Vibration control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11238718-B2
Application number	US-201917051194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2019
Priority date	May 1, 2018
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A vibration control device is provided which enables an awakening effect for a user to be increased while making it difficult to give discomfort to the user. A harmonic signal generating section of a vibration control device is configured to successively output a plurality of alternating signals for driving a vibration unit. By way of the plurality of alternating signals which is successively output and has a frequency ratio represented with a predetermined integer ratio, vibration generated with the plurality of alternating signals can more easily awaken a user while making it difficult to give discomfort to the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vibration control device configured to control a vibration unit which is configured to generate vibration to be transferred to a user, the vibration control device comprising:
an output section configured to output groups of signals including alternating signals with multiple frequencies as driving signals to drive the vibration unit, the multiple frequencies in each of the groups of signals being represented with a frequency ratio between component sounds of a consonance, signals in each of the group of signals being successively output,
wherein, when outputting a second one of the groups of signals next to a first one of the groups of signals, the output section is configured to vary a combination of the alternating signals with multiple frequencies included in the second one of the groups of signals from a combination of the alternating signals with multiple frequencies in the first one of the groups of signals, and
the vibration control device is configured to control the vibration unit that is configured to generate the vibration to be transferred to one or more of a back, a hand, and a lower body of the user.

2. The vibration control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an acquisition section configured to acquire drowsiness information of the user,
wherein the output section is configured to output the driving signals when the drowsiness information is acquired by the acquisition section.

3. A vibration generating device comprising:
the vibration control device according to claim 2 ; and
at least one vibration unit.

4. The vibration control device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the alternating signals has a frequency of 40-120 Hz.

5. A vibration generating device comprising:
the vibration control device according to claim 4 ; and
at least one vibration unit.

6. The vibration control device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the output section is configured to randomly vary a combination of frequencies of alternating signals included in each of the groups of signals in time.

7. A vibration generating device comprising:
the vibration control device according to claim 6 ; and
at least one vibration unit.

8. The vibration control device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the output section is configured to output the groups of signals with a pause period interposed between the groups of signals and to randomly vary a length of the pause period.

9. A vibration generating device comprising:
the vibration control device according to claim 8 ; and
at least one vibration unit.

10. A vibration generating device comprising:
the vibration control device according to claim 1 ; and
at least one vibration unit.

11. The vibration generating device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the vibration unit is provided inside a seat surface section or a backrest section of a seat in which the user is seated.

12. The vibration generating device according to claim 10 , wherein the at least on vibration unit comprises a plurality of vibration units,
wherein the output section is configured to output the driving signals to each of the plurality of vibration units, the driving signals being different from each other and correlated to each other.

13. A vibration control method for controlling a vibration unit which is configured to generate vibration to be transferred to a user, the method comprising:
outputting groups of signals including alternating signals with multiple frequencies which are driving signals to drive the vibration unit, the multiple frequencies in each of the groups of signals being represented with a frequency ratio between component sounds of a consonance, signals in each of the group of signals being successively output, the outputting including varying a combination of the alternating signals with multiple frequencies included in a second one of the groups of signals from a combination of the alternating signals with multiple frequencies in a first one of the groups of signals, the second one of the groups of signals being output next to the first one of the groups of signals, and
the vibration control device is configured to control the vibration unit that is configured to generate the vibration to be transferred to one or more of a back, a hand, and a lower body of the user.

14. A vibration control program which is configured to cause a computer to execute the vibration control method according to claim 13 .

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a vibration control program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of claim 13 .

16. The vibration control method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
acquiring drowsiness information of the user; and
outputting the driving signals when the drowsiness information is acquired.

Assignees

• Pioneer Corp
• Pioneer System Tech Corporation

Inventors

• Yasushi Mitsuo
• Takeuchi Yoshikazu
• Sugaya Kazumi
• Kakisaka Kota
• Isozaki Kenta
• Morishige Takashi
• Iizawa Takashi
• Murakami Naoki
• Fukuda Tatsuya

Classifications

• B60N2/0023

  for detection of driver fatigue · CPC title

• B60N2/0022

  for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature · CPC title

• B06B2201/53

  with vibrating magnet or coil · CPC title

• B60N2002/981

  Warning systems, e.g. the seat or seat parts vibrates to warn the passenger when facing a danger · CPC title

• G08B6/00

  Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems · CPC title