Controller, vehicle and method
A controller for controlling a haptic feedback actuator of a vehicle, the controller comprising: at least one input for receiving: vehicle parameter information being information indicative of a current value of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle; and information indicating that it is required to provide haptic feedback, a processor being arranged, in response to receipt of information indicating that haptic feedback is required, to generate a control signal for controlling operation of the haptic feedback actuator, the control signal being responsive at least in part to the vehicle parameter information; and an output for outputting the control signal.
1. A control system for controlling a haptic feedback actuator of a vehicle, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system configured to:
receive vehicle parameter information being information indicative of a current value of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle;
receive information indicating that haptic feedback is required;
in response to receipt of information indicating that haptic feedback is required, generate a control signal for controlling operation of the haptic feedback actuator, the control signal being responsive to the vehicle parameter information; and
output the control signal,
wherein the vehicle parameter information comprises information indicative of haptic noise experienced by a driver of the vehicle over a prescribed frequency range, and the control system is arranged to generate the control signal to control the haptic feedback provided by the haptic feedback actuator to be output at a frequency within said prescribed frequency range and in phase with said haptic noise experienced by the driver.
2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a control system for controlling a haptic feedback actuator within a vehicle seat and the vehicle parameter information comprises information indicative of a current state of the vehicle seat.
3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle parameter information comprises at least one from a group consisting of at least one of:
information indicative of a weight of a person sat on a vehicle seat;
information indicative of a forward/aft position of the vehicle seat with respect to a body of the vehicle; and
information indicative of a position of a back portion.
4. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein said prescribed frequency range is from 80 Hz to 100 Hz.
5. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is arranged to generate the control signal to control at least one of:
an amplitude of the haptic feedback provided by the haptic feedback actuator in dependence at least in part on the vehicle parameter information;
a frequency of vibrations of the haptic feedback provided by the haptic feedback actuator in dependence on the vehicle parameter information;
an amplitude of vibrations of the haptic feedback provided by the haptic feedback actuator in dependence on the vehicle parameter information;
a phase of vibrations of the haptic feedback provided by the haptic feedback actuator in dependence on the vehicle parameter information; and
a duration of pulses of vibrations and/or period between pulses of vibrations provided by the haptic feedback actuator in dependence on the vehicle parameter information.
6. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the information indicative of a value of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle comprises information indicative of rate of acceleration of at least a portion of a structure of the vehicle.
7. The control system according to claim 6 wherein the control system is configured to receive information indicative of rate of acceleration of at least a portion of a structure of the vehicle from an accelerometer.
8. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to receive vehicle parameter information being information indicative of at least one of:
a level of acoustic noise in a cabin of the vehicle;
a speed of travel of the vehicle over ground; and
a geographical location of the vehicle.
9. The control system of claim 1 comprised in a vehicle assembly in combination with the haptic feedback actuator.
10. The control system of claim 1 comprised in a vehicle seat.
11. The control system of claim 1 comprised in a vehicle.
12. A method of providing haptic feedback in a vehicle, comprising:
receiving vehicle parameter information being information indicative of a current value of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle; and
receiving information indicating that haptic feedback is required,
the method comprising, in response to receipt of information indicating that haptic feedback is required, controlling operation of a haptic feedback actuator, whereby controlling operation of the haptic feedback actuator comprises controlling the haptic feedback actuator responsive at least in part to the vehicle parameter information,
wherein the vehicle parameter information comprises information indicative of haptic noise experienced by a driver of the vehicle over a prescribed frequency range, and control of the haptic feedback actuator is executed at a frequency within said prescribed frequency range and in phase with said haptic noise experienced by the driver.
13. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to carry out the method of claim 12 .
14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said prescribed frequency range is from 80 Hz to 100 Hz.