Haptic steering wheel, steering-wheel system and driver assistance system for a motor vehicle

• US 20120296528A1
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: WELLHOEFER, Matthias Marcus, MOTZ, Christian
• Application Number:
  US13/474,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296528A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A steering wheel and a driver assistance system, which make possible an improved control of safety functions, driving functions and/or convenience functions of a vehicle. The steering wheel, in this context, has a plurality of touch-sensitive and which may be pressure-sensitive sensors on a steering-wheel rim. These sensors are to provide a grasp information signal, which indicates information on a contact surface, a position and/or a holding force of driver'"'"'s hands on the steering-wheel rim, for instance, on a CAN bus. A driver assistance system uses these grasp information signals to adapt safety functions, driving functions and/or convenience functions, such as an automatic emergency brake assistant, power steering, a pedestrian avoidance assistant or a lane departure warning system in an adapted manner to the currently prevailing grasping type of the driver at the steering-wheel rim.

Claims

1. A steering wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a steering-wheel rim having a grasping area thereon, at which the steering wheel is able to be grasped by the hands of a driver for steering the vehicle; and

a plurality of touch-sensitive sensors distributed over the grasping area.

2. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive sensors are pressure-sensitive.

3. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the sensors are situated along the entire circumference of the steering-wheel rim, and wherein a distance between the centers of adjacent sensors is less than 2 cm.

4. A steering wheel system, comprising:

a steering wheel for a vehicle, including;

a steering-wheel rim having a grasping area thereon, at which the steering wheel is able to be grasped by the hands of a driver for steering the vehicle; and

a plurality of touch-sensitive sensors distributed over the grasping area;

wherein the steering wheel system is configured, with the aid of the touch-sensitive sensors of the steering wheel, to provide at least one of a grasp information signal which indicates information on a contact surface of the driver'"'"'s hands on the grasping area, a position of the driver'"'"'s hands on the grasping area, and a holding force of the driver'"'"'s hands on the grasping area.

5. The steering wheel system of claim 4, wherein the grasp information signal is provided on a CAN bus of the motor vehicle.

6. A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a driver assistance arrangement configured to condition functions for supporting or controlling safety functions, driving functions and/or convenience functions of the motor vehicle, based on a grasp information signal from a steering wheel system;

wherein the steering wheel system includes;

a steering wheel for a vehicle, including;

a steering-wheel rim having a grasping area thereon, at which the steering wheel is able to be grasped by the hands of a driver for steering the vehicle; and

a plurality of touch-sensitive sensors distributed over the grasping area;

wherein the steering wheel system is configured, with the aid of the touch-sensitive sensors of the steering wheel, to provide at least one of a grasp information signal which indicates information on a contact surface of the driver'"'"'s hands on the grasping area, a position of the driver'"'"'s hands on the grasping area, and a holding force of the driver'"'"'s hands on the grasping area.

7. The driver assistance system of claim 6, wherein the driver assistance system is configured to control or to support safety functions, driving functions and/or convenience functions of the motor vehicle to a greater extent when, with the aid of the grasp information signal, it is detected that no sufficient controlling of the safety functions, the driving functions and/or the convenience functions is possible for the driver, based on the current grasping condition of his hands on the steering wheel.

8. The driver assistance system of claim 6, wherein the driver assistance system is configured to emit a warning signal, as a function of the grasp information signal.

9. The driver assistance system of claim 6, wherein the driver assistance system is configured to have an effect on a point in time of an automated supporting or controlling of safety functions, driving functions and/or convenience functions of the motor vehicle and/or a point in time of the output of a warning signal, as a function of the grasp information signal.

10. The driver assistance system of claim 6, wherein the driver assistance system is configured to have an effect on the type of an automated supporting or controlling of safety functions, driving functions and/or convenience functions of the motor vehicle and/or the type of the output of a warning signal, as a function of the grasp information signal.