# US 2018/0154851 A1 · Making a vehicle passenger aware of a sudden decrease in ride smoothness

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- Number: US 2018/0154851 A1
- Document ID: US20180154851A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/871,052
- Filed: 2018-01-14
- Published: 2018-06-07
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-26
- Assignees: Active Knowledge Ltd.
- Applicants: Active Knowledge Ltd.
- Inventors: Gil Thieberger; Ari M Frank
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180154851A1

## CPC

- B60R 21/04: Padded linings for the vehicle interior {; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings}
- B60R 21/06: Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass ({B60R21/026} , B60R21/11, B60R21/12, B60R21/16 take precedence)
- G02B 27/017: {Head mounted}
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G06T 19/006: {Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00)}
- B60J 3/04: adjustable in transparency
- B60R 21/0134: responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems}
- B60R 21/017: including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements {or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves}
- B60R 21/02: Occupant safety arrangements or fittings {, e.g. crash pads (seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839)}
- B60R 21/055: Padded {or energy-absorbing} fittings {, e.g. seat belt anchors (sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80)}
- B60R 21/36: using airbags
- B60R 2021/0004: {Frontal collision}
- B60R 2021/0006: {Lateral collision}
- B60R 2021/0034: {lying down}
- B60R 2021/0048: {Head}
- B60R 2021/01013: {Means for detecting collision, impending collision or roll-over}
- B60R 2021/01034: {Controlling a plurality of restraint devices}
- B60R 2021/01252: {Devices other than bags}
- B60R 2021/0273: {automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision}
- B60R 2021/343: {using deformable body panel, bodywork or components}
- B60R 2021/346: {means outside vehicle body}
- B60R 2300/105: using multiple cameras
- B62D 21/06: of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

Occupants of an autonomous vehicle may not always have a view of the outside environment (e.g., they may be occupied consuming digital content, or their vehicle may not have windows). However, such occupants may benefit from gaining a view to the outside environment when an unexpected driving event is about to occur. Such a view can increase their awareness to the event, making them less likely to be surprised, disturbed, or distressed by the event. In one embodiment, an occupant of an autonomous vehicle receives a video see-through (VST) of the environment outside the vehicle when such an unexpected driving event is imminent.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for an autonomous on-road vehicle, comprising:
an autonomous-driving control system configured to generate an indication indicative of whether a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (SDRS) event is imminent; and
a computer configured to:
present video see through (VST) at eye level and on the foveal vision region of an occupant who travels in the vehicle, responsive to the indication indicating that an SDRS event is imminent; and
present video-unrelated-to-the-VST (VUR) at eye level and on the foveal vision region of the occupant, responsive to the indication not indicating that an SDRS event is imminent.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the autonomous-driving control system is configured to generate the indication based on trajectory of the vehicle and information about the road; and further comprising a camera, mounted to the vehicle, configured to take video of the environment outside the vehicle; wherein the computer is further configured to generate the VST based on the video of the environment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the autonomous-driving control system receives at least some of the information about the road from at least one of the following sources: sensors mounted to the vehicle, sensors mounted to nearby vehicles, an autonomous-driving control system used to drive a nearby vehicle, and a database comprising descriptions of obstacles in the road that are expected to cause intense movement of the vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the autonomous-driving control system is configured to generate the indication based on at least one of the following configurations: (i) receive from a camera images of the road, and calculate the indication based on trajectory of the vehicle and analysis of the images, (ii) receive from a radar reflections of electromagnetic waves from the road, and calculate the indication based on trajectory of the vehicle and signal processing of the reflections, and (iii) receive a notification from a detailed road map, and calculate the indication based on trajectory of the vehicle and the notification.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a nontransparent element, coupled to the vehicle, obstructing at least 30 degrees out of the frontal horizontal unaided field of view to the outside environment of the occupant at eye level; wherein the stiffness of the nontransparent element is greater than the stiffness of a transparent glass window having the same weight.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a nontransparent element fixed to the vehicle at an angle, relative to the occupant, that is covered by the field of view of the VST, and the nontransparent element features visible light transmittance (VLT) below 10% of ambient light.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein when presenting the VST responsive to the indication indicating that the SDRS event is imminent, the VST covers more than 50% of the VUR.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein when presenting the VST responsive to the indication indicating that the SDRS event is imminent, the VST is presented using images having transparency value greater than 50%.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein when presenting the VUR responsive to the indication not indicating that the SDRS event is imminent, the VUR is presented using images having transparency value greater than 50%.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein when presenting the VST responsive to the indication indicating that the SDRS event is imminent, the VST captures more than 50% of the foveal vision region of the occupant.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein when presenting the VUR responsive to the indication not indicating that the SDRS event is imminent, the VUR is presented on the foveal vision region of the occupant with opacity A, and the VST is presented on the foveal vision region of the occupant with opacity B, wherein A>B; whereby a normalized opacity parameter takes a value from 0.0 to 1.0, and the lower the value the more transparent the video is.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein when presenting the VST responsive to the indication indicating that the SDRS event is imminent, the VST is presented on the foveal vision region of the occupant with opacity A, and the VUR is presented on the foveal vision region of the occupant with opacity B, wherein A>B.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the SDRS event comprises at least one of the following events: hitting a speed bump, driving over a pothole, climbing on the curb.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the SDRS event comprises at least one of the following events: making a sharp turn, a hard breaking, an unusual acceleration, and starting to drive after a full stop.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the SDRS event takes place at least 2 minutes after start traveling and is not directly related to the act of start traveling; in addition, the SDRS event takes place at least 2 minutes before arriving to the destination and is not directly related to the act of arriving at the destination.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the SDRS event takes place at least 2 minutes before arriving at the destination and is not directly related to the act of arriving at the destination.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the VST and the VUR are presented to the occupant on a virtual reality (VR) headset, and the occupant does not need to remove the VR headset in order to see the VST.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the VST and the VUR are presented to the occupant on an augmented reality (AR) headset.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the VST and the VUR are presented to the occupant on a screen coupled to the vehicle compartment.