Smart Ring Haptic Alerts for Hands-On Driving Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle information systems primarily rely on visual displays within the vehicle, limiting the amount of information available to the driver and increasing the risk of hazardous or unlawful driving by requiring the driver to take their hands off the wheel or look away from the road.
Innovation Solution
A smart ring device that provides non-visual outputs, such as haptic and audible feedback, to communicate various driving conditions and biometric data to the driver, allowing for continuous monitoring without the need to remove hands from the steering wheel or shift gaze, with low-power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual displays are used to provide driving information, then information can be presented to the driver, but the driver must remove hands from the steering wheel or shift gaze from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual display mechanisms with haptic feedback mechanisms. The smart ring uses vibration motors and haptic actuators to convey driving information through tactile sensations on the driver's finger, eliminating the need for visual attention and hand removal from the steering wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart ring serves as an intermediary device between the vehicle's sensor systems and the driver. It receives data from vehicle sensors and translates it into haptic signals, acting as a mediator that delivers information without requiring direct visual engagement or manual intervention.
2Loss of information
If conventional display technologies are used, then driving information can be communicated, but power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces high-power visual display technologies with low-power haptic actuation systems. Vibration motors and haptic actuators consume significantly less energy than displays, enabling continuous operation without draining the battery rapidly while still effectively communicating driving information.
3Loss of information
If limited visual information is provided on console displays, then device complexity remains low, but the amount of information available to the driver is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information delivery function across multiple haptic zones on the ring surface. Different regions of the ring can provide different types of feedback (vibration patterns, pressure variations, temperature changes), allowing diverse information categories to be conveyed simultaneously through a single compact device without requiring a complex multi-display system.
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 vehicle and environmental conditions, reduces the risk of hazardous driving, and maintains safe operation by providing continuous, hands-free information through haptic and audible outputs.
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 device can include a band configured to be worn by a user. The device also can include a processor disposed within the band. The processor can be configured to determine an indication of one or more conditions. The processor can be configured to receive an input from the user. The processor also can be configured to cause the device to provide an output from the band based on the indication of the one or more conditions as determined by the processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.