Method and system for stowing steering column in an autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016121918-A1
Application number	US-201614991535-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A stowing steering column is provided for use with an autonomous vehicle that is capable of traveling at a slower rate of speed and a higher rate of speed, depending on the situation. a high range of travel at a high rate of speed. The slower speed, that of about 20 mm/sec, is the “standard” speed that is utilized during regular stowage and unstowage of the steering wheel under ordinary conditions. The higher rate of speed is necessary in a situation where a possible impact event is sensed and the steering wheel must be extended back to the original design intent position in case the airbags need to be deployed or the vehicle operator needs to over-ride the system for an evasive maneuver. The slower rate of speed is preferably about 20 mm/sec while the higher rate of speed is preferably about 40 mm/sec.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle, the column comprising:
a bracket; a sleeve attached to said bracket; a steering column shaft movably attached to said sleeve, said shaft being movable from a stowed position to an extended position at high or low travel rates; and a crash avoidance sensor operatively associated with said shaft, said sensor including a signal generator to generate a high speed travel signal to said shaft.

2 . The axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 wherein said high travel rate is about 40 mm/sec and said low travel rate is about 20 mm/sec.

3 . The axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 wherein said steering column shaft has a stowing range of travel between about +90 mm and +110 mm from mid-line.

4 . The axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is a steering column sleeve and wherein said column further includes a motor for axially adjusting said steering column shaft relative to said sleeve.

5 . The axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 whereby said sleeve is pivotably attached to said bracket.

6 . The axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 further including a steering column support extending from said bracket to which said steering column shaft is attached.

7 . The axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle of claim 6 wherein said steering column bracket is adjustably movable with respect to said bracket.

8 . The axially movable steering column for an autonomous vehicle of claim 6 further including a motor for adjustably moving said steering column bracket with respect to said bracket.

9 . A steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
an instrument panel; a steering column having an axially movable steering column shaft and a steering wheel attached to said shaft, said shaft being movable to a stowed position when the vehicle is parked and to an extended position for operation by a driver, said shaft being movable to said extended position at a high travel rate or a low travel rate; a crash avoidance sensor operatively associated with said shaft, said sensor including a signal generator to generate a high speed travel signal to said shaft.

10 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 9 wherein said high travel rate is about 40 mm/sec and said low travel rate is about 20 mm/sec.

11 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 9 wherein said steering column shaft has a stowing range of travel between about +90 mm and +110 mm from mid-line.

12 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 9 including a steering wheel-receiving pocket defined in said instrument panel.

13 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 9 further including a driver's seat, said stowing steering arrangement including a steering shaft position sensor and a seat base steering shaft position sensor, said sensors being operatively associated with said steering column.

14 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 9 further including a roof bracket for attachment to said instrument panel and a sleeve attached to said bracket, said a steering column shaft being movably attached to said sleeve.

15 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 14 further including a motor for axially adjusting said steering column shaft relative to said steering column sleeve.

16 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 14 whereby said sleeve is pivotably attached to said roof bracket, said arrangement further including a steering column bracket extending from said roof bracket to which said steering column shaft is attached.

17 . The steering arrangement for an autonomous vehicle of claim 16 wherein said steering column bracket is adjustably movable with respect to said roof bracket, said arrangement further including a motor for adjustably moving said steering column bracket with respect to said roof bracket.

18 . A method of positioning a steering wheel in an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
forming an instrument panel, a steering column having an axially movable shaft and a crash avoidance sensor operatively associated with said shaft, said shaft being movable to a stowed position when the vehicle is parked and to an extended position for operation by a driver, said shaft being movable to said extended position at a high travel rate or a low travel rate; moving said shaft at said high travel rate when said crash avoidance sensor senses a possible impact; and moving said shaft at said low travel rate at all other times.

19 . The method of positioning a steering wheel for an autonomous vehicle of claim 18 wherein said high travel rate is about 40 mm/sec and said low travel rate is about 20 mm/sec.

20 . The method of positioning a steering wheel for an autonomous vehicle of claim 19 wherein said shaft has a stowing range of travel between about +90 mm and +110 mm from mid-line.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Soderlind Erik William

Classifications

• B62D1/197

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

• B62D1/183

  adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access · CPC title

• B62D1/181 Primary

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

• B62D1/166

  Means changing the transfer ratio between steering wheel and steering gear · CPC title

• B62D1/185

  adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) · CPC title