Guided driver positioning systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12134318-B2
Application number	US-202217657701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2022
Priority date	Apr 1, 2022
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

Guided driver positioning system and methods are disclosed herein. An example method can include determining gait for a user of a vehicle from images obtained from a camera, the gait being indicative of a posture of the user, determining a distance between the user and a display of the vehicle, and automatically adjusting a vehicle component in response to the gait and the distance to change a user position relative to the display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
determining gait for a user of a vehicle from images obtained from a camera, the gait being indicative of a posture of the user;
determining, based on the posture of the user, a distance between the user and a display of the vehicle;
automatically adjusting a vehicle component in response to the gait and the distance to change a user position relative to the display;
identifying an object on a first display that the user has repeatedly viewed using an eye gaze of the user; and
moving, based on identifying that the user has repeatedly viewed the object on the first display, the object to a line of sight of the user on a second display.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the vehicle component comprises adjusting a position of a head of the user relative to the display of the vehicle by adjusting a seat of the vehicle occupied by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the vehicle component comprises adjusting a location of an object on the display based on a position of a head of the user relative to the display.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the gait for the user comprises determining measurements of a body of the user.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing an audible announcement that the vehicle component is about to be adjusted prior to automatically adjusting the vehicle component.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining changes in head position and eye gaze of the user, wherein automatically adjusting of the vehicle component is based on the changes in the head position and the eye gaze of the user.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising moving an object upwardly on the display to allow the user to view the object so that the eye gaze of the user is above a steering wheel.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying the object on the display based on images captured by the camera.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
querying the user regarding the adjusting of the vehicle component; and
returning the vehicle component to a prior configuration based on a negative response from the user.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the vehicle component includes adjusting a tilt of the display or a position of a steering wheel.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining an image of an occupant within the vehicle; and
displaying the image of the occupant on the second display.

12. A system comprising:
a camera positioned within a vehicle;
a seat having an adjustable component that is controllable to change a seated position of a user;
a distance measurement device positioned in front of the seat of the vehicle;
a controller comprising a memory for storing instructions, and a processor that executes the instructions to:
determine a gait of the user of the vehicle from images obtained from the camera, the gait being indicative of a posture of the user;
determine a distance between the user and a display of the vehicle using the distance measurement device;
automatically control the adjustable component in response to the gait and the distance to change the seated position of the user relative to the display or a steering wheel of the vehicle;
identify an object on a first display that the user has repeatedly viewed using an eye gaze of the user; and
move, based on identifying that the user has repeatedly viewed the object on the first display, the object to a line of sight of the user on a second display.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust a location of an object on the display based on a position of a head of the user relative to the display.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the gait for the user comprises determining measurements of a body of the user.

15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to provide an audible announcement that the adjustable component is about to be adjusted prior to automatically adjusting the adjustable component.

16. A method comprising:
performing a gait analysis for a user positioned in a seat of a vehicle;
determining a position of a head of the user;
determining a distance between the user and a display of the vehicle;
automatically adjusting a vehicle component in response to the gait analysis and the distance in order to change a position of the user;
determining when the user has made an additional adjustment to the vehicle component;
adjusting an object on the display based on a current seated position of the user;
identifying an object on a first display that the user has repeatedly viewed using an eye gaze of the user; and
moving, based on identifying that the user has repeatedly viewed the object on the first display, the object to a line of sight of the user on a second display.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising determining changes in head position and eye gaze of the user, wherein automatically adjusting of the vehicle component is based on the changes in the head position and the eye gaze of the user.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:
moving the object upwardly on the display to allow the user to view the object so that the eye gaze of the user is above a steering wheel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Kipley Mike
• Aguirre Adrian
• Berry Hussein
• Van Wiemeersch John
• Simas James

Classifications

• B60R16/037 Primary

  for occupant comfort {, e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel} · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/658

  the instruments being ergonomically adjustable to the user · CPC title

• B60K35/26

  using acoustic output · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title