Systems and methods for use at a vehicle including an eye tracking device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9530065-B2
Application number	US-201414514791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for a vehicle including an eye tracking device. The systems and methods use input from the eye tracking device. The systems and methods are configured to communicate with a driver based on input from the eye tracking device. For example, the systems and methods are configured to generate indicators on a display based on input from the eye tracking device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
initiating, by a device comprising a processor, display of an indicator on a display of a vehicle, the indicator including an indicator area, wherein the indicator is associated with a vehicle system;
comparing, by the device, sensor data to a threshold, wherein the sensor data is associated with the vehicle system, wherein the threshold represents a separation between a first state of the vehicle system and a second state of the vehicle system;
comparing, by the device, gaze location data to the indicator area; and
reducing, by the device, a prominence of the indicator if:
the sensor data is on a normal state side of the threshold; and
the gaze location data is found in the indicator area.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes an image.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state is a normal state and the second state is a critical state.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data represents a state of the vehicle system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the prominence includes reducing a size of the indicator.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the prominence includes reducing a brightness of the indicator.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the prominence includes changing a type of the indicator.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the prominence includes changing a position of the indicator on the display.

9. A method, comprising:
initiating, by a device comprising a processor, display of an indicator on a display of a vehicle, the indicator including an indicator area, wherein the indicator is associated with a vehicle system;
comparing, by the device, sensor data to a threshold, wherein the sensor data is associated with the vehicle system, wherein the threshold represents a separation between a first state of the vehicle system and a second state of the vehicle system;
comparing, by the device, gaze location data to the indicator area; and
increasing, by the device, a prominence of the indicator if:
sensor data is on a critical state side of the threshold; and
the gaze location data is not found in the indicator area.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the indicator includes an image.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first state is a normal state and the second state is a critical state.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor data represents a state of the vehicle system.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the increasing the prominence includes increasing a size of the indicator.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the increasing the prominence includes increasing a brightness of the indicator.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the increasing the prominence includes changing a type of the indicator.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the increasing the prominence includes changing a position of the indicator on the display.

17. A system, comprising:
a processing unit; and
a non-transitory computer readable storage device comprising code that, when executed by the processing unit, performs operations comprising:
initiating display of an indicator on a display of a vehicle, the indicator including an indicator area, wherein the indicator is associated with a vehicle system;
comparing sensor data to a threshold, wherein the sensor data is associated with the vehicle system, wherein the threshold represents a separation between a first state of the vehicle system and a second state of the vehicle system;
comparing gaze location data to the indicator area; and
changing a prominence of the indicator, comprising:
reducing, by the device, the prominence of the indicator if:
the sensor data is on a normal state side of the threshold; and
the gaze location data is found in the indicator area; and
increasing the prominence of the indicator if:
sensor data is on a critical state side of the threshold; and
the gaze location data is not found in the indicator area.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Tsimhoni Omer
• Koren Tal

Classifications

• B60K35/285

  for improving awareness by directing driver's gaze direction or eye points · CPC title

• B60K35/235

  with means for detecting the driver's gaze direction or eye points · CPC title

• B60K35/234

  controlling the brightness, colour or contrast of virtual images depending on the driving conditions or on the condition of the vehicle or the driver · CPC title

• B60K37/00

  Dashboards (as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14) · CPC title

• B60K35/21

  using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays · CPC title