Activate/deactivate functionality in response to environmental conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10852725-B2
Application number	US-201715638228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 29, 2016
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for executing an event pertaining to a vehicle and a user of the vehicle are presented. In some embodiments, a includes (a) detecting that a motion state of the vehicle is in a first state, (b) detecting a condition that warrants a change in the motion state of the vehicle to a second state, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in an activity that potentially impairs the user from performing an action to change the motion state of the vehicle to the second state. The method also includes, detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, executing an event to facilitate the change in the motion state of the vehicle to the second state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for executing an event pertaining to a vehicle and a user of the vehicle, comprising: the vehicle
(a) detecting that a motion state of the vehicle is in a first state;
(b) detecting a condition that warrants a change in the motion state of the vehicle to a second state, the condition comprising an expected change in a status of a traffic light;
(c) detecting an engagement of the user of the vehicle in an activity that impairs the user from performing an action to change the motion state of the vehicle to the second state;
in response to (a) detecting that the motion state of the vehicle is in the first state, (b) detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, executing an event to facilitate the change in the motion state of the vehicle to the second state;
(d) detecting an obstacle in front of the vehicle; and
in response to (d), preventing an accelerator input from the user and communicating by having taillights displaying a pattern to another vehicle behind the vehicle, the pattern indicating the detection of the obstacle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises at least one of:
presenting a notification to the user of the vehicle; or
facilitating entry of the vehicle into an autonomous driving mode.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the notification comprises at least one of an auditory notification, visual notification, or haptic notification.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the condition that warrants the change in the motion state of the vehicle to a second state further comprises at least one of:
detecting a change in a status of a traffic light; or
detecting a change in a traffic condition.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state comprises a stop state and the second state comprises a moving state.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to (a) detecting that the motion state of the vehicle is in the first state, (b) detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, preventing interaction with a device within the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the device comprises at least one of a mobile device or infotainment system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein (b) detecting the condition is based at least in part on at least one of:
one or more images obtained from a camera; or
one more signals obtained by a radar or Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein (b) detecting the condition is based at least in part on at least one of: a received wireless communication; or a recorded audio signal.

10. An apparatus for executing an event pertaining to a vehicle and a user of the vehicle, comprising:
(a) means for detecting that a motion state of the vehicle is in a first state;
(b) means for detecting a condition that warrants a change in the motion state of the vehicle to a second state, the condition comprising an expected change in a status of a traffic light;
(c) means for detecting an engagement of the user of the vehicle in an activity that impairs the user from performing an action to change the motion state of the vehicle to the second state;
means, in response to (a) detecting that the motion state of the vehicle is in the first state, (b) detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, for executing an event to facilitate the change in the motion state of the vehicle to the second state;
(d) means for detecting an obstacle in front of the vehicle; and
means, in response to (d), for preventing an accelerator input from the user and communicating by having taillights displaying a pattern to another vehicle behind the vehicle, the pattern indicating the detection of the obstacle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising means for in response to (a) detecting that the motion state of the vehicle is in the first state, (b) detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, preventing interaction with a device within the vehicle.

12. A system for executing an event pertaining to a vehicle and a user of the vehicle, comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium comprising code, executable by the processor, for implementing a method comprising:
(a) detecting that a motion state of the vehicle is in a first state;
(b) detecting a condition that warrants a change in the motion state of the vehicle to a second state, the condition comprising an expected change in a status of a traffic light;
(c) detecting an engagement of the user of the vehicle in an activity that impairs the user from performing an action to change the motion state of the vehicle to the second state;

in response to (a) detecting that the motion state of the vehicle is in the first state, (b) detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, executing an event to facilitate the change in the motion state of the vehicle to the second state;
(d) detecting an obstacle in front of the vehicle; and
in response to (d), preventing an accelerator input from the user and communicating by having taillights displaying a pattern to another vehicle behind the vehicle, the pattern indicating the detection of the obstacle.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the event comprises at least one of:
presenting a notification to the user of the vehicle; or
facilitating entry of the vehicle into an autonomous driving mode.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the notification comprises at least one of an auditory notification, visual notification, or haptic notification.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein detecting the condition that warrants the change in the motion state of the vehicle to a second state further comprises at least one of:
detecting a change in a status of a traffic light; or
detecting a change in a traffic condition.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first state comprises a stop state and the second state comprises a moving state.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises, in response to (a) detecting that the motion state of the vehicle is in the first state, (b) detecting the condition, and (c) detecting the user of the vehicle's engagement in the activity, preventing interaction with a device within the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the device comprises at least one of a mobile device or infotainment system.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein (b) detecting the condition is based at least in part on at least one of: one or more images obtained from a camera; or one more signals obtained by a radar or Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein (b) detecting the condition is based at least in part on at least one of:
a received wireless communication; or
a recorded audio signal.

Assignees

• Faraday & Future Inc

Inventors

• Samper Juan Pablo
• Nikulin Serge
• Song Xiufeng

Classifications

• B60W50/14 Primary

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B60W2540/22

  Psychological state; Stress level or workload · CPC title

• B60W2040/0818

  Inactivity or incapacity of driver · CPC title

• B60W2555/60

  Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way · CPC title

• B60W30/18027

  Drive off, accelerating from standstill · CPC title