External facing communications for autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11491909-B2
Application number	US-202017022998-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2020
Priority date	Sep 16, 2020
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provide for displaying notifications on a display of an autonomous vehicle. In one instance, a distance from the vehicle to a destination of the vehicle or a passenger may be determined. When the distance is between a first distance and a second distance, a first notification may be displayed on the display. The second distance may be less than the first distance. When the distance is less than the second distance, a second notification may be displayed on the display. The second notification provides additional information not provided by the first notification.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of displaying notifications on a display of an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
determining, by one or more processors of the vehicle, a first distance from a location and a second distance from the location based on context in which the vehicle is driving, the location being a destination for the vehicle or a location of a passenger;
determining, by the one or more processors, when the vehicle is between the first distance and the second distance,
when the vehicle is determined to be between the first distance and the second distance from the location, displaying, by the one or more processors, on the display a first notification, the second distance being less than the first distance;
determining, by the one or more processors, when the vehicle is less than the second distance from the location; and
when the vehicle is determined to be less than the second distance from the location, displaying, by the one or more processors, on the display a second notification, wherein the second notification provides additional information not provided by the first notification.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first notification includes a color which identifies the vehicle to the passenger.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first notification does not include alphanumeric characters.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second notification includes the color with alphanumeric characters, wherein the alphanumeric characters provide the additional information.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second notification includes the color with one or more icons, wherein the one or more icons provide the additional information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first distance and the second distance are determined further based on location information determined at a client computing device of the passenger.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first notification is brighter than the second notification.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second notification is brighter than the first notification.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, determining a brightness of the first or the second notification based on at least one of the first and second distances, and wherein displaying the first notification is further based on the brightness.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, determining a brightness of the first notification or the second notification based on current traffic conditions, and wherein displaying the first notification is further based on the brightness.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, determining a brightness of the first notification or the second notification based current weather conditions, and wherein displaying the first notification is further based on the brightness.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the first notification is further based on a current speed of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the second notification is further based on a current speed of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the context further includes a current speed of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the context further includes a number of passengers waiting for a pickup.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the context further includes a number of other vehicles picking up or dropping off a passenger.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the context further includes current traffic conditions.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, receiving a request to change the display of the first notification or the second notification.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising, in response to the request, flashing the display.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising, in response to the request, increasing a brightness of the display.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the context further includes information about the vehicle's environment.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the information about the vehicle's environment includes a level of traffic congestion.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the information about the vehicle's environment includes an ambient lighting condition.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the information about the vehicle's environment includes a current weather condition.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the context further includes information about one or more people waiting to be picked up at the location.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the first distance and the second distance are further based on a type of the location.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type of the location is an intersection.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type of the location is a zone having a particular speed limit.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type of the location is a shopping center.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Moon Maria
• Nemec Philip
• Powell Ryan
• Mai Bruce

Classifications

• B60Q1/2611

  Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle · CPC title

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• B60Q1/54

  for indicating speed {outside of the vehicle} · CPC title

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• F21S10/06

  flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source {(signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26)} · CPC title