Controlling access to an in-vehicle human-machine interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016473-A1
Application number	US-201414335981-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2014
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An in-vehicle computer is programmed to determine that a driver's hands are at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel, determine that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and provide passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising an in-vehicle computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the in-vehicle computer is programmed to:
determine that a driver's hands are at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel; determine that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and provide passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sensors to provide the inputs for determining whether a driver's hands are at the at least one predetermined location.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensors include at least one of a plurality of electrocardiogram sensors and at least one capacitive sensor.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensors include a sensor in a display of the human machine interface.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the computer is further programmed to perform a validation to determine whether signals from the sensors represent a human heartbeat.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sensors to provide the inputs for determining whether a passenger is in the safe position.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to:
determine that the driver is coaching the passenger with respect to operation of the human-machine interface; and revoke the passenger's access to the operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein determining that a driver's hands are at the at least one predetermined location includes determining that palms and fingers of both of the driver's hands are on the steering wheel.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the human-machine interface includes at least one of a visual display, a touchscreen, a speaker, and a microphone.

12 . A method, comprising:
determining that a driver's hands are at least one predetermined location in a vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel; determining that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and providing passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a plurality of sensors provide the inputs for determining whether a driver's hands are at the at least one predetermined location.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the sensors include at least one of a plurality of electrocardiogram sensors and at least one capacitive sensor.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the sensors include a sensor in a display of the human machine interface.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising performing a validation to determine whether signals from the sensors represent a human heartbeat.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a plurality of sensors provide the inputs for determining whether a passenger is in the safe position.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining that the driver is coaching the passenger with respect to operation of the human-machine interface; and revoking the passenger's access to the operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.

21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein determining that a driver's hands are at the at least one predetermined location includes determining that palms and fingers of both of the driver's hands are on the steering wheel.

22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the human-machine interface includes at least one of a visual display, a touchscreen, a speaker, and a microphone.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Van Wiemeersch Adam Leonard
• Van Wiemeersch John Robert

Classifications

• B60W50/12 Primary

  Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation · CPC title

• H04M1/72463

  to restrict the functionality of the device · CPC title

• B60W2540/26

  Incapacity · CPC title

• B60W2540/00

  Input parameters relating to occupants · CPC title

• B60W2520/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title