Abstract:
A device for delivering stimuli to a user of a vehicle includes a data generating device that generates signals regarding information regarding a vehicle or surroundings about the vehicle. A human interface device is provided for positioning in contact with a user of the vehicle. The human interface device receives the signals from the data generating device. A control is operable to select the signals from the data generating device for operating the human interface device to deliver stimuli to the user of the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates in general to information systems that provide sensory inputs to a driver or other occupant of a vehicle. In particular, this invention relates to an improved vehicle information system that includes a device for delivering tactile stimuli to a vehicle user. 
         [0002]    Vehicle operators, particularly automobile operators, receive numerous sensory inputs while operating the vehicle. Most of such sensory inputs are visual in nature, which means that the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling in order to receive them. Some of such sensory inputs relate directly to the operation of the vehicle, such as a standard variety of gauges and indicators that are provided on a dash panel. Others of such sensory inputs related to occupant entertainment or comfort, such as media, climate, and communication controls. It is generally believed that the risk of a hazard arising is increased each time the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling. 
         [0003]    Some vehicle information systems have been designed to minimize the amount by which the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling. For example, it is known to locate the most relevant vehicle information near the normal viewing direction of the operator so that the amount by which the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling is minimized. It is also known to project some of such vehicle information on the windshield, again to minimize the amount by which the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road. Notwithstanding these efforts, it would be desirable to provide an improved vehicle information system that includes minimizes or eliminates the visual nature of the sensory inputs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention relates to an improved device for delivering stimuli to a user of a vehicle. The device includes a data generating device that generates signals regarding information regarding a vehicle or surroundings about the vehicle. A human interface device is provided for positioning in contact with a user of the vehicle. The human interface device receives the signals from the data generating device. A control is operable to select the signals from the data generating device for operating the human interface device to deliver stimuli to the user of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of an automotive vehicle that includes an improved vehicle information system in accordance with this invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an interior of the automotive vehicle illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the interior of the automotive vehicle illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a dashboard in the interior of the automotive vehicle illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the vehicle information system of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  an automotive vehicle  10  that includes an improved vehicle information system in accordance with this invention. The vehicle  10  is equipped with a variety of data generating devices that gather and disseminate data concerning the vehicle  10  and its surroundings. As will be explained in greater detail below, these data generating devices can include cameras, instrument gauges, text displays, switches, and the like. The data generating devices communicate with a human interface device  20 , which is in physical contact with a driver  14  or other occupant of the vehicle in the manner described below. The illustrated human interface device  20  is connected to the data generating devices through a communication device, such as a conventional wire  18  or a wireless electronic link (not shown). 
         [0012]    The vehicle  10  includes a front windshield  16  that faces in a forward direction  12  and a rear windshield  17  (see  FIG. 3 ) that faces in a rearward direction  12 . The vehicle  10  is also equipped with several cameras, some or all of which may be embodied as electronic digital cameras. A first camera  30  is positioned adjacent a rear view mirror  29  and is aimed in a rearward direction that is opposite to the forward direction  12 . Thus, the field of view of the first camera  30  is through the rear windshield  17 . Thus, the first camera  30  may either be used in conjunction with the rear view mirror  29  or lieu thereof. A second camera  32  is mounted on a rear portion or trunk of the vehicle  10 . The second camera  32  may be supported for movement relative to the vehicle  10 , such as side to side movement and up and down movement as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 1 . To accomplish this, one or more supporting structures and/or motors  33  may be used to support and move the second camera  32  as desired. The second camera  32  may additionally (or alternatively) be used as part of an obstacle sensing system (not shown) or as a supplement to (or in lieu of) the rear view mirror  29  and/or the first camera  30 . 
         [0013]    A third camera  34  may be mounted on a left side of the vehicle, either in a fixed manner or for movement relative to the vehicle  10  as described above. Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a fourth camera  35  may be mounted on a right side of the vehicle, either in a fixed manner or for movement relative to the vehicle  10  as described above. The third and fourth cameras  34  and  35  may be located on the exterior of the vehicle  10  as shown, or alternatively within the interior thereof as shown in phantom at  34 ′ and  35 ′ in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0014]    As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the vehicle  10  may further include an interior  50  having a fifth camera  36  that is aimed toward a front passenger seat  54  and a sixth camera  38  that is aimed toward a rear passenger seat  56 . The fifth and sixth cameras  36  and  38  are intended to monitor activity in the associated passenger seats  54  and  56  and are particularly useful when such passenger seats  54  and  56  are occupied by infant and child passengers. 
         [0015]    The vehicle  10  may also include a conventional dashboard  60  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) having an instrument cluster  61 . The instrument cluster  61  is preferably located in a sightline with a person who is occupying a driver seat  52 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the illustrated instrument cluster  61  includes a variety of computer-based digital indicators and gauges  62  (such as speed, fuel, and water temperature gauges, etc.) as well as various switches and displays  63  (such as light switches, text message displays, etc.). 
         [0016]    The vehicle  10  may also include a center console  70  that is located between the driver seat  52  and the passenger seat  54 . The center console  70  may extend into the dashboard  60 , and either or both of the dashboard  60  and the center console  70  may include comfort controls  72  and displays  73  (for such as for heating, air conditioning, seat heating and/or cooling, etc.) and entertainment controls  74  and displays  75  (such as for radios, CD players, etc.). Controls may include conventional touch screens, such as that used in a SYNC® system available from Ford Motor Company. Docking stations for entertainment devices, such as for a portable music player  76  or a cell phone  77  may also be mounted on the dashboard  60  and/or the center console  70 . 
         [0017]    A seventh camera  40  may be mounted on or near the center console  70 . However, the seventh camera  40  may be positioned at any other desired location in or on the vehicle  10  where a sightline to the instrument cluster  61  exists. Alternatively, the seventh camera  40  may also be used to identify an operative position of a gearshift lever  71  that is provided on or near the center console  70 . As will be suggested below, the seventh camera  40  may be supplemented or replaced by direct input from the vehicle instrumentation and gauges to the human interface device  20 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , it is preferable that a person occupying the driver seat  52  (such as the driver  14 ) maintain his or her visual focus in the area toward which the vehicle is moving, which is normally in the forward direction  12 . A preferred angle of vision  14   a  for the person occupying the driver seat  52  is about ten degrees. To assist in peripheral vision outside of that preferred angle of vision  14   a , the third and fourth cameras  34  and  35  are preferably directed toward areas on the opposite sides of the vehicle  10  that range through respective angles  34   a  and  35   a  of approximately one-hundred seventy-five degrees. It may be advisable in certain instances that the third and fourth cameras  34  and  35  be movable to cover the preferred range. 
         [0019]    The first camera  30  is preferably focused on an area through the rear windshield  17  having an angular range  30   a  of about ten degrees, similar to that of the rear view mirror  29 . Similarly, the second camera  32  may have a range of motion to cover an angular range  32   a  of one-hundred eighty degrees or greater to assist in viewing blind spots. It should be noted that none of the cameras are intended to replace or supplement the driver&#39;s main line of vision  14   a , as critical driver information is best delivered visually in the usual manner. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the human interface device  20  is illustrated as a tactile tongue imager that includes a mouthpiece  82  that can be positioned in the mouth of a vehicle occupant, preferably the driver  14 , in contact with the tongue. The human interface device  20  provides information to the tongue in the form of sensory electrical or pressure stimulation. The human interface device  20  receives information from the various data generating devices disclosed herein, including all of the cameras, instrument gauges, displays, etc. (which are generally indicated at  96  in  FIG. 5 ) through the wire  18 . As mentioned above, the wire  18  can be replaced by a wireless electronic link (not shown). In such an instance, the human interface device  20  would preferably be powered by a battery or other internal power source. 
         [0021]    Information from the various data generating devices  96  is fed to a processor  94 , which encodes and transmits the information to a transducer pixel array  84  of a plurality of electrodes  86  provided on the mouthpiece  82 . A vehicle system network  97  may also be connected to the processor  94  to receive information from the other devices (not shown) provided within the vehicle  10 , such as sensors, computers, the instrument cluster  61 , the SYNC® system, heating and air conditioning, controls, signal lights, etc. Mobile devices, such as cell phones, may be connected through a hard-wire or wireless connection with the processor  94 , and mobile device screens may be displayed on the human interface device  20  using virtual network computing or other methods. 
         [0022]    The electrical impulses sent by the processor  94  are representative of an image or pattern that can be expressed on the human interface device  20 . The transducer pixel array  84  expresses the image or pattern in the form of electrical or pressure impulses or vibrations on the tongue or other surface on the driver  14 . The optical lobe of the brain of the driver  14  can be trained to process the impulses or vibrations on the tongue or other surface on the driver  14  in a manner that is comparable to the manner in which the brain processes signals from the eyes, thus producing a tactile “image” that is similar to that which may be produced from the eyes of the driver  14 . The brain of the driver  14  can learn to “view” or interpret signals from both the eyes and tongue simultaneously so as to effective “view” two “images” simultaneously. 
         [0023]    The human interface device  20  may additionally includes one or more sensors  88  that can detect characteristics of the driver  14 . For example, one of such sensors  88  may monitor the body temperature of the driver  14 . The sensors  88  may also include micro-electromechanical systems and nano-electromechanical system technology sensors that can measure saliva quantity and chemistry, such as the concentration of inorganic compounds, organic compounds, proteins, peptides, hormones, etc. The sensors  88  may also include MEMS accelerometers or gyroscopes that can measure one or more characteristics of the driver  14 , such head orientation or position, gaze detection, etc. These data can be used to detect when the human interface device  20  is being used by the driver  14  to activate the operation of the human interface device  20 . Such data may also be used to judge other characteristics of the driver  14  such as wellness, fatigue, emotional state, etc. This information can trigger audio or visual messages to the driver  14 , either through the human interface device  20  or otherwise, or cause other actions, including disabling the vehicle. 
         [0024]    The transducer pixel array  84  is adapted to provide a control using pixels to allow human feedback through the tongue. Four feedback pixel areas  90  are positioned generally at the four corner areas of the transducer pixel array  84 . The driver  14  may select one or more of the feedback pixels areas  90  by applying pressure with the tongue. The feedback pixels areas  90  may be used to select data, such as one or more of the data generating devices (cameras, displays, etc.) which will provide data to the mouthpiece  82  of the human interface device  20 . For example, the feedback pixel areas  90  may be used to select whether to receive data from the sixth camera  38  or from a radio display (not shown). The feedback pixel areas  90  may also be used as buttons to select one of four icons related to a particular data generating device. Alternatively, the four feedback pixel areas  90  may be used as up, down, and side-to-side arrows to operate a mouse, pointer, or joystick (not shown) that can be used to select an icon or an item from a group of icons on a menu, a touch screen, and the like. Tactile pressure on the tongue allows the driver  14  to feel buttons being pushed on the image, or to feel mouse over events, etc. 
         [0025]    Referring back to  FIG. 4 , one or more control buttons  78  may be provided in the interior  50  of the vehicle  10 . The control buttons  78  may be manually manipulated by the driver  14  to select which one of a plurality of the data generating devices (cameras, gauges, displays, comfort and entertainment devices and controls, etc.) is to communicate with the human interface device  20  at any given point in time. If the control buttons  78  are adapted to be operated by hand, it is preferable that they be provided in a convenient location (such as on a steering wheel as shown) so that the driver  14  may operate them without losing visual sight of the road. Alternatively, the human interface device  20  may be used in lieu of the control buttons  78  to select the desired one or more of the various data generating devices. 
         [0026]    Feedback may used to aim any or all of the cameras described above so as to such cameras to pan across a display or displays, such as the entertainment displays or to dial a cell phone. Feedback also allows a user to enable heads-up displays, including 3D displays to be sensed through the human interface device  20 , or to bring a cell phone image or other image closer to the road viewing area. Feedback may also be used to call for help, to enter codes to start or disable the vehicle, etc. Feedback may further be in the form of a gesture recognition system. For example, head gestures or motions can be used as commands such that a camera driving the display can be aimed at a touch screen so that the driver  14  can control the touch screen without diverting his or her eyes from the road. Position sensors can also power virtual reality, three dimensional displays, such as can be used in a heads-up display. 
         [0027]    In addition to the feedback pixel areas  90 , the transducer pixel array  84  can be used to recognize speech and thereby to operate controls with speech. The transducer pixel array  84  is positioned between the tongue and roof of the mouth such that the transducer pixel array  84  may detect patterns of pressure thereon that measure pressure of the tongue on the roof of the mouth. Speech commands may therefore be used in addition to or in place of commands send through the feedback pixel areas  90 . 
         [0028]    In summary, the present invention will allow the driver  14  to “see” two “images” simultaneously, one by means his or her eyes and the other by means of his or her tongue. This will allow the driver  14  to keep his or her eyes on the road while assimilating other information concerning the vehicle  10  and its surroundings. 
         [0029]    The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.