Steering assistance systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148682-B2
Application number	US-201616468738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2016
Priority date	Dec 12, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

Example steering assistance systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a controller receives inputs from one or more sensors mounted to a vehicle. The controller processes the inputs from the one or more sensors to determine whether a steering change is needed. Responsive to determining that a steering change is needed, the controller provides a steering change recommendation to a driver of the vehicle via a physical rotation of the vehicle steering wheel in a recommended direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a controller, inputs from one or more sensors mounted to a vehicle;
processing, by the controller, the inputs from the one or more sensors to determine whether a steering change is needed;
providing, responsive to determining that a steering change is needed, a steering change recommendation to a driver of the vehicle via a physical rotation of the vehicle steering wheel in a recommended direction; and
generating, by the controller, an acceleration cue, wherein the acceleration cue is generated in response to a need for vehicle acceleration, wherein the acceleration cue recommends greater acceleration from the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the generation of the acceleration cue comprises moving the vehicle steering wheel from a default position, in a direction away from the driver of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical rotation of the steering wheel is in a counterclockwise direction if the steering change includes a turn to the left.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical rotation of the steering wheel is in a clockwise direction if the steering change includes a turn to the right.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a steering cue to turn left by generating a vibration in a left portion of the steering wheel.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a steering cue to turn right by generating a vibration in a right portion of the steering wheel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a greater steering wheel movement is allowed by the controller in response to a steering change recommendation, as compared to the steering wheel movement allowed in the absence of any steering change recommendations, and wherein the greater steering wheel movement is allowed to facilitate the implementation of the recommended steering change.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a deceleration cue generated by the controller, wherein the deceleration cue is generated in response to a need for vehicle braking, wherein the deceleration cue recommends braking from a-the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the generation of the deceleration cue comprises moving the vehicle steering wheel from a-the default position, in a direction towards the driver of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, implementing, by the controller, a situational awareness alert system based on inputs from the one or more sensors, wherein the situational awareness system alerts the driver of the vehicle about objects in the vicinity of the vehicle via vibrations generated in different portions of a driver's seat.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein an alert associated with an object at the rear of the vehicle is associated with a vibration generated in a back portion of the driver's seat.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein an alert associated with an object at the left of the vehicle is associated with a vibration generated in a bottom left portion of the driver's seat.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein an alert associated with an object at the right of the vehicle is associated with a vibration generated in a bottom right portion of the driver's seat.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein an alert associated with an object at the front of the vehicle is associated with a vibration generated in a back portion of the driver's seat, a vibration generated in a bottom left portion of the driver's seat, and a vibration generated in a bottom right portion of the driver's seat.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the situational awareness alert system is used to generate steering change recommendations to help guide the driver of the vehicle away from a potentially dangerous situation.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sensors mounted to a vehicle; and
a processing system configured to receive one or more inputs from the plurality of sensors, wherein the processing system is further configured to process the one or more inputs to determine whether a steering change is needed and accordingly provide a steering change recommendation to a driver of the vehicle via a physical rotation of the vehicle steering wheel in a recommended direction,
wherein the processing system is further configured to generate (i) an acceleration cue, wherein the acceleration cue is generated in response to a need for vehicle acceleration, wherein the acceleration cue recommends greater acceleration from the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the generation of the acceleration cue comprises moving the vehicle steering wheel from a default position, in a direction away from the driver of the vehicle, and/or (ii) a deceleration cue, wherein the deceleration cue is generated in response to a need for vehicle braking, wherein the deceleration cue recommends braking from the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the generation of the deceleration cue comprises moving the vehicle steering wheel from the default position, in a direction towards the driver of the vehicle.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the physical rotation of the steering wheel is in a counterclockwise direction if the steering change includes a turn to the left.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the physical rotation of the steering wheel is in a clockwise direction if the steering change includes a turn to the right.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is further configured to generate a steering cue to turn left by generating a vibration in a left portion of the steering wheel.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is further configured to generate a steering cue to turn right by generating a vibration in a right portion of the steering wheel.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a greater steering wheel movement is allowed in response to a steering change recommendation as compared to the steering wheel movement allowed in the absence of any steering change recommendations, and wherein the greater steering wheel movement is allowed to facilitate the implementation of the recommended steering change.

20. A method comprising:
receiving, at a controller, inputs from one or more sensors mounted to a vehicle;
processing, by the controller, the inputs from the one or more sensors to determine whether a steering change is needed;
providing, responsive to determining that a steering change is needed, a steering change recommendation to a driver of the vehicle via a physical rotation of the vehicle steering wheel in a recommended direction; and
generating, by the controller, a deceleration cue, wherein the deceleration cue is generated in response to a need for vehicle braking, wherein the deceleration cue recommends braking from the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the generation of the deceleration cue comprises moving the vehicle steering wheel from a default position, in a direction towards the driver of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Li Yuzhou
• Zhou Roy
• Inskeep Grant

Classifications

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title

• G09B19/167 Primary

  Control of land vehicles · CPC title

• B60W50/14 Primary

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• G01C21/3652

  Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli · CPC title

• B60W10/20

  including control of steering systems · CPC title