Messaging via vehicle steering wheel

• US 9,290,186 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US14/202,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/41, 701/301
• 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, and mimics, the one of the condition and the planned action when the steering wheel is decoupled from a drivetrain of the vehicle.

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 computer is further configured to control movement of the steering wheel to mimic steering wheel turning achieved by turning of the vehicle when the steering wheel is not partially or fully decoupled from the vehicle drivetrain.

7. 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, and mimics, the one of the condition and the planned action and the steering wheel is decoupled from a drivetrain of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating the planned action.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

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

determining the condition based on the received data.

10. The method of claim 7, 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.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein a movement of the steering wheel mimics steering wheel turning achieved by turning of the vehicle when the steering wheel is not partially or fully decoupled from the vehicle drivetrain.

13. 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, and mimics, the one of the condition and the planned action.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer is further configured to generate the planned action.

15. The system of claim 13, 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.

16. The system of claim 13, 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.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the condition affecting the vehicle is one of acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stopping.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer is further configured to decouple the steering wheel from a drivetrain of the vehicle, and movement of the steering wheel mimics steering wheel turning expected according to turning of the vehicle when the steering wheel is not partially or fully decoupled from the vehicle drivetrain.