Vehicle Light-Guided Stretching Control With Motion Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Long driving can lead to neck, back, and shoulder pain due to stressful driving posture and sitting positions, with existing technologies not effectively addressing the need for a convenient and effective stretching exercise solution for vehicle passengers.

Innovation Solution

A control device that uses light as a visual aid to guide passengers through stretching exercises by sequentially illuminating predefined locations, determining the correctness of stretching movements, and providing immediate feedback through visual, haptic, or audio cues, integrated with vehicle systems like LED lights, cameras, and sensors to ensure proper execution of the exercises.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a stretching exercise system is implemented in a vehicle, then passenger comfort and health are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneck, back and shoulder painVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical exercise equipment with a lighting-based guidance system. Instead of using mechanical devices to physically assist stretching, the system uses light sources to visually guide passengers through exercises, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining health benefits

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces light as an intermediary between the control device and the passenger. The light sources serve as a mediator to communicate exercise instructions and provide visual feedback, eliminating the need for direct mechanical interaction while still guiding the stretching exercise effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If visual feedback is provided to guide stretching movements, then exercise precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestretching movement accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses different light colors to indicate exercise execution status. Green light indicates correct execution, yellow indicates partial execution, and red indicates incorrect execution. This color-coded feedback system provides precise guidance while keeping the control logic relatively simple and intuitive

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control device receives data from sensors about passenger position and controls light sources to provide real-time visual feedback. This closed-loop system continuously monitors and guides stretching movements, improving precision through iterative visual cues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution provides a convenient and effective way to alleviate driving-related muscle pain by guiding passengers through stretching exercises using light sequences and feedback, ensuring correct execution and enhancing the experience with visual and haptic aids.

Implementation Method 1

a lighting device (3) configured to sequentially illuminate each of the multiple predefined locations in a predefined lighting sequence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a sensor (5) configured to detect a stretching movement of the passenger towards one of the predefined locations currently illuminated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMotion detection:

Data Source

PatentEP4420912A1Control device for assisting a stretching exercise of a passenger of a vehicle using light as visual aid, system, vehicle, method and computer program and/or computer-readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP4420912A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4420912A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4420912A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A control device (2) for assisting a stretching exercise of a passenger of a vehicle (10) using light as visual aid is provided. The control device (2) is configured to control (S1) a lighting device (3) to sequentially illuminate each of multiple predefined locations in a predefined lighting sequence, determine (S2) a stretching movement of the passenger towards one of the predefined locations currently illuminated while each of the multiple predefined locations are sequentially illuminated in the predefined lighting sequence, determine (S3) whether the determined stretching movement fulfils a predefined condition, and control (S4) a feedback device (4) to provide a visual, haptic and/or audio feedback to the passenger, if the predefined condition is fulfilled.