Smart Ring Haptic Alerts for Non-Visual Driving Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle information systems provide limited and visually dependent feedback to drivers, which can lead to hazardous and unlawful driving conditions due to the need for operators to remove their hands from the wheel or gaze from the road.
Innovation Solution
A smart ring device that communicates driving conditions through non-visual outputs such as haptic and audio feedback, allowing drivers to receive information on their biometrics, vehicle status, and environmental conditions without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road, utilizing a processor, haptic module, and biometric sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual display technologies are used to provide driving information to drivers, then information communication is achieved, but driver safety deteriorates due to the need to shift gaze from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual display systems with a haptic feedback system using a smart ring device. The ring provides tactile vibrations and haptic notifications to communicate driving information (speed, navigation, warnings) to the driver without requiring visual attention, thereby maintaining driver safety while achieving effective information communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart ring acts as an intermediary device between the vehicle's sensor systems and the driver. It receives data from vehicle sensors (speed, position, warnings) and translates this information into haptic feedback patterns that the driver can perceive through touch, serving as a safe mediator that eliminates the need for direct visual interaction with display screens.
2Loss of information
If conventional display technologies are used in vehicle consoles, then driving information is provided to operators, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes power-intensive visual display technologies with low-power haptic feedback mechanisms. The smart ring uses minimal energy to generate tactile vibrations and haptic patterns, dramatically reducing power consumption while maintaining effective communication of driving information to the driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic feedback system uses brief, intermittent vibration patterns rather than continuous display operation. The ring provides short-duration haptic notifications only when information needs to be communicated, reducing overall power consumption compared to continuously active visual displays.
3Loss of information
If operators use visual displays to monitor vehicle status, then operational awareness is improved, but hazardous driving conditions increase due to hands off the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual monitoring systems with tactile feedback through the smart ring. Drivers receive haptic notifications about vehicle status, warnings, and operational information through touch, allowing them to maintain full visual and manual contact with the driving environment while staying informed about vehicle conditions.
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 safety by providing continuous, hands-free, and visually unobstructed feedback on driving conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and improving operational awareness while maintaining low power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a haptic module on at least one of the plurality of surfaces, configured to present, to a user of the smart ring device, information indicative of one or more driving conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A system for communicating information indicative of driving conditions, to a driver, using a smart ring are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a smart ring with a ring band having a plurality of surfaces including an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The system further includes a processor, configured to obtain data from a communication module within the ring band, or from one or more sensors disposed within the ring band. The obtained data is representative of information indicative of one or more driving conditions to be communicated to the driver. The smart ring also includes a haptic module disposed at least partially within the ring band, and the module being configured to communicate information indicative of the one or more driving conditions.