examples of the systems and methods disclosed herein. Thus, the following paragraphs, which provide a brief overview of the illustrated communication system  10 , are not intended to be limiting. 
     Vehicle  12  may be any type of mobile vehicle such as a motorcycle, car, truck, recreational vehicle (RV), boat, plane, etc., and is equipped with suitable hardware and software that enables it to communicate over communication system  10 . Some of the vehicle hardware  20  is shown generally in  FIG. 1  including a telematics unit  24 , a microphone  26 , a speaker  28 , and buttons and/or controls  30  connected to the telematics unit  24 . Operatively coupled to the telematics unit  24  is a network connection or vehicle bus  32 . Examples of suitable network connections include a controller area network (CAN), a media oriented system transfer (MOST), a local interconnection network (LIN), an Ethernet, and other appropriate connections such as those that conform with known ISO (International Organization for Standardization), SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), and/or IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) standards and specifications, to name a few. 
     The telematics unit  24  is an onboard device that provides a variety of services through its communication with the call center  18 , and generally includes an electronic processing device  38 , one or more types of electronic memory  40 , a cellular chipset/component  34 , a wireless modem  36 , a multi-mode antenna  70 , and a navigation unit containing a GPS chipset/component  42 . In one example, the wireless modem  36  includes a computer program and/or set of software routines adapted to be executed within electronic processing device  38 . 
     The telematics unit  24  may provide various services including: turn-by-turn directions and other navigation-related services provided in conjunction with the GPS chipset/component  42 ; airbag deployment notification and other emergency or roadside assistance-related services provided in connection with various crash and/or collision sensor interface modules  66  and collision sensors  68  located throughout the vehicle; and/or infotainment-related services where music, internet web pages, movies, television programs, videogames, and/or other content are downloaded by an infotainment center  46  operatively connected to the telematics unit  24  via vehicle bus  32  and audio bus  22 . The telematics unit  24  may furthermore support or enable autonomous vehicle operation. The above-listed services are by no means an exhaustive list of all the capabilities of telematics unit  24 , but are simply an illustration of some of the services that the telematics unit may be capable of offering. It is anticipated that telematics unit  24  may include a number of additional components in addition to and/or different components from those listed above. 
     Vehicle communications may use radio transmissions to establish a communication channel with wireless carrier system  14  so that both voice and data transmissions can be sent and received. Vehicle communications are enabled via the cellular chipset/component  34  for voice communications and the wireless modem  36  for data transmission. Any suitable encoding or modulation technique may be used with the present examples, including digital transmission technologies, such as TDMA (time division multiple access), CDMA (code division multiple access), W-CDMA (wideband CDMA), FDMA (frequency division multiple access), OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access), etc. 
     Multi-mode antenna  70  services the GPS chipset/component  42 , the cellular chipset/component  34  and other radio transmissions. 
     Microphone  26  provides the driver or other vehicle occupant with a means for inputting verbal or other auditory commands, and can be equipped with an embedded voice processing unit utilizing a human/machine interface (HMI) technology known in the art. Conversely, speaker  28  provides audible output to the vehicle occupants and can be either a stand-alone speaker specifically dedicated for use with the telematics unit  24  or can be part of a vehicle audio component  64 . In either event, microphone  26  and speaker  28  enable vehicle hardware  20  and call center  18  to communicate with the occupants through audible speech. The vehicle hardware and in particular the HMI may also include one or more buttons and/or controls  30  for enabling a vehicle occupant to activate or engage one or more of the vehicle hardware components  20 . For example, one of the buttons and/or controls  30  may be touch screen activated or electronic pushbuttons used to initiate voice communication with call center  18  (whether it be a human such as advisor  58  or an automated call response system). In another example, one of the buttons and/or controls  30  can be used to initiate emergency services. 
     The audio component  64  is operatively connected to the vehicle bus  32  and the audio bus  22 . The audio component  64  receives analog or digital information, such as analog or digital broadcast content via a broadcast source (not depicted), rendering it as sound via the audio bus  22 . Digital information is additionally received via the vehicle bus  32 . The audio component  64  provides amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) radio, satellite broadcast radio, compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), and multimedia functionality independent of the infotainment center  46 . Audio component  64  may contain a speaker system (not depicted), or may utilize speaker  28  via arbitration on vehicle bus  32  and/or audio bus  22 . 
     The vehicle crash and/or collision detection sensor interface  66  is operatively connected to the vehicle bus  32 . The collision sensors  68  provide information to the telematics unit  24  via the crash and/or collision detection sensor interface  66  regarding the severity of a vehicle collision, such as the angle of impact and the amount of force sustained. 
     Vehicle sensors  72 , connected to various sensor interface modules  44  are operatively connected to the vehicle bus  32 . Example vehicle sensors include but are not limited to gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, emission detection, and/or control sensors, and the like. Example sensor interface modules  44  include powertrain control, climate control, and body control, to name but a few. 
     Wireless carrier system  14  may be a cellular telephone system or any other suitable wireless system that transmits signals between the vehicle hardware  20  and land network  16 . According to an example, wireless carrier system  14  includes one or more cell towers  48 , base stations and/or mobile switching centers (MSCs)  50 , as well as any other networking components required to connect the wireless carrier system  14  with land network  16 . As appreciated by those skilled in the art, various cell tower/base station/MSC arrangements are possible and could be used with wireless carrier system  14 . 
     Land network  16  can be a conventional land-based telecommunications network that is connected to one or more landline telephones, and that connects wireless carrier system  14  to call center  18 . For example, land network  16  can include a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and/or an Internet protocol (IP) network, as is appreciated by those skilled in the art. Of course, one or more segments of the land network  16  can be implemented in the form of a standard wired network, a fiber or other optical network, a cable network, other wireless networks such as wireless local networks (WLANs) or networks providing broadband wireless access (BWA), or any combination thereof. 
     Call center  18  is designed to provide the vehicle hardware  20  with a number of different system back-end functions and, according to the example shown here, generally includes one or more switches  52 , servers  54 , databases  56 , advisors  58 , as well as a variety of other telecommunication/computer equipment  60 . These various call center components are suitably coupled to one another via a network connection or bus  62 , such as the one previously described in connection with the vehicle hardware  20 . Switch  52 , which can be a private branch exchange (PBX) switch, routes incoming signals so that voice transmissions are usually sent to either advisor  58  or an automated response system, and data transmissions are passed on to a modem or other piece of telecommunication/computer equipment  60  for demodulation and further signal processing. The modem or other telecommunication/computer equipment  60  may include an encoder, as previously explained, and can be connected to various devices such as a server  54  and database  56 . For example, database  56  could be designed to store subscriber profile records, subscriber behavioral patterns, or any other pertinent subscriber information. Although the illustrated example has been described as it would be used in conjunction with a call center  18  that is manned, it will be appreciated that the call center  18  can be any central or remote facility, manned or unmanned, mobile or fixed, to or from which it is desirable to exchange voice and data. 
     An information system  74  is operably coupled at least to bus  32  and optionally to bus  22 . While depicted in the exemplary embodiment as a separate system or component of the vehicle  12 , it will be appreciate that the information system  74  may be made a part of the telematics unit  24 , an autonomous operating system (not depicted) or other systems and components of the vehicle  12 . 
     One or more cameras or imaging devices, depicted as cameras  76 , may provide image data directly to the bus  32  (as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) or to the bus  32  via the telematics unit  24 . Cameras  76  disposed on the exterior of the vehicle  12  may provide image data corresponding to various views of the perimeter of the vehicle including at least forward and rearward looking views. Additional cameras  76  disposed within the interior may provide image data corresponding to various views of the seating, storage and other areas of the vehicle  12  interior. The cameras  76  may be provided as a part or component of the information system  74 , or alternatively, the cameras  76  may be cameras provided on or within the vehicle  12  to support any number of vehicle systems, such as an autonomous operating systems, the General Motors&#39; “Supercruise” capability, parking and maneuvering systems and the like. Being coupled to the bus  32  and the bus  22 , the information system  74  may access vehicle operating data available from various vehicle sensors and systems that may be addressed or obtained via the bus  32  and audio and other media via the bus  22 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the information system  74  includes a data processing unit  78  and at least one display  80  disposed within the vehicle  12 . The data processing unit  78  may include a dedicated processing device or a general processing device (not depicted) with an associated set of operating instructions, memory and communication interfaces as is well known in the art. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  each show a display  80  in non-limiting exemplary embodiments disposed in the vehicle in an orientation to permit viewing by an occupant who is not looking forward in the vehicle  12  and/or or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward looking occupant. This may be the case, for example, when the vehicle  12  is placed into an autonomous operating mode and the operator has diverted attention from looking forward in and from the vehicle  12  to looking into the rear interior of the vehicle. While always encouraged to observe the forward direction and operation of the vehicle during all modes of operation, autonomous operation does offer the possibility for the operator briefly to divert attention away from the forward area of the vehicle  12 . 
     As depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the display  80  is disposed in the rear of the vehicle  12  in an upper corner  82  adjacent a rear window  84 . In the exemplary configuration of  FIG. 3 , the display  80  has a display surface  86  facing forward within the vehicle  12 . 
     As depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the display  80  is disposed in the rear of the vehicle  12  and extends along substantially the entire width of a rear header portion  88  of the vehicle  12 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , the display  80  has a forward facing display surface  86 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the information system  74  is operative, for example, when the vehicle  12  is in an autonomous operating mode but also during any other operating mode, to present a variety of information to an occupant who is not facing forward in the vehicle  12  and/or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward looking occupant, via the display  80 . The type of information to be presented may be vehicle operating information such as vehicle speed, direction, fuel quantity, oil and coolant temperatures, and the like. This type of vehicle operating information is collected by the information system  74  from various vehicle  12  sensors and systems via the bus  32 . The information system  74  may also display a forward looking view obtained from cameras  76  and communicated to the information system  74  via the bus  32 . The information system  76  may also display navigation, surrounding, voice, text and data communications received via the telematics unit  24 . As will be appreciated, the occupant may remain informed as to the current operating conditions of the vehicle  12  and the state of its surroundings. The occupant may furthermore send and receive communication data: voice, text and the like, while not facing forward in the vehicle, but while facing away from the forward portion of the vehicle and while not having visibility of displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward looking occupant. 
     While the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a single display  80 , it will be appreciated that multiple displays may be provided within the vehicle  12 . For example, displays may be disposed in both right and left upper corners of the interior rear of the vehicle  12  and/or along the interior sides of the vehicle  12 . The display  80  may be integrated into one or more pieces of interior trim of the vehicle, into seat or seat portions and may fold out or down from interior trim pieces (not depicted). 
     In yet another alternative arrangement of the display  80  depicted in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, the rear of the vehicle  12  may be enclosed with the rear window  84  being replaced by the display  80 . The display  80  may be segmented, and three segments  90 ,  92  and  94  are depicted although more or fewer segments may be employed. As  FIG. 5  shows, a first segment  90  may depict image data from a forward or rearward facing external camera  76  providing a virtual forward or rearward looking view of the direction of travel of the vehicle  12 . A second segment  92  may depict vehicle operating information, such as speed, direction, fuel quantity, oil and coolant temperatures, and the like. A third segment  94  may, while the segment  90  provides a rearward view, provide a forward view. Any of the segments may provide a communication interface to initiate or accept a voice communication or to create or render text using the microphone  26  and/or controls/buttons  30 . 
     The data selected for display by the information system  76  on a display  80  may be user configurable via voice commands or inputs received via microphone  26  and/or controls/buttons  30  of the telematics unit  24  or via other user controls and interfaces. The data displayed may be configured to change dynamically/automatically to provide image data, operating data, communications data or other data as new, changing or priority data is received by the information system  76 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6  a method  100  provides information to an occupant of a vehicle  12  who is not looking forward through the vehicle windshield and/or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward looking occupant. The method includes obtaining data ( 102 ) from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. A display  80  is provided ( 104 ) within the vehicle  12 , and is oriented within the vehicle  12  for viewing by an occupant who is not facing forward in the vehicle, but is facing away from the forward portion of the vehicle and further while not having visibility of displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward looking occupant. The information system  76  processes the information and displays ( 106 ) the information on the display  80  provided and disposed within the vehicle. 
     It will be appreciated that the disclosed methods, systems, and vehicles may vary from those depicted in the Figures and described herein. For example, the communication system  10 , the vehicle  12 , the information system  76  including the display  80  and/or various components thereof may vary from that depicted in  FIGS. 1-5  and described in connection therewith. In addition, it will be appreciated that the process  100  may vary in the number and/or order of steps from that depicted in  FIG. 6  and/or described above in connection therewith. 
     While at least one example has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the example or examples are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the example or examples. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.