Controlling access to an in-vehicle human-machine interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355191-A1
Application number	US-201615238895-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 17, 2016
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 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 - 22 . (canceled)

23 . A system for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one electrocardiogram sensor; and a computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to: determine that data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor is from a driver of the vehicle; based on the data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor, determine that the driver's hands are at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermined 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.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

25 . The system of claim 23 , further comprising at least one capacitive sensor arranged to assist in locating at least one of the driver's hands.

26 . The system of claim 23 , further comprising a sensor in a display of the human machine interface arranged to provide data concerning a location of at least one of the driver's hands.

27 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the computer is further programmed to perform a validation to determine whether signals from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor represent a human heartbeat.

28 . The system of claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of second sensors to provide the inputs for determining whether the passenger is in the safe position.

29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the second sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

30 . The system of claim 23 , 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.

31 . The system of claim 25 , wherein determining that the 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.

32 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the human-machine interface includes at least one of a visual display, a touchscreen, a speaker, and a microphone.

33 . A method, comprising:
determining that data from at least one electrocardiogram sensor is from a driver of the vehicle; determining, based on the data from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor, that the driver's hands are at least one predetermined location in a vehicle, the at least one predetermined 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.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the at least one predetermined location further includes a vehicle gearshift knob.

35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising receiving data from at least one capacitive sensor to assist in locating at least one of the driver's hands.

36 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising receiving data from a sensor in a display of the human machine interface to assist in locating at least one of the driver's hands.

37 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising performing a validation to determine whether signals from the at least one electrocardiogram sensor represent a human heartbeat.

38 . The method of claim 33 , wherein a plurality of second sensors provide the inputs for determining whether the passenger is in the safe position.

39 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the second sensors include at least one of a weight sensor, a camera, and a sensor included in an occupant classification system (OCS).

40 . The method of claim 33 , 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.

41 . The method of claim 35 , wherein determining that the 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.

42 . The method of claim 33 , 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

• B60W2540/21

  Voice · CPC title

• B60W2540/26

  Incapacity · CPC title

• G01G19/4142

  for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems (electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015) · CPC title