Wearable vehicle information indicator and method of indicating vehicle information using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9607488-B2
Application number	US-201514611445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 4, 2014
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle information indicator and a method of indicating vehicle information using the indicator are disclosed. The indicator is configured such that a driver who wears the indicator is capable of coordinating devices within a vehicle and can give commands to the coordinated devices. The indicator includes a coordinate setting module which designates a space within the vehicle as spatial coordinates, recognizes the distance of a change in line-of-sight of the user based on an eye zone, and designates a desired zone as detailed zone coordinates. A user command module recognizes a body motion pattern of the user and the number of times of the motion, or a direction and distance that the line-of-sight of the user moves, and provides commands to the devices. In addition, a wireless communication module provides wireless communication between the user command module and the vehicle. A battery is configured to supply power to the modules.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of indicating vehicle information using a vehicle information indicator, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller, a user setting corresponding to a plurality of spatial coordinates within a particular spatial area within a vehicle;
recognizing, by the controller, a distance of a change in a line-of-sight movement of a user based on an eye zone as a reference point of the plurality of spatial coordinates of the indicator, and
setting, by the controller, a particular zone from the plurality of spatial coordinates as detailed zone coordinates;
transmitting, by the controller, of an operation command signal of the user to a desired device of the vehicle via wireless communication when a direction and distance that the line-of-sight of the user has moved is matched with the desired device;
analyzing, by the controller, a location of the eye zone of the indicator, a line-of-sight pattern for setting the coordinates, and the body motion pattern for the operation command, to identify the user;
transmitting, by the controller, a user identification signal to the vehicle; and
automatically adjusting, by the controller, a position of the desired device in response to the user identification signal.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
operating, by the controller, the desired device in response to the transmitted operation command signal.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
recognizing, by the controller, a body motion pattern of the user and frequencies that the motion is performed as a detailed operation command signal for the desired device while the desired device is operated; and
selecting, by the controller, a detailed menu item of the desired device in response to the operation command signal.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising
displaying, by the controller, on a display within the vehicle, operation information of the desired device in response to transmission of the operation command signal of the user, to the desired device via wireless communication.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising warning the user, by the controller configured to operate a warning indicator, in response to the line-of-sight of the user being out of the eye zone for a determined time.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a controller, the computer readable medium comprising:
program instructions for receiving, by a controller, a vehicle information indicator a user setting corresponding to a plurality of spatial coordinates within a particular spatial area within a vehicle;
program instructions for recognizing, by the controller, a distance of a change in a line-of-sight movement of a user based on an eye zone as a reference point of the plurality of spatial coordinates of the indicator, and setting, by the controller, a particular zone from the spatial coordinates as detailed zone coordinates;
program instructions for transmitting, by the controller, an operation command signal of the user to a desired device of the vehicle via wireless communication when a direction and distance that the line-of-sight of the user has moved is matched with the desired device;
program instructions for analyzing, by the controller, a location of the eye zone of the indicator, a line-of-sight pattern for setting the coordinates, and the body motion pattern for the operation command, to identify the user;
program instructions for transmitting, by the controller, a user identification signal to the vehicle; and
program instructions for automatically adjusting, by the controller, a position of the desired device in response to the user identification signal.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 , further comprising:
program instructions that recognize, by the controller, a body motion pattern of the user and frequencies that the motion is performed as a detailed operation command signal for the desired device while the desired device is operated; and
program instructions that select, by the controller, a menu item of the desired device in response to the operation command signal.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 , further comprising:
program instructions that display, by the controller, on a display within the vehicle, operation information of the desired device in response to transmission of the operation command signal of the user, to the desired device via wireless communication.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 , further comprising:
program instructions that warn the user, by the controller configured to operate a warning indicator, in response to the line-of-sight of the user being out of the eye zone for a determined time.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Beom Sik

Classifications

• B60K35/235

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

• B60K35/80

  Arrangements for controlling instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/29

  Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions · CPC title

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/01 Primary

  Head-up displays · CPC title