IP Library Granted Patent US 9,428,034
Granted Patent B2
US 9,428,034 · App. 14/337,097 · Granted Aug 30, 2016

Integrated vehicle cabin with driver or passengers' prior conditions and activities

Inventors: Hsin-hsiang Yang (Ann Arbor, MI); Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante (Commerce Township, MI); Gary Steven Strumolo (Canton, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60H1/00742B60R16/037
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,428,034
App. No.
14/337,097
Granted
Aug 30, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein is a system, apparatus, and method for providing an integrated vehicle cabin experience. A wearable device including one or more bio-physical sensors may be configured to sense bio-physical conditions from a wearer of the wearable device and determine a state of the wearer. The state information may then be referenced by a vehicle computing system in order to control one or more vehicle systems and/or components that create a cabin environment.

Claims (38)

1. A vehicle computing system comprising:

a memory that includes cabin settings corresponding to a physical condition of the user; and

a processor in communication with the memory, configured to:

analyze biometric data received from a portable device to determine a user activity level before the user entered the vehicle;

identify the physical condition based on the biometric data and the activity level; and

adjust the cabin settings based on the identified physical condition.

2. The vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the biometric data includes bio-physical condition information sensed from at least one of a moisture sensor, a heartbeat sensor, a breathing sensor, or a body temperature sensor included on a wearable device.

3. The vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the physical condition of the user is determined based on the biometric data sensed from one or more bio-physical sensors on a wearable device and the determined activity level satisfying a set of entry conditions that correspond to the identified physical condition.

4. The vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to adjust the cabin settings by controlling at least one of a vehicle HVAC system, one or more power windows, interior lighting, or an entertainment system of a vehicle housing the vehicle computing system.

5. The vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to adjust the cabin settings based on the physical condition of the user and vehicle sensor information.

6. The vehicle computing system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle sensor information is received from at least one of a heartbeat sensor, or a breathing sensor that are part of a vehicle housing the vehicle computing system.

7. A method for controlling a vehicle cabin environment, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, biometric data from a wearable device;

analyzing, by the processor, the biometric to determine a user activity level before the user entered the vehicle

identifying, by the processor, a physical condition of the user based on current biometric data of the user and the determined activity level; and

controlling, by the processor, cabin settings based on the physical condition of the user.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the biometric data includes bio-physical condition information sensed from at least one of a moisture sensor, a heartbeat sensor, a breathing sensor, or a body temperature sensor included on the wearable device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein physical condition of the user is determined based on the biometric data sensed from one or more bio-physical sensors on the wearable device and the determined activity level satisfying a set of entry conditions that correspond to the identified physical condition.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein controlling the cabin settings comprises the processor controlling at least one of a vehicle HVAC system, one or more power windows, interior lighting, or an entertainment system of a vehicle housing the vehicle computing system.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the cabin settings is based on the physical condition of the user and vehicle sensor information.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle sensor information is received from at least one of a heartbeat sensor, or a breathing sensor that are part of a vehicle housing the vehicle computing system.

13. A vehicle cabin control system, comprising:

a wearable device comprising a plurality of sensors configured to obtain biometric data from a user; and

a vehicle computing system configured to:

receive the biometric data from the wearable device;

analyze the biometric data received from the wearable device to determine a user activity level before the user entered the vehicle;

identify a physical condition of the user based on current biometric data of the user and the determined activity level; and

adjust cabin settings based on the physical condition of the user.

14. The vehicle cabin control system of claim 13 , wherein the wearable device includes a processor configured to:

receive an identification signal identifying the vehicle computing system from the vehicle computing system;

recognize the vehicle computing system based on the identification signal; and

in response to recognizing the vehicle computing system, transmit the biometric data to the vehicle computing system.

15. The vehicle cabin control system of claim 13 , wherein the wearable device includes a processor configured to:

receive an identification signal identifying the vehicle computing system from the vehicle computing system;

recognize the vehicle computing system based on the identification signal;

determine whether the wearable device is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle computing system, and

transmit the biometric data to the vehicle computing system when the wearable device is within the predetermined distance from the vehicle.

16. The vehicle cabin control system of claim 13 wherein the vehicle computing system is configured to adjust the cabin settings based on the physical condition of the user and vehicle sensor information, the vehicle sensor information received from at least one of a heartbeat sensor, or a breathing sensor that are part of a vehicle housing the vehicle computing system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2015
From: YANG, HSIN-HSIANG; PRAKAH-ASANTE, KWAKU O; STRUMOLO, GARY STEVEN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 035726/0385 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160016454A1 · Jan 21, 2016