Driving support device including a cleaning device for cleanining a window portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11001270-B2
Application number	US-201916373936-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2019
Priority date	Apr 6, 2018
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A driving support device includes an electric control unit and a cleaning device. The electric control unit is configured to select one mode of a first mode based on a premise that a driver is touching a steering wheel and a second mode not based on the premise that the driver is touching the steering wheel. The electric control unit is configured to permit cleaning of the cleaning device when a cleaning request is issued and the mode is the first mode and to prohibit cleaning of the cleaning device when the mode is the second mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driving support device comprising:
a first detection unit including a first sensor and a camera configured to detect vehicle-surroundings information on vehicle surroundings using light or radio waves passing through a window portion;
a second detection unit including a second sensor configured to detect state information of a driver on a driver's state;
an electric control unit configured to perform steering support control to change a steering angle of a vehicle such that the vehicle travels along a target traveling line which is set based on the vehicle-surroundings information; and
a cleaning device configured to perform cleaning by spraying at least one of a cleaning fluid and air onto the window portion when a cleaning request is issued, wherein
the electric control unit is further configured to:
select at least one of the following modes for a steering support control: (i) a first mode in which steering support control is executed based on a premise that the driver is touching a steering wheel, and (ii) a second mode in which steering support control is executed that is not based on the premise that the driver is touching the steering wheel and is based on the vehicle-surroundings information,
operate in the selected mode, and
permit cleaning by the cleaning device when the cleaning request is issued during execution of the steering support control and the selected mode of the steering support control is the first mode, and prohibit cleaning by the cleaning device when the cleaning request is issued during execution of the steering support control and the selected mode of the steering support control is the second mode.

2. The driving support device according to claim 1 , wherein the electric control unit is configured to determine whether the driver is touching the steering wheel based on the state information of the driver when the selected mode of the steering support control is the first mode and the cleaning request is issued and to cause the cleaning device to perform cleaning when it is determined that the driver is touching the steering wheel.

3. The driving support device according to claim 1 , wherein the electric control unit is configured to switch the mode of the steering support control from the second mode to the first mode when the selected mode of the steering support control is the second mode and the cleaning request is issued.

4. The driving support device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the electric control unit is configured to calculate and store a steering control value for causing the vehicle travels along the target traveling line whenever a predetermined time elapses in a period other than a cleaning period from a time point at which cleaning by the cleaning device is started to a time point at which the cleaning is ended when the mode of the steering support control is the first mode and to change the steering angle of the vehicle based on the steering control value; and
the electric control unit is configured to change the steering angle of the vehicle based on the steering control value stored immediately before the time point at which the cleaning is started in the cleaning period.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Dakemoto Masumi

Classifications

• B60W2540/00

  Input parameters relating to occupants · CPC title

• B60W10/30

  including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps · CPC title

• B60S1/56 Primary

  specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)} · CPC title

• B60W2710/20

  Steering systems · CPC title

• B60S1/46

  using liquid; Windscreen washers · CPC title