Dynamically deformable surfaces to analyze user conditions using biodata

{
  "publication_number": "US11550385B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Dynamically deformable surfaces to analyze user conditions using biodata",
  "abstract": "A surface of a vehicle component can be dynamically deformable surface. The dynamically deformable surface can be configured to undergo deformations to dynamically form a dynamic button or other user interface element on demand. The dynamically deformable surface can include one or more biosensors. When a user engages the dynamic button with a portion of the body, the one or more biosensors can acquire user biodata. The user biodata can be used by the vehicle as input for various purposes. For instance, the vehicle can operate as a health-monitoring and/or comfort monitoring system. As a result of these arrangements, buttons and other user interface elements can appear and disappear depending on the need and/or application, providing a cleaner vehicle cockpit interface and greatly expanding the possibilities of where such buttons can be located at and how many things can be controlled by the driver using physical interfaces.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: a vehicle component; a dynamically deformable surface provided on the vehicle component, the dynamically deformable surface including a compliant portion and a plurality of actuators operatively positioned relative to the compliant portion, the compliant portion being deformable responsive to a stimulus produced by the actuators to form a dynamic button; one or more biosensors, the one or more biosensors being a part of the dynamically deformable surface; and one or more processors operatively connected to the dynamically deformable surface and to the one or more biosensors, the one or more processors being configured to: cause the dynamically deformable surface to deform to form the dynamic button; and responsive to the dynamic button being engaged by a body portion of a user, acquire, using the one or more biosensors, user biodata.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine based on at least user biodata whether the user is comfortable.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein determine based on at least user biodata whether the user is comfortable includes determine based on at least user biodata and vehicle data whether the user is comfortable.",
    "4. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: responsive to determining that the user is not comfortable, determine an adjustment to a vehicle setting to increase the comfort of the user; and cause a prompt to be presented to the user as to whether the user wants the vehicle setting to be adjusted.",
    "5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: responsive to receiving a user input indicating that the user wants the vehicle setting to be adjusted, causing the vehicle setting to be adjusted.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to analyze the user biodata to detect whether the user has a health condition.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: responsive to detecting a health condition, determine an urgency level of the detected health condition.",
    "8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: cause a warning to be presented to the user based on at least one of the health condition or the determined urgency level of the detected health condition.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of a size, shape, stiffness, and location of the dynamic button is user configurable.",
    "10. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuators are configured to output at least one of light energy, voltage, and thermal energy, and wherein the compliant portion is deformable responsive to at least one of light energy, voltage, thermal energy, and fluidic actuation.",
    "11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more biosensors are location on or at least partially within the compliant portion.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamically deformable surface further includes one or more touch sensors, whereby the touch sensors are configured to detect a touching of the dynamically deformable surface by a portion of a human body.",
    "13. The system of claim 1, wherein, when activated, the dynamic button is a protrusion.",
    "14. A method comprising: causing a dynamically deformable surface to deform to form a dynamic button, the dynamically deformable surface being located on a vehicle component, the dynamically deformable surface including one or more biosensors; and responsive to the dynamic button being engaged by a body portion of a user, acquiring, using the one or more biosensors, user biodata, the dynamically deformable surface including a compliant portion and a plurality of actuators operatively positioned relative to the compliant portion, the compliant portion being deformable responsive to a stimulus produced by the actuators.",
    "15. The method of claim 14, further including: determining based on at least user biodata whether the user is comfortable.",
    "16. The method of claim 14, further including: responsive to determining that the user is not comfortable, determining an adjustment to a vehicle setting to increase user comfort; causing a prompt to be presented to the user as to whether the user wants the vehicle setting to be adjusted; and responsive to receiving a user input indicating that the user wants the vehicle setting to be adjusted, causing the vehicle setting to be adjusted.",
    "17. The method of claim 14, further including: analyzing the user biodata to detect whether the user has a health condition.",
    "18. The method of claim 17, further including: responsive to detecting a health condition, determine an urgency level of the detected health condition; and cause a warning to be presented to the user, wherein the warning is based on at least one of the health condition and the determined urgency level of the detected health condition."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The subject matter described herein relates in general to vehicles and, more particularly, to the interaction between vehicles and human occupants.\n\nThere are various in-vehicle user interfaces that enable a user to interact with a vehicle. For instance, a vehicle can be equipped with buttons, switches, and dials in various regions of cockpit, such as on the steering wheel, console, or doors. These user interfaces give users the ability to control certain vehicle functions. In some instances, the vehicle can be configured so that a driver or other vehicle occupant can more easily perceive the presence of user interface elements.\n\nIn one respect, the present disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes a vehicle component. The system includes a dynamically deformable surface provided on the vehicle component. The dynamically deformable surface can be configured to deform in response to a stimulus. The system can include one or more biosensors. The one or more biosensors can be a part of the dynamically deformable surface. The system can include one or more processors. The one or more processors can be operatively connected to the dynamically deformable surface and to the one or more biosensors. The one or more processors can be configured to: cause the dynamically deformable surface to deform to form a dynamic button; and, responsive to the dynamic button being engaged by a body portion of the user, acquire user biodata using the one or more biosensors.\n\nIn another respect, the present disclosure is directed to a method.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 3/01",
    "A61B 2503/22",
    "A61B 5/00",
    "A61B 5/0205",
    "A61B 5/021",
    "A61B 5/0533",
    "A61B 5/14517",
    "A61B 5/14532",
    "A61B 5/14546",
    "A61B 5/4266",
    "A61B 5/6826",
    "A61B 5/6893",
    "A61B 5/7405",
    "A61B 5/742",
    "A61B 5/7455",
    "A61B 5/746",
    "B60K 2360/1434",
    "B60K 35/10",
    "B60K 35/28",
    "B60Q 3/283",
    "B60Q 9/00",
    "B60R 16/037",
    "G06F 3/041"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61B 5/0205",
    "A61B 5/145",
    "B60Q 9/00",
    "B60R 16/037",
    "A61B 5/00",
    "B60K 35/10",
    "B60K 35/28",
    "G06F 3/01",
    "G06F 3/041"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Frederico Marcolino Quintao Severgnini",
    "Ercan Mehmet DEDE"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-07-30",
  "publication_date": "2023-01-10",
  "grant_date": "2023-01-10",
  "priority_date": "2019-07-30",
  "application_number": "US-201916526047-A",
  "family_id": "74258992",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}