Patent Application
20060135216
They are first generation systems which are usually integrated in the dashboard of the motor vehicle in a central position coinciding mainly with the center axle of the vehicle above the central tunnel. Equipped with an on-board monitor of generous size, they show all the selected functions operating on an alphanumeric keyboard and other keys or small buttons.
These solutions, which provide the use of an integrated telephone in the vehicle, require the manual insertion of the SIM, or its duplicate, into the vehicular telephone.
More evolved systems can also provide a remote control which can sometimes be integrated in the steering-wheel. These systems fall within the typology of equipment that offered to reduce, as far as possible, the problem of driver distraction, even momentary, due to the search for function keys present on phone equipment, by giving the possibility of using of a remote control with base functions.
In the research for the safest positions for containing devices of the functions of the cellular phone, some have sensed that the fundamental requisite could be that of not lowering one's gaze but merely turning it sideways, and even raising it a little, yet always remaining facing the direction of the road. A conclusion was consequently reached, that in any case the sideways movement, for example towards the internal rear-view driving mirror, is generally faster and always allows one to be aware of what is happening beyond the windscreen panel.
In this way, US2002/0004416 (Baratono), aimed to realize a system, so-called hands-free, that combines a mobile phone or a telephone unit with a rear-view driving mirror for automobiles. More particularly, a housing is provided that incorporates, in the part directed towards the windscreen panel, a rear-view driving mirror, on the inside of which a cellular phone can be introduced, which is removable, to receive and make telephone calls. Said housing is provided with an electronic circuit to which the mobile phone must be physically connected by means of manual operation. The mirror integrates moreover: a loudspeaker, microphone and keyboard to render the telephone functions accessible to the driver.
GB2356312 (Abbas), describes a solution somewhat similar to the previous one. In more detail, one can affirm that the latter differs from the former by providing a different positioning of the keyboard, which in this case is obtained in a linear sequence along the lower side of the mirror. Alongside it, there is a display positioned lengthwise, to show information always in a linear way.
ITTV2002A000072 (Collavo et al), describes a containing device with remote control of the cellular phone that is connected automatically to the latter (in a range of about 10 m). In this way, the driver is not required to handle his own telephone which can remain housed where it is (pocket, bag, and so forth). Said containing device consists of a container that preferably integrates also the rear-view driving mirror. In said container, on the side facing the occupants of the vehicle, the following are provided:
a microphone
at least one ON/OFF/Voice Activator switch
a display (optional) to visualize the phone number (incoming or outgoing)
and a base keyboard
a loudspeaker (optional)
a comprehensive electronic circuit of a bluetooth wireless reception/transmission system able to communicate with a cellular phone equipped with the same wireless technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,376 (Tonar et al), differently to the previous one, suggests a rear-view driving mirror which is provided with a display to visualize information, e.g. the temperature or the compass degrees, in such a way that the image crosses the rear-view driving mirror until appearing on its facade.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,959 (Tseng), proposes a rear-view driving mirror device which has a monitor or a visualizer, which mirror is positioned frontally with respect to the housing that is fixed onto a vehicle. A visualizer is positioned in the housing and behind the mirror element and it can be viewed through the mirror element when the visualizer is activated. An on-board circuit is joined to the visualizer and to an antenna to receive signals from the other facilities. The housing can have one or more extensions.
US2002/0141086 (Lang et al.) describes a lateral rear-view driving mirror which provides equipment for reproducing images, e.g. a monitor. The Monitor is connected to a video camera, which captures a field of vision at the side of or behind the vehicle.
US2002/0011927 (Lang et al.) also proposes a monitor combined with a lateral rear-view driving mirror, but differently to the previous, where at least one monitor, contained in the housing of the rear-view driving mirror, is visible through the reflecting surface of the mirror. U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,241 (Clarke et al.) describes a device for detecting the degree of attention of the driver. Said device could be placed around the rear-view driving mirror or on the dashboard.
The object of this invention consists of the containing structure that integrates a rear-view driving mirror and a multifunction device to receive and send information also by means of a display or a monitor with a remote control device of the cellular phone of the type with bluetooth technology, which provides:
at least two vertical keys of generous size and visible in the dark, placed on the right-hand and left-hand side of the rear-view mirror respectively, with the simple functions ON and OFF, or alternatively both aligned one above the other on one of said two sides;
a microphone obtained along the profile of the rear-view driving mirror structure protruding at the driver side and almost directed perpendicularly to the mouth of the driver;
lighting devices able to show the status of the multifunction apparatus;
buttons with panic function laterally equipped with a device against undesired activation;
vents for ventilation as well as a connector for the power supply, the audio function and other, obtained on the underside of the containing structure with respect to that displaying the rear-view driving mirror;
an electronic card housed lengthwise inside the containing structure;
an alphanumeric display obtained on the driver side;
a monitor obtained on the driver side protruding from the lower side of the containing device;
an integrated monitor in the area corresponding to that of the reflecting surface;
a sleep detection device, which is obtained along the upper profile of the containing structure on the driver side.
Aims
This concerns a containing structure which, generically, with a simple touch to the structure that integrates the mirror, even in reduced visibility conditions, as is the case while driving at night, allows the activation or deactivation of the communication function, also by means of visualization of images, without removing one's gaze from the road, therefore maintaining suitable attention.
A first aim is the identification of an easier and more functional positioning of the on/off keys, which can be easily identified by touch also in the dark.
A second aim is the identification of the best position of the microphone as close to the driver as to qualitatively improve the audio which is not disturbed by the airflows along the window panels of the vehicle.
A third aim is the identification of the best position of the “panic” function keys on the driver side of the containing structure, in such a way to make them easily identifiable and prevent their accidental activation by means of lateral bars, which, as they protrude out of the containing structure at least as much as the protruding portion of the respective activation key, delimit the two lateral extremities.
A fourth aim is the identification of the best position of the sleep detection device, which in this case is much nearer the gaze of the driver and is obtained along the upper profile, on the driver side corner of the containing structure. In this way it observes each small variation with regard to set parameters including the movements of at least one eyelid and/or scanning of the eye to transmit it to a data processing device able to emit at least one alarm signal of the acoustic and/or visual type.
A fifth aim is the identification of the best position of the monitor/display, which is always placed on the driver side of the containing structure and along the lower profile, in such a way as to be easily visible.
The position of the keys as described above allows one to maintain a greater degree of attention during driving.
Finally, also the position of the connector, on the back of the containing structure very easily allows a fast connection with the power supply of the devices conventionally present on board.
The containing structure 1 that integrates a driving mirror 2 and a multifunction apparatus with an electronic card 3 to receive and send information also by means of visualization of the same through a display or a monitor, with a remote control device of the cellular phone of the type with bluetooth technology, consists of a container, essentially box-like typically in plastic material, to which, on the front side, a reflecting surface that constitutes the driving mirror 2 is joined or obtained. The containing structure provides at the back part a protuberance 100 that constitutes the housing seat of at least one multifunction apparatus with an electronic card 3 placed lengthwise and vertically. Along the sides 101, 102 of the containing structure 1 two big buttons are provided, 103 and 104 respectively of 38 mm by 10 mm which are able to be activated with the function OFF/ON even without removing one's gaze from the road as they are very big and one is placed on the right-hand side (on) and the other on the left (off). The position of the keys 103 and 104 and the microphone 105 are ergonomically optimal. In particular the microphone 105 is placed close to mouth of the driver and perpendicular to it. The quality of the audio is better because there is no disturbance from the airflows along the window panels or the posts. The microphone 105 is therefore positioned on left-hand side of the containing structure 1 that integrates a rear-view driving mirror 2 (see
The containing structure 1 (see
On the front side of the containing structure 1 (see
In one variant of the containing structure 1 (see
In the
The prospected solution in
In
An evolution of the containing structure 1 shown in
Finally,
University tests confirmed that this interface used by the driver (big buttons on the right+left 103, 104 and the LED 6, 7 of the indication of the status of the system), considerably reduces driving distractions connected to using the cellular phone in so far as they are not superimposed onto the function/direction of driving and at the same time they are not too remote like the traditional buttons on a dashboard or in the central tunnel (the driver is obliged to remove his eyes from the road for a few moments).
The automatic bluetooth connection with intuitive and ergonomic “anti-error” ON button, speech call and anti-error OFF button is provided, which optimizes the system with regards to “driving safety”, reducing distractions connected to using the cellular phone.
The following versions are also provided:
display to show/scroll the address book
monitor+keyboard to “remote” ones own cellular phone (obviously the use of the keyboard has to be carried out when the vehicle is stopped)
SOS version with “panic” buttons
version with videocalling and integrated monitor in the mirror
navigator version with simplified directions
sleep detection version: the lens scans the eye and launches an alarm if the driver is falling asleep.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV2004000060 | Nov 2004 | IT | national |
