Vehicle Audio Haptic Alerts for Rear-Approach Passenger Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger assistance systems in vehicles lack the ability to effectively notify passengers of approaching objects when the vehicle is at rest without requiring additional hardware installations.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes existing vehicle sensors to detect approaching objects and emits a tactile alert through the audio system when the vehicle is at rest, using existing speakers to provide a haptic effect and potentially combined with visual alerts via interior lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual or auditory alerts are used to notify passengers of nearby objects, then passenger safety is improved, but additional hardware installation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the existing audio system to serve dual purposes: its original audio functions and new tactile alert notifications for passenger safety. The audio system's speakers are utilized to emit low-frequency vibrations that provide tactile feedback to passengers, eliminating the need for dedicated notification hardware while maintaining safety alert capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service by having the vehicle's existing audio system components perform the additional safety notification function. The speakers and audio processing capabilities that already exist in the vehicle are repurposed to generate and emit tactile alerts, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring external specialized hardware
2Device complexity
If tactile alerts are emitted through existing audio system speakers, then hardware installation is minimized, but the audio system must operate at frequencies that provide haptic effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by operating the audio system speakers at specific low frequencies (greater than 5 Hz and less than 20 Hz) that are optimized for producing tactile haptic effects rather than audible sound. This frequency parameter adjustment allows the existing speakers to generate effective tactile alerts while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption at higher frequencies that would not contribute to the tactile notification function
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively notifies passengers of approaching objects without additional hardware, ensuring safe exit by timing their actions with the passage of the object, enhancing safety without extra costs.
Implementation Method 1
emitting a tactile alert through an audio system... emitting sound from one or more speakers in communication with the audio system at a frequency greater than 5 Hz and less than 20 Hz... provides a haptic effect for one or more passengers of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method that, when executed by data processing hardware, causes the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising obtaining sensor data from a vehicle sensor system of a vehicle, determining whether an object is approaching a rear end of the vehicle based on the sensor data, determining whether the vehicle is at rest based on the sensor data, and emitting a tactile alert through an audio system if the object is detected and the vehicle is at rest.