Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure is generally related to a system and a method of providing an active form of haptic feedback based on a traction motor that works as an actuator for generating a haptic signal related to at least one haptic function.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Haptic technology works as a sensory feedback system and provides a passive form of haptic feedback. This technology is used in vehicles like a two-wheeler, three-wheeler, or four-wheeler for providing the sensory feedback to the user of the vehicle.
[0003] While riding a two-wheeler vehicle, it’s harder to inform a rider when an error happens in the vehicle or when any notification is required to communicate. Many sound systems and devices are used for informing the rider about vehicle notifications, errors, etc. While repetitive sounds are unpleasant and create sound pollution so haptic taps are the perfect alternative for this communication directly to the user.
[0004] For example, US2021139043A1 discloses a system generates haptic feedback in an electric vehicle. The system comprises a frame, an energy storage device, and a wheel rotationally coupled to the frame. A motor receives power from the energy storage device and provides torque to the wheel. A controller determines a first operational state of the electric vehicle and transmits a first torque signal to the motor to control the motor to transmit first torque levels to the wheel to propel the electric vehicle. The controller determines a second operational state of the electric vehicle and transmits a second torque signal to the motor assembly. The motor assembly transmits second torque levels to the wheel to generate haptic feedback. The second torque signal is based on the second operational state of the electric vehicle and a torque profile stored in the memory, where the torque profile defines an irregular-shaped periodic waveform (e.g., a heartbeat rhythm).
[0005] The above system doesn’t disclose a concept of hierarchy of haptic taps in the vehicle, and the flow of the haptic information from the cloud storage to the vehicle.
[0006] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there is a need to provide a novel system and method of providing an active form of the haptic feedback to play at least one haptic function according to the haptic hierarchy.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system of providing an active form of haptic feedback that uses a traction motor that works as a haptic actuator for generating a haptic signal to provide notification related to the vehicle.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide the system of providing an active form of haptic feedback that helps in easily distinguishing at least one haptic function according to an application of the embedded device.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide the system of providing an active form of haptic feedback that uses a haptic trigger number to prioritize at least one haptic function that has to be played in the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention relates to a system and method of providing an active form of haptic feedback that is used in the vehicle to distinguish at least one haptic function and perform the at least one haptic function according to a haptic hierarchy. This system also helps in providing notification to a rider by optimizing a frequency of the haptic taps that are felt by the rider on a handlebar and a seat of the vehicle.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, disclosed is a method of providing an active form of haptic feedback. The method includes a microprocessor unit (MPU), a vehicle control unit (VCU), and a motor drive controller (MDC) for performing multiple steps. In the first step, the microprocessor unit (MPU) is configured for storing at least one haptic tap information in a storage unit in an encoded form. Further, the MPU is anyone of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or an application specific integrated circuit. Further, the at least one haptic tap information is generated in a haptic generator. Further, the at least one haptic tap information includes a haptic trigger number according to a haptic hierarchy. Further, the haptic hierarchy is used for prioritizing the haptic trigger number that corresponds to a haptic signal of at least one haptic function. Further, the storage unit includes a microprocessor-unit storage, or a cloud storage and the cloud storage is copied into the microprocessor-unit storage if the cloud storage is different from the microprocessor-unit storage. In the next step, the VCU broadcasts the at least one haptic tap information upon detection of at least one event. Further, the at least one event is at least one of pressing an input interface mounted on a vehicle, resetting the microprocessor unit (MPU), upon triggering the microprocessor unit (MPU) from the cloud storage, getting notification about a state of the vehicle, and a state of peripherals, getting notification from the connected devices, broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the MPU to the MDC, and broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the VCU to the MDC. The input interface is at least one of a knob, button, switch, touch input, voice input, gesture input, or others generated by a user, or a sensor based inputs such as visual, sound, smell, temperature, humidity, wetness, others which are not generated by the user, but generated automatically. The input interface may also generate signals automatically by the functioning of the MPU or VCU or MDC based on a logic. The logic may or may not be smart feature-based logic such as hill assist, hill hold, slope detection, user location detection, device connection, user phone call detection, among others.
[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the last step in which the MDC copies the at least one haptic tap information to a memory upon receiving the broadcast from the VCU. Further, the MDC generates the at least one haptic function according to the encoded at least one haptic tap information. Further, the MDC optimizes a frequency of at least one haptic tap then play the at least one haptic function. Further, the VCU works as a vehicle controller and either acts as a gateway for establishing communication between the motor drive controller and the microprocessor unit (MPU) or the MPU independently communicates with the MDC without any interruption of the VCU. Further, the haptic generator includes a traction motor that works as an actuator for generating the haptic signal according to the at least one haptic function. Further, the haptic generator takes an input of the haptic trigger number and chooses at least one haptic word and corresponding at least one haptic alphabet from the memory. Further, the generation of the haptic signal inside the haptic generator comprises multiple steps. In the first step, a wait state is a default state that is transited into an assigned tap parameter based on a local-in-trigger haptics signal which is a local variable of the haptic trigger number value. In the second step, the tap parameter is assigned in the form of the at least one haptic word from a memory location and sent to the haptic generator. In the third step, the haptic generator has the equations for the conversion of the encoded at least one haptic alphabet into the corresponding signal in the form of a vehicle parameter that is at least one of a position, a velocity, a speed, an amplitude, the frequency, or an acceleration of the vehicle. In the fourth step, a multiplier loop state returns to the haptic generator when the same signal is repeated multiple times with a fixed duration as defined by the at least single haptic alphabet. In the fifth step, a word loop state moves from the at least first haptic alphabet to the at least next haptic alphabet as defined in the memory location. Further, the haptic trigger number includes a higher trigger number, a middle trigger number, and a lower trigger number. Further, a priority of the haptic trigger numbers is anyone of a directly proportional (ascending), an inversely proportional (descending), or mapped to any combination. Further, the lower haptic trigger number has the highest priority when the priority is the inversely proportional to the haptic trigger numbers.
[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, disclosed is a system of providing an active form of haptic feedback. The system includes a microprocessor unit (MPU), a vehicle control unit (VCU), a motor drive controller (MDC), a haptic generator, a storage unit, and a memory. The microprocessor unit (MPU) is configured for storing at least one haptic tap information in the storage unit in an encoded form. Further, the MPU is anyone of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or an application specific integrated circuit. Further, the at least one haptic tap information is generated in the haptic generator. Further, the at least one haptic tap information includes a haptic trigger number according to a haptic hierarchy. The haptic hierarchy is used for prioritizing the haptic trigger number that corresponds to a haptic signal of at least one haptic function. Further, the storage unit includes a microprocessor-unit storage, or a cloud storage and the cloud storage is copied into the microprocessor-unit storage if the cloud storage is different from the microprocessor-unit storage. Further, the VCU broadcasts the at least one haptic tap information upon detection of at least one event. Further, the at least one event is at least one of pressing an input interface mounted on a vehicle, resetting the microprocessor unit (MPU), upon triggering the microprocessor unit (MPU) from the cloud storage, getting notification about a state of the vehicle, and a state of peripherals, getting notification from the connected devices, broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the MPU to the MDC, and broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the VCU to the MDC. The input interface is at least one of a knob, button, switch, touch input, voice input, gesture input, or others generated by a user, or a sensor-based inputs such as visual, sound, smell, temperature, humidity, wetness, others which are not generated by the user, but generated automatically. The input interface may also generate signals automatically by the functioning of the MPU or VCU or MDC based on a logic. The logic may or may not be smart feature-based logic such as hill assist, hill hold, slope detection, user location detection, device connection, user phone call detection, among others.
[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the system further includes the MDC that copies the at least one haptic tap information to the memory upon receiving the broadcast from the VCU. Further, the MDC generates the at least one haptic function according to the encoded at least one haptic tap information. Further, the MDC optimizes a frequency of at least one haptic tap then play the at least one haptic function. Further, the VCU works as a vehicle controller and either acts as a gateway for establishing communication between the motor drive controller and the microprocessor unit (MPU) or the MPU independently communicates with the MDC without any interruption of the VCU. Further, the haptic generator includes a traction motor that works as an actuator for generating the haptic signal according to the at least one haptic function. Further, the haptic generator takes an input of the haptic trigger number and chooses at least one haptic word and corresponding at least one haptic alphabet from the memory. Further, the generation of the haptic signal inside the haptic generator comprises multiple steps. In the first step, a wait state is a default state that is transited into an assigned tap parameter based on a local-in-trigger haptics signal which is a local variable of the haptic trigger number value. In the second step, the tap parameter is assigned in the form of the at least one haptic word from a memory location and sent to the haptic generator. In the third step, the haptic generator has the equations for the conversion of the encoded at least one haptic alphabet into the corresponding signal in the form of a vehicle parameter that is at least one of a position, a velocity, a speed, an amplitude, the frequency, or an acceleration of the vehicle. In the fourth step, a multiplier loop state returns to the haptic generator when the same signal is repeated multiple times with a fixed duration as defined by the at least single haptic alphabet. In the fifth step, a word loop state moves from the at least first haptic alphabet to the at least next haptic alphabet as defined in the memory location. Further, the haptic trigger number includes a higher trigger number, a middle trigger number, and a lower trigger number. Further, a priority of the haptic trigger numbers is anyone of a directly proportional (ascending), an inversely proportional (descending), or mapped to any combination. Further, the lower haptic trigger number has the highest priority when the priority is the inversely proportional to the haptic trigger numbers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of systems, methods, and embodiments of various other aspects of the disclosure. Any person with ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g. boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. It may be that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of one element may be implemented as an external component in another, and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. Non-limiting and non-exhaustive descriptions are described with reference to the following drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles.
[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 100 of providing an active form of haptic feedback, according to an embodiment of a present invention;
[0018] Fig. 2 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 200 for generation of the haptic signal inside the haptic generator (314), according to an embodiment of a present invention;
[0019] Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view depicting a system 300 of providing an active form of haptic feedback, according to an embodiment of a present invention;
[0020] Fig.4 illustrates an exemplary haptic waveform 400 that may be applied to a haptic actuator (traction motor) 808 to produce at least one haptic word, according to an embodiment of a present invention;
[0021] Fig.5 illustrates a table 500 of the exemplary haptic waveform comprising of the at least four haptic alphabets forming at least one haptic word, which is illustrated in Fig. 4;
[0022] Fig. 6 illustrates the flowchart 600 of working of a microprocessor unit (MPU) 302, according to an embodiment of a present invention;
[0023] Fig. 7 illustrates the flowchart 700 of the working of a vehicle control unit 304, according to an embodiment of a present invention; and
[0024] Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view depicting the MDC 306, according to an embodiment of a present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, and in which example embodiments are shown. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among other possible examples.
[0026] Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
[0027] It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present invention, the preferred systems and methods are now described.
[0028] Fig. 1 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 100 of providing an active form of haptic feedback, according to an embodiment of a present invention. The method includes a microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 (refer fig.3), a vehicle control unit (VCU) 304, and a motor drive controller (MDC) 306 for performing multiple steps. The microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 is configured for storing at least one haptic tap information in a storage unit in an encoded form, as shown in step 105. Further, the MPU 302 is anyone of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or an application specific integrated circuit. Further, the at least one haptic tap information is generated in a haptic generator 314. Further, the at least one haptic tap information includes a haptic trigger number according to a haptic hierarchy. Further, the haptic hierarchy is used for prioritizing the haptic trigger number that corresponds to a haptic signal of at least one haptic function. Further, the storage unit includes a microprocessor-unit storage 308, or a cloud storage 310. Further, the cloud storage 310 is copied into the microprocessor-unit storage 308 if the cloud storage 310 is different from the microprocessor-unit storage 308.
[0029] In the method 100, the VCU 304 (refer fig.3) broadcasts the at least one haptic tap information upon detection of at least one event, as shown in step 110. Further, the at least one event is at least one of pressing an input interface mounted on a vehicle, resetting the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302, upon triggering the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 from the cloud storage 310, getting notification about a state of the vehicle, and a state of peripherals, getting notification from the connected devices, broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the MPU 302 to the MDC 306, and broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the VCU 304 to the MDC 306. Further, the input interface is at least one of a knob, button, switch, touch input, voice input, gesture input, or others generated by a user, or a sensor-based inputs such as visual, sound, smell, temperature, humidity, wetness, others which are not generated by the user, but generated automatically. The input interface may also generate signals automatically by the functioning of the MPU 302 or VCU 304 or MDC 306 based on a logic. The logic may or may not be smart feature-based logic such as hill assist, hill hold, slope detection, user location detection, device connection, user phone call detection, among others.
[0030] In the method 100, the MDC 306 (refer fig.3) copies the at least one haptic tap information to a memory 312 upon receiving the broadcast from the VCU 304, as shown in step 115. Further, the MDC 306 generates the at least one haptic function according to the encoded at least one haptic tap information. Further, the MDC 306 optimizes a frequency of at least one haptic tap so that it is felt by a rider on a handlebar and a seat of the vehicle then play the at least one haptic function at a time by using the haptic hierarchy. Further, the VCU 304 works as a vehicle controller and either acts as a gateway for establishing communication between the motor drive controller (MDC) 306 and the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 or the MPU 302 independently communicates with the MDC 306 without any interruption of the VCU 304.
[0031] In the method 100, the haptic generator 314 (refer fig.3) includes a traction motor 808 (refer fig.8) is work as an actuator for generating the haptic signal according to the at least one haptic function. Further, the haptic generator 314 takes an input of the haptic trigger number and chooses at least one haptic word and corresponding at least one haptic alphabet from the memory 312. The haptic trigger number includes a higher trigger number, a middle trigger number, and a lower trigger number. Further, a priority of the haptic trigger numbers is anyone of a directly proportional (ascending), an inversely proportional (descending), or mapped to any combination. Further, the lower haptic trigger number has the highest priority when the priority is the inversely proportional to the haptic trigger numbers.
[0032] Fig. 2 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 200 for generation of the haptic signal inside the haptic generator (314), according to an embodiment of a present invention. In the first step, a wait state is a default state that is transited into an assigned tap parameter based on a local-in-trigger haptics signal which is a local variable of the haptic trigger number value, as shown in 205. In the second step, the tap parameter is assigned in the form of the at least one haptic word from a memory location and sent to the haptic generator 314 (refer fig.3), as shown in 210. In the third step, the haptic generator 314 has the equations for the conversion of the encoded at least one haptic alphabet into the corresponding signal in the form of a vehicle parameter that is at least one of a position, a velocity, a speed, an amplitude, the frequency, or an acceleration of the vehicle, as shown in 215. In the fourth step, a multiplier loop state returns to the haptic generator 314 (refer fig.3) when the same signal is repeated multiple times with a fixed duration as defined by the at least single haptic alphabet, as shown in 220. In the fifth step, a word loop state moves from the at least first haptic alphabet to the at least next haptic alphabet as defined in the memory location, as shown in 225.
[0033] Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view depicting a system 300 of providing an active form of haptic feedback, according to an embodiment of a present invention. The system 300 includes a microprocessor unit (MPU) 302, a vehicle control unit (VCU) 304, and a motor drive controller (MDC) 306, a haptic generator 314, a storage unit, and a memory 312. The microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 is configured for storing at least one haptic tap information in the storage unit in an encoded form. Further, the MPU 302 is anyone of a microcontroller, or an application specific integrated circuit. Further, the at least one haptic tap information is generated in the haptic generator 314.
[0034] In the embodiment, the storage unit includes a microprocessor-unit storage 308, or a cloud storage 310. In the embodiment, the microprocessor-unit storage 308 includes a microprocessor communication unit. Further, the cloud storage 310 includes a cloud communication unit. The microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 communicates with the microprocessor communication unit and the cloud communication unit and verifies that the cloud storage 310 is the same or different from the microprocessor-unit storage 308. Further, the cloud storage 310 is copied into the microprocessor-unit storage 308 if the cloud storage 310 is different from the microprocessor-unit storage 308. The microprocessor unit (MPU) broadcasts a local file stored in the microprocessor-unit storage 308 for further process. Further, the VCU 304 broadcasts the at least one haptic tap information and the MDC 306 copies that information in the memory 312. The memory 312 includes an alphabet memory 316 and a word memory 318.
[0035] In the embodiment, the MDC 306 generates at least one haptic function according to the encoded at least one haptic tap information. In another embodiment, the at least one haptic function includes at least one haptic alphabet and at least one haptic word generated thereof. The at least one haptic word is generated by combining the at least one or more of the haptic alphabets. The at least one haptic alphabet is generated by modifying the properties of a haptic waveform that is an input to the actuator. The at least one haptic tap information or the at least one haptic alphabet and word information are stored in the storage unit in any format.
[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, the format is a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format. The JSON is a standard text-based format for representing structured at least one haptic tap information. It is commonly used for transmitting data in a web application. The properties of the haptic waveform are at least one type of waveform, an amplitude, a scaled frequency, a delay, and a multiplier or others.
[0037] Fig.4 illustrates an exemplary haptic waveform that may be applied to the haptic actuator (traction motor) 808 (ref fig.6) to produce the at least one haptic word, according to an embodiment of a present invention. If the at least one haptic word (plot 410) is a combination of the at least four haptic alphabets (plot 402, 404,406, 408), then each of the at least one haptic alphabet (plot 402, 404, 406, 408) shows multiple variations in their properties. Plot 402 shows at least first haptic alphabet has a double-sided peak with the higher scaled frequency and amplitude. It also contains some amount of delay with the single multiplier. Further, in the at least second (plot 404), third (plot 406), and fourth (plot 506) haptic alphabet, the scaled frequency and the amplitude decrease, and the delay increases. But each of the at least one haptic alphabet (plot 402, 404, 406, and 408) has the double-sided peak and uses the single multiplier. The haptic actuator 808 tracks the input that is the haptic waveform to create sensory feedback that is felt as haptics in the vehicle. By combining all the at least one haptic alphabet haptic waveform, the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 (ref fig.3) synthesizes the at least one haptic word (shown in plot 410).
[0038] Fig.5 illustrates a table 500 of the exemplary haptic waveform comprising of the at least four haptic alphabets forming at least one haptic word, which is illustrated in Fig. 5. The at least first haptic alphabet has the double-sided peak with the 50 Hz (Hertz) scaled frequency and 1 Nm (nanometer) amplitude. It also contains 50 ms (milliseconds) delay with the single multiplier. Further, the at least second haptic alphabet has also the double-sided peak, and the scaled frequency, amplitude, and delay are 25 Hz, 0.75 Nm, and 100 ms respectively. Further, the at least third haptic alphabet has also the double-sided peak, and the scaled frequency, amplitude, and delay are 15 Hz, 0.50 Nm, and 150 ms respectively, and the at least fourth haptic alphabet has also the double-sided peak, and the scaled frequency, amplitude, delay is 5 Hz, 0.25 Nm, and 200 ms respectively. The at least second, third and fourth haptic alphabet uses the single multiplier. By combining all the at least one haptic alphabet haptic waveform, the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 (refer fig.3) synthesizes the at least one haptic word.
[0039] In the embodiment, the MDC 306 (ref fig.3) further optimizes a frequency of at least one haptic tap so that it is felt by a rider on a handlebar and a seat of the vehicle. By this, the system 300 provides the active form of the haptic feedback in which the rider feels the at least one haptic function through the handlebar and the seat of the vehicle. Further, the at least one haptic tap information includes a haptic trigger number according to a haptic hierarchy. Further, the haptic hierarchy is used for prioritizing the haptic trigger number that corresponds to a haptic signal of the at least one haptic function. Further, the MDC 306 plays the at least one haptic function by using the haptic hierarchy. Further, the haptic trigger number includes a higher trigger number, a middle trigger number, and a lower trigger number. Further, a priority of the haptic trigger numbers is anyone of a directly proportional (ascending), an inversely proportional (descending), or mapped to any combination. Further, the lower haptic trigger number has the highest priority when the priority is the inversely proportional to the haptic trigger numbers. The priority of the haptic trigger number helps in easily distinguishing the at least one haptic function according to an application of the embedded device.
[0040] In another exemplary embodiment, if the haptic trigger numbers denote a plurality of the at least one haptic function in multiple embedded devices. The haptic trigger number map the at least one haptic word and are prioritized as follows like the lower trigger numbers denoted a danger warning, or safety alert, among others, the middle trigger numbers denoted different alerts and warnings, and the higher trigger number denoted an Intimation, and indication, among others. Then the priority of haptic trigger numbers helps to choose the at least one haptic function in real time between the plurality of at least one haptic function when multiple applications of the multiple embedded devices request the at least one haptic function at the same time.
[0041] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the system 300 further includes multiple steps (ref fig,2) for generation of the haptic signal inside the haptic generator (314) (ref fig,3). In the first step, a wait state is a default state that is transited into an assigned tap parameter based on a local-in-trigger haptics signal which is a local variable of the haptic trigger number value. In the second step, the tap parameter is assigned in the form of the at least one haptic word from a memory location and sent to the haptic generator 314 (ref fig.3). In the third step, the haptic generator 314 has the equations for the conversion of the encoded at least one haptic alphabet into the corresponding signal in the form of a vehicle parameter that is at least one of a position, a velocity, a speed, an amplitude, the frequency, or an acceleration of the vehicle. In the fourth step, a multiplier loop state returns to the haptic generator 314 when the same signal is repeated multiple times with a fixed duration as defined by the at least single haptic alphabet. In the fifth step, a haptic word loop state moves from the at least first haptic alphabet to the at least next haptic alphabet as defined in the memory location.
[0042] Fig. 6 illustrates the flowchart 600 of working of the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 (ref fig.3), according to an embodiment of a present invention. Further, the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 stores at least one haptic tap information in the storage unit, as shown in step 605. Then, the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 communicates with the microprocessor communication unit and the cloud communication unit, as shown in step 610. The microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 further verifies that the cloud storage 310 is the same or different from the microprocessor-unit storage 308, as shown in step 615. Further, the cloud storage 310 is copied into the microprocessor-unit storage 308 if the cloud storage 310 is different from the microprocessor-unit storage 308, as shown in step 620. Further, the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 broadcasts the local file stored in the microprocessor-unit storage 308, as shown in step 625.
[0043] In the embodiment, the system 300 (ref fig.3) further includes the VCU 304 to broadcast the at least one haptic tap information upon detection of at least one event. Further, the at least one event is at least one of pressing an input interface mounted on the vehicle, resetting the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302, upon triggering the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 from the cloud storage 310, getting notification about a state of the vehicle, and a state of peripherals, getting notification from the connected devices, broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the MPU 302 to the MDC 306, and broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the VCU 304 to the MDC 306. The input interface is at least one of a knob, button, switch, touch input, voice input, gesture input, or others generated by a user, or a sensor-based inputs such as visual, sound, smell, temperature, humidity, wetness, others which are not generated by the user, but generated automatically. The input interface may also generate signals automatically by the functioning of the MPU 302 or VCU 304 or MDC 306 based on a logic. The logic may or may not be smart feature-based logic such as hill assist, hill hold, slope detection, user location detection, device connection, user phone call detection etc. Fig. 7 illustrates the flowchart 700 of the working of the vehicle control unit 304 (ref fig.3), according to an embodiment of a present invention. Flowchart 700 begins from step 705 in which the VCU 304 receives the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 local file. Further, the VCU 304 verifies that at least one event is detected or not, as shown in step 710. If the event is not detected, then flowchart 700 moves to step 725 in which the process is ended. If the event is detected, then the flowchart 700 moves to step 715 in which the VCU 304 communicates with the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302. Further, the VCU 304 broadcasts the at least one haptic tap information by using a VCU communication unit, as shown in step 720.
[0044] In the embodiment, the system 300 (ref fig.3) further includes the MDC 306 that copies the at least one haptic tap information to the memory 312 upon receiving the broadcast from the VCU 304. Further, the VCU 304 works as a vehicle controller and acts as a gateway for establishing communication between the motor drive controller (MDC) 306 and the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302.
[0045] In an alternative embodiment, the VCU 304 doesn’t act as a gateway for establishing communication between the motor drive controller (MDC) 306 and the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 even the MPU 302 independently communicates with the MDC 306 without any interruption of the VCU 304.
[0046] Fig 8 illustrates a perspective view depicting the MDC 306 (ref fig.3), according to an embodiment of a present invention. The MDC 306 includes the haptic generator 314, a word memory 318, an alphabet memory 316, a speed gain multiplier 802, a vibration gain multiplier 804, a summer circuit 806, the traction motor 808, an IMU 810, and a vibration filter 812. Further, the haptic generator 314 (refer fig.3) includes the traction motor 808 (refer fig.8) is work as an actuator for generating the haptic signal according to the at least one haptic function. The haptic generator 314 takes an input of the haptic trigger number corresponds to the at least one haptic word that corresponds the at least one haptic alphabet from the word memory 318 and the alphabet memory 316. The alphabet memory 316 has m alphabet amplitude, m alphabet scaled frequency, m alphabet delays, m alphabet multipliers, and m alphabet waveform types, wherein m is the number of the at least one haptic alphabet. The word memory 318 has n-word lengths and n-word positions, wherein n is the number of at least one haptic word. The haptic generator 314 generates an output signal in the form of the vehicle parament (i.e. either position, velocity, or acceleration). Further, the vehicle parameter is multiplied in the multiplier (802, 804) by a vehicle parameter gains to correct speed, vibration, etc. The multiplier is the speed gain multiplier 802, and the vibration gain multiplier 804. The speed and vibration are taken from the traction motor 808 and the vibration filter 812 of the IMU 810 (Inertial measurement unit) of the vehicle. Further, the corrected output signal is summed up in the summer circuit 806 with an existing reference signal and provides an actual output signal from the MDC 306. The reference signal is the vehicle parameter signal.
[0047] In another exemplary embodiment, the frequencies of the music are stored in the microprocessor-unit storage 308 with the haptic trigger number. The microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 (ref fig.3) sends the haptic trigger number in sync with the music segment to the motor drive controller 306 via the VCU 304 for playing the music in the vehicle. The haptic trigger numbers are chosen based on precomputed frequencies of small segments of music from the microprocessor-unit storage 308 of the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 and synced with music that is playing in the vehicle.
[0048] In another exemplary embodiment, the haptic feedback uses the high vibration pattern to transmit information to the user by syncing the haptic trigger number with the different vehicle features such as vehicle indicator sound, vehicle indicator lights, and others. Further, the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 (ref fig.3) sends the haptic trigger number in sync with the vehicle parking light to the motor drive controller 306 via the VCU 304 for distinguishing a parking indicator function from the plurality of at least one haptic function.
[0049] In another exemplary embodiment, the microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 (ref fig.3) sends the haptic trigger number in sync with the vehicle indicator sound to the motor drive controller 306 via the VCU 304 for indicating the user about the turn indicator, parking indicator, and others.
[0050] In another exemplary embodiment, the system 300 (ref fig.3) is also used for navigation purposes. In another embodiment, the system 300 also helps in distinguishing a left turn from a right turn. The microprocessor unit (MPU) 302 sends the haptic trigger number in sync with the left or right turn to the motor drive controller 306 via the VCU 304 for distinguishing the left turn from the right turn using the at least two different and distinguishable haptic taps.
[0051] In another alternative embodiment, an automatic frequency sweep by chirp signal at the traction motor 808 (ref fig.6) is performed to identify resonant frequencies at the vehicle IMU 810 to correct the vehicle parameters automatically on an individual vehicle basis. The vehicle parameter is at least one of the positions, the velocity, the speed, the amplitude, the frequency, or the acceleration of the vehicle.
[0052] In another alternative embodiment, the system 300 helps the user while driving their vehicle. The MPU 302 sends the haptic trigger number in sync with a navigation information to the MDC 306. At the same time, the VCU 304 independently sends the haptic trigger number in sync with a rain information to the MDC 306. The rain information and the navigation information are taken from a GPS and a humidity sensor attached to the MPU 302 and the VCU 304, respectively. Then, the MDC 306 generates the output haptic signal to notify the user about the navigation and the rain so that the user modifies their driving conditions like speed, SOC, others and route according to the notification.
[0053] In an advantageous embodiment, the system 300 helps in informing a rider when an error happens in the vehicle or when any notification is required to communicate while riding the vehicle. The haptic taps are used for establishing the communication between the vehicle and the rider and perform the plurality of the at least one haptic function. The at least one haptic function is at least one of a safety alert, a warning alert, an indicator alert, or other.
[0054] Moreover, although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A method (100) of providing an active form of haptic feedback, comprising:
storing, by a microprocessor unit (MPU) (302), at least one haptic tap information in a storage unit in an encoded form, wherein the at least one haptic tap information is generated in a haptic generator (314);
broadcasting, by a vehicle control unit (VCU) (304), the at least one haptic tap information upon detection of at least one event; and
copying, by a motor drive controller (MDC) (306), the at least one haptic tap information to a memory (312) upon receiving the broadcast from the VCU (304), wherein the MDC (306) generates at least one haptic function according to the encoded at least one haptic tap information.
2. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a microprocessor-unit storage (308), or a cloud storage (310) and the cloud storage (310) is copied into the microprocessor-unit storage (308) if the cloud storage (310) is different from the microprocessor-unit storage (308).
3. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one haptic tap information includes a haptic trigger number according to a haptic hierarchy, wherein the haptic hierarchy is used for prioritizing the haptic trigger number that corresponds to a haptic signal of the at least one haptic function.
4. The method (100) as claimed in claims 1,3, wherein the haptic generator (314) takes an input of the haptic trigger number and chooses at least one haptic word and corresponding at least one haptic alphabet from the memory (312).
5. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generation of the haptic signal inside the haptic generator (314) comprises (200):
transiting a wait state into an assigned tap parameter based on a local-in-trigger haptics signal which is a local variable of the haptic trigger number value, wherein the wait state is a default state;
assigning the tap parameter in the form of the at least one haptic word from a memory location and sent to the haptic generator (314);
converting the encoded at least one haptic alphabet into the corresponding signal in the form of a vehicle parameter;
returning a multiplier loop state to the haptic generator (314) when the same signal is repeated multiple times with a fixed duration as defined by the at least single haptic alphabet; and
moving a word loop state from the at least first haptic alphabet to the at least next haptic alphabet as defined in the memory location.
6. The method (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the vehicle parameter is at least one of a position, a velocity, a speed, an amplitude, the frequency, or an acceleration of a vehicle.
7. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one event is at least one of pressing an input interface mounted on the vehicle, resetting the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302), upon triggering the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) from the cloud storage, getting notification about a state of the vehicle, and a state of peripherals, getting notification from the connected devices, broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the MPU (302) to the MDC (306), and broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the VCU (304) to the MDC (306).
8. The method (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the input interface is at least one of a knob, button, switch, touch input, voice input, gesture input, or others generated by a user, or a sensor-based inputs such as visual, sound, smell, temperature, humidity, wetness, others that are not generated by the user, but generated automatically.
9. The method (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the input interface may also generate signals automatically by the functioning of the MPU (302) or the VCU (304) or the MDC (306) based on a logic, wherein the logic may or may not be a smart feature-based logic, wherein further the smart feature-based logic may be anyone or combination of hill assist, hill hold, slope detection, user location detection, device connection, user phone call detection, among others.
10. The method (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the haptic trigger number includes a higher trigger number, a middle trigger number, and a lower trigger number.
11. The method (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein a priority of the haptic trigger numbers is anyone of a directly proportional (ascending), an inversely proportional (descending), or mapped to any combination, wherein the lower haptic trigger number has the highest priority when the priority is the inversely proportional to the haptic trigger numbers.
12. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the VCU (304) works as a vehicle controller and either acts as a gateway for establishing communication between the motor drive controller (306) and the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) or the MPU (302) independently communicates with the MDC (306) without any interruption of the VCU (304).
13. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the haptic generator (314) further includes a traction motor (808) works as an actuator for generating the haptic signal according to the at least one haptic function.
14. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the MDC (306) optimizes a frequency of at least one haptic tap then play the at least one haptic function according to the haptic hierarchy.
15. The method (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) is anyone of a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or an application specific integrated circuit.
16. A system (300) of providing an active form of haptic feedback, comprising:
a microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) is configured to:
store at least one haptic tap information in a storage unit in an encoded form, wherein the at least one haptic tap information is generated in a haptic generator (314);
a vehicle control unit (VCU) (304) connected to the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) for broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information upon detection of at least one event; and
a motor drive controller connected (MDC) (306) with the VCU (304) for copying the at least one haptic tap information to a memory (312) upon receiving the broadcast from the VCU (304), wherein the MDC (306) generates at least one haptic function according to the encoded at least one haptic tap information.
17. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the storage unit includes a microprocessor-unit storage (308), or a cloud storage (310) and the cloud storage (310) is copied into the microprocessor-unit storage (308) if the cloud storage (310) is different from the microprocessor-unit storage (308).
18. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one haptic tap information includes a haptic trigger number according to a haptic hierarchy, wherein the haptic hierarchy is used for prioritizing the haptic trigger number that corresponds to a haptic signal of the at least one haptic function.
19. The system (300) as claimed in claims 16,18, wherein the haptic generator (314) takes an input of the haptic trigger number and chooses at least one haptic word and corresponding at least one haptic alphabet from the memory (312).
20. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the generation of the haptic signal inside the haptic generator (314) comprises (200):
transiting a wait state into an assigned tap parameter based on a local-in-trigger haptics signal which is a local variable of the haptic trigger number value, wherein the wait state is a default state;
assigning the tap parameter in the form of the at least one haptic word from a memory location and sent to the haptic generator (314);
converting the encoded at least one haptic alphabet into the corresponding signal in the form of a vehicle parameter;
returning a multiplier loop state to the haptic generator (314) when the same signal is repeated multiple times with a fixed duration as defined by the at least single haptic alphabet; and
moving a word loop state from the at least first haptic alphabet to the at least next haptic alphabet as defined in the memory location.
21. The system (300) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the vehicle parameter is at least one of a position, a velocity, a speed, an amplitude, the frequency or an acceleration of a vehicle.
22. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one event is at least one of pressing an input interface mounted on the vehicle, resetting the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302), upon triggering the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) from the cloud storage (310), getting notification about a state of the vehicle, and a state of peripherals, or getting notification from the connected devices, broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the MPU (302) to the MDC (306), and broadcasting the at least one haptic tap information independently from the VCU (304) to the MDC (306).
23. The system (300) as claimed in claim 22, wherein the input interface is at least one of a knob, button, switch, touch input, voice input, gesture input, or others generated by a user, or a sensor-based inputs such as visual, sound, smell, temperature, humidity, wetness, others that are not generated by the user, but generated automatically.
24. The system (300) as claimed in claim 23, wherein the input interface may also generate signals automatically by the functioning of the MPU (302) or the VCU (304) or the MDC (306) based on a logic, wherein the logic may or may not be a smart feature-based logic, wherein further the smart feature-based logic may be anyone or combination of hill assist, hill hold, slope detection, user location detection, device connection, user phone call detection, among others.
25. The system (300) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the haptic trigger number includes a higher trigger number, a middle trigger number, and a lower trigger number.
26. The system (300) as claimed in claim 25, wherein a priority of the haptic trigger numbers is anyone of a directly proportional (ascending), an inversely proportional (descending), or mapped to any combination, wherein the lower haptic trigger number has the highest priority when the priority is the inversely proportional to the haptic trigger numbers.
27. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the VCU (304) works as a vehicle controller and either acts as a gateway for establishing communication between the motor drive controller (306) and the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) or the MPU (302) independently communicates with the MDC (306) without any interruption of the VCU (304).
28. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the haptic generator further includes a traction motor (808) works as an actuator for generating the haptic signal according to the at least one haptic function.
29. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the MDC (306) optimizes a frequency of at least one haptic tap then play the at least one haptic function.
30. The system (300) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the microprocessor unit (MPU) (302) is anyone of a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or an application specific integrated circuit.