Steering input apparatus for vehicle and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017166237-A1
Application number	US-201615374458-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A steering input apparatus for a vehicle includes a grip position sensor configured to sense a grip position on a rim of a steering wheel of the vehicle. The steering input apparatus also includes at least one processor configured to, based on a determination that the grip position on the rim of the steering wheel sensed through the grip position sensor is improper for a driving situation of the vehicle, perform a control operation to output grip guide information for the rim of the steering wheel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A steering input apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
a grip position sensor configured to sense a grip position on a rim of a steering wheel of the vehicle; and at least one processor configured to:
based on a determination that the grip position on the rim of the steering wheel sensed through the grip position sensor is improper for a driving situation of the vehicle, perform a control operation to output grip guide information for the rim of the steering wheel.

2 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a grip guide output unit configured to output the grip guide information.

3 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the grip guide output unit is disposed in a region of the rim of the steering wheel designed to be gripped by both hands of a user.

4 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the grip guide output unit comprises at least one light emitter, and
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, based on the determination that the grip position on the rim of the steering wheel of the vehicle sensed through the grip position sensor is improper for the driving situation of the vehicle, control a light emitter disposed in a region of the rim of the steering wheel designed to be gripped by a hand of the user to emit light of a first color.

5 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that a grip of a first hand of a user is sensed on the steering input apparatus and that a grip of a second hand of the user is not sensed on the steering input apparatus, control a light emitter disposed in a region of the rim of the steering wheel designed to be requiring gripped by the second hand of the user to emit light.

6 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that a grip of a first hand of a user is sensed on the steering input apparatus and that a grip of a second hand of the user is not sensed on the steering input apparatus, control a plurality of light emitters disposed in different regions of the rim of the steering wheel to emit light according to whether the driving situation of the vehicle corresponds to the vehicle travelling in a straight direction or along a curved road.

7 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that the driving situation of the vehicle corresponds to the vehicle travelling in an entry section of a curved road, and that a grip of a first hand of a user is sensed in a region of the rim of the steering wheel that is improper for the driving situation corresponding to the vehicle travelling in an entry section of the curved road, and that a grip of a second hand of the user is not sensed on the steering input apparatus, control a plurality of light emitters disposed in regions of the rim of the steering wheel designed to be gripped by the first hand and the second hand of the user to emit light, the plurality of light emitters having positions along the rim of the steering wheel that correspond to a grip position that is proper for a curvature of the curved road.

8 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the grip guide output unit is disposed in one region of a cluster, a dashboard, or a windshield.

9 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a grip pressure sensor configured to sense a grip pressure applied by a user on the rim of the steering wheel, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that the grip pressure sensed through the grip pressure sensor is less than or equal to a threshold pressure stored in a memory, output the grip guide information.

10 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set the threshold pressure based on a user grip pressure received through the grip pressure sensor in a reference grip pressure setting mode.

11 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a grip guide output unit configured to output the grip guide information, wherein the grip guide output unit comprises at least one light emitter, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that the grip pressure sensed through the grip pressure sensor is less than or equal to the threshold pressure stored in the memory, control a light emitter disposed in a region of the rim of the steering wheel designed to be gripped by a hand of a user to emit light of a second color.

12 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on the output grip guide information and based on a determination that the grip position sensed by the grip position sensor satisfies the output grip guide information, stop outputting the grip guide information.

13 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface unit, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on the output grip guide information and based on a determination that the grip position sensed by the grip position sensor does not satisfy the output grip guide information, provide a signal for control of the vehicle through the interface unit.

14 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one device other than the steering input apparatus, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on the determination that the grip position sensed by the grip position sensor does not satisfy the output grip guide information, provide grip position information to the at least one device other than the steering input apparatus.

15 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface unit, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that driving alert situation information is received through the interface unit, and based on a determination that the grip position on the rim of the steering wheel sensed through the grip position sensor is improper for the received driving alert situation information, output the grip guide information.

16 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the received driving alert situation information is based on at least one of road surface condition information, object detection information, weather information, surrounding illumination information, driver attentiveness information, driving road information, traffic light information, tire pressure information, or map information.

17 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that a grip area of the grip position on the rim on the steering wheel detected through the grip position sensor is less than or equal to a threshold value of grip area, output the grip guide information.

18 . The steering input apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a grip guide output unit configured to output the grip guide information, wherein the grip guide output unit comprises at least one light emitter, wherein the at

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Oh Hyungseok
• Yoo Wonseok
• Kim Jeongsu

Classifications

• B62D15/029

  Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B60Q3/20

  for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60R16/0232

  for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions · CPC title

• B60Y2400/306

  Pressure sensors · CPC title