MESSAGING VIA VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL

• US 20150251666A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Attard, Christopher, Elwart, Shane, Greenberg, Jeff Allen, Johri, Rajit, Joyce, John P., Kochhar, Devinder Singh, Rhode, Douglas Scott, Shutko, John, Tijerina, Louis, Tseng, Hongtei Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,290,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• 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: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/005 means for generating torque on steering wheel or input member, e.g. feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements

Abstract

One of a condition affecting a vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle are identified. An instruction is provided to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to the one of the condition and the planned action.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

identify one of a condition affecting the vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle; and

provide an instruction to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to the one of the condition and the planned action.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to generate the planned action.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to:

receive data from at least one data collector in the vehicle, and

determine the condition based on the received data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of a possible collision, a hazardous road condition, a deviation from a predetermined navigation plan, a determination that the vehicle is driving on a road shoulder or restricted lane, and a determination that a speed of the vehicle violates a maximum or minimum speed limit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is decoupled from a drivetrain of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a condition is identified, and the movement of the steering wheel mimics the condition.

8. A computer readable medium including instructions executable by a computer processor, instructions including instructions to:

identify one of a condition affecting the vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle; and

provide an instruction to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to the one of the condition and the planned action.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions to generate the planned action.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:

receive data from at least one data collector in the vehicle, and

determine the condition based on the received data.

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of a possible collision, a hazardous road condition, a deviation from a predetermined navigation plan, a determination that the vehicle is driving on a road shoulder or restricted lane, and a determination that a speed of the vehicle violates a maximum or minimum speed limit.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

13. The medium of claim 8, wherein the steering wheel is decoupled from a drivetrain of the vehicle.

14. A method, comprising:

identifying one of a condition affecting the vehicle and a planned action of the vehicle; and

providing an instruction to actuate movement of a steering wheel in the vehicle, wherein the movement is determined according to the one of the condition and the planned action.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating the planned action.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving data from at least one data collector in the vehicle, and

determining the condition based on the received data.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of a possible collision, a hazardous road condition, a deviation from a predetermined navigation plan, a determination that the vehicle is driving on a road shoulder or restricted lane, and a determination that a speed of the vehicle violates a maximum or minimum speed limit.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the steering wheel is decoupled from a drivetrain of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein a condition is identified, and the movement of the steering wheel mimics the condition.