SYSTEM FOR INDICATING AN IMPENDING VEHICLE MANEUVER

• US 20130253765A1
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kaufmann, Timothy W., Chandy, Ashok, Bolourchi, Farhad
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO

Abstract

A system for indicating an impending vehicle maneuver within a predetermined distance is provided. The system includes a navigational system and a control module. The navigational system receives a vehicle destination and determines a current geographical vehicle position. The navigational system determines if the impending vehicle maneuver is required within the predetermined distance based on the vehicle destination and the current geographical vehicle position. The control module is in communication with the navigational system and a handwheel. The control module sends a signal that creates a steering assist torque in the handwheel if the impending vehicle maneuver is required.

Claims

1. A system for indicating an impending vehicle maneuver within a predetermined distance, comprising:

a navigational system for receiving a vehicle destination and determining a current geographical vehicle position, the navigational system determining if the impending vehicle maneuver is required within the predetermined distance based on the vehicle destination and the current geographical vehicle position; and

a control module in communication with the navigational system and a handwheel, the control module sending a signal that creates a steering assist torque in the handwheel if the impending vehicle maneuver is required, the steering assist torque generally oriented in a same direction as the impending vehicle maneuver.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, comprising a lane keeping system having a camera, the camera collecting data indicating a presence of lane markings, and wherein the camera is in communication with the control module.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the control module adjusts the signal that creates the steering assist torque based on the lane markings.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control module includes control logic for sending a bias signal that creates a biased steering assist torque to the handwheel, the biased steering assist torque oriented in an opposite direction of the impending vehicle maneuver.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein steering assist torque rotates the handwheel in a guiding direction, and the biased steering assist torque rotates the handwheel in a biasing direction that is opposite to the guiding direction.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the biased steering assist torque is provided as a plurality of pulses, and the plurality of pulses vary in at least one of magnitude, duration, and an amount of time between each of the plurality of pulses.

7. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein a biased magnitude of the biased steering assist torque is greater than a magnitude of the steering assist torque.

8. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the steering assist torque includes a steering assist duration that is greater than a biased duration of the biased steering assist torque.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the assist torque is applied in different configurations based on a distance between a vehicle and the impending vehicle maneuver, the distance determined by the navigational system.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a guiding zone and an alerting zone are defined by the control module, and wherein the guiding zone is located further away from the impending vehicle maneuver than the alerting zone.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the steering assist torque to the handwheel is configured to guide a vehicle towards the impending vehicle maneuver if the vehicle is located within the guiding zone, and wherein the steering assist torque is pulsed if the vehicle is located within the alerting zone.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the steering assist torque to the handwheel is pulsed in a same direction as the impending vehicle maneuver to provide an alarm and to turn a vehicle towards the impending vehicle maneuver if the vehicle is located within the alerting zone.

13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the steering assist torque to the handwheel is pulsed to provide a warning vibration if the if the impending vehicle maneuver has been missed by a vehicle.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the navigational system includes at least one of a global positioning system (GPS) and an inertial measurement system.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, comprising a steering actuator, wherein the control module control module sends the signal to the steering actuator to create the steering assist torque in the handwheel.

16. A system for indicating an impending vehicle maneuver within a predetermined distance, comprising:

a navigational system for receiving a vehicle destination and determining a current geographical vehicle position, the navigational system determining if the impending vehicle maneuver is required within the predetermined distance based on the vehicle destination and the current geographical vehicle position;

a lane keeping system having a camera, the camera collecting data indicating a presence of lane markings; and

a control module in communication with the navigational system, the camera, and a handwheel, the control module sending a signal that creates a steering assist torque in a handwheel if the impending vehicle maneuver is required, the steering assist torque generally oriented in a same direction as the impending vehicle maneuver, the control module adjusting the signal that creates the steering assist torque based on the lane markings.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, comprising, wherein the control module includes control logic for sending a bias signal that creates a biased steering assist torque to the handwheel, the biased steering assist torque oriented in an opposite direction of the impending vehicle maneuver.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein steering assist torque rotates the handwheel in a guiding direction, and the biased steering assist torque rotates the handwheel in a biasing direction that is opposite to the guiding direction.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the biased steering assist torque is provided as a plurality of pulses, and wherein the plurality of pulses vary in at least one of magnitude, duration, and an amount of time between each of the plurality of pulses.

20. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein a biased magnitude of the biased steering assist torque is greater than a magnitude of the steering assist torque.