DE102020118213A1 - Method of preventing or reducing motion sickness, controller, motor vehicle, and portable accessory - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for preventing and/or reducing motion sickness in a user while the user is wearing an accessory (10) that can be worn on the head and has an actuator device (20) that is designed to cause a tactile and/or haptic vibration produce. The control device (14) detects (S2) a body movement of the user and/or a movement of a motor vehicle (12) that the user is using; specifies (S3) a vibration pattern as a function of the detected body movement and/or movement of the motor vehicle (12); generates a vibration signal describing the predetermined vibration pattern (S4); and transmits the generated vibration signal to the actuator means (20, S5) to control the actuator means (20) to generate the vibration with the specified vibration pattern.

Description

The invention relates to a method for preventing and/or reducing motion sickness in a user.

Travel sickness ("motion sickness") occurs when, for example, vehicle occupants engage in non-driving activities (e.g. reading on their cell phones) while driving. Due to the conflict between vestibular perception (in the inner ear) and visual perception (of the eye), the body reacts with the symptoms of poisoning (e.g. nausea, headache, up to and including vomiting).

Studies show that vibrations in the head can prevent the development of motion sickness. From a scientific point of view, it is believed that vibrations impart signal noise to the vestibular organ, which eliminates sensory conflict. Such a system has hitherto been implemented by a vibrating headband.

the DE 10 2018 008 629 A1 describes a method and apparatus for reducing motion sickness-related disorders of an occupant in a vehicle.

From the DE 10 2014 210 170 A1 a method for suppressing motion sickness in a motor vehicle is known, with a vehicle occupant receiving audible, visual and/or tactile signals depending on a detected or foreseeable driving situation.

the DE 10 2017 223 609 A1 describes a system for reducing symptoms of motion sickness for a vehicle, the system having a control unit which is coupled to a sensor system and/or a navigation system, a vehicle seating system and/or a display unit for receiving and/or transmitting signals.

Thus, in the prior art, either a headband or the automobile itself is used to stimulate the senses of the automobile user to prevent motion sickness.

However, the advantages of automated driving are still not being fully exploited by a large proportion of drivers, since engaging in non-driving activities can cause nausea. Wearing a headband is uncomfortable and associated with poor user experience. In addition, the vibration of the headband is uncomfortable for many users. Especially when driving slowly, the vibration can be perceived as unpleasant and may therefore be less effective.

An object underlying the invention is to improve prevention or reduction of motion sickness.

The invention is based on the idea of providing an accessory that can be worn on the head, for example a headband, which can exert vibrations on the user's head. At this time, the vibration is modulated depending on a type or property of a movement applied to the user of the wearable accessory. The vibration is therefore not static but is dynamically adapted to a body movement of the user and/or to a movement of a vehicle or motor vehicle with which the user is moving. In other words, the vibration intensity and/or vibration frequency, for example, is matched or adapted to the (motor) vehicle movement or the body movement of the user, in particular to a head movement. The essence of the invention is situational and adaptive control of the vibration acting on the user's head, which is why the method according to the invention can also be referred to as a method for operating the accessory that can be worn on the head.

The situational control also increases the acceptance of the example headband, because it is much more pleasant to use than conventional vibrating headbands. The increased comfort means in particular that the vibration is not perceived as annoying when driving slowly, for example, and accordingly the "more harmonious stimulus" of the vibration results in significantly increased efficiency in preventing or reducing motion sickness. The combination of implementing a wearable head accessory that applies vibration to the user's head and adapting the vibration to movement synergistically results in significantly improved prevention and/or reduction of pre-existing motion sickness symptoms.

The method according to the invention for preventing and/or reducing motion sickness in a user while the user is wearing the accessory that can be worn on the head, for example a headband, is carried out by a control device. A control device is understood to mean a device, a device component or a device group which is designed to receive and evaluate signals and to generate control signals. The accessory that can be worn on the head has an actuator device, ie a device, a device component or a device group, which is/are also referred to as an “actuator”. which can be, which is or includes a technical drive unit, which converts an electrical signal from the control device into mechanical movement and/or changes in physical variables. The actuator device is designed to generate a tactile and/or haptic perceptible vibration.

The control device determines a movement of a motor vehicle assigned to the portable accessory, with which the user is moving, and/or a body movement of the user, in particular a head movement. For example, the portable accessory can be associated with a motor vehicle via an existing wireless or wired data communication connection, or if the control device recognizes the motor vehicle and/or the portable accessory. In order to determine the (motor) vehicle movement, for example, the control device can receive a vehicle movement signal, for example, which describes a movement of the motor vehicle, for example acceleration of the motor vehicle. For detecting movement of the user's body, for example the head, the wearable accessory may comprise a gyroscope, for example. The control device can optionally derive the movement of the motor vehicle on the basis of the head movement.

Depending on the detected body movement and/or the detected movement of the motor vehicle, the control device specifies a vibration pattern which can preferably describe a vibration intensity and/or a vibration frequency. In other words, the vibration pattern depends on some type or characteristic of the detected movement, for example an actual speed or acceleration. To specify the vibration pattern, for example, a vibration pattern can be created or selected that can be associated with the specific motion detected. The control device for specifying the vibration pattern can preferably calculate the vibration pattern on the basis of the vehicle movement and/or body movement determined and thereby adapt it to the movement determined.

The controller generates a vibration signal that describes the predetermined vibration pattern. The control device then transmits the generated vibration signal to the actuator device. As a result, the actuator device is controlled to generate a vibration with the specified vibration pattern.

The advantages described above result.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control device can determine a volume of an ambient noise, for example a noise of an interior and/or exterior environment of the motor vehicle assigned to the portable accessory. For this purpose, the control device can communicate with a microphone of the motor vehicle and/or with a microphone of the accessory, for example. The control device can then additionally specify the vibration pattern as a function of the volume determined, that is to say adapt it to the ambient noise. For example, if the motor vehicle is a very quiet motor vehicle or if driving noise is quieter due to low speed than when driving faster, the vibration strength can be reduced, for example, so that the vibration is “hidden” from the user's perception. While a very strong vibration with quiet driving noises is much more noticeable to the user and may even be annoying, regulating the vibration depending on the volume of the ambient noise makes the vibration less noticeable, i.e. less annoying. This significantly increases the efficiency of the vibration. If, at a different time, the user uses a different, louder motor vehicle than the quiet motor vehicle, the controller adapts the vibration to the different motor vehicle.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control device can determine a value which describes a movement of a longitudinal control of a motor vehicle used by the user, preferably a change in a speed of the motor vehicle. Depending on the determined value, the control device can then specify the vibration pattern that takes the determined value into account, ie adapt the vibration to, for example, the current speed of the motor vehicle or an acceleration of the motor vehicle. The vibration is dynamically adapted to the driving movement, so that the vibration is dosed according to the situation. The vibration is then much less annoying at lower speeds, but is still efficient. At higher speeds, the vibration can be dosed higher again. A compatibility of the implementation of the wearable accessory is thus significantly increased.

According to a development of the method according to the invention, the determined value can describe a braking of the motor vehicle, and the predefined vibration pattern can describe a reduction in the vibration strength and/or the vibration frequency. Alternatively or additionally, the determined value can describe a stopping of the motor vehicle, and the predetermined Vibration pattern to stop vibration. In this way, the vibration is better adapted to the situation without losing its effectiveness.

Thus, if the user uses the wearable accessory in the motor vehicle and stops the motor vehicle at a traffic light, the vibration can be switched off during the waiting time at the traffic light, for example. In other words, the vibration is dynamically adapted to the driving movement. This can be done analogously if the user uses the wearable accessory when walking. The vibration can thus be "hidden" better, i.e. it is less disturbing or hardly noticeable to the user. This further reinforces the advantages mentioned above.

The body movement and/or a vehicle movement can optionally take place as a live measurement, so the control device can continuously determine the current movement. Alternatively (or additionally), the control device can predict the body movement and/or the movement of the motor vehicle using map data and position data, the latter describing a current position of the user. The control device can preferably predict the movement of the motor vehicle using vehicle data, for example using control data from a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle that is controlled automatically. So while the control device and thus the wearable accessory reacts during a live measurement, the vibration can be controlled preventively, i.e. with foresight, before driving or walking into a curve, for example.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the detected movement can be a movement of the motor vehicle, ie a vehicle movement, for example when the user of the portable accessory is traveling in a car or on a train. For example, when the user is traveling on the train, motion sickness can be caused by the fact that the train is moving, but the table on the train where the user is sitting is not from the user's perspective.

The control device can then receive a vehicle movement signal, which describes the vehicle movement, from a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle assigned to the portable accessory, and the control device can determine the vehicle movement using the received vehicle movement signal. The vehicle movement signal can, for example, describe vehicle data or driving data, for example an acceleration, an intended longitudinal and/or lateral control of the motor vehicle, and/or a current longitudinal and/or lateral control of the vehicle. Although the additional body movement of the user in the motor vehicle can provide information about the movement of the vehicle, it may be negligible when driving the motor vehicle. The adaptation of the vibration is qualitatively better with this variant than with the detection of a body movement.

However, in order to also support a very sensitive person who is on foot or, for example, is sitting in a gondola that does not provide any driving data, another variant, which can optionally be combined with the previous variant, can provide that the control device receives a head movement signal from a movement detection device of the wearable accessory, which describes a head movement of the user detected by the movement detection device. The control device can then derive the body movement of the user and/or a vehicle movement based on the exemplary head movement that has been detected. A motion detection device is understood to mean a device, a device component or a device group which is designed to detect and/or recognize a motion detection device and for this purpose can comprise a gyroscope, for example. In this variant, which also makes sense when using the portable accessory without a motor vehicle, the portable accessory can preferably also include the control device.

The invention also includes the control device for a motor vehicle and/or for a portable accessory. The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device that is set up to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and/or at least one microcontroller and/or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Furthermore, the processor device can have a program code which is set up to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The control device can be designed, for example, as a control device or control chip, or as a user program. The advantages mentioned above result.

The object stated above is achieved by a motor vehicle which has an embodiment of the control device according to the invention. The advantages described above result. The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferred as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or designed as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

The above object is achieved by an accessory that can be worn on the head and has an embodiment of the control device according to the invention. The advantages described above result. The wearable accessory can preferably be designed as a cap, headband or glasses. The wearable accessory has an actuator device that is designed to generate a tactile and/or haptically perceptible vibration. For this purpose, the actuator device can comprise one or more ultrasonic actuators, for example.

In a preferred embodiment, the accessory that can be worn on the head can have a movement detection device, which is designed to detect a body or body part movement of a user of the wearable accessory, in particular a head movement. For this purpose, the motion detection device can have a gyroscope and/or an acceleration sensor, for example. In this embodiment, the control device is set up to receive a head movement signal from the movement detection device, which describes the detected body or body part movement, and to use the detected head movement to derive the vehicle movement, for example, or the body or body part movement. The advantages have already been mentioned above.

The invention also includes developments of the control device according to the invention, the motor vehicle according to the invention, and the portable accessory according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the control device according to the invention, the motor vehicle according to the invention, and the portable accessory according to the invention are not described again here.

The invention also includes the combinations of features of the described embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung zu einem Ausführungsbeispiel des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens und der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtungen, und
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung zu einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel des erfindungsgemäßen Accessoires und dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. For this shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention and the devices according to the invention, and
• 2 a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the accessories according to the invention and the method according to the invention.

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another and that each also develop the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is also intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention that have already been described.

In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

the 1 shows the principle of the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention using a first exemplary embodiment. The example of 1 shows a variant in which the wearable accessory 10 can be designed as a headband, for example, and can be used by a user (in 1 not shown) may be carried while driving a motor vehicle 12. The motor vehicle 12 may be, for example, a passenger car, a train, or a truck.

In a variant, the wearable accessory 10 can have a control device 14 . In another variant, which is also in the 1 is shown, the control device 14 can be a control device or an on-board computer of the motor vehicle 12, for example. However, it is also possible to use a portable accessory 10 with a control device 14 in a motor vehicle 12 which also has a corresponding control device 14 . The variant in which the control device 14 is a component of the portable accessory 10 is preferred.

The control device 14 can preferably have a processor device 16, for example a plurality of microprocessors and/or a data memory 18, which can have a program code for carrying out the method, for example.

The exemplary wearable accessory 10 of 1 has an actuator device 20, which can have, for example, a plurality of ultrasonic sensors. A suitable actuator device 20 for exerting a vibration is known to the person skilled in the art from the prior art. Alternatively, the actuator device 20, for example, a mechanical con structure, such as a quick tap on the head.

The actuator device 20 and the actuator device 20 communicate via a wireless or wired data communication connection 22, for example via a WLAN connection or a Bluetooth connection.

The wearable accessory 10 of 1 has no motion detection device 24 . Optionally, however, the portable accessory 10 of the motor vehicle 12 2 be used, which has such a motion detection device 24, for example a gyroscope or a group of gyroscopes. Optionally, the motion detection device 24 can be a component of the control device 14 . The motion detection device 24 can, for example, detect a change in location and/or position of the user's head, for example a bobbing of the head.

If the control device 14 is a control device of the motor vehicle 12 ( 1 ), the data communication can preferably take place via a wireless data communication link 22. If the control device 14 is a control device of the portable accessory 10 and is based on the movement of the vehicle, the control device 14 can communicate with a driver assistance system 26 of the motor vehicle 12 via a preferably wireless data communication connection 22, which in the example of 1 can be a component of the control device 14 .

In the example of 1 , in which the portable accessory 10 evaluates vehicle data of the motor vehicle 12, the control device 14 of the portable accessory 10 can receive vehicle data and/or driving data from the driver assistance system 26 (optional method step S1), for example data about an intended change of direction or a change in speed , in other words information about a current or future longitudinal and/or lateral control of motor vehicle 12.

The vehicle data can thus be evaluated, for example, to determine the motor vehicle movement (method step S2). To detect the user's body movement, data from the optional motion detection device 24 ( 2 ) are evaluated (S2). Depending on the detected movement, the control device 14 in the example 1 determines, for example, that motor vehicle 12 is moving and specifies a vibration pattern (S3) that describes a specified vibration frequency and/or a specified vibration strength. If the control device 14 then determines, for example, that the motor vehicle 12 is braking (S2), the vibration pattern can be modified and re-specified (S3), preferably such that the vibration frequency is reduced and/or the vibration strength is reduced.

The application of the vibration to the user's head is initiated by the control device 14 generating the vibration signal (S4) and transmitting it to the actuator device 20 (S5).

Optionally, the control device 14 can determine (S6), for example via a microphone of the portable accessory 10 and/or via a microphone 28 of the motor vehicle 12, that the motor vehicle 12 is generating driving noises at a specific volume. For example, a predetermined vibration intensity can be assigned to the determined volume, which the control device 14 then takes into account when specifying the vibration pattern (S3).

the 2 FIG. 12, as discussed above, shows an embodiment of the wearable accessory 10, which can be designed as a headband, for example, which embodiment can be used in a motor vehicle 12, or in a gondola, or if the user moves on foot. In the 2 an example is shown in which the wearable accessory 10 includes a motion detection device 24 .

Overall, the examples show how a method for sensor-controlled prevention of motion sickness caused by vibration can be provided.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the wearable accessory 10, for example a vibrating headband, can be connected to the vehicle data, for example (optional method step S1). The vibration intensity, for example a vibration intensity and/or a vibration frequency, can be dependent on the movement of motor vehicle 12 . In the case of stronger vehicle movements and accelerations, the intensity can be increased or reduced or interrupted in the case of minor movements or when stationary.

In the case of strong accelerations and movements of the motor vehicle 12, increased travel sickness is expected, which is reduced by the onset or increased vibration. When driving smoothly or when stationary, the vibration is reduced or stopped.

Instead of a headband, the vibration can also be generated by glasses, a baseball cap, a hat or the like.

In a preferred technical implementation, the exemplary vibrating headband can be networked with the motor vehicle 12 and can receive movement and/or acceleration values from the current driving status of the motor vehicle 12 .

The intensity of the vibration is preferably adapted to the respective acceleration. This is calculated by the headband or can be specified by motor vehicle 12 . The connection can be made, for example, via Bluetooth, W-LAN or another radio standard.

In another embodiment, separate acceleration sensors can be integrated in the headband or the control. This allows the headband to independently determine the current movement and control the intensity of the vibration accordingly.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102018008629 A1 [0004]
• DE 102014210170 A1 [0005]
• DE 102017223609 A1 [0006]

Claims (11)

Method for preventing and/or reducing motion sickness in a user while the user is wearing an accessory (10) that can be worn on the head, which accessory has an actuator device (20) that is designed to generate a tactile and/or haptically perceptible vibration; wherein a controller (14): - a body movement of the user and/or a movement of a motor vehicle (12) used by the user (S2); - Prescribes (S3) a vibration pattern as a function of the detected body movement and/or movement of the motor vehicle (12); - generates a vibration signal which describes the predetermined vibration pattern (S4); and - transmits (S5) the generated vibration signal to the actuator device (20) in order to control the actuator device (20) for generating the vibration with the specified vibration pattern. procedure after claim 1 , wherein the control device (14): - determines a volume of an ambient noise (S6), and - additionally specifies the vibration pattern as a function of the determined volume (S3). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (14): - determining a value describing (S2) a movement of a longitudinal control of a motor vehicle (12) used by the user, preferably a change in a speed of the motor vehicle (12); and - as a function of the determined value, specifies the vibration pattern (S3), which takes the determined value into account. procedure after claim 3 , wherein: - the ascertained value describes a braking of the motor vehicle (12), and the specified vibration pattern describes a reduction in the vibration strength and/or the vibration frequency; and/or - the ascertained value describes a stopping of the motor vehicle (12), and the predetermined vibration pattern describes a cessation of the vibration. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (14): - Predicts the body movement and/or movement of the motor vehicle (12) using map data and position data which describe a current position of the user; and or - Predicts the movement of the motor vehicle (12) on the basis of vehicle data. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detected movement is movement of the motor vehicle (12), and wherein the controller (14): - From a driver assistance system of the portable accessory (10) assigned to the motor vehicle (12) receives a vehicle movement signal that describes the vehicle movement and determines the vehicle movement based on the received vehicle movement signal (S2). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (14): - Receives a head movement signal from a movement detection device (24) of the portable accessory (10), which describes a detected head movement of the user, and uses the detected head movement to determine the body movement of the user (S2) and/or derives a vehicle movement. Control device (14) which is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle (12) according to a control device (14). claim 8 having. Accessory (10) that can be worn on the head, which has an actuator device (20) that is designed to generate a tactile and/or haptically perceptible vibration, and a control device (14). claim 8 . Head wearable accessory (10) after claim 10 comprising a movement detection device (24) which is designed to detect a body or body part movement of a user of the wearable accessory (10); wherein the control device (14) is set up to carry out the method claim 7 to perform.

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