Messaging via vehicle steering wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9290186-B2
Application number	US-201414202846-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 10, 2014
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

One of a condition affecting a vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle are identified. An instruction is provided to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to the one of the condition and the planned action.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:
identify one of a condition affecting the vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle; and
provide an instruction to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to, and mimics, the one of the condition and the planned action when the steering wheel is decoupled from a drivetrain of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to generate the planned action.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
receive data from at least one data collector in the vehicle, and
determine the condition based on the received data.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of a possible collision, a hazardous road condition, a deviation from a predetermined navigation plan, a determination that the vehicle is driving on a road shoulder or restricted lane, and a determination that a speed of the vehicle violates a maximum or minimum speed limit.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to control movement of the steering wheel to mimic steering wheel turning achieved by turning of the vehicle when the steering wheel is not partially or fully decoupled from the vehicle drivetrain.

7. A method, comprising:
identifying one of a condition affecting the vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle; and
providing an instruction to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to, and mimics, the one of the condition and the planned action and the steering wheel is decoupled from a drivetrain of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating the planned action.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving data from at least one data collector in the vehicle, and
determining the condition based on the received data.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of a possible collision, a hazardous road condition, a deviation from a predetermined navigation plan, a determination that the vehicle is driving on a road shoulder or restricted lane, and a determination that a speed of the vehicle violates a maximum or minimum speed limit.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein a movement of the steering wheel mimics steering wheel turning achieved by turning of the vehicle when the steering wheel is not partially or fully decoupled from the vehicle drivetrain.

13. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:
identify one of a condition affecting the vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle; and
provide an instruction to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to, and mimics, the one of the condition and the planned action.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the computer is further configured to generate the planned action.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
receive data from at least one data collector in the vehicle, and
determine the condition based on the received data.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of a possible collision, a hazardous road condition, a deviation from a predetermined navigation plan, a determination that the vehicle is driving on a road shoulder or restricted lane, and a determination that a speed of the vehicle violates a maximum or minimum speed limit.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the computer is further configured to decouple the steering wheel from a drivetrain of the vehicle, and movement of the steering wheel mimics steering wheel turning expected according to turning of the vehicle when the steering wheel is not partially or fully decoupled from the vehicle drivetrain.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Attard Christopher
• Elwart Shane
• Greenberg Jeff Allen
• Johri Rajit
• Joyce John P
• Kochhar Devinder Singh
• Rhode Douglas Scott
• Shutko John
• Tijerina Louis
• Tseng Hongtei Eric

Classifications

• B60W50/14 Primary

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

• B60W50/16 Primary

  Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal · CPC title

• B62D15/029

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

• B62D5/005

  means for generating torque on steering wheel or input member, e.g. feedback · CPC title

• B60W2050/146

  Display means · CPC title