Vehicle Seat Inflatable Bladders for Tactile Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle navigation systems rely heavily on verbal and typographical instructions, which can be distracting and difficult for drivers to follow due to road noise, speaker volume, and conversation, necessitating additional non-verbal communication methods for effective route guidance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a vehicle seat with inflatable bladders that can be selectively inflated and deflated to indicate route guidance instructions, using a controller to coordinate the inflation assembly with the navigation system, allowing for non-verbal communication of navigation information through tactile means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If verbal instructions are used for navigation guidance, then the driver can receive route information, but the driver may be distracted due to road noise, speaker volume, and conversation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation instruction deliveryVSAvoiddriver distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation instruction delivery is segmented into multiple channels: verbal instructions through speakers, typographical output on displays, and tactile feedback through inflatable bladders in the seat. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limitations of any single channel by providing redundant information through different sensory modalities, ensuring reliable delivery while reducing the reliance on potentially distracting verbal instructions alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable bladders in the seat act as an intermediary medium to transmit navigation information tactilely. Instead of directly relying on auditory channels that compete with road noise and conversation, the system uses tactile feedback through the seat as an intermediate communication path, allowing the driver to receive confirmation and additional information through touch without the same level of distraction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If typographical output is used for navigation instructions, then the driver can see the directions, but the driver must direct view from the road

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation instruction deliveryVSAvoiddriver attention diversion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments navigation information delivery across multiple modalities: visual (typographical), auditory (verbal), and tactile (inflatable bladders). This allows the driver to receive comprehensive navigation guidance through tactile feedback from the seat, reducing the need to divert visual attention from the road while maintaining complete information delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple communication channels are added to improve navigation delivery, then information reliability increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation instruction deliveryVSAvoidcommunication system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable bladder system serves multiple functions: it provides tactile feedback for navigation instructions, offers haptic feedback for confirmation of driver actions, and can potentially convey different types of information through varying inflation patterns. This multi-functionality increases reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity, as a single component system handles multiple communication tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances driver awareness of navigation instructions without diverting attention from the road, providing confirmation and additional information through tactile cues, improving navigation accuracy and safety.

Implementation Method 1

an inflation assembly for selectively inflating and deflating the bladders independently

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInflation/Deflation:

Implementation Method 2

a pressure transducer positioned within a portion of the vehicle seat... to receive a pressure signal therefrom

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Data Source

PatentUS10107638B2Vehicle seat with system and method for communicating navigation instructions

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle includes a navigation system outputting at least one route guidance instruction and a vehicle seat having a plurality of inflatable bladders therein and an inflation assembly for selectively inflating and deflating the bladders independently. A controller is in communication with the navigation system and with the vehicle seat to cause the inflation assembly to inflate and deflate selected ones of the bladders to indicate a component of the at least one route guidance instruction.