Honda filed 1 patent this quarter in the Hardware category.
The application describes a dongle system that converts a vehicle's physical controls, including the steering wheel and pedals, into controllers for virtual reality games while the EV is charging. This technology aims to repurpose existing vehicle interfaces for gaming during charging downtime.
Honda's single Hardware patent addresses the challenge of transforming vehicle downtime into entertainment opportunities. The system uses a dongle that connects through the vehicle's OBD port to intercept inputs from the steering wheel, pedals, and gear shifter, routing them to VR gaming applications instead of vehicle systems. A key safety feature ensures the vehicle's ignition remains disabled during gameplay, preventing any unintended vehicle operation. This approach eliminates the need for drivers to purchase separate racing wheel peripherals by leveraging the authentic controls already present in their vehicles.
All data sourced from USPTO patent filings. Google Patents may take several weeks to index recent publications. If a link is unavailable, search for the patent number at USPTO Patent Public Search.