Vehicle Seat Haptic Warning Patterns for EV Driver Awareness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles lack the vibrational feedback typically experienced in internal combustion engine vehicles, leading to a sense of boredom for drivers, and there is a need for a technology to effectively warn drivers of dangerous situations while driving.

Innovation Solution

A vibration generating method that uses a controller to collect information on dangerous situations and generate specific vibration patterns through vibration actuators installed in the vehicle's seat, allowing for quick and accurate warnings of various driving hazards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If electric vehicles eliminate the internal combustion engine, transmission, and clutch to achieve smooth drivability, then drivability smoothness is improved, but driver engagement and vibration feedback are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrivability smoothnessVSAvoidvibration feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the copying principle by creating virtual vibrations that replicate the sensation of internal combustion engine vibrations through haptic feedback actuators in the seat. The system generates artificial vibration patterns that mimic the characteristic vibrations of traditional vehicles, allowing drivers to experience familiar tactile feedback without the actual mechanical components that produce them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Device complexity

If electric vehicles eliminate mechanical components to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but driver engagement and excitement are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical component complexityVSAvoiddriver boredom
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical vibration generation system (internal combustion engine, transmission, clutch) with an electronic haptic feedback system. Instead of relying on mechanical components to generate vibrations, the system uses electronically controlled actuators in the seat to produce virtual vibrations, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining driver engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If electric vehicles provide smooth torque delivery without mechanical interruptions, then torque smoothness is improved, but driver awareness of dangerous situations is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque smoothnessVSAvoiddriver awareness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the haptic feedback system into multiple independent vibration actuators distributed throughout the seat. Each actuator can generate vibrations independently, allowing the system to create differentiated vibration patterns for various dangerous situations while maintaining overall torque smoothness during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic vibration patterns to alert drivers of dangerous situations. By generating rhythmic or patterned vibrations through the seat actuators, the system creates noticeable tactile signals that stand out against the smooth torque delivery, ensuring driver awareness without compromising normal drivability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

The method effectively warns drivers of dangerous situations by providing differentiated vibration patterns based on the detected hazards, enhancing driver awareness and simulating the vibrational feedback of internal combustion engine vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

generating a vibration through a vibration actuator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP4023493B1Vibration generating method for vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4023493B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4023493B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4023493B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vibration providing method for a vehicle is capable of classifying various dangerous situations and warning of a dangerous situation based on the dangerous situation and a driving situation. The vibration generating method includes steps of: collecting, by a controller, information for warning of a dangerous situation of a vehicle and determining whether to warn of the dangerous situation, based on the collected information; determining, by the controller, a vibration property in accordance with the dangerous situation based on the collected information; generating, by the controller, a warning signal corresponding to the dangerous situation based on the determined vibration property; generating and outputting, by the controller, a control signal for generating vibration having the vibration property based on the generated warning signal; and operating a vibration actuator, installed in a seat, based on the outputted control signal and generating the vibration, representing the dangerous situation, through the seat.