Motor vehicle having a driver assistance device and method for operating a motor vehicle

• US 9,216,743 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Wimmer, Martin, Siedersberger, Karl-Heinz, Sacher, Heike, Scheiffert, Fabian, Faerber, Berthold
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US14/377,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20150006014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/022 with tactile feedback from a controller, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/023 with electrical means to generate counter force or torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/029 Joystick type control devices for acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/20 Operator actuated switches or levers for cruise control or speed limiting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/30 Mode switching, e.g. changing from one cruise control mode to another
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/135 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/122 with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/135 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling

Abstract

A driver assistance device in a motor vehicle can completely or partially independently guide the motor vehicle. The driver assistance device has an operating device having a grip element which is arranged on a center console of the motor vehicle and on which a plurality of operating elements are arranged. To improve clarity, the grip element can be moved with respect to an interior trim of the motor vehicle by an actuator of the operating device. A control device of the driver assistance device is designed to adjust a position of the grip element with respect to the interior trim by controlling the actuator on the basis of the currently active assistance mode.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a driver assistance device to independently guide the motor vehicle during travel of the motor vehicle, the driver assistance device being changeable between a plurality of assistance modes comprising an autonomous assistance mode providing completely independent guidance of the motor vehicle, a fully automatic assistance mode providing at least independent lateral guidance, a semi-automatic assistance mode providing at least cruise control, and a manual driving mode providing no guidance at all, the driver assistance device comprising;

a grip element arranged in a primary gripping area for a driver of the motor vehicle;

a plurality of operating elements arranged on and integrated in the grip element, the operating elements having respective operating properties that adapt in a variable manner to a currently active assistance mode;

an actuator to move the grip element with respect to an interior trim of the motor vehicle; and

a control device to adjust a position of the grip element with respect to the interior trim by controlling the actuator based on a currently active assistance mode, the control device adjusting the position of the grip element such that in transitioning from the manual driving mode to the autonomous assistance mode via the semi-automatic assistance mode and the fully automatic assistance mode, the position of the grip element becomes progressively further from the steering wheel with increased independence of the driver assistance device, so as to provide orientation to the driver regarding the currently active assistance mode.

2. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the plurality of operating elements comprise a pushbutton switch provided on an end face of the gripping element facing a driver'"'"'s seat of the motor vehicle, and

in at least one of the assistance modes, the pushbutton switch sets a driving parameter so that the driver assistance device guides the motor vehicle in a manner dependent on the driving parameter.

3. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the plurality of operating elements comprise a mode operating element provided on a side of the grip element which can be reached by the driver at least in most positions of the grip element, and

the driver assistance device changes the currently active assistance mode when the mode operating element is actuated.

4. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein

actuating the mode operating element changes the currently active assistance mode to a next mode of increasing assistance.

5. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

in at least one of the assistance modes, the grip element operates as a control lever, which can be deflected in a monostable manner from a position of rest by tilting and/or rotation and/or deflection in a direction transverse to a vertical axis of the motor vehicle, the position of rest corresponding to the currently active assistance mode.

6. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the control device sets a force-displacement characteristic curve when the grip element operates as a control lever, and

the control device causes an actuator to apply a predetermined counterforce on the grip element to oppose movement of the grip element by the driver, in accordance with the force-displacement characteristic curve.

7. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the control device causes an actuator to produce a feedback force on the grip element, and

the feedback force provides the driver with feedback information regarding road conditions.

8. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a deactivation button is provided in the primary gripping area, at a distance from the grip element, and

the driver assistance device deactivates the currently active assistance mode when the deactivation button is actuated.

9. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

in the semi-automatic assistance mode, the driver assistance device guides the motor vehicle in a semi-automatic manner based on driving parameters set by the driver using the grip element, and

in the semi-automatic assistance mode, a mechanical coupling to a steering wheel and/or a pedal is maintained, for the driver to directly intervene in guidance of the motor vehicle.

10. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

in the fully automatic assistance mode, the driver assistance device guides the motor vehicle in a fully automatic manner with independent lateral and longitudinal guidance,

in the fully automatic assistance mode, the driver assistance device receives input regarding a driving maneuver to be performed and/or receives a driving parameter to alter a driving maneuver currently being performed, and

the driver assistance device receives the input from the driver via a user interface.

11. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

in the autonomous assistance mode, the driver assistance device autonomously guides the motor vehicle in a fully automatic manner, providing independent lateral and longitudinal guidance and independently determining driving parameters to alter a driving maneuver currently being performed and/or independently making decisions on driving maneuvers to be performed.

12. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein in at least one the assistance modes, the control device makes it impossible for the driver to grip around the grip element by:

moving the grip element into bearing contact with the interior trim of the motor vehicle and/or

moving the grip element to countersink the grip element in the interior trim of the motor vehicle.

13. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein

a mode operating element is provided on a top side of the grip element,

actuating the mode operating element changes the currently active assistance mode to a next mode of increasing assistance, and

the top side of the grip element is accessible even if the grip element is moved into bearing contact with the interior trim of the motor vehicle and even if the grip element is counter sunk in the interior trim of the motor vehicle.

14. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the gripping element is provided in the interior trim located in a center console of the motor vehicle,

the center console has a recess bounded by a front wall closer to a shoulder of the driver and a back wall further from a shoulder of the driver, and

in transitioning from the autonomous assistance mode to the manual driving mode, the position of the grip element is adjusted to become further from the back wall of the recess and closer to the front wall of the recess.

15. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the grip element is positioned flush with the front wall of the recess in the manual driving mode.

16. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the grip element is moved into bearing contact with the rear wall of the recess in the autonomous assistance mode,

a deactivation button is provided in the primary gripping area, at a distance from the grip element, and

the driver assistance device deactivates the currently active assistance mode when the deactivation button is actuated, such that the grip element becomes progressively closer to the front wall of the recess.

17. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the grip element is moved into bearing contact with the rear wall of the recess in the autonomous assistance mode.

18. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the grip element is mounted in a monostable manner, permitting the grip element to be pivoted longitudinally, and

in the semi-automatic assistance mode, a distance between the motor vehicle and a vehicle traveling ahead is set my longitudinally pivoting the grip element.

19. A method for operating a motor vehicle using a driver assistance device of the motor vehicle, the driver assistance device being changeable between a plurality of assistance modes to independently guide the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

providing completely independent guidance of the motor vehicle in an autonomous assistance mode;

providing at least independent lateral guidance of the motor vehicle in a fully automatic assistance mode;

providing at least cruise control for the motor vehicle in a semi-automatic assistance mode;

providing no guidance at all for the motor vehicle in a manual driving mode;

actuating actuators via a control device to adjust a position of a grip element of the driver assistance device based on a currently active assistance mode, the control device assigning a respective position to the grip element for each of the assistance modes, the control device adjusting the position of the grip element such that in transitioning from the manual driving mode to the autonomous assistance mode via the semi-automatic assistance mode and the fully automatic assistance mode, the position of the grip element becomes progressively further from the steering wheel with increased independence of the driver assistance device, so as to provide orientation to the driver regarding the currently active assistance mode; and

adapting operating properties of individual operating elements integrated in the grip element, based on the currently active assistance mode.