Device and method for switching perception

Abstract

A switching sensing device comprising: a gearbox (10); a vehicle shift control unit (120) configured to perform a shift of the transmission; an electronic shift operation unit (110) configured to generate shift stage information by checking a state of a current shift stage or to generate shift schedule stage information by manual shifting of a driver; and an electronic braille unit (130) configured to output the switching stage information or the switching diagram stage information in braille information, wherein the shift stage information or the shift planning stage information is converted into the Braille information only in a commissioning state of a vehicle in order to prevent unloading of the vehicle, and the shift stage information or the shift planning stage information is converted only into the braille information to generate final shift stage information and to make the final shift stage information perceptible to the driver during a predefined time after a vehicle stops.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure concept relates to a device for shift perception and, in particular, to a device and method for improving driving comfort for people with disabilities such as the hearing impaired or the visually impaired. BACKGROUND

[0002] A gear shift is indicated on an electronic shift lever to enhance driver awareness. For example, a gear shift is indicated on a cluster or display unit, a warning tone is emitted at a certain gear shift, and the like.

[0003] When the gear shift is displayed on the cluster, the gear shift is indicated on a vehicle's instrument panel using numbers, letters, and the like. When the gear shift is displayed on the display unit, an increase or decrease in the gear shift is indicated via the display unit. When the warning tone is emitted at the specific gear shift, a specific sound such as a beep is emitted.

[0004] However, it is difficult or impossible for drivers with disabilities such as hearing or visual sensory organs, etc. to perceive the gear shift using the above examples. DE 10 2011 051 262 A1 describes a gear position indicator for a vehicle, comprising a housing and a circuit board embedded in the housing, wherein a light source is arranged at a predetermined position on the circuit board, a light guide plate arranged above the circuit board and receiving light from the light source, wherein the light guide plate has light scattering ink patterns printed thereon, wherein the light scattering ink patterns comprise ink dots; and a cover coupled to an upper end of the housing, wherein the cover is made of an opaque material and has gear indicator characters therein, wherein the gear indicator characters are made of a transparent material such that the light transmitted from the light guide plate is emitted through the gear indicator characters outside the cover.

[0005] DE 10 2012 005 992 B3 describes a method for bistable actuation of an actuator, comprising the steps of: applying an overpressure in an actuator fluid supply, which is fluidically connected to an actuator chamber by means of an actuator fluid supply connection, wherein a working overpressure is generated in the actuator chamber, whereby an actuator element fluidically connected to the actuator chamber is transferred from a rest position to an actuation position; pressure-tight closing of the actuator fluid supply use, so that the working pressure in the actuator chamber is maintained and the actuator element remains in the actuation position, as well as an actuator, an actuator arrangement and a use.

[0006] DE 10 2011 104 951 A1 describes a haptic device comprising a shape memory polymer part. A plurality of user interface positions are defined on the shape memory polymer part, and a plurality of activation elements are arranged proximate the plurality of user interface positions. The plurality of user interface positions of the shape memory polymer are activated in response to a stimulus from the plurality of activation elements to change at least one physical property of the shape memory polymer at the plurality of user interface positions. Furthermore, a plurality of control devices configured to adjust a variable of a system are arranged proximate the plurality of user interface positions, such that one of the plurality of control devices can be adjusted when a user touches a corresponding one of the plurality of user interface positions.

[0007] JP 2010-230072 A describes a first shift range determining means that determines a shift range down to a lower voltage than a second shift range determining means. The shift range determination is performed by selectively using the first shift range determining means and the second shift range determining means depending on the voltage state of the vehicle. In this way, the first shift range determining means and the second shift range determining means are appropriately used depending on the voltage state, thereby obtaining highly reliable shift range information regardless of the vehicle's voltage state. SUMMARY

[0008] The present inventive concept relates to a device and a method for switching perception to improve perceptibility for people with disabilities such as hard of hearing or visually impaired people during a journey.

[0009] The above object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Examples and technical descriptions of devices, products, and / or methods in the description and / or drawings that do not fall under the claims are not presented as embodiments of the invention, but rather as background knowledge or examples useful for understanding the invention.

[0010] According to one embodiment of an example, a shift sensing device may include a transmission and a vehicle shift control unit configured to execute a shift of the transmission. The electronic shift operation unit is configured to provide shift stage information by checking a state of a current shift stage or shift schedule stage information when a driver executes a shift. An electronic braille unit is configured to output the shift stage information or the shift schedule stage information in braille information.

[0011] The switching sensing device may further comprise bone conduction headphones that output the switching stage information or the switching schedule stage information.

[0012] The shift sensing device may further comprise a cluster which outputs the shift stage information or the shift schedule stage information.

[0013] The conversion of the shift stage information or the shift pattern stage information into Braille information can be done only when a vehicle starts.

[0014] The conversion of the shift stage information or the shift schedule stage information into braille information may be made only to generate final shift stage information during a predetermined time after a vehicle stops.

[0015] The vehicle circuit control unit and the electronic circuit operation unit may use Controller Area Network (CAN) communication.

[0016] The electronic shift operation unit can transmit the current shift speed in the shift speed information or the shift schedule speed information, or a P speed automatically engaged after a vehicle stops, or an N speed engaged by the driver to the bone conduction headphones.

[0017] The electronic shift control unit can generate the driver's shift position information by means of a lever or a button.

[0018] The electronic switching operation unit may be a shift-by-wire system.

[0019] The electronic braille unit can also provide risk factor information.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present inventive concept, a shift sensing method includes executing a shift, in which a vehicle shift control unit executes a shift of a transmission. Shift stage information is provided, in which an electronic shift operation unit that generates the shift stage information by checking a state of a current shift stage of the transmission, or shift schedule stage information when a driver executes a shift. The shift stage information or the shift schedule stage information is output in Braille by an electronic braille unit.

[0021] The step of outputting the switching level information may further comprise outputting the switching level information or the circuit plan level information to bone conduction headphones.

[0022] The step of outputting the shift stage information may further comprise outputting the shift stage information or the shift schedule stage information to a cluster.

[0023] The step of outputting the gear shift information may include the electronic shift operation unit transmitting the current gear shift of the gear shift information or the gear shift schedule information, or a P gear automatically engaged after the vehicle stops, or an N gear engaged by the driver to the bone conduction headphones.

[0024] According to embodiments of the present inventive concept, driving safety and / or mobility of people with disabilities such as the hearing impaired or the visually impaired is improved by improving perceptibility of a risk factor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a switch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of switching perception according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept. Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B are flowcharts in connection with Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a Fig. 1 shown electronic switching unit. Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating delivery of a risk factor or gear position information to a driver’s hand by touching it using a Fig. 4 shows the electronic switching operation unit. Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a structure of a Fig. 1 shows the electronic Braille unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Since the present inventive concept is susceptible to various modifications and has several exemplary embodiments, exemplary embodiments are shown in the accompanying figures and described in detail in a detailed description. However, it should be understood that the present inventive concept is not limited to the exemplary embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions within the scope of the present inventive concept.

[0026] Throughout the accompanying figures, the same reference numerals are used to describe the same components.

[0027] Terms used in the description, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe numerous components, but the components should not be construed as being limited to the terms. The terms are used to distinguish one component from another.

[0028] For example, the "first" component may be referred to as the "second" component, and the "second" component may similarly be referred to as the "first" component without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. The term "and / or" encompasses a combination of a plurality of elements or any of a plurality of terms.

[0029] Unless otherwise stated, all terms used in the description, including technical and scientific terms, shall have the same meaning as those understood by a person skilled in the art.

[0030] It must be understood that the terms defined by the dictionary are identical to the meanings within the context of the prior art and these should not be ideally or overly formally defined unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0031] Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for switching perception according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0032] Fig. 1 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a configuration of a switching sensing device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. With reference to Fig. 1, the vehicle energy management device 100 may include a transmission 10, a vehicle shift control unit 120 configured to perform shifting of the transmission 10, an electronic shift operation unit 110 configured to generate shift speed information by checking a current shift speed state or generating the shift speed information by manual shifting of a driver, an electronic braille unit 130 configured to output the shift speed information in braille information, bone conduction headphones 150 configured to output the braille information to a bone conduction system, a cluster 140 configured to output the braille information and / or shift speed information, and so on.

[0033] The transmission 10 can perform a gear shift of a vehicle. The transmission 10 can be, for example, an automatic transmission, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an automated manual transmission (AMT), a dual clutch transmission (DCT), and the like.

[0034] The vehicle transmission control unit 120 may control the transmission 10 or check a state of the transmission 10.

[0035] The electronic shift operation unit 110 can communicate a control / data signal with the vehicle shift control unit 120 via Controller Area Network (CAN) communication. Therefore, the electronic shift operation unit 110 can transmit a shift stage signal generated by a driver's operation to the vehicle shift control unit 120. The electronic shift operation unit 110 can generate current shift stage information by receiving a current shift stage signal from the vehicle shift control unit 120. Further, a CAN communication method was described as the communication method in the example of the present inventive concept, but it is not limited thereto, and the communication method such as Power Line Communication (PLC), Control Pilot (CP), ZigBee, Bluetooth, and the like can be used.

[0036] The electronic shift operation unit 110 may be a lever (not shown) or a button (not shown) for operating the shift stage for ease of use.

[0037] Furthermore, the electronic switching operation unit 110 may be a shift-by-wire system.

[0038] The electronic braille unit 130 can output the shift stage information by expressing it in braille. In other words, when the driver executes the shift by operating the lever or button of the electronic shift operation unit 110, the electronic braille unit 130 displays a shift map stage for shifting in braille and notifies the driver. The current shift stage is displayed during driving.

[0039] The electronic braille unit 130 can create braille patterns in which a button-sized pin protrudes from a surface within certain standards so that a person with a visual impairment can read. Fig. 6 shows a concept of such an electronic braille unit 130. Accordingly, the electronic braille unit 130 can output the shift plan stage information and / or the current shift stage information in the braille patterns so that the driver can feel them.

[0040] With reference to Fig. 1, the cluster may receive the shift stage information, shift schedule stage information, etc. from the vehicle shift control unit 120 and / or the electronic shift operation unit 110, display the information, and emit a beep. The cluster 140 may be a display system, an audio system, and the like.

[0041] The bone conduction headphones 150 can output the gear shift information and / or a risk factor and the like to the driver by connecting them to the cluster 150 and / or the electronic shift operation unit 110. The bone conduction headphones 150 can be connected to the cluster 140 and / or the electronic shift operation unit 110 wirelessly or via a cable. The bone conduction headphones 150 can transmit a unique signal corresponding to each gear shift.

[0042] The bone conduction headphones 150 can detect a sound by transmitting a vibration to a skull bone via a driver's ear cartilage. Therefore, various warnings about the current gear shift level, the shift schedule level, and a safety-reducing forward / rearward / rear side element can be transmitted to the driver via the bone conduction headphones 150.

[0043] Specifically, the shift sensing device 100 may be powered by a commercial power supply, but may be operated only with power in a vehicle startup state to prevent the vehicle from discharging, and may be limited to sensing final shift stage information to the driver during a predetermined time after the vehicle stops.

[0044] Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of switching perception according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept. With reference to Fig. 2, when the vehicle starts, the electronic shift operation unit 110 may check the current shift stage using information transmitted from the vehicle shift control unit 120 and may determine the current shift stage (S210, S220, S230). Here, the electronic shift operation unit 110 may transmit the current shift stage information indicating the current shift stage to the bone conduction headphones 150 (S221).

[0045] When the current shift stage is determined, the electronic braille unit 130 may selectively express each of the braille patterns corresponding to “P” and “N” of the shift stage (S241, S242).

[0046] In this state, when the driver shifts by means of the lever or the button of the electronic shift operation unit 110, the electronic shift operation unit 110 can check the shift plan level and transmit such shift plan level information to the bone conduction headphones 150 (S250, S260, S261).

[0047] Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B are with Fig. 2 connected flowcharts. With reference to Fig. 3A, after step S260, the electronic shift operation unit 110 may determine the shift pattern stage and selectively express the braille patterns corresponding to “P”, “R”, “N”, and “D” of the shift stage (S310, S321, S322, S324).

[0048] When the vehicle stops operation, the shift gear automatically enters the P gear, or when the driver engages the N gear, the electronic shift operation unit 110 determines this and transmits it to the bone conduction headphones (S330, S340, S341, S350).

[0049] With reference to Fig. 3B, in step S350, when the current gear position is determined, the braille patterns corresponding to "P" and "N" can be selectively expressed, and thus the braille recognition function can be turned off after the predetermined time (S361, S332, S370). In other words, the vehicle can enter an idle sleep mode.

[0050] Fig. 4 is a plan view of a Fig. 1 shown electronic switching operation unit 110. With reference to Fig. 4, an output 430 of the electronic braille unit 130 is installed on a button 410 of the electronic switching operation unit 110.

[0051] Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating delivery of a driving risk factor or gear shift information via a sense of touch to a driver’s hand 510 by means of a Fig. 4 shows the electronic switching operation unit 110. Fig. 5 shows a position of the driver's hand 510 on the output 430 of the electronic braille unit 130. Therefore, the driver can perceive the gear position and / or the driving risk factor via the sense of touch of the driver's hand 510 (here the index and middle fingers of a right driver's hand).

[0052] Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a structure of the electronic braille unit 130. With reference to Fig.6, the electronic braille unit 130 can express braille patterns by moving a plurality of pins 610 up and down with a servo motor through an inverse conversion of the piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric effect is a physical phenomenon in which a voltage is generated by a polarization in a material by applying a certain pressure. The piezoelectric effect is reversible and can therefore convert the voltage into a mechanical pressure.

[0053] In particular, the actuator may be a mechanical magnetic element and express the switching stage as a braille pattern with a combination thereof by controlling an on-off of a certain magnet while generating a signal corresponding to each stage.

[0054] Furthermore, if a risk factor such as sudden braking occurs, all pins 610 can be alerted to the driver by an upward and downward movement. It is also possible to simultaneously implement a link signal.

Claims

[1] A switching sensing device comprising: a gearbox (10); a vehicle shift control unit (120) configured to perform a shift of the transmission; an electronic shift operation unit (110) configured to generate shift stage information by checking a state of a current shift stage or to generate shift schedule stage information by manual shifting of a driver; and an electronic braille unit (130) configured to output the switching stage information or the switching diagram stage information in braille information, wherein the shift stage information or the shift planning stage information is converted into the Braille information only in a commissioning state of a vehicle in order to prevent unloading of the vehicle, and the shift stage information or the shift planning stage information is converted only into the braille information to generate final shift stage information and to make the final shift stage information perceptible to the driver during a predefined time after a vehicle stops. [2] The switching perception device of claim 1 further comprising bone conduction headphones (150) which output the switching stage information or the switching schedule stage information. [3] The shift perception device of claim 1 further comprising a cluster (140) which outputs the shift stage information or the shift schedule stage information. [4] The shift sensing device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle shift control unit (120) and the electronic shift operation unit (110) communicate via a controller area network (CAN). [5] The gear shift sensing device of claim 2, wherein the electronic gear shift operation unit (110) transmits the current gear shift in the gear shift information or the gear shift schedule information or an automatically engaged P gear after a vehicle is turned off or an N gear engaged by the driver to the bone conduction headphones (150). [6] The shift sensing device of claim 1, wherein the electronic shift operation unit (110) generates the driver's shift stage information by operating a lever or a button. [7] The shift perception device of claim 1, wherein the electronic shift operation unit (110) is a shift-by-wire system, wherein the electronic braille unit (130) further outputs risk factor information. [8] A method for switching perception comprising the steps of: Shifting a transmission by a vehicle shift control unit (120); Generating gear stage information by an electronic gearshift operation unit (110) by checking a stage of a current gear stage of the transmission or by generating gearshift stage information by manual shifting of a driver; and Outputting the switching stage information or the switching diagram stage information in Braille information by an electronic Braille unit (130), wherein the shift stage information or the shift planning stage information is converted into the Braille information only in a commissioning state of a vehicle in order to prevent unloading of the vehicle, and the shift stage information or the shift planning stage information is converted only into the braille information to generate final shift stage information and to make the final shift stage information perceptible to the driver during a predefined time after a vehicle stops.

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