Vehicle computing system in communication with a wearable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9690387-B2
Application number	US-201414304327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2014
Priority date	Jun 13, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle computing system comprising at least one controller configured to communicate with a wearable device. The at least one controller may be configured to receive data defining a first gesture made using the wearable wireless device. The controller may be further configured to determine a first predefined command, for controlling a vehicle system, previously stored in association with the first gesture. The controller may be further configured to control the vehicle system in accordance with the first predefined command.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wearable device comprising:
a controller in communication with a vehicle computing system (VCS), the controller configured to:
receive an instruction from the VCS to associate a first predefined movement to a first vehicle function;
wherein the predefined movement is stored in the VCS;
detect the first predefined movement based on one or more motion sensors; and
transmit a command to the VCS to control the first vehicle function.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more motion sensors is at least one of a gyroscope, a compass, and an accelerometer.

3. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the communication with the VCS is established via a Bluetooth Low Energy wireless connection.

4. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle function is to adjust a temperature setting for a vehicle climate control system.

5. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:
receive a configuration request from the VCS via one or more vehicle infotainment controls;
enable a configuration mode based on the configuration request;
receive a message having control data based on a second vehicle function;
record movement data via the one or more motion sensors as a second predefined movement; and
transmit the second predefined movement to the VCS such that it is associated with the second vehicle function.

6. The wearable device of claim 5 , wherein the second vehicle function is fan speed for a vehicle climate control system.

7. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to transmit a signal to the VCS that determines whether the signal corresponds to one of a primary device or a secondary device.

8. The wearable device of claim 7 , wherein the secondary device is configured to activate or deactivate at least one vehicle function.

9. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to transmit a command to control the first vehicle function based on proximity of the VCS.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hatton David Anthony

Classifications

• B60R16/037

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

• B60H1/00657

  Remote control devices · CPC title

• G06F3/017 Primary

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• G06F3/014

  Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves · CPC title

• G06F1/163

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title