Vibro-tactile alert and massaging system having directionally oriented stimuli

A tactile alert system for a user support structure, comprising:

• (a) a first vibratory transducer for location in the support structure, wherein the support structure includes a pad for contacting a portion of a user, the first vibratory transducer being imbedded in the pad;
• (b) a seat belt for restraining the user, having a second vibratory transducer supportable outside of the pad in longitudinally spaced relation proximate the seat belt;
• (c) a driver circuit for powering the first vibratory transducer and the second vibratory transducer in response to a drive signal;
• and
• (d) a controller responsive to external conditions for selectively activating the drive signal in a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for stimulating muscle tissue of the user of the structure thereby to alert the user of the particular condition and to improve the user's alertness, each alert stimulation cycle having an active portion and an idle portion, wherein successive alert stimulation cycles differ in at least one of the intensity, frequency, active portion duration, and idle portion duration.

A tactile alert system for an operator-driven vehicle having a seat for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal;
• (b) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;
• an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor controller in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, a plurality of mode signals, and a plurality of region signals relating transducers to be enabled;
• (d) a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the transducers, the power signal;
• and
• (e) the microprocessor controller being operative in response to the input elements for activating the transducers for operation thereof in a plurality of modes including:
• (i) a massaging mode selectively producing activation of drive signals in response to the input elements at an adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value for soothingly massaging muscle groups of the driver;
• and
• (ii) an alert mode producing a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles in response to external input and independently of the intensity control value, each alert stimulation cycle having an idle portion of between 1 second and 30 seconds, and an active portion of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating the muscle groups of the driver thereby to improve the driver's alertness, wherein successive alert stimulation cycles differ in at least one of the intensity, frequency, active portion duration, and idle portion duration enabled,
• wherein the driver circuit produces a first limiting magnitude of the power signal in the massaging mode and a second limiting magnitude of the power signal in the alert mode, the second limiting magnitude being greater than the first limiting magnitude,
• wherein the tactile alert system includes an external electrical power having a source voltage, such that the driver circuit is powered substantially at the source voltage in the massaging mode, and
• wherein the tactile alert system further includes a power boost circuit for powering the driver circuit at a boost voltage in the alert mode, such that the boost voltage is greater than the source voltage.

A directionally oriented tactile alert massaging system for an operator-driven vehicle having a seat for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the system comprising:

• (a) a spaced plurality of vibratory transducers supported relative to the seat for stimulating corresponding body portions of the driver, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal;
• (b) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;
• (c) an input interface for receiving an external signal indicative of a sensed condition of the vehicle, the external signal having at least one directional component corresponding to a directional aspect of the sensed condition;
• (d) a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the transducers, the power signal;
• and
• (e) the microprocessor controller being operative for:
• (i) activating particular ones of the transducers in response to the external signal thereby to directionally stimulate the driver in correspondence with the directional components in a first mode;
• and
• (ii) selectively activating at least some of the transducers in at least one other mode for soothingly massaging the muscle tissue of the driver.

A method for alerting a vehicle driver, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of vibratory transducers in plural zones of a driver's seat, a seat belt having the vibratory transducers, a driver circuit connected to the driver's seat transducers and the seat belt transducers and having respective inputs for receiving corresponding drive signals, and a controller for producing the drive signals, the controller having an alert condition input;
• (b) activating the alert condition input;
• (c) operating the controller to produce the drive signals, in response to the alert condition input, in alert stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of the driver;
• and
• (d) sequencing plural cycle segments of the alert stimulation cycles, successive cycles varying in at least one of the intensity, frequency, and duration enabled, thereby to alert the driver of the particular condition and to improve the driver's alertness.

A method for tactile-signaling a directionally oriented external condition to a vehicle driver, comprising the steps of:

• (a) supporting a spaced plurality of vibratory transducers relative to a driver's seat, at least some of the transducers being pointer transducers and spaced proximate a directional plane, wherein the pointer transducers include a laterally spaced pair of back transducers in the seat, and a plurality of belt transducers spaced along a driver-restraining seat belt of the seat and including a left-front vibrator and a right-front vibrator;
• (b) providing a driver circuit connected to the transducers and having respective inputs for receiving corresponding drive signals, and a controller for producing the drive signals, the controller having a condition input for responding to the external condition and an associated direction thereof;
• (c) activating the condition input;
• (d) translating the condition input for enabling a directionally oriented subset only of the pointer transducers;
• and
• (e) operating the controller to produce the drive signals, in response to the condition input, in alarm stimulation cycles of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating muscle groups of the driver, thereby to appraise the driver of the existence and orientation of the external condition.