Device for generating a haptic signal in a vehicle

• US 20070131471A1
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Schmidt, Robert, Ehmanns, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 7,520,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/335
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/00 Safety equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/4151 for sensing lateral inclination of the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips

Abstract

A device for generating a haptic signal in a vehicle is provided, in which a driver'"'"'s command can be given via a rotary gas handle. A servo unit is formed in such a manner that, as a function of at least one detected operational condition for driving, a theoretical speed of the vehicle can be generated. Based on the theoretical speed of the vehicle, a servo signal for actuation of a servo element of the vehicle is generated, where the servo element is formed such that a restoring force for the rotary gas handle or the torque required for moving the rotary gas handle is adjusted thereby.

Claims

1. A device for generating a haptic signal in a vehicle, in which a driver'"'"'s command is given via a rotary gas handle, comprising:

at least one of a restoring device for generating a restoring force acting on the rotary gas handle and a servo force generator for generating a servo force acting on the rotary gas handle in a direction of actuation inducing acceleration or deceleration;

means for detecting at least one predefined operational condition for driving, where the predefined operational condition for driving is one that makes a change of the current speed advisable as a function of definite conditions;

a servo unit operatively configured such that, as a function of the at least one detected predefined operational condition for driving, a theoretical speed for the vehicle is generated and, based on the theoretical speed for the vehicle, a servo signal for actuating a servo element is generated; and

wherein the servo element is operatively configured to adjust, based on the servo signal, at least one of such the restoring force for the rotary gas handle and the servo force acting on the rotary gas handle.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the servo device is formed such that a theoretical speed of a vehicle reduced in comparison to the actual speed of a vehicle, as well as a theoretical speed of a vehicle increased in comparison to the actual speed of a vehicle, is generated.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the restoring device is formed as a restoring spring adjustable in its pre-loading;

and

the servo element is formed as an electric motor adjusting the pre-loading of the restoring springs.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the restoring device is formed as a restoring spring adjustable in its pre-loading;

and

the servo element is formed as an electric motor adjusting the pre-loading of the restoring springs.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the servo element is formed as an electromagnet transmitting a torque to the rotary gas handle.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the servo element is formed as an electromagnet transmitting a torque to the rotary gas handle.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein a rotor of the electromagnet is integrated into or on a rotary grip part of the rotary gas handle, and a stator of the electromagnet is integrated into or on one of a steering rod and a fixed grip part of the rotary gas handle.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining at least one predefined operational condition for driving includes at least one of:

means for determining curve radii,

means for determining vehicle inclination,

means for determining legally permissible speed,

means for detecting external air temperature,

means for detecting weather conditions,

means for acquiring information provided by networked vehicles and/or networked (vehicle control) systems, and

means for electronic data processing with stored information of vehicle control systems.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the servo unit is formed such that the theoretical speed of the vehicle is determinable with aid of at least one of the following operational conditions for driving:

curve radius of the curve on which the vehicle is currently traveling, and

angle of inclination of the vehicle to the street surface.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the servo unit is formed such that the theoretical speed of the vehicle is determinable with aid of at least one of the following operational conditions for driving:

curve radius of the curve on which the vehicle is currently traveling, and

angle of inclination of the vehicle to the street surface.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the servo unit is formed such that the determination of the curve radius of the curve on which the vehicle is currently traveling is done using a navigation system.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the servo unit is formed such that the determination of the curve radius of the curve on which the vehicle is currently traveling is done using a navigation system.

13. A method of generating a haptic signal in a vehicle wherein a driver command is given via a rotary gas handle, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting at least one predefined operational driving condition which makes a change of a current vehicle speed advisable based on pending conditions;

generating a theoretical speed for the vehicle based on the detected predefined operational driving condition;

generating a servo signal based on the theoretical speed generated; and

using the servo signal to adjust at least one of a restoring force and servo force acting on the rotary gas handle to provide the haptic signal to the driver.