Apparatus, vehicle information system and method

A method of providing information to a user of an apparatus, the method comprising:

• determining a visual light pattern associated with information to be provided to the user, the visual light pattern being determined in dependence on data related to the apparatus or the user;
• detecting a first gaze direction of the user;
• determining a first zone of a plurality of zones of a pattern generator having a plurality of light nodes to output the visual light pattern, the first zone being in a peripheral vision of the user based on the first gaze direction;
• outputting the visual light pattern on the first zone of the pattern generator so that the visual light pattern is visualized by the user in the peripheral vision of the user;
• detecting that the first gaze direction of the user has changed to a second gaze direction;
• determining a second zone of a plurality of zones of a pattern generator to output the visual light pattern, the second zone being different than the first zone and in an updated peripheral vision of the user based on the second gaze direction;
• and
• outputting the visual light pattern on the second zone of the pattern generator so that the visual light pattern is visualized by the user in the updated peripheral vision of the user,
• wherein the apparatus is an autonomous vehicle and the user is an occupant of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein determining the first zone and determining the second zone each comprises determining a zone to indicate that the vehicle will perform a left turn, or
• wherein the apparatus is an autonomous vehicle and the user is an occupant of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein determining the first zone and determining the second zone each comprises determining a zone to indicate that that the vehicle will perform a right turn.

An autonomous vehicle comprising:

• a plurality of pattern generators, each pattern generator having a plurality of light nodes, each light node comprising a light emitting element, the pattern generators being positioned at different locations around an interior of the vehicle and around an occupant located within the vehicle;
• and
• a vehicle information system that includes a controller and the plurality of pattern generators, the vehicle information system configured to:
• determine a visual light pattern associated with information to be provided to the occupant, the visual light pattern being determined in dependence on data related to the vehicle or the occupant;
• detect a first gaze direction of the occupant;
• determine a first zone of a plurality of zones of the pattern generator to output the visual light pattern, the first zone to indicate that the vehicle will perform a left turn, perform a right turn, slow down or stop;
• output the visual light pattern on the first zone of the pattern generator so that the visual light pattern is visualizable by the occupant in a peripheral vision of the occupant;
• detect that the first gaze direction of the occupant has changed to a second gaze direction;
• determine a second zone of a plurality of zones of a pattern generator to output the visual light pattern, the second zone being different than the first zone and in an updated peripheral vision of the occupant based on the second gaze direction, the second zone to indicate that the vehicle will perform a left turn, perform a right turn, slow down or stop;
• and
• output the visual light pattern on the second zone of the pattern generator so that the visual light pattern is visualizable by the occupant in the updated peripheral vision of the occupant.

A method of providing information to a user of an apparatus, the method comprising:

• determining a visual light pattern associated with information to be provided to the user, the visual light pattern being determined in dependence on data related to the apparatus or the user;
• detecting a first gaze direction of the user;
• determining a first zone of a plurality of zones of a pattern generator having a plurality of light nodes to output the visual light pattern, the first zone being in a peripheral vision of the user based on the first gaze direction;
• outputting the visual light pattern on the first zone of the pattern generator so that the visual light pattern is visualized by the user in the peripheral vision of the user;
• detecting that the first gaze direction of the user has changed to a second gaze direction;
• determining a second zone of a plurality of zones of a pattern generator to output the visual light pattern, the second zone being different than the first zone and in an updated peripheral vision of the user based on the second gaze direction;
• and
• outputting the visual light pattern on the second zone of the pattern generator so that the visual light pattern is visualized by the user in the updated peripheral vision of the user,
• wherein the apparatus is an autonomous vehicle and the user is an occupant of the autonomous vehicle, and wherein determining the first zone and determining the second zone each comprises determining a zone to indicate that the vehicle will slow down or stop.