Method for occupant protection of a motor vehicle comprising a steer-by-wire steering system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11273780-B2
Application number	US-201916962369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2019
Priority date	Jan 31, 2018
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a vehicle occupant protection device of a steer-by-wire steering system. The system includes a steering wheel and an adjustable steering column connected to the steering wheel which can be adjusted between a retracted position and a deployed position via an adjustment mechanism. The steer-by-wire steering system has a feedback actuator to which a driver's request for a steering angle can be applied by a driver via the steering wheel, and which outputs a feedback signal to the steering wheel in response to the driver's request and a driving state of the motor vehicle. The method includes detecting an accident, detecting a hands-off situation or a hands-on situation, and when a hands-off situation has been detected, moving the steering column into an accident position by means of the adjustment mechanism, and triggering a steering wheel airbag during or after the adjustment process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a vehicle occupant protection device of a steer-by-wire steering system, wherein the steer-by-wire steering system comprises a steering wheel and an adjustable steering column connected to the steering wheel and is configured to adjust between a retracted position and a deployed position via an adjustment mechanism, and wherein the steer-by-wire steering system has a feedback actuator to which a request for a steering angle can be applied via the steering wheel, the feedback actuator configured to output a feedback signal to the steering wheel in response to the request and a driving state of the motor vehicle, the method comprising:
detecting an accident,
detecting a hands-off situation or a hands-on situation, and
when a hands-off situation has been detected, moving the steering column into an accident position via the adjustment mechanism and triggering a steering wheel airbag during or after the adjustment process and rotating of the steering wheel into an advantageous rotational position via the feedback actuator.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:
when a hands-on situation has been detected after detection of an accident, triggering the steering wheel airbag in the current position of the steering column.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the accident position comprises the retracted position of the steering column.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the detected accident is a vehicle head-on impact.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the advantageous rotational position is a neutral position of the steering wheel.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:
absorbing energy input into the steering wheel when the driver impacts against the steering wheel via an energy absorption device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism has an electric motor with a threaded rod drive which shifts an inner steering column tube of the steering column with respect to an outer steering column tube of the steering column.

8. A steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
an electronically controllable steering actuator which acts on steered wheels,
a feedback actuator to which a request for a steering angle can be applied via a steering wheel and which outputs a feedback signal to the steering wheel in response to the request and a driving state of the motor vehicle, and
an adjustable steering column which is configured to adjust between a retracted position and a deployed position via an adjustment mechanism,
wherein the steer-by-wire steering system is configured to carry out the method of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Horvath Gergely

Classifications

• B62D1/181 Primary

  with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory · CPC title

• B62D1/11

  incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible (padded linings associated with the steering wheel B60R21/05; shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12) · CPC title

• B60R21/013 Primary

  including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over · CPC title

• B62D5/04

  electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear · CPC title

• B62D1/197

  incorporating devices for preventing ingress of the steering column into the passengers space in case of accident · CPC title