Vehicle Driver Nudge System

Abstract

A vehicle intent indication system includes a sensor, a display, and a controller. The sensor is configured to detect an object in an operating environment of a vehicle. The display is configured to display a pattern visible to a person in the operating environment of the vehicle. The display includes light emitting components configured to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern. The controller is configured to receive information from the sensor indicating that the object has been detected in the operating environment and to cause the light emitting components to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern in response to receiving the information from the sensor. The pattern in configured to inform the person in the operating environment of the vehicle of an intent of the vehicle to perform a driving maneuver.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle intent indication system, comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect an object in an operating environment of a vehicle;   a display configured to display a pattern visible to a person in the operating environment of the vehicle, the display comprising light emitting components configured to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern; and   a controller configured to:
 receive information from the sensor indicating that the object has been detected in the operating environment; and 
 in response to receiving the information from the sensor, cause the light emitting components to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern, 
   wherein the pattern is configured to inform the person in the operating environment of the vehicle of an intent of the vehicle to perform a driving maneuver.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , wherein the pattern comprises one or more words that describe the driving maneuver. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , wherein the pattern comprises an arrow that indicates a direction of the driving maneuver. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , wherein the driving maneuver is a future parking maneuver. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , wherein the object detected by the sensor is the person in the operating environment of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , wherein:
 the sensor is further configured to determine a location of the object relative to the vehicle, and   the controller is configured to cause the light emitting components to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern based on the location of the object relative to the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , further comprising:
 an input device configured to receive inputs from a user of the vehicle,   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive information from the input device associated with the inputs from the user; and 
 cause the light emitting components to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern based on the information from the input device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , further comprising:
 an audio emitter configured to emit a sound audible to the person in the operating environment of the vehicle,   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 in response to receiving the information from the sensor, cause the audio emitter to emit the sound, and 
   wherein the sound is configured to further inform the person in the operating environment of the vehicle of the intent of the vehicle to perform the driving maneuver.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  8 , wherein the sound comprises one or more words that describe the driving maneuver. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle intent indication system of claim  1 , further comprising:
 a laser emitter configured to emit a laser pattern onto a ground around the vehicle,   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 in response to receiving the information from the sensor, cause the laser emitter to emit the laser pattern, and 
   wherein the laser pattern is configured to further inform the person in the operating environment of the vehicle of the intent of the vehicle to perform the driving maneuver.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle intent indication system of  claim 10 , wherein the laser pattern comprises one or more words that describe the driving maneuver. 
     
     
         21 . The vehicle intent indication system of  claim 10 , wherein the laser pattern comprises an arrow that indicates a direction of the driving maneuver. 
     
     
         22 . A vehicle intent indication system, comprising:
 a sensor configured to monitor an operating environment of a vehicle;   a digital display configured to display a pattern visible to a person in the operating environment, the digital display comprising light emitting components configured to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern; and   a controller configured to:
 determine a trajectory of the vehicle; 
 determine whether an object is within the trajectory of the vehicle based on information received from the sensor; and 
 in response to determining that the object is within the trajectory of the vehicle, cause the light emitting components to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern, 
   wherein the pattern is configured to inform the person in the operating environment of an intent of the vehicle to perform a driving maneuver.   
     
     
         23 . The vehicle intent indication system of  claim 13 , wherein the driving maneuver is a maneuver where the vehicle continues on the trajectory of the vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicle intent indication system of  claim 13 , wherein the pattern comprises one or more words that describe the driving maneuver. 
     
     
         25 . The vehicle intent indication system of  claim 13 , wherein the pattern comprises an arrow that indicates a direction of the driving maneuver. 
     
     
         26 . The vehicle intent indication system of  claim 13 , wherein the object within the trajectory of the vehicle is the person in the operating environment. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicle intent indication system of  claim 13 , wherein the light emitting components are laser emitters that are configured to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern on a ground of the operating environment of the vehicle. 
     
     
         28 . A vehicle, comprising:
 an input device configured to receive inputs from a user of the vehicle corresponding to an intended driving maneuver of the vehicle;   a display disposed on an exterior of the vehicle and configured to display a pattern visible to a person in an exterior environment of the vehicle, the display comprising a light emitting component configured to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern;   an audio emitter configured to emit a sound audible to the person in the exterior environment of the vehicle; and   a controller configured to:
 identify an intended driving maneuver of the vehicle; 
 selectively illuminate the light emitting component to display the pattern based on the intended driving maneuver of the vehicle; and 
 emit the sound based on the intended driving maneuver of the vehicle, 
   wherein the pattern and the sound are configured to inform the person in the exterior environment of the intended driving maneuver of the vehicle, and   wherein the display is distinct from a turn signal of the vehicle.   
     
     
         29 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the light emitting component includes a laser emitter that is configured to be selectively illuminated to display the pattern on a ground of the exterior environment of the vehicle.