Vehicle driving support system, and steering angle detection device

• US 6,567,726 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Toshihiro, Sakiyama, Kazuhiro, Sako, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/146,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/35, 701/36, 701/49, 701/58, 701/59, 701/23, 701/25, 701/41, 701/72, 307/10.1, 340/901, 340/903, 340/937
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/089 using optical detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image

Abstract

A camera unit 10 is mounted on a vehicle 3. When an attempt is made to park the vehicle 3 in a parking lot, a predicted path 5a and guidelines 5b are displayed on an information display 4 together with an image. Data to be used for displaying the predicted path 5a and the guidelines 5b are stored beforehand in internal memory of an image processing circuit 19 provided in a parking assist ECU 6 so that the data can be selected in accordance with specifications, such as the type of the vehicle 3. The predicted path 5a is computed on the basis of a steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor provided in an exposed portion of the steering shaft 11. The length or color of the predicted path 5a is changed in accordance with the speed of the vehicle 3. Further, a vehicle driving support system is provided with a back sonar 17, and hence the length or color of the predicted path 5a is also changed in accordance with the result of detection of an obstacle.

Claims

1. A vehicle steering angle detector comprising:

a steering angle sensor for detecting the amount of angular displacement of a steering shaft at an exposed portion of the steering shaft; and

a bracket whose base end is secured to a vehicle body in the vicinity of the exposed portion of the steering shaft by a screw used for fixing a bearing of the steering shaft to the vehicle body,

wherein the steering sensor is attached to a front end of the bracket.

2. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket has a shape suitable for a shape of the vicinity of the steering shaft of the vehicle so that the steering angle sensor is attached to the front end of the bracket.

3. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 1, wherein the steering shaft rotates in response to an actuation of a steering wheel.

4. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a splittable shaft gear fitted around the exposed portion of the steering shaft; and

a detection gear rotatably supported by the bracket, the detection gear meshing with the shaft gear,

wherein a rotation condition of the detection gear is detected by the steering angle sensor.

5. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 1, wherein the steering angle detector further comprises:

a shaft gear that is fitted around the steering shaft by way of a spacer, wherein the thickness of the spacer can be adjusted based on the size of the steering shaft.

6. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 5, wherein the steering angle detector further comprises:

a detection gear, wherein the steering angle sensor and the detection gear are attached to the bracket and the detection gear meshes with the shaft gear.

7. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 6, wherein the shaft gear has a greater number of teeth than the detection gear.

8. A vehicle steering angle detector comprising:

a steering angle sensor for detecting the amount of angular displacement of a steering shaft at an exposed portion of the steering shaft;

a bracket whose base end is secured to a vehicle body in the vicinity of the exposed portion of the steering shaft by a screw used for fixing a bearing of the steering shaft to the vehicle body; and

a shaft gear that is fitted around the steering shaft by way of a spacer, wherein the steering sensor is attached to a front end of the bracket and the thickness of the spacer can be adjusted based on the size of the steering shaft such that the steering angle detector is usable with a plurality of different vehicles.

9. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 8, wherein the bracket has a shape suitable for a shape of the vicinity of the steering shaft of the vehicle so that the steering angle sensor is attached to the front end of the bracket.

10. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 9, wherein the steering shaft rotates in response to an actuation of a steering wheel.

11. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 10, wherein the shaft gear is splittable and is fitted around the exposed portion of the steering shaft.

12. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 11, wherein the bracket comprises:

a steering shaft insert section; and

a steering angle sensor mount section.

13. The vehicle steering angle detector as defined in claim 9, wherein the spacer is an elastic spacer made of rubber.