Driver detection steering wheel

• US 10,293,783 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Frey, Michael, Mongeau, Michael Peter, Crane, Bryce, Ness, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greene, Daniel L
• Application Number:
  US15/158,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20170334392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/175 Autonomous driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/197 Blocking or enabling of input functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/741 Instruments adapted for user detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/65 Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2417 by varying separation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00

Abstract

Example systems and methods for a driver detection steering wheel are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a steering wheel, a driver, a detector, and an enabling module. The example steering wheel includes a plurality of capacitive sensors. The example driver is to change voltage levels on the plurality of capacitive sensors. The example detector is to measure time delays corresponding to the plurality of capacitive sensors, and determine a number of hands on the steering wheel based on the time delays. The example enabling module is to, in response to the detector detecting two hands on the steering wheel, grant access to an infotainment system.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a steering wheel comprising;

a body;

a wheel;

pillars connecting the wheel to the body;

first sensors disposed on the wheel and facing away from the body; and

second sensors disposed on the wheel and facing the body, each of the first sensors and second sensors forming a group;

a vehicle speed sensor;

a passenger sensor; and

processors configured to;

measure a duration of having a number of hands on the steering wheel by using the first sensors and the second sensors; and

responsive to detecting, via the first sensors and the second sensors, two hands on the steering wheel for a predetermined period, responsive to detecting, via the vehicle speed sensor, that a speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined speed, and responsive to detecting, via the passenger sensor, a passenger, grant access to an infotainment system; and

responsive to less than all sensors in the group satisfying a delay threshold, limit access to an infotainment system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first sensors and the second sensors are capacitive sensors, and

wherein a first set of the capacitive sensors are embedded in a top perimeter of the steering wheel, and a second set of the capacitive sensors are embedded in a bottom perimeter of the steering wheel.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first sensors and the second sensors are capacitive sensors, and

wherein a first set of the capacitive sensors are embedded in a front perimeter of the steering wheel, and a second set of the capacitive sensors are embedded in a rear perimeter of the steering wheel.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the first sensors and each of the second sensors are respectively disposed on opposing sides of the wheel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first sensors are evenly separated from each other, and wherein the second sensors are evenly separated from each other.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first sensors and the second sensors are separated from each other.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first sensors and the second sensors are capacitive sensors, and

wherein to determine a number of hands of the steering wheel, the processors compare time delays corresponding to the capacitive sensors to the delay threshold, wherein each of the time delays of each of the capacitive sensors is a time delay between a change from a first voltage level to a second greater voltage level.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein processors are further configured to:

determine that a first hand is on the steering wheel in response to the time delays associated with a first pair of the of capacitive sensors satisfing the delay threshold; and

determine that a second hand is on the steering wheel in response to the time delays associated with a second pair of the capacitive sensors satisfing the delay threshold.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first pair and the second pair are not adjacent on the steering wheel.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first sensors and the second sensors are capacitive sensors, and wherein each of the capacitive sensors comprises:

a first terminal;

a second terminal;

a capacitive plate; and

a resistive element.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first terminal, the capacitive plate, the resistive element, and the second terminal are sequentially connected in series.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a voltage measurement device; and

a variable voltage source, wherein the first terminal is electrically connected to the variable voltage source, and wherein the second terminal is electrically connected to the voltage measurement device.

13. A system comprising:

a steering wheel comprising;

a body;

a wheel;

pillars connecting the wheel to the body

first capacitive sensors disposed on the wheel and facing away from the body; and

second capacitive sensors disposed on the wheel and facing the body, each of the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors forming a group;

a vehicle speed sensor;

a passenger sensor;

a controller; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to;

detect a duration of having a number of hands on the steering wheel using the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors;

detect a speed of the vehicle using the vehicle speed sensor; and

detect a passenger using the passenger sensor; and

responsive to detecting two hands on the steering wheel for a predetermined period, responsive to detecting the speed of the vehicle being greater than a predetermined speed, and responsive to detecting the passenger, grant access to an infotainment system; and

responsive to less than all sensors in the group satisfying a delay threshold, limit access to an infotainment system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a first set of the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors are embedded in a top perimeter of the steering wheel, and a second set of the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors are embedded in a bottom perimeter of the steering wheel.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein to determine the number of hands of the steering wheel, the instructions stored in the memory, when executed, cause the controller to compare time delays corresponding to the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors to the delay threshold, wherein each of the time delays of each of the capacitive sensors is a time delay between a change from a first voltage level to a second greater voltage level.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions stored in the memory, when executed, cause the controller configured to:

determine, when a first hand is on the steering, if time delays associated with a first pair of the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors satisfy the delay threshold; and

determine, when a second hand is on the steering, if time delays associated with a second pair of first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors satisfy the delay threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first pair and the second pair are not adjacent on the steering wheel.

18. A vehicle comprising:

steering wheel comprising;

a body;

a wheel;

pillars connecting the wheel to the body;

first sensors disposed on the wheel and facing away from the body;

second sensors disposed on the wheel and facing the body, each of the first sensors and the second sensors forming a group; and

processors configured to, responsive to less than all sensors in the group satisfying a threshold, limit access to an infotainment system.