SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING A KINETOSIS EFFECT IN AT LEAST ONE PASSENGER OF AN VEHICLE

Abstract

A system for reducing a kinetosis effect in at least one passenger of a vehicle comprises at least one set of headphones having two loudspeakers and at least one first ear bud, wherein the at least one set of headphones is designed, at least by means of a sensor device integrated in the first ear bud, to detect the kinetosis effect in the auditory canal of the respective passenger via measurement of the body temperature and to provide acoustic signals by means of the two loudspeakers in order to reduce the kinetosis effect of the passenger depending on the kinetosis effect detected. Forces acting on the passenger and their countenance can also be measured.

Claims

1. A system for reducing a kinetosis effect in at least one passenger of a vehicle, comprising at least one set of headphones having two loudspeakers and having at least one first earplug, wherein the at least one set of headphones is configured to detect the kinetosis effect in the auditory canal of the respective passenger at least by means of a sensor device integrated in the first earplug and to provide acoustic signals to reduce the kinetosis effect of the respective passenger by means of the two loudspeakers in dependence on the detected kinetosis effect.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one first sensor, which is configured to detect a body temperature in the auditory canal or at the eardrum of the respective passenger.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one second sensor, which is configured to detect changes in the auditory canal of the respective passenger.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one gyrometer and at least one accelerometer, which are configured to detect forces acting on the respective passenger during the operation of the vehicle.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one set of headphones comprises a second earplug.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor device is at least partially also arranged in the second earplug.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one set of headphones comprises a processing unit, which is configured to calculate the kinetosis effect of the respective passenger at least on the basis of sensor data of the sensor device.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective earplug is configured to close the respective auditory canal of the respective passenger.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective earplug comprises a venting unit.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a control and evaluation unit, which is configured to be connected to the at least one set of headphones for data transmission.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to detect a health status of the respective passenger at least via the received sensor data relating to the kinetosis effect of the respective passenger.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to be connected to a display and control system of the vehicle for data transmission.

13. A method for operating a system for reducing a kinetosis effect as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the kinetosis effect is detected in the auditory canal of a respective passenger by means of a sensor device, which is integrated in at least one first earplug of a set of headphones, wherein acoustic signals for reducing the kinetosis effect of the respective passenger are provided in dependence on the detected kinetosis effect by means of loudspeakers integrated in the headphones.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein forces acting on the respective passenger during the operation of the vehicle are detected by means of at least one gyrometer and at least one accelerometer, wherein the acoustic signals for reducing the kinetosis effect of the respective passenger are also generated in dependence on these forces.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, or wherein a threshold value for the detected kinetosis effect of the respective passenger is set by the respective passenger, wherein acoustic signals for reducing the kinetosis effect of the respective passenger are only provided after exceeding the threshold value.

Description

[0026] One preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of the two figures, wherein identical or similar elements are provided with the same reference signs. In the figures

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a greatly simplified schematic illustration of a vehicle having a passenger and a system according to the invention for reducing a kinetosis effect in the passenger, and

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a greatly simplified schematic illustration of a set of headphones of the system according to the invention according to FIG. 1.

[0029] A vehicle 2 is shown in FIG. 1, wherein a passenger 1 is seated on a vehicle seat 11 in a passenger compartment of the vehicle 2 and wears a set of headphones 3. The set of headphones 3 is shown enlarged, but greatly simplified, in FIG. 2. The set of headphones 3 is part of a system according to the invention for reducing a kinetosis effect in the passenger 1. In the present case, the vehicle 2 is designed as an autonomously driving vehicle 2 and is operated via a display and control system 10.

[0030] According to FIG. 2, the set of headphones 3 comprises first and second loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2, which are connected to one another via a headband 12 and are configured to press against the ears of the passenger 1 and play back music. Furthermore, the set of headphones 3 has a first and second earplug 4.1, 4.2, which are formed in the present case centrally in the region of the loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 on the set of headphones 3. A part of a sensor device 5 is integrated in the first and second earplugs 4.1, 4.2, which can detect the kinetosis effect in the auditory canal of the passenger 1, in order to provide acoustic signals for reducing the kinetosis effect via the two loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 if a threshold value for the kinetosis effect of the passenger 1 is exceeded.

[0031] A first sensor 5.1 of the sensor device 5 is arranged in the first earplug 4.1 and detects a body temperature in the auditory canal or at the eardrum of the passenger 1. A second sensor 5.2 of the sensor device 5 is arranged in the second earplug 4.2 and detects changes in the auditory canal of the passenger 1, which result from a change of his facial expression. To carry out a more precise measurement, the respective earplug 4.1, 4.2 is configured to close the respective auditory canal of the passenger 1, wherein the respective earplug 4.1, 4.2 has a venting unit 8.1, 8.2 in order to prevent a pressure buildup in the auditory canal.

[0032] Furthermore, the sensor device 5 also comprises a gyrometer 5.3 and an accelerometer 5.4, which are integrated in the set of headphones 3 and detect forces acting on the passenger 1 during the operation of the vehicle 2. Furthermore, the set of headphones 3 has a processing unit 7, which can process all sensor data of the sensor device 5 to calculate the kinetosis effect of the passenger 1 precisely.

[0033] A control and evaluation unit 9 is also part of the system according to the invention and is executed as an application on a smart phone 13 of the passenger 1. The control and evaluation unit 9 is configured to be wirelessly connected to the set of headphones 3 for data transmission. Furthermore, the control and evaluation unit 9 is also configured to detect a health status of the passenger 1 via the received sensor data relating to the kinetosis effect of the passenger 1 and to transmit a discomfort to the display and control system 10 of the vehicle 2, in order to adjust the driving style of the vehicle 2 and thus relieve the kinetosis effects in the passenger 1.

[0034] The kinetosis effect is thus detected in the auditory canal of the passenger 1 by means of the first and second sensor 5.1, 5.2 of the sensor device 5, wherein acoustic signals for reducing the kinetosis effect are provided via the loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 in dependence on the detected kinetosis effect and in dependence on sensor data of the gyrometer 5.3 and the accelerometer 5.4. The passenger 1 can set a threshold value for the detected kinetosis effect via an input at the control and evaluation unit 9, wherein the acoustic signals for reducing the kinetosis effect are only provided upon exceeding the threshold value. If the control and evaluation unit 9 detects a disadvantageous development of the kinetosis effects in the passenger 1 upon evaluation of the sensor data, auditory countermeasures are automatically taken in that the loudspeakers 6.1, 6.2 are activated to play back tones and/or frequencies which cause the passenger 1 to feel orientation and an expanded sense of comfort, so that the kinetosis effects are relieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 passenger [0036] 2 vehicle [0037] 3 headphones [0038] 4.1 first earplug [0039] 4.2 second earplug [0040] 5 sensor device [0041] 5.1 first sensor [0042] 5.2 second sensor [0043] 5.3 gyrometer [0044] 5.4 accelerometer [0045] 6.1 first loudspeaker [0046] 6.2 second loudspeaker [0047] 7 processing unit [0048] 8.1 first venting unit [0049] 8.2 second venting unit [0050] 9 control and evaluation unit [0051] 10 display and control systems [0052] 11 vehicle seat [0053] 12 headband [0054] 13 smart phone