A device designed to combat acceleration disorders built into automobiles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle (10) comprising a three-axis accelerometer (12, 12', 14', 16') mounted on the vehicle (10) and configured to detect acceleration along three axes of the vehicle (10) and to generate corresponding acceleration signals; and display means (12, 12', 14', 16') adapted to form at least one first artificial horizon (14, 14') on a first inner surface (13) of the vehicle (10) and at least one second artificial horizon (16, 16') on a second inner surface (15, 15') of the vehicle (10), the first and second artificial horizons (14, 16; 14', 16') being perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other. 12″), and a control unit capable of receiving acceleration signals emitted by the three-axis accelerometer and driving the display means (12, 12′, 12″) such that the first and second artificial horizons (14, 16; 14′, 16′) are aligned with a horizontal plane (A) perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the gravity vector, regardless of the acceleration of the vehicle, the position of the horizontal plane (A) being able to vary as a function of physical parameters related to a person sitting in the vehicle by being positioned immediately adjacent to the first inner surface (13) and immediately in front of the second inner surface (15, 15′).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device intended to deal with acceleration disorders while being integrated into a vehicle, and to a vehicle equipped with such a device. [Background technology]

[0002] A common problem experienced by people traveling in cars, planes, or boats is motion sickness, also known as kinetosis. Motion sickness is caused by a mismatch between sensations experienced by the vestibular system of the inner ear and sensations experienced by other senses, such as a person's vision. The balance receptors in the inner ear are sensitive to gravity (e.g., changes in orientation), speed, and changes in speed (acceleration) that occur when a vehicle is displaced. When the sensations felt by the inner ear do not correspond to the visual signals felt by the individual, the individual often experiences motion sickness, which manifests itself especially in the form of nausea and headaches.

[0003] For example, a passenger in a car traveling on a curved road experiences linear and angular acceleration every time the car displaces through the curve. The vestibular sensing system, which responds to the acceleration caused by the car's movement, does not match the visual perception unless the person continuously looks down the road, and therefore the inner ear perception matches the car's path visually perceived in the curve. For this reason, car drivers do not usually suffer from motion sickness, but car passengers can. In fact, the driver constantly monitors the road and visually perceives the car's movement so that the visual perception corresponds to the inner ear sensation. Conversely, if a car passenger only checks or sees the inside of the car, or engages in other activities that prevent the person from seeing the road, the passenger will have a visual perception that does not match the inner ear vision.

[0004] To avoid motion sickness, one solution is for the passenger to see the road as if he were driving a car, so that the visual information he receives corresponds more closely to the sensations of the passenger's vestibular system. However, when sitting at the back of a car, one usually sees the road in part. Thus, the actual movement of the passenger as perceived by the internal auditory apparatus of the vestibular ear cannot be easily associated with the visual perception of this movement. Therefore, motion sickness cannot be avoided in this case.

[0005] Another solution to motion sickness, described in US Pat. No. 5,399,633, consists in using light markers on the interior uprights of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, said light markers forming pillars of light on either side of the passenger compartment, the height of the pillars being controlled by electronic control means so as to create an artificial horizon that corresponds to the perception of the inner ear of a passenger seated inside the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0083739 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Nevertheless, this solution has the drawback of defining an artificial horizon that does not take into account the size of the passenger and his / her position in the passenger compartment. Thus, with this known solution, small children may have difficulty seeing the artificial horizon if it is located above their eyes. Similarly, tall people find it difficult to see the artificial horizon if their eyes are above the highest light mark of the light pole. Furthermore, this known solution only makes it possible to create a single artificial horizon in the passenger compartment. However, in the case where two people of different heights are sitting side by side in the rear of the motor vehicle, it is desirable to define two artificial horizons of two different heights, each of which is specifically assigned to one of the passengers.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT The present invention therefore aims to provide a device intended to combat acceleration disorders, which is integrated into motor vehicles and does not have the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] For this purpose, the acceleration suppression device installed in the automobile of the present invention is a three-axis accelerometer configured to detect acceleration of the vehicle along three axes and generate corresponding acceleration signals; a means for displaying light markers capable of forming at least one first artificial horizon for a first inner surface of the vehicle and at least one second artificial horizon for a second inner surface of the vehicle, said first and second artificial horizons being perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other; a control unit capable of receiving acceleration signals emitted by a three-axis accelerometer and driving a display means such that the first and second artificial horizons are aligned in a horizontal plane, a vertical plane, or a substantially vertical plane with respect to a gravity vector regardless of the acceleration of the vehicle, and the position of the horizontal plane along a direction parallel to the gravity vector can be varied in accordance with a physical parameter related to a person sitting in the vehicle by being positioned immediately adjacent to the first inner surface and immediately in front of the second inner surface.

[0010] With such a configuration, the acceleration sickness suppression device of the invention makes it possible to eliminate motion sickness by displaying two artificial horizons, one in front of the person sitting in the car and the other beside said person, aligned in a horizontal plane, said device also making it possible to vary the height of the artificial horizon as a function of physical parameters relating to the person.

[0011] The apparatus of the invention may also include one or more of the following features.

[0012] Said physical parameter is the height of a person in a seating position in a motor vehicle.

[0013] The control unit is capable of modifying the position of the horizontal plane defined by the first and second artificial horizons in response to a command manually entered by one of the vehicle passengers via a command interface.

[0014] The command interface is integrated into the dashboard of the vehicle.

[0015] The command interface is integrated into a central upright member of the vehicle.

[0016] The command interface includes an exterior surface operatively linked to capacitive detection means capable of detecting finger contact on the exterior surface and transmitting a corresponding signal to a control unit.

[0017] The control unit is capable of automatically correcting the position of the horizontal plane defined by the first and second lines of the artificial horizon in response to signals emitted by sensors configured to detect at least one physical parameter, in particular the eye position, of a person seated immediately adjacent to the first inner surface and of a person seated immediately in front of the second inner surface.

[0018] The sensor is selected from the group consisting of a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a radio frequency sensor, and a weight measurement sensor located on one of the vehicle seats.

[0019] The display means can emit at least two light beams each having a linear shape, and can form a first light beam projected onto a first inner surface to form a first artificial horizon, and a second light beam projected onto a second inner surface to form a second artificial horizon.

[0020] The display means comprises at least one light source emitting a primary light beam and means for splitting and deflecting said primary light beam into two secondary light beams.

[0021] The splitting and deflecting means comprise a combination of a prism intended to split the light beam into two secondary beams and mirrors and / or lenses intended to modify the path of the secondary beams.

[0022] The display means includes at least a pair of light sources each including a first light source that emits the first light beam and a second light source that emits the second light beam.

[0023] The light sources (respectively a pair of light sources) are lasers (respectively a pair of lasers).

[0024] The display means includes at least three vertically oriented light pillars: a first light pillar aligned with a first inner surface and aligned with the second inner surface, a second light pillar aligned with the second inner surface and positioned to the left and right of the first light pillar, and a third light pillar aligned with the first inner surface and positioned closer to the rear of the vehicle than the first light pillar, each of the pillars being formed from a plurality of vertically aligned light points, each of the light points being capable of emitting light in an activated state and not capable of emitting light in a deactivated state, the first artificial horizon being formed by an imaginary line passing through the highest or lowest activated light point on the first and third light pillars, respectively, and the second artificial horizon being formed by an imaginary straight line passing through the highest or lowest activated light point on the first and second light pillars, respectively.

[0025] Each of the light columns comprises a vertically aligned linear array of light emitting diodes, each of which forms a light spot.

[0026] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with an acceleration retardation device as defined above.

[0027] In a particular configuration of the invention, the motor vehicle includes at least one central upright member supporting a display means configured to project a first light beam onto a rear side window or a rear door panel of the motor vehicle and to project a second light beam onto an inner surface of the passenger compartment arranged substantially perpendicular to said window or door panel, for example the backrest of one of the front seats of the motor vehicle.

[0028] In another particular configuration of the invention, the indication means is displaceable along the central upright so as to allow adjustment of the height of the artificial horizon relative to a fixed horizontal plane.

[0029] The invention also relates to a method for displaying light markers intended to combat acceleration diseases, detecting acceleration of the vehicle along three axes and transmitting corresponding signals to a control unit; detecting a physical parameter related to a person sitting in the vehicle and sending a corresponding signal to a control unit; A vehicle acceleration sickness suppression device comprising: a driving step by a control unit of a means for displaying light markers capable of forming at least one first artificial horizon at the height of a first inner surface of the vehicle and light markers capable of forming at least one second artificial horizon at the height of a second inner surface of the vehicle, wherein the first and second artificial horizons are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other, such that the first and second artificial horizons are aligned in a horizontal plane perpendicular to a gravity vector regardless of the acceleration of the vehicle, and the position of the horizontal plane along a direction parallel to the gravity vector can change in accordance with a detected physical parameter.

[0030] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of two particular embodiments of the invention, given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view of a rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, when the motor vehicle is not accelerating, according to a first operating mode of the acceleration damping device; FIG. [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 1b] FIG. 2 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 in a second operating mode of the acceleration damping device. FIG. [Figure 2a] FIG. 3 is a diagram equivalent to FIG. 2, showing a first example of a command interface. [Figure 2b] FIG. 3 is a diagram equivalent to FIG. 2, showing a second example of a command interface. [Figure 2c] 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a sensor, as seen from the front of the passenger compartment of the automobile shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in which the car is subjected to acceleration along the Y axis. [Figure 3a] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 3b] FIG. 4 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in which the car is subjected to acceleration along the X-axis. [Figure 4a] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 4b] FIG. 5 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] 1, where the car is subjected to acceleration along the X-axis and along the Y-axis. [Figure 5a] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 5b] FIG. 6 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in which the car is subjected to acceleration along the Y axis. [Figure 6a] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 6b] FIG. 7 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention, when the motor vehicle is not subjected to acceleration. [Figure 7a] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 7b] FIG. 8 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view equivalent to FIG. 7, in which the car is subjected to acceleration along the Y axis. [Figure 8a] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 8b] FIG. 9 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a view equivalent to FIG. 7, in which the car is subjected to acceleration along the X-axis. [Figure 9a] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 9b] FIG. 10 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 10] 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, in which the car is subjected to acceleration along the X-axis and along the Y-axis. [Figure 10a] FIG. 11 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 10b] FIG. 11 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 8 is a view equivalent to FIG. 7, in which the car is subjected to acceleration along the Y axis. [Figure 11a] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the automobile shown in FIG. [Figure 11b] FIG. 12 is a side view of the automobile shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] In the remainder of this specification, with reference to the Cartesian coordinate system XYZ shown in Figures 1 and 7, the term "longitudinal" will be used for directions along the X-axis, "lateral" will be used for directions along the Y-axis, and "vertical" will be used for directions along the Z-axis. Furthermore, by convention, the term "front" will be used to indicate directions pointed toward the front of the vehicle, and the term "rear" will be used to indicate directions pointed toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0033] 1, there is shown a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a first vertically oriented light pillar 12 is supported by a central upright member 11 of the motor vehicle and is positioned to the left with respect to the field of view of a passenger sitting in the rear of the motor vehicle, and a second vertically oriented light pillar 12' is supported by another central upright member 11' of the motor vehicle and is positioned to the right with respect to the field of view of a passenger sitting in the rear of the motor vehicle. Each light pillar 12, 12' includes at least one light source configured to project a first linear light beam onto a rear side window or rear door panel 13 of the motor vehicle and a second linear light beam onto the seat back of one of the front seats 15 or 15' of the motor vehicle. The first light beam emitted by the first light pillar 12 is projected directly adjacent to the first light pillar 12 along a first line 14, hereinafter referred to as the first artificial horizon, onto the rear side window or rear door panel 13, and the second light beam emitted by the first light pillar 12 is projected directly adjacent to the first light pillar 12 along a second line 16, hereinafter referred to as the second artificial horizon, onto the backrest of the front seat 15. Similarly, the first light beam emitted by the second light pillar 12' is projected directly adjacent to the second light pillar 12' along a first line 14', hereinafter referred to as the first artificial horizon, onto the rear side window or rear door panel (not shown) directly adjacent to the second light pillar 12', and the second light beam emitted by the second light pillar 12' is projected directly adjacent to the second light pillar 12' along a second line 16', hereinafter referred to as the second artificial horizon, onto the backrest of the front seat 15'. In this configuration, the first and second artificial horizons are perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to each other.

[0034] Thus, by appropriately driving the light sources, the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 and 14', 16' can always be aligned in a horizontal plane A perpendicular to the gravity vector. Thus, a person sitting behind the front seat 15 next to the rear side window 13 and gazing at said artificial horizons 14, 16 will have the same visual sensation as a driver looking at the road and will therefore no longer be subject to motion sickness. To achieve this result, the motor vehicle 10 advantageously comprises a three-axis accelerometer arranged to detect the acceleration of the motor vehicle along the three axes X, Y and Z and to emit corresponding acceleration signals, and a control unit capable of receiving the acceleration signals emitted by said three-axis accelerometer and driving the light sources such that the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 and 14', 16' are aligned in the horizontal plane A perpendicular to the gravity vector, regardless of the acceleration of the motor vehicle.

[0035] Figures 1, 1a, 1b, 3-6, 3a-6a and 3b-6b show some possible driving conditions and the corresponding operation of an acceleration sickness suppression device fitted to a vehicle according to the present invention.

[0036] Thus, when the vehicle 10 travels on a flat road, as shown in Figures 1a and 1b, it is in principle not subject to acceleration. In this case, the plane A defined by the artificial horizons 14, 16, 14', 16' is parallel to the floor pan P of the vehicle.

[0037] When the automobile 10 is traveling on a road inclined to the left with respect to a fixed horizontal plane H, it is subjected to an acceleration along the Y-axis, perpendicular to the gravity vector, as shown in Figures 3a and 3b. This acceleration is detected by a three-axis accelerometer, which sends a corresponding acceleration signal to the control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the corresponding light sources of the first and second light poles 12, 12' to align the light beams emitted by said light sources with the fixed horizontal plane H, in which the plane A defined by the artificial horizons 14, 16, 14', 16' is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the Y-axis, as shown in Figure 3.

[0038] Also, when the automobile 10 is traveling on a road that is inclined downwards with respect to a fixed horizontal plane H, it is subjected to an acceleration along the X-axis, perpendicular to the gravity vector, as shown in Figures 4a and 4b. This acceleration is detected by a three-axis accelerometer that transmits a corresponding acceleration signal to a control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the corresponding light sources of the first and second light poles 12, 12' to align the light beams emitted by said light sources with the fixed horizontal plane H, in which case the plane A defined by the artificial horizons 14, 16, 14', 16' is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the X-axis, as shown in Figure 4.

[0039] When the automobile 10 is traveling on a road that is inclined downward to the left with respect to a fixed horizontal plane H perpendicular to the gravity vector, as shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the automobile 10 is subjected to acceleration along the X-axis and the Y-axis. This acceleration is detected by a three-axis accelerometer that sends a corresponding acceleration signal to a control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the corresponding light sources of the first and second light pillars 12, 12' to align the light beams emitted by said light sources with the fixed horizontal plane H, in which the plane A defined by the artificial horizons 14, 16, 14', 16' is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the X-axis and the Y-axis, as shown in Figure 5.

[0040] When the automobile 10 is traveling on a flat road and makes a left turn, it is subjected to an acceleration along the Y-axis, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b. This acceleration is detected by a three-axis accelerometer, which sends a corresponding acceleration signal to a control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the corresponding light sources of the first and second light pillars 12, 12' to align the light beams emitted by said light sources with a fixed horizontal plane H, where the plane A defined by the artificial horizons 14, 16, 14', 16' is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the Y-axis, as shown in Figure 6.

[0041] The light beams from each of the light columns 12, 12' may be generated by two separate light sources or by a single light source emitting a main beam which is subsequently split and deflected into two secondary beams by splitting and deflecting means which may for example consist of a combination of a prism intended to split the light beam into two secondary beams and mirrors and / or lenses intended to modify the path of the secondary beams.

[0042] The light sources can be advantageously displaced along each of the light pillars 12, 12' so as to change the height of the artificial horizons 14, 16 and 14', 16' relative to a fixed horizontal plane. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the position of the light source(s) along the first light pillar 12 can be higher than the position of the light source(s) along the second light pillar 12'. This configuration is particularly suitable when the person sitting in the left rear seat 17 is taller than the person sitting in the right rear seat 17'. This change of the position of the light sources along the light pillars 12, 12' can be made in response to a command manually entered by one of the vehicle passengers, using displacement means controlled by the control unit and by a command interface 19, which can be integrated for example in the dashboard 18, as illustrated in FIG. 2a, or in the central upright(s) 11, 11' of the vehicle, as illustrated in FIG. 2b. A command interface usable at this level may comprise an external surface functionally linked to detection means of capacitive type, capable of detecting a finger contact on said external surface and transmitting a corresponding signal to the control unit. In another possible configuration, the displacement of the light source along one of the light pillars 12, 12' may be performed automatically in response to a signal emitted by a sensor configured to detect at least one physical parameter, in particular the size or position of the eyes, of the person seated closest to the light pillar. The sensor may for example be a camera 21, an ultrasonic sensor, a radio frequency sensor or a gravimetric sensor integrated into one of the car seats, as shown in FIG. 2c.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 7, a passenger compartment of a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the acceleration sickness suppression device includes a first light pillar 12 supported by a central upright member 11 arranged on the left side with respect to the field of vision of a passenger seated at the rear of the vehicle and arranged on the left side with respect to the field of vision of a passenger seated at the rear of the vehicle, a second light pillar 12' supported by another central upright member 11' arranged on the right side with respect to the field of vision of a passenger seated at the rear of the vehicle and arranged on the left side with respect to the field of vision of a passenger seated at the rear of the vehicle, and a third light pillar 12'' supported by a side upright member 11'' forming a part of a rear side window or a rear door panel 13 and arranged on the left side with respect to the field of vision of a passenger seated at the rear of the vehicle. Each light pillar 12, 12', 12'' is formed by a plurality of light sources aligned vertically, and each light point can emit light in an active state and does not emit light in an inactive state. Thus, a first artificial horizon 14 is formed by an imaginary straight line passing through the highest active light points 17, 17'' on the first and third light pillars 12, 12'', respectively, and a second artificial horizon 16 is formed by an imaginary straight line passing through the highest active light points 17, 17' on the first and second light pillars 12, 12'. In this configuration, the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 are perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to each other. In an advantageous variant of the invention, each of the light pillars 12, 12' and 12" can comprise, for example, a linear network of vertically aligned light-emitting diodes, each of which forms one of the light points of the light pillar. In another configuration of the invention, the light points can be activated starting from the top of each light pillar. In this case, the first artificial horizon 14 is formed by an imaginary straight line passing through the lowest activated light point on the first and third light pillars 12, 12'', respectively, and the second artificial horizon 16 is formed by an imaginary straight line passing through the lowest activated light point on the first and second light pillars 12, 12', respectively. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 can advantageously comprise a fourth light pillar (not shown) supported by a lateral upright forming part of the rear side window or the rear door panel and supported to the right with respect to the field of view of a passenger sitting in the rear of the vehicle, said fourth light pillar making it possible, in combination with the second light pillar 12', to define a third artificial horizon 14' on the right side of the vehicle.

[0044] In this way, by appropriately driving each of the light-emitting diodes of the first, second and third light pillars 12', 12', 12" the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 can be always aligned in a horizontal plane A perpendicular to the gravity vector. Thus, a person sitting behind the front seat 15 next to the rear side window or rear door panel 13 and staring at the artificial horizons 14, 16 will have the same vision as a driver looking at the road, and therefore the driver will no longer be subject to motion sickness. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the driving of the light-emitting diodes is performed by a three-axis accelerometer and a control unit capable of receiving the acceleration signal emitted by the accelerometer. The control unit may also control the height of the highest or lowest point of the light depending on a physical parameter relating to a person sitting in one of the rear seats. In particular, a sensor arranged in the passenger compartment may be configured to detect at least one physical parameter, in particular the size or position of the eyes, of a person sitting in one of the rear seats and to transmit corresponding information to the control unit. In response to the information transmitted by the sensor, the control unit may for example modify the height of the highest or lowest light point of each of the light pillars to align with the eye position of the person sitting in the back, previously detected by the sensor.

[0045] 7-11, 7a-11a and 7b-11b show some possible electrical conduction conditions and the corresponding operation of an acceleration sickness suppression device of the invention installed in a vehicle.

[0046] Thus, when the vehicle 10 is traveling on a flat road, it is essentially not subjected to acceleration, as shown in Figures 7a and 7b, in which case the plane A defined by the artificial horizons 14, 16 is parallel to the floor pan P of the vehicle.

[0047] When the automobile 10 is traveling on a road inclined to the left with respect to a fixed horizontal plane H, it is subjected to an acceleration along the Y axis, perpendicular to the gravity vector, as shown in Figures 8a and 8b. This acceleration is detected by a three-axis accelerometer, which sends a corresponding signal acceleration to the control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the light-emitting diodes of the first, second and third light poles 12, 12', 12'' to align the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 with the fixed horizontal plane H. In this case, as shown in Figure 8, the plane A defined by the artificial horizon is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the Y axis.

[0048] When the automobile 10 is traveling on a road that is inclined downward with respect to a fixed horizontal plane H, it is subjected to an acceleration along the X-axis, perpendicular to the gravity vector, as shown in Figures 9a and 9b. This acceleration is detected by the three-axis accelerometer, which sends a corresponding acceleration signal to the control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the corresponding light-emitting diodes of the first, second and third light poles 12, 12', 12'' to align the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 with the fixed horizontal plane H. In this case, as shown in Figure 9, the plane A defined by the artificial horizons is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the X-axis.

[0049] When the automobile 10 is traveling on a road that is inclined downward to the left with respect to a fixed horizontal plane H perpendicular to the gravity vector, as shown in Figures 10a and 10b, the automobile 10 is subjected to acceleration along the X-axis and the Y-axis. This acceleration is detected by the three-axis accelerometer, which sends a corresponding acceleration signal to the control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the corresponding light-emitting diodes of the first, second and third light poles 12, 12', 12'' to align the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 with the fixed horizontal plane H. In this case, as shown in Figure 10, the plane A defined by the artificial horizons is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the axes X and Y, as shown in Figure 10.

[0050] When the automobile 10 is traveling on a flat road and turns left, it is subjected to an acceleration along the Y-axis, as shown in Figures 11a and 11b. This acceleration is detected by the three-axis accelerometer, which sends a corresponding acceleration signal to the control unit. In response to this acceleration signal, the control unit controls the corresponding light-emitting diodes of the first, second and third light poles 12, 12', 12'' to align the first and second artificial horizons 14, 16 with a fixed horizontal plane H. In this case, as shown in Figure 11, the plane A defined by the artificial horizons is inclined with respect to the floor pan P of the automobile at the height of the Y-axis.

[0051] The above two embodiments are obviously not limiting of the present invention, other embodiments can be envisaged at this level.

[0052] Moreover, the invention also aims to protect a method for displaying light markers intended to combat acceleration diseases, said method may in particular comprise the following steps:

[0053] - detecting the acceleration of the vehicle along three axes, in particular by means of a three-axis accelerometer, and transmitting a corresponding signal to a control unit; detecting a physical parameter related to a person sitting in the vehicle and sending a corresponding signal to a control unit; The method includes the steps of: driving, by a control unit, means for displaying light markers capable of forming at least one first artificial horizon at the height of a first inner surface of the vehicle and at least one second artificial horizon at the height of a second inner surface of the vehicle; the first and second artificial horizons being perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other, such that the first and second artificial horizons are aligned in a horizontal plane perpendicular to a gravity vector regardless of the acceleration of the vehicle, and the position of the horizontal plane along a direction parallel to the gravity vector can change in accordance with the detected physical parameter.

Claims

1. A three-axis accelerometer configured to detect acceleration of a motor vehicle (10) along three axes and to generate a corresponding acceleration signal; display means (12, 12', 12'') for displaying light markers, capable of forming at least one first artificial horizon (14, 14') at the height of a first inner surface (13) of the vehicle (10) and at least one second artificial horizon (16, 16') at the height of a second inner surface (15, 15') of the vehicle (10), said first and second artificial horizons (14, 16; 14', 16') being perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to one another; a control unit capable of receiving the acceleration signals emitted by the three-axis accelerometer and of driving the display means (12, 12', 12'') such that the first and second artificial horizons (14, 16; 14', 16') are aligned with a horizontal plane (A) perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a gravity vector, regardless of the acceleration of the vehicle, the position of said horizontal plane (A) is along a direction parallel to a gravity vector that can be varied according to physical parameters of a person sitting in said vehicle by being located immediately beside a first inner surface (13) and immediately in front of a second inner surface (15, 15'); The display means is a first light column (12) aligned with the first inner surface (13) and aligned with the second inner surface (15, 15'); a second light pillar (12') aligned to the left or right of the first light pillar (12) and aligned with the second inner surface (15, 15'); a third light pillar (12'') aligned with the first inner surface (13) and closer to the rear of the vehicle than the first light pillar (12). each having a vertically oriented light pillar (12, 12', 12''); Each of the light pillars (12, 12', 12'') is formed from a plurality of vertically aligned light points; Each of the light points emits light in an activated state and cannot emit light in a deactivated state; said first artificial horizon (14) being formed by an imaginary line passing through the highest or lowest activation light point (17, 17'') on the first and third pillars of light (12, 12''), respectively; The second artificial horizon (16) is formed by an imaginary line passing through the highest or lowest activation light point (17, 17') on the first and second light pillars (12, 12'), respectively. An acceleration suppression device installed in a motor vehicle (10).

2. Each of said light columns (12, 12', 12'') comprises a vertically aligned linear grid of light emitting diodes; Each light emitting diode forms a light emitting point.

2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that

3. A motor vehicle (10) equipped with a device according to claim 1 or 2.

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