Steering system for autonomous vehicle

• US 10,496,102 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Riefe, Richard K., Schulz, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US15/095,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20170293306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 701 41, 180168, 340439, 348119
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/135 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• 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 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• 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: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/12 Hand levers
• 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 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0044 by providing the operator with a computer generated representation of the environment of the vehicle, e.g. virtual reality, maps maps used for automatic navigation G05D1/0274; flight directors G01C23/005
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means

Abstract

A steering system for an autonomous vehicle includes an autonomous driving assist steering system for controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a primary steering mode. Also included is an alternate steering mechanism controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a secondary steering mode, wherein the alternate steering mechanism is not a steering wheel.

Claims

1. A steering system for an autonomous vehicle comprising:

an autonomous driving assist steering system for controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a primary steering mode, the steering system not including a steering wheel; and

a touch screen illustrating a vehicle environment and comprising at least one steering control image for interaction by a user to control steering of the autonomous vehicle in a secondary steering mode, the steering control image comprising a virtual steering wheel rotatable by the user.

2. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the steering control image comprises at least one camera image illustrating an environment surrounding the autonomous vehicle.

3. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the steering control image comprises a GPS navigation map.

4. The steering system of claim 3, wherein the user interacts with the GPS navigation map by tracing out a path.

5. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is located on a dashboard of the autonomous vehicle.

6. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is located on a center stack of the autonomous vehicle.

7. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is located on an armrest in the autonomous vehicle.

8. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is located on a display of a portable device in operative communication with the autonomous vehicle.

9. The steering system of claim 8, wherein the portable device is one of a phone, tablet and laptop.

10. A steering system for an autonomous vehicle comprising:

an autonomous driving assist steering system for controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a primary steering mode, the steering system not including a steering wheel; and

an alternate steering mechanism manually controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a secondary steering mode, wherein the alternate steering mechanism is not a steering wheel.

11. A steering system for an autonomous vehicle comprising:

an autonomous driving assist steering system for controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a primary steering mode, the steering system not including a steering wheel; and

a touch screen illustrating a vehicle environment for interaction by a user to control steering of the autonomous vehicle in a secondary steering mode, steering in the secondary steering mode being controlled by an interactive control on the touch screen.

12. The steering system of claim 11, wherein the interactive control comprises tracing out a path on the touch screen.

13. The steering system of claim 11, wherein the interactive control comprises a virtual steering wheel.