GB2499362A - Driving instruction method and means - Google Patents

Driving instruction method and means Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2499362A
GB2499362A GB1119895.9A GB201119895A GB2499362A GB 2499362 A GB2499362 A GB 2499362A GB 201119895 A GB201119895 A GB 201119895A GB 2499362 A GB2499362 A GB 2499362A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
display unit
driving instruction
instruction apparatus
control unit
dashboard
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1119895.9A
Other versions
GB201119895D0 (en
GB2499362B (en
Inventor
David Dredge
David Christopher Light
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB1119895.9A priority Critical patent/GB2499362B/en
Publication of GB201119895D0 publication Critical patent/GB201119895D0/en
Publication of GB2499362A publication Critical patent/GB2499362A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2499362B publication Critical patent/GB2499362B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B19/00—Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass
    • G09B19/16—Control of vehicles or other craft
    • G09B19/167—Control of land vehicles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B9/00—Simulators for teaching or training purposes
    • G09B9/02—Simulators for teaching or training purposes for teaching control of vehicles or other craft
    • G09B9/04—Simulators for teaching or training purposes for teaching control of vehicles or other craft for teaching control of land vehicles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B19/00—Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass
    • G09B19/16—Control of vehicles or other craft
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B21/00—Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute
    • G09B21/009—Teaching or communicating with deaf persons

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Educational Administration (AREA)
  • Educational Technology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)

Abstract

The invention provides an improved apparatus and method for providing instructions to a driver from a passenger comprising a display unit mountable upon a dashboard of a vehicle beneath a windscreen of the vehicle and configured such that light from the display unit is angled so that it is directed toward the windscreen to be reflected to the driver, a control unit comprising a joystick which may be used to select an image to be conveyed by the display unit and a cable or wireless means for interconnecting the control unit to the display unit for transmission of data from the control unit to the display unit. The display may be illuminated and comprise an array of LEDs, arranged such that sections of the array may be illuminated to form desired symbols.

Description

1
DRIVING INSTRUCTION METHOD AND MEANS Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of providing driving instruction, and to a means for carrying out such method, for learner drivers who are deaf.
The provision of instruction to learner drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing has traditionally relied upon the use of hand signals or printed signs/cue cards. These can be distracting and remove the learner's attention from the road.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of instructing learner drivers and to provide improved means for this purpose.
Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of instructing a learner driver which includes providing a display in the line of sight of the driver and operating a control unit so as to determine the image or images forming the display.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there ius provided means for instructing a learner driver comprising means for
2
generating a display in the line of sight of the driver and a control unit that can be operated so as to determine the image or images forming the display.
The present invention thus overcomes the problems previously encountered by driving instructors or driving test examiners when giving instructions to a learner driver who is deaf or hard of hearing by presenting the instructions without using voice or hand communication by means of a set of symbols to the learner using the display controlled by the driving instructor or examiner.
The display is preferably illuminated and is viewed by the learner as a reflection in the vehicle's windscreen. This allows instructions to be conveyed to the learner within the learner's line of sight so that their attention can remain on the road.
The information conveyed by the display is selected by the driving instructor or examiner using the control unit. The control unit's most common functions may be operated using a joystick on the control unit and these may be supplemented with push button controls for the lesser used functions. The control unit may alternatively (or additionally) be arranged for operation by spoken audible voice commands.
The display may be created using an array of light-emitting diodes contained within a display unit and the light from the display unit
3
may be angled towards the vehicle's windscreen while the display unit lies flat on the vehicle's dashboard.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a possible array of light-emitting diodes,
Figure 2 shows examples of the symbols that can be formed by the array, together with descriptions of the meanings of the symbols,
Figure 3 shows a display unit, and
Figure 4 shows the layout of a control unit.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The preferred embodiment of the invention consists of two parts, namely a display unit and a control unit. Data is transmitted to the display unit either by an interconnecting cable or by wireless means. The display unit comprises an array of light-emitting diodes arranged so that sections of the array may be illuminated to form the desired symbols. Figure 1 shows the suggested formation of the array and Figure 2 shows examples of the symbols which can be formed by the array along with descriptions of their meaning.
Figure 3 shows the enclosure for the display unit. The enclosure is predominantly matt black with the LED's mounted behind matt
4
windows so that they are not readily visible until illuminated. In Figure 3, "a" is the display area. The display unit is mounted upon the vehicle dashboard beneath the windscreen so that the illuminated symbols appear within the driver's line of sight. In Figure 3, "b" is a resilient flexible sheet attached to the display unit enclosure and this can be formed to the contour of the vehicle's dashboard, it is then fixed to the dashboard using self-adhesive hook and loop material thus permitting the display unit to be removed when required.
In the preferred embodiment, the light from the LED's is angled so that it is directed towards the windscreen whilst the enclosure is flat on the dashboard. This ensures that the learner is not distracted with a direct view of the display and that the reflection from the windscreen towards the learner is at the maximum intensity. The light from the LED's may be angled by the positioning of the LED's at an angle or using optical methods.
A means of adjusting the brightness of the LED's can be provided so that the brightness can be increased to maintain contrast in bright sunlight or reduced for night-time use.
In the preferred embodiment, the control unit comprises a joystick which allows the instructor to select the desired symbols without taking his or her attention away from the road. A small number of push buttons can be used in conjunction with the joystick to supplement the joystick control. In Figure 4, the arrows around the joystick illustrate the joysticks possible directions of movement and Figure 2 describes, in
5
brackets, how to select the illustrated symbols using the control unit. The display can be cleared at any time by pulling the joystick back. A 'roundabout' push button mounted on the joystick handle allows selection of which exit to take from a roundabout by pressing it multiple times, once for first exit, twice for second exit and so on.
A strap connected to the control unit allows the control unit to be attached to the instructor's leg to allow easy single-handed operation of the control unit.
As an alternative to the instructor using a hand-operated control unit for selecting the required display, the display can be selected using a set of spoken voice commands. These commands can be received by a microphone and decoded to provide the required outputs to produce the appropriate symbols on the display unit.
6

Claims (1)

1. Driving instruction apparatus, for providing instructions to a driver, the driving instruction apparatus comprising:
5 a display unit mountable upon a dashboard of a vehicle beneath a windscreen of the vehicle, and configured such that light from the display unit is angled so that it is directed toward the windscreen to be reflected to the driver, when the enclosure is mounted upon the dashboard;
a control unit comprising a joystick for selecting an image to be conveyed by the 10 display unit; and a cable or wireless means for interconnecting the control unit to the display unit for transmission of data from the control unit to the display unit.
2. The driving instruction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is illuminated.
3. The driving instruction apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the display unit is configured such that light from the display unit is angled so that it is viewable only indirectly by the driver and is reflected by the windscreen to the driver at a maximum intensity, when the enclosure is mounted upon the dashboard.
4. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the display unit comprises an array of light emitting diodes, arranged so that sections of the array may be illuminated to form desired symbols.
25 5. The driving instruction apparatus of claim 4, wherein the display unit comprises means of adjusting the brightness of the light emitting diodes.
6. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the display unit is removably mountable upon the dashboard.
30
7. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the display unit is fixed to the dashboard using self-adhesive hook and loop material.
15
CM
CD
20
7
8. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the display unit comprises a resilient flexible sheet that is configured to contour to the dashboard.
9. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the display 5 unit comprises a matt black enclosure, and the display unit is configured such that light from the display unit passes through a matt window in the enclosure.
10. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the control unit further comprises a strap for attachment of the control unit to a leg, to allow single-
10 handed operation of the control unit.
11. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the control unit further comprises push button controls.
15 12. The driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the control unit is arranged for operation by spoken audible voice commands.
13. The driving instruction apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A method of providing instructions to a driver, comprising:
providing the driving instruction apparatus of any preceding claim;
mounting the display unit upon the dashboard beneath a windscreen;
selecting an image to be conveyed to the display unit using the joystick, push button controls and/or spoken audible voice commands;
transmitting data corresponding to the selected image to the display unit; and generating an image in the line of sight of the driver.
CD
20
25
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the brightness of the light 30 emitting diodes.
16. The method of claim 14 or claim 15, further comprising attaching the control unit to a leg.
8
17. The method of any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising pressing the push button control multiple times to select an image.
GB1119895.9A 2011-11-18 2011-11-18 Driving instruction method and means Expired - Fee Related GB2499362B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1119895.9A GB2499362B (en) 2011-11-18 2011-11-18 Driving instruction method and means

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1119895.9A GB2499362B (en) 2011-11-18 2011-11-18 Driving instruction method and means

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201119895D0 GB201119895D0 (en) 2011-12-28
GB2499362A true GB2499362A (en) 2013-08-21
GB2499362B GB2499362B (en) 2016-07-27

Family

ID=45444309

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1119895.9A Expired - Fee Related GB2499362B (en) 2011-11-18 2011-11-18 Driving instruction method and means

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2499362B (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3594920A (en) * 1968-07-11 1971-07-27 Thomas J Kordewick Driving instruction for persons with a hearing handicap
GB2290903A (en) * 1994-06-30 1996-01-10 Cherie Wendy Goode Driving aid
US5841373A (en) * 1994-07-05 1998-11-24 Mason; Donny L. Simplified alphabetic communicator for handicapped or infirmed persons

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3594920A (en) * 1968-07-11 1971-07-27 Thomas J Kordewick Driving instruction for persons with a hearing handicap
GB2290903A (en) * 1994-06-30 1996-01-10 Cherie Wendy Goode Driving aid
US5841373A (en) * 1994-07-05 1998-11-24 Mason; Donny L. Simplified alphabetic communicator for handicapped or infirmed persons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201119895D0 (en) 2011-12-28
GB2499362B (en) 2016-07-27

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20171118