Abstract: A system and method for providing haptic counteractions and alerts within a seat of a vehicle that include determining that at least one front seat passenger is occupying at least one front passenger seat and at least one rear seat passenger is occupying at least one rear passenger seat. The system and method also include determining a location of the at least one rear seat passenger with respect to a location of the at least one front seat passenger within the vehicle and determining if at least one disturbance is affecting the at least one front passenger seat. The system and method further include actuating at least one vibrational element to counteract the at least one disturbance affecting the at least one front passenger seat and to provide a reminder alert pertaining to the at least one rear seat passenger to the at least one front seat passenger.

Abstract: A system and method for providing haptic alerts within a vehicle that include receiving vehicle data associated with at least one vehicle warning. The system and method also include determining a severity associated with the at least one vehicle warning and determining a duration associated with the at least one vehicle warning. The system and method further include determining at least one haptic alert that corresponds to the severity and duration of the at least one vehicle warning and controlling at least one vibrational actuator to provide the at least one haptic alert based on the determined severity and duration of the at least one vehicle warning.

Abstract: A vehicle seat haptic system in a vehicle includes a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat including a plurality of actuators configured to generate a haptic output. The vehicle seat haptic system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of actuators. The controller is configured to determine an unauthorized entry event has occurred at the vehicle, detect the vehicle is operating, and control said plurality of actuators, in response to determining the unauthorized entry event has occurred, to generate an anti-theft haptic output across the vehicle seat. The anti-theft haptic output has at least one of a magnitude, distribution, and frequency that causes physical discomfort to a user of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A system and method for alleviating sensory conflict in a vehicle are provided. According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method for alleviating sensory conflict in a vehicle is provided. The method includes identifying a sensory conflict for a vehicle occupant based on a sensory event at a location. The method also includes determining an inurement action to alleviate an impact of the sensory conflict on the vehicle occupant. The method further includes determining an actuation schedule for performing the inurement action an N number of times for a predetermined amount of time. The method yet further includes controlling a haptic device to perform the inurement action according to the activation schedule in response to the vehicle occupant being located in a seat of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle seat haptic system in a vehicle includes a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat including a plurality of actuators configured to generate a haptic output. The vehicle seat haptic system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of actuators. The controller is configured to determine an unauthorized entry event has occurred at the vehicle, detect the vehicle is operating, and control said plurality of actuators, in response to determining the unauthorized entry event has occurred, to generate an anti-theft haptic output across the vehicle seat. The anti-theft haptic output has at least one of a magnitude, distribution, and frequency that causes physical discomfort to a user of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: Generally described, a vehicle occupant monitoring system with front and rear sensors that scan different sections or areas at different times within a vehicle is presented. A number of different sensors may be included that monitor the front row, second row, third row and rear storage of the vehicle. The system may deactivate the front and rear sensors when the vehicle is unlocked. The system may determine whether a rear door has been closed. If the rear door has not been opened, the rear sensors may remain inactive. However, and when the rear door has been closed, the system activates the rear sensors until the vehicle begins moving. A notification may be provided when an occupant has been detected by the rear sensors after the vehicle is placed in park. The front and rear sensors may be activated when the vehicle is locked.

Abstract: Vehicle attention systems and techniques may include using a first seat and first actuator, a second seat and second actuator, an image capture device, an image analyzer, a microphone, a voice analyzer, and a controller. The image capture device may capture an image of a seating arrangement of a vehicle. The image analyzer may be implemented via a processor and may identify a first occupant occupying the first seat of the vehicle and a second occupant occupying the second seat of the vehicle. The microphone may receive a sound sample. The voice analyzer may be implemented via the processor and may determine a target occupant and associated seat from among the first seat and the second seat based on the sound sample. The controller may activate the first actuator or the second actuator based on the determined target occupant and the determined associated seat.

Abstract: A vehicle system and related methods include a sensor, a vehicle computing device (VCD), and a haptic device. The sensor is operable to sense an occurrence or a non-occurrence of a predetermined in-vehicle event. The VCD is in communication with the sensor, and detects a communication signal sent to an in-vehicle mobile device that is capable of receiving the communication signal. The VCD is in communication with the haptic device to actuate the haptic device to provide a haptic signal. If the sensor senses the occurrence of the predetermined in-vehicle event, then the haptic device gives a haptic indication of the communication signal to the occupant. The predetermined in-vehicle event is thereby not interrupted by the haptic indication, and can proceed until the occupant chooses if and when to respond to the communication signal.

Abstract: Generally described, a vehicle occupant monitoring system with front and rear sensors that scan different sections or areas at different times within a vehicle is presented. A number of different sensors may be included that monitor the front row, second row, third row and rear storage of the vehicle. The system may deactivate the front and rear sensors when the vehicle is unlocked. The system may determine whether a rear door has been closed. If the rear door has not been opened, the rear sensors may remain inactive. However, and when the rear door has been closed, the system activates the rear sensors until the vehicle begins moving. A notification may be provided when an occupant has been detected by the rear sensors after the vehicle is placed in park. The front and rear sensors may be activated when the vehicle is locked.

Abstract: A system and method for counteracting vibrations within a vehicle that include determining a disposition of an occupant seated within a seat of the vehicle. The system and method also include determining at least one vibrational value associated with at least one vibration affecting the seat of the vehicle and determining at least one counteractive vibrational value and at least one vibrational element located within the seat of the vehicle to be actuated. The system and method further include actuating the at least one vibrational element to counteract the at least one vibration affecting the seat of the vehicle based on the at least one counteractive vibrational value.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring a plurality of system inputs, and detecting a behavioral pattern performed by a user and associated with the plurality of system inputs, When the behavioral pattern is detected, the method includes associating, in a memory, a gesture with at least one action, the at least one action being determined by the plurality of system inputs, and, upon detecting the gesture, executing the action associated with the gesture.

Abstract: A system and method for providing rear seat monitoring within a vehicle that include activating a vehicle camera system to capture images of at least one rear seat of the vehicle. The system and method also include determining if at least one rear seat passenger is located within the at least one rear seat of the vehicle. The system and method additionally include determining that an ignition of the vehicle is disabled. The system and method further include providing at least one type of alert upon determining that the ignition of the vehicle is disabled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a front passenger seat in a motor vehicle includes the steps of identifying a user identification apparatus proximate to the motor vehicle, and accessing a user profile associated with the user identification apparatus. The user profile includes a predetermined home position for the front passenger seat. If the front passenger seat is unoccupied, the position of the front passenger seat is adjusted to the predetermined home position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing visual notifications in the peripheral vision of a driver. The system includes a memory that stores instructions for executing processes for providing visual notifications in the peripheral vision of a driver. The system also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions. The instructions cause the processor to: generate a notification based on an output of a driver assistance system, with the output being generated based on one or more objects detected by a sensor of a vehicle or based on a navigational database of the vehicle; and illuminate an indicator embedded in a top portion of a dashboard of the vehicle for providing the notification in the peripheral vision of the driver.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to providing a notification of a presence of an occupant in a vehicle before arriving at a destination. In an illustrative embodiment, the vehicle may include a location system for tracking routes taken or traveled by the vehicle. The vehicle may include a detection system for determining whether the occupant is in the vehicle along those routes traveled by the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a notification system. The notification system may store the routes traveled by the vehicle with and without the occupant in the vehicle. The notification system may provide a notification when a route is taken with the occupant and the route is not associated with the occupant based on the historical patterns of the routes traveled by vehicle with and without the occupant.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting seatbelt position in a vehicle having a seat, a seatbelt assembly, and an image sensor is disclosed. The method includes determining a latch status of the seatbelt assembly, taking an image of the seat with the image sensor, determining a position of the seat from the image, and displaying the position of the seat on a display and a seatbelt unlatched warning. The seat belt latch alert system for a vehicle includes a first row of seats, a second row of seats movable between a plurality of positions, a seatbelt assembly connected to each seat having a latch configured to be latched and unlatched, an image sensor taking images of the seat if the latch is unlatched, a processor for determining a position of the seat from the image, and a display for displaying the positions of the seat and a seatbelt unlatched warning.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to providing a notification of a presence of an occupant in a vehicle before arriving at a destination. In an illustrative embodiment, the vehicle may include a location system for tracking routes taken or traveled by the vehicle. The vehicle may include a detection system for determining whether the occupant is in the vehicle along those routes traveled by the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a notification system. The notification system may store the routes traveled by the vehicle with and without the occupant in the vehicle. The notification system may provide a notification when a route is taken with the occupant and the route is not associated with the occupant based on the historical patterns of the routes traveled by vehicle with and without the occupant.

Abstract: A system and method for removing false positives during determination of a presence of at least one rear seat passenger of a vehicle that include activating an image system to capture images of rear seats of the vehicle to determine the presence of the at least one rear seat passenger. The system and method additionally include deactivating the image system to cease capturing images of the rear seats of the vehicle. The system and method also include reactivating the image system to capture images of the rear seats of the vehicle to determine the presence of the at least one rear seat passenger. The system and method further include presenting a user interface notification that includes a video feed of the rear seats of the vehicle based on the determined presence of the at least one rear seat passenger.

Abstract: A system and method for providing rear seat monitoring within a vehicle that include activating a vehicle camera system to capture images of at least one rear seat of the vehicle. The system and method also include determining if at least one rear seat passenger is located within the at least one rear seat of the vehicle. The system and method additionally include determining that an ignition of the vehicle is disabled. The system and method further include providing at least one type of alert upon determining that the ignition of the vehicle is disabled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a front passenger seat in a motor vehicle includes the steps of identifying a user identification apparatus proximate to the motor vehicle, and accessing a user profile associated with the user identification apparatus. The user profile includes a predetermined home position for the front passenger seat. If the front passenger seat is unoccupied, the position of the front passenger seat is adjusted to the predetermined home position.