STOWABLE STEERING WHEEL

• US 20190308662A1
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Christiansen, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 10,759,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0005 Processor details or data handling, e.g. memory registers or chip architecture
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/10 Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/021 Determination of steering angle
• 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: B62D 3/14 hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0457 characterised by control features of the drive means as such
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/003 in order to control vehicle yaw movement, i.e. around a vertical axis B62D6/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A system includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor to determine that a steering wheel is one of engaged and disengaged with a steering based on a detected deflection of a steering torsion bar. The memory stores instructions to actuate the steering based on the determination.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor to:

determine that a steering wheel is one of engaged and disengaged with a steering based on a detected deflection of a steering torsion bar; and

actuate the steering based on the determination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions to actuate the steering based on the determination by providing input to the steering according to one or more parameters selected according to the determination.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more parameters indicate a gain value.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions to actuate the steering in one of an autonomous-mode, a semi-autonomous mode and a non-autonomous mode based on the determination.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions to actuate the steering to disengage the steering wheel upon determining the steering wheel is engaged with the steering.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions to actuate a user interface to provide a status of whether the steering wheel is engaged or disengaged from the steering.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions to store a first fault code upon determining the steering wheel is engaged with the steering, and to store a second fault code that is different than the first fault code upon determining the steering wheel is disengaged from the steering.

8. A system, comprising:

a steering wheel;

a steering including a torsion bar;

a sensor arranged to detect a deflection of the torsion bar; and

means for determining that the steering wheel is one of engaged and disengaged with the steering based on a value of a detected deflection of the torsion bar.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for actuating the steering based on the determination.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the steering includes an actuator arranged to control a steering angle of the steering.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for actuating the steering based on the determination by providing input to the steering according to one or more parameters selected according to the determination.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more parameters indicate a gain value.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for actuating the steering to disengage the steering wheel upon determining the steering wheel is engaged with the steering.

14. A method, comprising:

determining that a steering wheel is one of engaged and disengaged with a steering based on a detected deflection of a steering torsion bar; and

actuating the steering based on the determination.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steering is actuated based on the determination by providing input to the steering according to one or more parameters selected according to the determination.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more parameters indicate a gain value.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the steering is actuated in one of an autonomous-mode, a semi-autonomous mode and a non-autonomous mode based on the determination.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising actuating the steering to disengage the steering wheel upon determining the steering wheel is engaged with the steering and actuating the steering to engage the steering wheel upon determining the steering wheel is disengaged from the steering.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising one of actuating a user interface to provide a status of whether the steering wheel is engaged or disengaged from the steering.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising one of storing a first fault code upon determining the steering wheel is engaged with the steering and storing a second fault code that is different than the first fault code upon determining the steering wheel is disengaged from the steering.