STEERING SYSTEM FOR AN AUTONOMOUSLY DRIVEN VEHICLE AND METHODS OF STEERING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle, the system comprising:
- a primary steering assembly including a rotatable steering wheel;
a power steering controller in communication with the primary steering assembly and having a first mode and a second mode;
a main controller in communication with the power steering controller;
a secondary steering assembly in communication with the main controller such that the main controller signals the secondary steering assembly to operate in a first phase when the power steering controller is in the first mode and a second phase to steer the vehicle when the power steering controller is in the second mode; and
a friction device coupled to the primary steering assembly and movable between a disengaged position releasing the primary steering assembly to allow rotation of the steering wheel and an engaged position engaging the primary steering assembly to secure the steering wheel in an initial position, wherein the main controller is in communication with the friction device to signal the friction device to actuate to the disengaged position when the power steering controller is in the first mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the first phase, and to signal the friction device to actuate to the engaged position to secure the steering wheel in the initial position when the power steering controller is in the second mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the second phase to allow the secondary steering assembly to steer the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle and methods of steering the vehicle are disclosed. A main controller signals a secondary steering assembly to operate in a first phase when a power steering controller is in a first mode and a second phase to steer the vehicle when the power steering controller is in a second mode. The main controller signals a friction device to actuate to a disengaged position when the power steering controller is in the first mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the first phase, and to signal the friction device to actuate to an engaged position to secure a steering wheel in an initial position when the power steering controller is in the second mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the second phase to allow the secondary steering assembly to steer the vehicle.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle, the system comprising:
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a primary steering assembly including a rotatable steering wheel; a power steering controller in communication with the primary steering assembly and having a first mode and a second mode; a main controller in communication with the power steering controller; a secondary steering assembly in communication with the main controller such that the main controller signals the secondary steering assembly to operate in a first phase when the power steering controller is in the first mode and a second phase to steer the vehicle when the power steering controller is in the second mode; and a friction device coupled to the primary steering assembly and movable between a disengaged position releasing the primary steering assembly to allow rotation of the steering wheel and an engaged position engaging the primary steering assembly to secure the steering wheel in an initial position, wherein the main controller is in communication with the friction device to signal the friction device to actuate to the disengaged position when the power steering controller is in the first mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the first phase, and to signal the friction device to actuate to the engaged position to secure the steering wheel in the initial position when the power steering controller is in the second mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the second phase to allow the secondary steering assembly to steer the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of steering an autonomously driven vehicle, the method comprising:
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determining that a power steering controller is in one of a first mode and a second mode different from the first mode; signaling a main controller that the power steering controller is in the first mode; signaling a secondary steering assembly, via the main controller, to operate in a first phase in response to the power steering controller being in the first mode such that a primary steering assembly steers the vehicle; signaling a friction device, via the main controller, to operate in a disengaged position in response to the power steering controller being in the first mode such that a steering wheel of the primary steering assembly is rotatable; signaling the main controller that the power steering controller is in the second mode; and signaling the secondary steering assembly, via the main controller, to switch from the first phase to operate in a second phase in response to the power steering controller being in the second mode such that the secondary steering assembly steers the vehicle; actuating the friction device from the disengaged position to the engaged position in response to the power steering controller being in the second mode; engaging the primary steering assembly with the friction device when the friction device is in the engaged position to secure the steering wheel in an initial position such that the secondary steering assembly steers the vehicle when in the second phase. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of steering an autonomously driven vehicle, the method comprising:
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operating a secondary steering assembly in a second phase to steer the vehicle when an interruption occurs in a primary steering assembly of the vehicle; and engaging the primary steering assembly with a friction device to secure a steering wheel in an initial position when the secondary steering assembly is in the second phase to steer the vehicle.
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Specification