Patent ID: 12257973

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

Referring toFIG.1, a haptic system to locate seat components10also defining a vehicle user notification system is provided in a vehicle12such as an automobile vehicle, a sport utility vehicle, a truck, a van, an electric vehicle, and an autonomously driven vehicle. The haptic system to locate seat components10includes multiple seats positioned within the vehicle12which may include a driver seat14, a front passenger seat16, a first rear passenger seat18, a second rear passenger seat20and a rear middle passenger seat22. Other seat configurations may be used including facing seats, seat benches, and captain's chairs. Vehicle users such as drivers and passengers seated in the vehicle12are individually provided with a seat belt system which includes for example a first rear seat belt24made for example of a woven belt or a polymeric belt, a first rear belt latch26and an object defining for example a first rear seat belt buckle28which receives and releasably latches the first rear belt latch26provided for a passenger seated in the rear middle passenger seat22. It is noted that item numbers identified with an apostrophe herein represent the same or similar items described in a previous discussion of the drawings, such that additional description of the item is not provided.

Additional seat belts and belt latches are provided for users such as passengers seated for example on the first rear passenger seat18and the second rear passenger seat20. These include a second object such as a second rear seat belt buckle30provided in tandem with a second rear seat belt32, and a third rear seat belt buckle34provided in tandem with third rear seat belt36. Belt latches for the second rear seat belt32and the third rear seat belt36are not clearly visible in this view. Certain belt buckles such as the first rear seat belt buckle28and the third rear seat belt buckle34may be grouped together and may therefore be more difficult to distinguish by a user.

According to several aspects the first rear seat belt buckle28and the third rear seat belt buckle34may also be positioned proximate to a junction38between a second rear passenger seat back40of the second rear passenger seat20and a second rear passenger seat cushion42of the second rear passenger seat20, and further between a rear middle passenger seat back44and a rear middle passenger seat cushion46. A proximity of the first rear seat belt buckle28and the third rear seat belt buckle34to the junction38and a possibility of one or both of the first rear seat belt buckle28and the third rear seat belt buckle34being pushed down below the junction38by multiple passenger uses may make locating any one of the first rear seat belt buckle28or the third rear seat belt buckle34difficult during latching of the first rear belt latch26. To make it easier to locate a desired one of the first rear seat belt buckle28and the third rear seat belt buckle34, or any one of the vehicle seat belt buckles, the haptic system to locate seat components10may provide haptic feedback to the user and may also provide lighting of individual ones of the seat belt buckles as discussed in greater detail in reference to the following figures.

Referring toFIG.2and again toFIG.1, the haptic system to locate seat components10may provide haptic feedback for a user48seated for example in the passenger seat16. It is noted any of the vehicle seats may be occupied, therefore the passenger seat16is provided as an example only, and the discussion that follows applies equally to any of the vehicle seats. Further discussion of a user right-hand side and a user left-hand side correspond to the user48when seated in the passenger seat16and facing forward toward the viewer as shown inFIG.2.

An upper body portion of the user48is supported by a seat back50, and a lower body portion of the user48is supported by a seat cushion52. A seatbelt assembly54to limit motion of the user48includes a belt56and a belt latch58which is slidably disposed on the belt56, which are positioned proximate to a user right-hand side60of the passenger seat16. A seat belt buckle62is positioned proximate to a user left-hand side64of the passenger seat16and substantially positionally fixed with respect to the user left-hand side64of the seat cushion52. According to several aspects a haptic device66may fixed to or embedded within any of the previously noted objects including the seat belt buckle62. The seat belt buckle62may also be positioned proximate to an object such as a seat control switch68also positioned on the user left-hand side64of the seat cushion52.

To protect the user48, the belt latch58is engaged with and releasably couples with the seat belt buckle62. As the user48grasps the belt latch58normally positioned on the user right-hand side60of the passenger seat16and moves the belt latch58toward the seat belt buckle62, the haptic device66emits a haptic signal shown and described in reference toFIG.3defining a vibration, a sound such as a tone or both. The term haptic as used herein is defined as the use of technology that stimulates the senses of touch and motion and reproduces sensations in a remote operation that are felt by a user such as the user48interacting directly with an object, including for example a seat belt buckle. According to several aspects, the haptic signal may be generated for example at the same time a vehicle ignition is initiated or when one or more occupant seat sensors described in greater detail in reference toFIG.6identify the user48is seated in a vehicle seat such as the passenger seat16.

It is also noted the haptic system to locate seat components10may further include haptic feedback to assist the user48in locating other objects, which according to further aspects include the seat control switch68or any similar object selected by the manufacturer of the vehicle12. For example, the haptic device66or a similar haptic device may be embedded in, fixed onto, or positioned within a predetermined distance to the seat control switch68. To distinguish a haptic signal generated by the seat control switch68from the haptic signal generated by the haptic device66, the haptic signal generated for location of the seat control switch68may operate at a different frequency, may produce a pulsing vibration or sound, or the like from the haptic signal generated by the haptic device66.

Referring toFIG.3and again toFIGS.1and2, the user48is presented manually holding the belt latch58for example in a right hand70of the user48. As the belt latch58is moved in a predetermined distance to the seat belt buckle62, the haptic device66emits a haptic signal72. According to several aspects, the haptic device66may be embedded within the seat belt buckle62, such as during a manufacturing step such as a molding step, or during a manufacturing step that separately inserts the haptic device66for example into a cavity of the seat belt buckle62prepared to receive the haptic device66. According to other aspects, the haptic device66may be attached such as by fixing to an outer surface of the seat belt buckle62. The haptic signal72may be both felt by the user48and heard by the user48. The haptic signal72helps the user48to locate the seat belt buckle62during both daytime and nighttime operating hours.

Referring toFIG.4and again toFIG.3, according to additional aspects, in lieu of the haptic device66producing a signal when the seat belt latch58is brought into a close proximity such as a predetermined distance to the haptic device66, a haptic device74may be used. Close proximity is defined herein as a predetermined distance required for the haptic device to sense the seat belt latch58, which for example may be approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm) or less. The predetermined distance may also be less than or greater than 12 inches (30.5 cm) at the discretion of a vehicle designer. The haptic device74defines an array76having multiple ultrasonic speakers78. The ultrasonic speakers78emit and receive reflected ultrasonic waves80as an object, which in the present example defines the hand70′ of the user48, is moved within the predetermined distance of the array76. The reflected ultrasonic waves80may be used to initiate actuation of an auditory alarm or signal which the user48may used to identify a location of an object such as a seat belt buckle. Similar to the haptic device66, the haptic device74may be embedded in or fixed to a seat belt buckle or other object which the user48wishes to locate.

Referring toFIG.5and again toFIGS.1through3, an exemplary embodiment of the haptic device66may include a body84having or in communication with an electrical circuit86which communicates an electrical control signal to a mechanical device88. An example of the mechanical device88may include a motor or a rotating device having an off-balanced member to generate a vibrational energy. The vibrational energy may increase with an increasing signal strength generated by the mechanical device88, which may be induced by an object approaching within a predetermined threshold distance of the haptic device66, and may increase as the object further approaches within the predetermined threshold distance.

Referring toFIG.6and again toFIGS.1and2, the haptic system to locate seat components10may provide different methods to control a frequency and intensity of a haptic signal. For example, an occupancy sensor90may be embedded within any of the vehicle seats such as the driver's seat14. The occupancy sensor90is used to identify if the vehicle seat is occupied, otherwise a corresponding haptic device will not be activated for that vehicle seat.

Referring toFIG.7and again toFIGS.1and2, the haptic system to locate seat components10may provide a seat belt payout sensor94. The seat belt payout sensor94is incorporated within a seat belt assembly such as the seatbelt assembly54and detects seat belt webbing movement when the user48is in the process of buckling the seat belt latch to the seat belt buckle. According to several aspects, the seat belt payout sensor94may also be used as a condition for haptics activation.

Referring toFIG.8and again toFIGS.1and2, the haptic system to locate seat components10may provide other proximity sensors100including a camera, a radar device, and a light source directed at a seat belt buckle. As the user's hand70′ approaches within a predetermined distance between the proximity sensor100and the seat-belt buckle, a frequency or an intensity of haptic vibration may be increased.

Referring toFIG.9and again toFIGS.1and2, the seat belt buckle104and any seat belt buckle of the present disclosure may include a light106which may define a steady-on light or a blinking light to help visually locate the seat belt buckle104. The illuminated light106may define a light emitting diode (LED) light positioned within the seat belt buckle used to aid the user in finding the seat belt buckle. The seat belt buckle104and any seat belt buckle of the present disclosure may also include a buckle sensor108. The buckle sensor108detects when a user releasably connects such as by buckling the belt latch58to the seat belt buckle104or releasably disconnects such as by unbuckling the belt latch58from the seat belt buckle104. Additional interior cabin lighting may be directed toward the seat belt buckle104and used to aid the user in finding a seat belt buckle104.

Referring toFIG.10and again toFIGS.1,2and9, according to further aspects, the haptic system to locate seat components10may provide an enhanced current buckle to drive feature110. The enhanced current buckle to drive feature110may provide haptic feedback when a “Buckle-to-Shift” message112is displayed to the user. The enhanced current buckle to drive feature110may be expand beyond a front row of vehicle seats and provide haptic feedback messaging for all users and occupants if user sensing is present for example in rear vehicle seats. The Buckle-to-Shift message112is displayed when a driver seated in the driver's seat14attempts to shift the vehicle12out of a park mode. The Buckle-to-Shift message112may also repeat a haptic feedback signal together with generation of an audible chime.

The haptic system to locate seat components10utilizes a computer114which may be positioned on-board the vehicle12which is programmed to operate and perform a method of operating the haptic system to locate seat components10. The computer114may communicate with a vehicle control device116which receives data such as user seat occupancy and vehicle operating status to assist the computer114and the vehicle control device116to generate signals to initiate any of the haptic devices identified herein. The computer114is programmed to perform operations related to the system and method to operate the haptic system to locate seat components10. The computer114is a non-generalized, electronic control device having a preprogrammed digital controller or processor, a memory118or a similar non-transitory computer readable medium used to store data such as control logic, software applications, instructions, computer code, data, lookup tables, etc., and a transceiver or input/output ports. The computer readable medium includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. The non-transitory computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. The non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device. Computer code includes any type of program code, including source code, object code, and executable code. According to other aspects, the computer114may also be positioned off-vehicle, including in a remote computing station or in the cloud.

Haptic actuators of the present disclosure may be embedded in or nearby a seat or may create haptics in the air surrounding the vehicle seats using an array of ultrasonic speakers. Haptic actuators of the present disclosure may be provided in a vehicle seat, near a seat belt buckle, on a seat belt buckle which may generate some vibratory noise, or at a lower end of a seat belt buckle.

The haptic system to locate seat components10provides haptic seat belt feedback to vehicle users to help them locate seat belt buckles and to encourage seat belt usage. Haptic seat belt feedback may be initiated during a vehicle pre-ride time by one of the following inputs: 1) An operator intent to start the vehicle; 2) A vehicle occupancy is detected, which uses an occupancy sensor described for example in reference toFIG.6; and 3) An occupant intent to buckle such as a change in a seat belt webbing tension which may be sensed using a sensor such as the seat belt payout sensor described in reference toFIG.7.

Haptic seat belt feedback may be initiated at a vehicle post-ride time by one of the following inputs: 1) A vehicle power mode is transitioned to OFF; 2) A sound detected by one or more in-vehicle sound-based sensors such as the proximity sensors100defining a radar sensor or an ultrasonic sensor that detects by a received sound a user's intent to find a seat belt buckle.

A haptic system to locate seat components10of the present disclosure offers several advantages. These include a method to provide feedback to help users including drivers and passengers locate seat-belt buckles, a method to individually remind users including both drivers and passengers to buckle up their seat belt, and a system and method to control a timing, a frequency, and an intensity of vibrations based on situation and sensory inputs.

The description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.