Method and system for exterior vehicle display configured to issue feedback prompts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11270543-B2
Application number	US-201916514075-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Jul 17, 2019
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method and system for an exterior display of a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, configured to issue feedback prompts. An example method includes issuing a prompt via a human-machine interface on an exterior of a vehicle permitting an input indicative of an undesired condition of the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
issuing a prompt via a human-machine interface on an exterior of a vehicle, wherein the prompt permits an input indicative of an undesired condition of the vehicle, wherein the undesired condition of the vehicle includes a condition of the vehicle requiring maintenance.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to an input indicating an undesired condition of the vehicle, issuing a prompt via the human-machine interface permitting an input indicating the vehicle should be dismissed without making a planned trip.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to an input indicating an undesired condition of the vehicle, issuing a prompt via the human-machine interface permitting an input indicating the vehicle can continue with a planned trip.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
associating the input indicating the undesired condition of the vehicle with a user that provided the input; and
taking a particular action based on an input history of the user.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the prompt issued via the human-machine interface permits an input indicative of whether a user wishes to cancel a planned trip.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the prompt permitting an input indicative of an undesired condition of the vehicle is presented following an input indicative of the user wishing to cancel the planned trip.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the prompt issued via the human-machine interface permits an input requesting that the vehicle be held for a period of time.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the human-machine interface displays the period of time the vehicle will be held.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the human-machine interface issues a prompt permitting an input increasing the period of time.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the prompt issued via the human-machine interface permits an input requesting that a cargo door of the vehicle be opened.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the human-machine interface is a first human-machine interface on an exterior of a first side of the vehicle and the vehicle includes a second human-machine interface on the exterior of the first side of the vehicle.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first human-machine interface is mounted to a front door of the vehicle and the second human-machine interface is mounted to a rear door of the vehicle.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the condition of the vehicle requiring maintenance includes a condition of the vehicle requiring repair or cleaning.

14. A method, comprising:
issuing a prompt via a human-machine interface on an exterior of a vehicle, wherein the prompt permits an input indicative of an undesired condition of the vehicle; and
in response to an input indicating an undesired condition of the vehicle, verifying whether the input accurately reflects a condition of the vehicle.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:
associating the input indicating the undesired condition of the vehicle with a user that provided the input; and
weighing future inputs from the user based on whether the input accurately reflected the condition of the vehicle.

16. A system for a vehicle, comprising:
a human-machine interface on an exterior of the vehicle; and
a controller in electronic communication with the human-machine interface, wherein the controller is configured to issue a prompt via the human-machine interface permitting an input indicative of an undesired condition of the vehicle, wherein the undesired condition of the vehicle includes a condition of the vehicle requiring maintenance.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein, in response to an input indicating an undesired condition of the vehicle, the controller is configured to issue a prompt via the human-machine interface permitting an input indicating the vehicle should be dismissed without making a planned trip.

18. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein, in response to an input indicating an undesired condition of the vehicle, the controller is configured to issue a prompt via the human-machine interface permitting an input indicating the vehicle can continue with a planned trip.

19. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein, in response to an input indicating an undesired condition of the vehicle, the controller issues a particular command based on an input history of the user.

20. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the human-machine interface is a first human-machine interface on an exterior of a front door on a first side of the vehicle and the vehicle includes a second human-machine interface on an exterior of a rear door on the first side of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Brown Kristopher Karl
• Friedlander Steven Wayne
• Surman James J
• Gardner Cornel Lewis

Classifications

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• B60K31/0008

  including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path · CPC title

• B60Y2200/112

  City movers, small sized city motor vehicles · CPC title

• G07C5/0825 Primary

  using optical means · CPC title

• B60Y2300/09

  Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking or steering · CPC title