Detection of driver intervention during a torque overlay operation in an electric power steering system
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a steering maneuver of a vehicle having an electric power steering (EPS) system, an electronic control unit (ECU), and a steering wheel, the method comprising:
- modeling a set of steering dynamics during a predetermined EPS state having an active torque overlay operation to thereby generate a dynamic steering model (DSM);
measuring a set of vehicle operating values using at least one sensor;
transmitting the set of vehicle operating values from the at least one sensor to the ECU;
processing the set of vehicle operating values and the DSM via the ECU to thereby detect a driver intervention, wherein the driver intervention corresponds to a driver intent to override the torque overlay operation; and
automatically overriding the torque overlay operation via the ECU when the driver intervention is detected.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling an assisted steering maneuver in an electric power steering (EPS) system includes modeling steering dynamics during a torque overlay operation to generate a dynamic steering model (DSM), measuring vehicle operating values, and detecting a driver intervention in the torque overlay operation based on the DSM and the vehicle operating values. The torque overlay operation is overridden when driver intervention is detected, allowing the driver to regain control of the steering maneuver. A vehicle includes a steering wheel, a steering assist mechanism, and an EPS system having an electronic control unit (ECU) adapted to determine a present intent of a driver of the vehicle to interrupt application of the TOC based on a vehicle operating value transmitted by the driver to the steering wheel. The ECU is operable for interrupting the torque overlay operation when the present intent of the driver is determined.
32 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling a steering maneuver of a vehicle having an electric power steering (EPS) system, an electronic control unit (ECU), and a steering wheel, the method comprising:
-
modeling a set of steering dynamics during a predetermined EPS state having an active torque overlay operation to thereby generate a dynamic steering model (DSM); measuring a set of vehicle operating values using at least one sensor; transmitting the set of vehicle operating values from the at least one sensor to the ECU; processing the set of vehicle operating values and the DSM via the ECU to thereby detect a driver intervention, wherein the driver intervention corresponds to a driver intent to override the torque overlay operation; and automatically overriding the torque overlay operation via the ECU when the driver intervention is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for controlling a steering maneuver in a vehicle having a steering device, an electric power steering (EPS) system operatively connected to the steering device, and a steering wheel mechanically coupled to the steering device, the EPS system including an electronic control unit (ECU) and a steering motor connected to the steering device and configured to selectively assist in execution of the steering maneuver, the method comprising:
-
generating a dynamic steering model (DSM) for a hands-off EPS state, wherein the hands-off EPS state describes an EPS state during which a driver of the vehicle is applying less than a threshold minimum amount of steering torque to the steering wheel during an active torque overlay operation; recording the DSM via the ECU; measuring a set of vehicle operating values, including measuring a steering angle imparted to the steering wheel using an angle sensor and measuring a steering torque applied to the steering device using a torque sensor; transmitting the steering angle and the steering torque to the ECU; processing the set of vehicle operating values via the ECU to thereby detect a driver intervention corresponding to a driver intent to override the torque overlay operation, including comparing a low-frequency noise component of the steering torque and a high-frequency noise component of an actual motor torque of the steering motor to a corresponding threshold; and using the ECU to override the torque overlay operation when the driver intervention is detected. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A vehicle comprising:
-
a steering wheel; an electric power steering (EPS) system having; a rack-and-pinion device having a moveable rack portion; a steering motor operatively connected to the rack portion, wherein the steering motor transmits a motor output torque in response to rotation of the steering wheel to thereby assist in a movement of the rack portion; an angle sensor which measures a steering angle of the steering wheel; and an electronic control unit (ECU) in electrical communication with the angle sensor and the steering motor, wherein the ECU for selectively transmits a torque overlay command (TOC) to modify the motor output torque during a predetermined EPS-assisted steering maneuver, and is configured to; determine a present intent of a driver of the vehicle to interrupt an application of the TOC using a set of vehicle operating values, including the steering angle; and interrupt the transmission of the TOC when the present intent of the driver to interrupt the application of the TOC is determined. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification