Autonomous vehicle to pedestrian communication using directional sound
US10497255B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 2018 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2499/13
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided in an autonomous vehicle for providing auditory guidance to a pedestrian. In one embodiment, a processor-implemented method in a vehicle for providing auditory guidance includes: identifying a desire to communicate with a pedestrian; determining a message to communicate to the pedestrian; calculating a travel path about which to make the pedestrian aware; positioning a directional acoustic device to project directional sound waves to a starting point of the travel path; modulating the message in the directional sound waves; and repositioning the directional acoustic device to project the directional sound waves with the modulated message along the travel path, wherein as the directional sound waves contact with a travel path surface the message is demodulated and a sound conveying the message appears to originate from and travel along the travel path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.