Entertainment apparatus for self-driving vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235709-B2
Application number	US-201916653470-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2019
Priority date	May 31, 2019
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

An entertainment apparatus for a self-driving vehicle is configured to enable a passenger to playa game while viewing a game start image of a display installed in a seat in a state in which the passenger sits on the seat, where the game is executed and proceeds based on a signal that is obtained by detecting a distribution of human body pressure of the passenger by a body pressure sensor installed in the seat and a signal obtained by detecting touch pressure of the passenger by a touch pad installed in the seat, and thus the passenger is capable of playing various games related to body pressure and/or a touch signal while moving his or her body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An entertainment apparatus for a self-driving vehicle, comprising:
a body pressure sensor module installed at right and left symmetric positions of a seat having a seat back and a seat cushion, the body pressure sensor module configured to detect distribution of upper body pressure and lower body pressure of a passenger;
a touch pad installed in the seat back or the seat cushion capable of detecting touch pressure of the passenger;
a display unit disposed at a position in the vicinity of the seat that the passenger is capable of viewing and configured to display a start image of a game selected by the passenger; and
a control unit configured to output the start image of the game selected by the passenger to the display unit and to simultaneously control overall execution of the game selected by the passenger based on a detection signal of the body pressure sensor module or a detection signal of the touch pad, or the detection signal of the body pressure sensor module and the detection signal of the touch pad,
wherein the body pressure sensor module includes:
a first body pressure sensor module installed at right and left symmetric positions of the seat back and configured to detect the distribution of an upper body pressure of the passenger; and
a second body pressure sensor module installed at right and left symmetric positions of the seat cushion and configured to detect the distribution of a lower body pressure of the passenger.

2. The entertainment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first body pressure sensor module includes:
a (1-1) th left body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a left upper back of the passenger;
a (1-2) nd left body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a left center back of the passenger;
a (1-3) rd left body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a left side of a waist of the passenger;
a (1-1) th right body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a right upper back of the passenger;
a (1-2) nd right body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a right center back of the passenger; and
a (1-3) rd right body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a right side of a waist of the passenger.

3. The entertainment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second body pressure sensor module includes:
a (2-1) th left body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a left buttock of the passenger;
a (2-2) nd left body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a left thigh of the passenger;
a (2-1) th right body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a right buttock of the passenger; and
a (2-2) nd right body pressure sensor configured to detect body pressure of a right thigh of the passenger.

4. The entertainment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the touch pad is selected from one of a plurality of touch pads, the plurality of touch pads comprising:
first, second, and third left touch pads that are installed to be spaced apart from each other in upward and downward directions at left edge portions of the seat back;
first, second, and third right touch pads that are installed to be spaced apart from each other in upward and downward directions at right edge portions of the seat back;
first and second lower touch pads that are installed to be spaced apart from each other in right and left directions at front edge portions of the seat cushion; and
first and second upper touch pads installed at opposite side portions of a head rest.

5. The entertainment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a color layer configured to indicate an installation position of the touch pad is coated on an external surface of a seat cover for covering the touch pad.

6. The entertainment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display unit includes:
an articulated link connected to an arm rest installed at one side of the seat to be changed in direction; and
a display rotatably installed at an end portion of the articulated link.

7. The entertainment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display unit is selected from an audio video navigation (AVN) display installed in the vehicle, a head up display configured to provide driving information, and a display configured to display a game image through a window glass.

8. The entertainment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes:
a game selection input unit configured to input a game type and mode;
a game execution controller configured to execute the game type and mode input through the game selection input unit and to simultaneously apply an enable signal to the body pressure sensor module and the touch pad;
a game operation calculation unit configured to receive a detection signal of the body pressure sensor module and the touch pad, to calculate a current game playing operation of the passenger, and to then input a calculation result to the game execution controller; and
a game output unit configured to output a game start image and a sound in response to a command from the game execution controller.

9. The entertainment apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the game execution controller includes a game storage unit configured to store game types using body pressure and touch and game types using only body pressure or touch as a game that is capable of being selected by the passenger.

10. The entertainment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the game type includes a luge game, a game of whack-a-mole, a rhythm dance game, and an ensemble game.

11. The entertainment apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control unit includes:
a seat position controller configured to output a signal for adjustment of a seat position according to the game type and mode input through the game selection input unit;
a seat position driver configured to adjust the seat position in response to a command from the seat position controller; and
a seat vibration unit configured to vibrate the seat in a specific situation while the game is executed in response to the command from the game execution controller.

12. The entertainment apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the seat position driver is selected as an electromotive reclining device installed at the seat back, and an electromotive height adjustment device installed in the seat cushion.

13. The entertainment apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the seat vibration unit is selected as a vibration device installed at a predetermination position of the seat back or the seat cushion and configured to provide a haptic response.

14. The entertainment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a facial expression recognition camera configured to recognize a facial expression of the passenger and to determine whether to terminate the game.

15. A self-driving automobile comprising an entertainment apparatus, the entertainment apparatus comprising:
a body pressure sensor module installed at right and left symmetric positions of a seat having a seat back and a seat cushion, the body pressure sensor module configured to detect distribution of upper body pressure and lower body pressure of a passenger;
a touch pad installed in the seat back or the seat cushion capable of detecting touch pressure of the passenger;
a display unit disposed at a position in the vicinity of the seat that the passenger is capable of viewing and configured to display a start image of a game selected by the passenger; and

a control unit configured to output the start image or the game selected by the passenger to the display unit and to simultaneously control overall execution of the game selected by the passenger

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Lee Baek Hee
• Kwak Min Hyuk
• Lee Jin Hee

Classifications

• B60N2210/24

  Cameras · CPC title

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title

• B60N2/0023

  for detection of driver fatigue · CPC title

• B60N2/003

  characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat · CPC title

• G06F3/0487

  using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser · CPC title