Haptic and visual attention attracting device for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10703267-B2
Application number	US-201816183253-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2018
Priority date	Dec 8, 2017
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

An attention attracting device for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit configure to: detect a plurality of types of attention information around an own vehicle; apply vibration, by using a vibrator, to a vehicular seat; display, using a display, an attention information content corresponding to each of the plurality of types of attention information; when the information detection unit detects attention information, operate the vibrator when the attention information is detected and cause a display to display the attention information content corresponding to the detected attention information when the attention information is detected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attention attracting device for a vehicle, comprising:
an electronic control unit configured to:
detect attention information of a plurality of types of attention information around the vehicle;
apply vibration, by using a vibrator, to a vehicular seat when the attention information is detected; and
display, using a display, attention information content corresponding to the attention information when the attention information is detected, wherein
the attention information content includes information of a risk including a graphic image representing both a type of the risk and a position where the risk occurs,
the graphic image is one a plurality of different graphic images each representing a different one of the plurality of types of attention information,
each of the plurality of different graphic images includes a different visual representation of the vehicle with respect to a corresponding attention information around the vehicle,
the electronic control unit is configured to apply vibration to regions of the vehicular seat, the regions including
a right front portion to be vibrated that is a region on a seat surface side and a right front-end side of a seat cushion in the vehicular seat,
a left front portion to be vibrated that is a region on the seat surface side and a left front-end side of the seat cushion in the vehicular seat,
a right rear portion to be vibrated that is a region on a backrest surface side and a right upper-end side of a seatback in the vehicular seat, and
a left rear portion to be vibrated that is a region on the backrest surface side and a left upper-end side of the seatback in the vehicular seat, and
the electronic control unit is configured to:
when the electronic control unit detects the attention information and a detection position at which the electronic control unit detects the attention information for the vehicle is at least one side of a right front side, a left front side, a right rear side, and a left rear side of the vehicle, control an operation of the vibrator such that the vibrator applies vibration to a region on a side corresponding to the detection position as seen in a plan view of the vehicle, the region being among the right front portion to be vibrated, the left front portion to be vibrated, the right rear portion to be vibrated, and the left rear portion to be vibrated;
when the detection position is right in front of the vehicle, control the operation of the vibrator such that the vibrator applies vibration to both the right front portion to be vibrated and the left front portion to be vibrated; and
when the detection position is right behind the vehicle, control the operation of the vibrator such that the vibrator applies vibration to both the right rear portion to be vibrated and the left rear portion to be vibrated.

2. The attention attracting device according to claim 1 , wherein
a vibration pattern is set in accordance with content of each of the plurality of types of attention information, and
the electronic control unit is configured to operate the vibrator with a vibration pattern corresponding to the attention information content corresponding to the attention information.

3. The attention attracting device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of types of attention information includes information on an obstacle around the vehicle detected using ultrasonic waves and information indicating a lane departure or a lane departure possibility of the vehicle.

4. The attention attracting device according to claim 1 , wherein
the attention information is information obtained by a clearance sonar detecting mechanism or information obtained by a lane departure alert detecting mechanism, and
the electronic control unit is configured to display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and a mark corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the clearance sonar detecting mechanism or the visual representation of the vehicle and a side line corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the lane departure alert detecting mechanism.

5. The attention attracting device according to claim 1 , wherein
the attention information is information obtained by a clearance sonar detecting mechanism or information obtained by a lane departure alert detecting mechanism, and
the electronic control unit is configured to:
display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and a mark corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the clearance sonar detecting mechanism; and
display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and a side line corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the lane departure alert detecting mechanism.

6. The attention attracting device according to claim 1 , wherein
the attention information is information obtained by a clearance sonar detecting mechanism, information obtained by a lane departure alert detecting mechanism, information obtained by a blind spot monitor-rear cross traffic alert detection mechanism, or information obtained by a front cross traffic alert detection mechanism, and
the electronic control unit is configured to display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and a first mark corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the clearance sonar detecting mechanism, the visual representation of the vehicle and a side line corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the lane departure alert detecting mechanism, the visual representation of the vehicle and another vehicle corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the blind spot monitor-rear cross traffic alert detection mechanism, or the visual representation of the vehicle and a second mark corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the front cross traffic alert detection mechanism.

7. The attention attracting device according to claim 1 , wherein
the attention information is information obtained by a clearance sonar detecting mechanism, information obtained by a lane departure alert detecting mechanism, information obtained by a blind spot monitor-rear cross traffic alert detection mechanism, or information obtained by a front cross traffic alert detection mechanism, and
the electronic control unit is configured to:
display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and a first mark corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the clearance sonar detecting mechanism;
display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and a side line corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the lane departure alert detecting mechanism;
display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and another vehicle corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the blind spot monitor-rear cross traffic alert detection mechanism; and
display the attention information content including the visual representation of the vehicle and a second mark corresponding to the position when the attention information is information obtained by the front cross traffic alert detection mechanism.

8. The attention attracting device according to claim 1

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Iwasaki Keita
• Kondo Keiichi
• Takahashi Akinori

Classifications

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K35/29

  Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/25

  using haptic output · CPC title

• B60K35/10 Primary

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title