Vehicle steering control method, device, system, vehicle

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of vehicle control, and discloses a vehicle steering control method, which comprises the following steps: when detecting that a steering wheel is in a folded state, sending a first signal to a display screen, the first signal being used for instructing the display screen to display steering information; receiving a first response fed back from the display screen, the first response being generated by the user's operation on the steering information of the display screen; generating a second signal according to the first response and sending the second signal to a vehicle machine controller, the second signal being used for instructing the vehicle machine controller to control vehicle steering. Through the method, when the steering wheel is in the folded state, the user can operate the display screen to issue a steering signal to the vehicle machine controller, and the vehicle machine controller controls vehicle steering, so that the user can realize quick automatic steering of the vehicle without waiting for the steering wheel to be unfolded from the folded state to a working state, the waiting time is saved, and the user experience is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle control technology, specifically to a vehicle steering control method, device, system, and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Chassis steer-by-wire technology broadly encompasses three main categories of systems: brake-by-wire systems, steering-by-wire systems, and suspension-by-wire systems. Steering-by-wire systems differ from traditional mechanical structures by eliminating the mechanical transmission structure of the intermediate shaft in traditional steering systems. Instead, they use sensor signals to transmit power to the controller and control the steering wheel's assistance and the steering gear's output. This structure allows for customizable steering ratios, minimizing the number of steering wheel rotations. This enables a redefined steering wheel shape, allowing for more irregularly shaped steering wheels and higher space utilization to improve visual appeal and maximize forward space utilization within the cockpit.

[0003] Currently, there are many folding steering wheel solutions on the market. By folding the steering wheel, the space utilization in the cockpit can be improved. However, when the steering wheel is in the folded state, if the driver needs to turn the vehicle, he has to wait for the steering wheel to retract and return to its original position, which takes a long time. In particular, if the steering wheel malfunctions, it may be unable to change from the folded state to the working state, thus making it impossible to turn the vehicle, which affects the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a vehicle steering control method to solve the problem that the user cannot quickly steer the vehicle when the steering wheel is in a folded state.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle steering control method applied to a steering wheel controller, wherein the steering wheel controller is connected to a steering wheel and is used to detect the state of the steering wheel, the steering wheel being provided with a display screen, the method comprising:

[0006] When the steering wheel is detected to be in a folded state, a first signal is sent to the display screen, the first signal being used to instruct the display screen to show steering information;

[0007] Receive a first response from the display screen, the first response being generated by the user's operation on the turning information of the display screen;

[0008] A second signal is generated based on the first response and sent to the vehicle controller. The second signal is used to instruct the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering.

[0009] In one optional implementation, sending a first signal to the display screen upon detecting that the steering wheel is in a folded state includes:

[0010] When the steering wheel is detected to be in a folded state, an activation signal is sent to the display screen, which is used to indicate that the display screen is in an activation state;

[0011] Receive a second response from the display screen, the second response being generated after the user activates the turning information on the display screen;

[0012] The first signal is generated based on the second response.

[0013] In one alternative implementation, after receiving the second response from the display screen, the process includes:

[0014] The steering wheel controller generates a third signal and sends the third signal to the display screen, which instructs the display screen to stop receiving user input.

[0015] In one alternative implementation, after the vehicle controller controls the vehicle's steering, the method includes:

[0016] The steering wheel controller generates a fourth signal and sends the fourth signal to the display screen, the fourth signal being used to instruct the display screen to continue receiving user input;

[0017] And / or, the steering wheel controller controls the steering wheel to change from the folded state to the working state.

[0018] In an optional implementation, before sending an activation signal to the display screen after detecting that the steering wheel is in a folded state, the method further includes:

[0019] When the steering wheel controller receives the fifth signal sent by the vehicle infotainment controller, it detects whether the steering wheel is in a folded state. The fifth signal is sent by the vehicle infotainment controller when it detects that the vehicle speed is 0.

[0020] In one alternative implementation, after receiving the second response from the display screen, the process includes:

[0021] The steering wheel controller generates a sixth signal and sends the sixth signal to the vehicle infotainment controller. The sixth signal is used to instruct the vehicle infotainment controller to stop detecting the vehicle speed.

[0022] In one optional implementation, the activation operation includes at least one of gesture operation, fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and digital password;

[0023] And / or, the steering information includes at least one of: left turn, right turn, and straighten.

[0024] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a vehicle steering control device, comprising:

[0025] The detection unit is used to detect whether the steering wheel is in a folded state;

[0026] A sending unit is configured to send a first signal to a display screen when the detection unit detects that the steering wheel is in a folded state, the first signal being used to instruct the display screen to display steering information;

[0027] A receiving unit is configured to receive a first response from the display screen, the first response being generated by the user's operation on the turning information of the display screen;

[0028] A generation unit is used to generate a second signal based on a first response;

[0029] The transmitting unit is further configured to send the second signal to the vehicle controller, the second signal being used to instruct the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering.

[0030] Thirdly, the present invention also provides a vehicle steering control system, comprising:

[0031] A steering wheel, the steering wheel having a display screen, and the steering wheel having a working state and a folded state;

[0032] Vehicle infotainment system controller;

[0033] The steering mechanism is connected to the vehicle control unit;

[0034] A steering wheel controller, connected to the steering wheel, the display screen, and the vehicle control unit, is used to detect the state of the steering wheel and execute the vehicle steering control method described above.

[0035] Fourthly, the present invention also provides a vehicle including the aforementioned vehicle steering control system.

[0036] Fifthly, the present invention also provides an electronic device, comprising:

[0037] The system includes a memory and a processor, which are interconnected. The memory stores computer instructions, and the processor executes these computer instructions to perform the vehicle steering control method described above.

[0038] In a sixth aspect, the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing the computer to perform the vehicle steering control method described above.

[0039] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0040] (1) The vehicle steering control method of the present invention, by setting a steering wheel controller connected to the steering wheel and setting a display screen on the steering wheel, allows the user to operate the display screen to send a steering signal to the vehicle controller when the steering wheel is in a folded state. The vehicle controller then controls the vehicle steering, thereby solving the problem that the user cannot steer the vehicle by turning the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in a folded state. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to wait for the steering wheel to unfold from the folded state to the working state, enabling rapid automatic steering of the vehicle and saving waiting time. This is especially beneficial when the user needs to steer the vehicle urgently while the steering wheel is in a folded state, greatly improving the user experience.

[0041] (2) In the vehicle steering control method of the present invention, since the steering wheel is in a folded state, the user does not always need to steer the vehicle. The display screen can be used for other functions, such as displaying vehicle operation information. Therefore, when the steering wheel controller detects that the steering wheel is in a folded state, the display screen is only in an activated state. Only when the user activates the display screen will the steering wheel controller generate a first signal based on the second response fed back by the display screen, thereby controlling the vehicle steering to ensure the multi-functional use of the display screen.

[0042] (3) In the vehicle steering control method of the present invention, after the steering wheel controller receives the second response from the display screen, the steering wheel controller generates a third signal to instruct the display screen to stop receiving user operations, which can prevent continuous user operations from disrupting the signal output.

[0043] (4) The vehicle steering control method of the present invention generates a fourth signal after the vehicle controller controls the vehicle to turn. The fourth signal instructs the display screen to continue to receive user operations. If the preset steering requirements are not met after the user turns the vehicle once, the display screen can be operated with a second action command to continue to control the vehicle to turn further.

[0044] (5) The vehicle steering control method of the present invention controls the steering wheel from a folded state to a working state after the vehicle controller controls the vehicle steering. In this way, the vehicle steering and the unfolding of the steering wheel are synchronized, which can shorten the waiting time for the steering wheel to unfold. After the steering wheel is unfolded, the user can immediately perform normal steering operation of the vehicle by operating the steering wheel.

[0045] (6) The vehicle steering control method of the present invention detects the vehicle speed through the vehicle controller. When the vehicle speed is 0, if the vehicle is parked on the side of the road, and if it is necessary to start the vehicle for emergency steering, the automatic steering function of the vehicle can be activated so that the vehicle can quickly leave the place.

[0046] (7) In the vehicle steering control method of the present invention, when the vehicle speed is 0, after the steering wheel controller receives the second response from the display screen, since the display screen needs to stop receiving user operations, the vehicle controller can stop detecting the vehicle speed to realize the display screen stopping receiving user operations. When the display screen needs to continue receiving user operations, the vehicle controller can be restarted to detect the vehicle speed to realize the user's continued operation on the display screen.

[0047] (8) The vehicle steering control method of the present invention, by setting the activation operation to include at least one of gesture operation, fingerprint recognition, facial recognition and digital password, allows users to operate the display screen more conveniently and improves operation efficiency; by setting the steering information to at least one of left turn, right turn and straighten, it can meet the basic needs of emergency steering of the vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0048] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0049] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a vehicle steering control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle steering control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the steering wheel structure;

[0052] Figure 4 A top view of the steering wheel when it is in operation;

[0053] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the structure when the steering wheel extends out of the dashboard;

[0054] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure when the steering wheel is embedded in the dashboard;

[0055] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the gear structure when the steering wheel is in the folded position.

[0056] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the gear structure when the steering wheel is in operation.

[0057] Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the first drive assembly when the steering wheel is in the folded position.

[0058] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the first drive assembly when the steering wheel is in operation.

[0059] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the display screen in an active state.

[0060] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0062] 201 - Detection unit; 202 - Transmission unit; 203 - Reception unit; 204 - Generation unit;

[0063] 3-Steering wheel; 301-Steering wheel body; 302-Display screen; 303-Handle handle; 304-Telescopic arm; 305-Gear; 306-Upper rack; 307-Lower rack; 308-Steering wheel controller;

[0064] 4-Dashboard;

[0065] 10 - Processor; 20 - Memory; 30 - Communication interface. Detailed Implementation

[0066] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0067] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 12 The following describes embodiments of the present invention.

[0068] The technical solution provided by this invention aims to enable vehicles to turn as quickly as possible when the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state. To achieve this, an embodiment of this invention provides a vehicle steering control method. By setting a steering wheel controller 308 connected to the steering wheel 3 and setting a display screen 302 on the steering wheel 3, when the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state, the user can operate the display screen 302 to send a steering signal to the vehicle controller, thereby enabling the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering. This solves the problem that when the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state, the user cannot turn the vehicle by turning the steering wheel 3, and there is no need to wait for the steering wheel 3 to unfold from the folded state to the working state. It can achieve rapid automatic steering of the vehicle, saving waiting time. Especially when the user needs to turn the vehicle urgently when the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state, it greatly improves the user experience.

[0069] This invention provides a vehicle steering control system, comprising: a steering wheel 3 with a display screen 302 mounted on it; the steering wheel 3 having a working state and a folded state; a vehicle infotainment controller; a steering mechanism connected to the vehicle infotainment controller; and a steering wheel controller 308 connected to the steering wheel 3, the display screen 302, and the vehicle infotainment controller, used to detect the state of the steering wheel 3. Here, the vehicle infotainment controller is the vehicle's main controller, the steering mechanism is the vehicle's wheels, and the display screen 302, mounted on the steering wheel 3, can be a standalone display screen or part of the vehicle's built-in infotainment display screen.

[0070] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a vehicle steering control method applied to the aforementioned steering wheel controller 308 is shown. The method includes:

[0071] Step S101: When the steering wheel 3 is detected to be in a folded state, a first signal is sent to the display screen 302. The first signal is used to instruct the display screen 302 to display steering information.

[0072] Specifically, step S101 includes: when the steering wheel 3 is detected to be in a folded state, sending an activation signal to the display screen 302, the activation signal being used to indicate that the display screen 302 is in an activation state; receiving a second response from the display screen 302, the second response being generated after the user activates the steering information on the display screen 302; and generating a first signal based on the second response.

[0073] When the steering wheel 3 is in the folded state, the steering wheel 3 is in the locked state, and the driver cannot steer the vehicle through the steering wheel 3. At this time, the steering wheel controller 308 can send an activation signal to the display screen 302. The activation signal is used to indicate that the display screen 302 is in the activation state, so that the display screen 302 waits for the driver to activate it and then control the vehicle to achieve steering.

[0074] In this embodiment, situations where the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state and the vehicle needs to be steered mainly include various situations where the vehicle needs to leave immediately or cannot turn the steering wheel 3 in a very short time when the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state. For example, when the driver is resting on the side of the road, the steering wheel 3 is in a folded and retracted state, and there is an urgent need to leave the scene in a very short time; when the vehicle is involved in an accident and the steering wheel 3 is stuck and cannot be turned, or the driver is injured and cannot turn the steering wheel 3 normally, but needs to leave the scene immediately; when the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state and malfunctions and cannot be unfolded to a working state, the driver is forced to move the vehicle urgently due to external reasons; when the vehicle is in the autonomous driving stage, the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state, and the driver needs to steer the vehicle urgently.

[0075] In this embodiment, the display screen 302 is a touch screen, allowing the driver to operate it via touch. Alternatively, the display screen 302 may have buttons, allowing the driver to operate it via the buttons.

[0076] In this embodiment, the steering information includes left turn, right turn, and straighten. As a possible implementation, the steering information may only include left turn and right turn.

[0077] The activation operations performed by the user on the directional information on the display screen 302 include gesture operation, fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and digital password. Users can choose to unlock the display screen 302 and enter the activated state through preset gesture actions, pre-recorded fingerprints or faces, or preset digital passwords, according to their actual needs. This allows users to operate the display screen 302 more conveniently and improves operational efficiency. Of course, in other embodiments, the activation operation may also include only gesture operation, fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, or digital password, or two or three of these methods.

[0078] Since the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state, the user sometimes does not need to steer the vehicle. The display screen 302 can be used for other functions, such as using the display screen 302 as the vehicle's instrument panel to display vehicle status data such as battery level, speed, tire pressure, and range. Therefore, when the steering wheel controller 308 detects that the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state, the display screen 302 is only in an inactive state. Only when the user activates the steering information on the display screen 302 will the steering wheel controller 308 generate a first signal based on the second response fed back by the display screen 302, thereby controlling the vehicle's steering to ensure the multi-functional use of the display screen 302.

[0079] When the driver activates the display screen 302, the steering wheel controller 308 receives a second response from the display screen 302, generates a first signal based on the second response, and sends the first signal to the display screen 302. The first signal instructs the display screen 302 to display steering information, specifically, to display three virtual buttons for left turn, right turn, and centering on the display screen 302. Figure 11 As shown, this configuration meets the basic requirements for emergency vehicle steering. The three virtual buttons independently correspond to the vehicle's steering information input: the left turn button corresponds to the maximum angle the wheels can turn left, the right turn button corresponds to the maximum angle the wheels can turn right, and the return-to-center button returns the wheels to the straight-ahead position. Here, the maximum left and right turn angles are the initial preset limits of the vehicle's rotation.

[0080] Step S102: Receive a first response from the display screen 302. The first response is generated by the user's operation on the turning information of the display screen 302. Specifically, the first response corresponds to the user selecting one of the virtual buttons: left turn, right turn, or return to center.

[0081] Step S103: Generate a second signal based on the first response and send the second signal to the vehicle controller. The second signal is used to instruct the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering. The second signal here includes a left turn signal, a right turn signal, and a return-to-center signal.

[0082] Since the steering wheel 3 can be in a folded state, the vehicle needs to be equipped with a steer-by-wire control system. Therefore, when the vehicle controller receives the second signal, it needs to process the second signal and convert it into a command signal for normally turning the steering wheel 3, such as a torque signal and a steering angle signal, so that the vehicle controller can control the vehicle wheels to steer according to the initial preset limit angle.

[0083] By setting a steering wheel controller 308 connected to the steering wheel 3 and setting a display screen 302 on the steering wheel 3, when the steering wheel 3 is in the folded state, the user can operate the display screen 302 to send a steering signal to the vehicle controller, thereby enabling the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering. This solves the problem that when the steering wheel 3 is in the folded state, the user cannot turn the steering wheel 3 to steer the vehicle, and there is no need to wait for the steering wheel 3 to unfold from the folded state to the working state. It can realize quick automatic steering of the vehicle, saving waiting time. Especially when the user needs to steer the vehicle urgently when the steering wheel 3 is in the folded state, it greatly improves the user experience.

[0084] In some embodiments, after receiving a second response from the display screen 302, the method further includes:

[0085] Step S101': The steering wheel controller 308 generates a third signal and sends the third signal to the display screen 302. The third signal is used to instruct the display screen 302 to stop receiving user operations.

[0086] After the user activates the steering information on display screen 302, to prevent continuous user operations from disrupting the signal output, the steering wheel controller 308 generates a third signal to instruct display screen 302 to stop receiving user operations. Specifically, display screen 302 changing from a pending activation state to a deactivated state, such as displaying vehicle operating information or being in a screen-off state, means that even if the user touches display screen 302, they cannot activate it, cannot select the virtual buttons on display screen 302, and cannot steer the vehicle.

[0087] In some embodiments, after the vehicle controller controls the vehicle steering, the method further includes:

[0088] Step S104: The steering wheel controller 308 generates a fourth signal and sends it to the display screen 302. This fourth signal instructs the display screen 302 to continue receiving user input. Simultaneously, the steering wheel controller 308 controls the steering wheel 3 to change from a folded state to a working state. By generating the fourth signal after the vehicle controller controls the vehicle's steering, instructing the display screen 302 to continue receiving user input, the user can issue another action command to the display screen 302 to continue controlling the vehicle's steering if the desired steering is not achieved after one attempt. Furthermore, by controlling the vehicle's steering after the vehicle controller controls the vehicle's steering, the steering wheel controller 308 controls the steering wheel 3 to change from a folded state to a working state. This synchronizes vehicle steering with the unfolding of the steering wheel 3, reducing the waiting time for the steering wheel 3 to unfold. Once the steering wheel 3 unfolds, the user can immediately perform normal steering operations by operating the steering wheel 3.

[0089] Of course, in other embodiments, step S104 may only include the steering wheel controller 308 generating a fourth signal and sending the fourth signal to the display screen 302. The fourth signal is used to instruct the display screen 302 to continue receiving user operations. Alternatively, it may only include the steering wheel controller 308 controlling the steering wheel 3 to change from a folded state to a working state.

[0090] When a vehicle is parked on the roadside, it needs to leave the scene within a very short time. Therefore, in some embodiments, before sending the activation signal to the display screen 302 after detecting that the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state, the method further includes:

[0091] Step S100: When the steering wheel controller 308 receives the fifth signal sent by the vehicle controller, it detects whether the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state. The fifth signal is sent by the vehicle controller when it detects that the vehicle speed is 0.

[0092] The vehicle's speed is detected by the vehicle's infotainment system controller. When the vehicle's speed is 0, if the vehicle is parked on the side of the road and an emergency start and steering maneuver is required, the vehicle's automatic steering function can be activated to allow the vehicle to quickly leave the spot.

[0093] In this embodiment, step S101' can be replaced by step S101": the steering wheel controller 308 generates a sixth signal and sends the sixth signal to the vehicle infotainment controller. The sixth signal is used to instruct the vehicle infotainment controller to stop detecting the vehicle speed, thereby causing the display screen 302 to stop receiving user operations. When the vehicle speed is 0, after the steering wheel controller 308 receives the second response from the display screen 302, since the display screen 302 needs to stop receiving user operations, this can be achieved by the vehicle infotainment controller stopping the detection of the vehicle speed. When the display screen 302 needs to continue receiving user operations, the vehicle infotainment controller can be restarted to detect the vehicle speed, so that the user can continue to operate the display screen 302.

[0094] Of course, in other embodiments, such as when the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, the method does not need to include step S100.

[0095] This embodiment also provides a vehicle steering control device for implementing the above embodiments and preferred embodiments; details already described will not be repeated. As used below, the term "module" can refer to a combination of software and / or hardware that performs a predetermined function. Although the devices described in the following embodiments are preferably implemented in software, hardware implementation, or a combination of software and hardware, is also possible and contemplated.

[0096] This invention provides a vehicle steering control device for implementing the aforementioned vehicle steering control method, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the device includes a detection unit 201, a transmission unit 202, a receiving unit 203, and a generation unit 204. Furthermore, the device may include other units or modules, either more or fewer.

[0097] The detection unit 201 is used to detect whether the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state.

[0098] The sending unit 202 is used to send a first signal to the display screen 302 when the detection unit 201 detects that the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state. The first signal is used to instruct the display screen 302 to display steering information.

[0099] The receiving unit 203 is used to receive a first response from the display screen 302, which is generated by the user's operation on the turning information of the display screen 302.

[0100] The generation unit 204 is used to generate a second signal based on the first response.

[0101] The transmitting unit 202 is also used to send a second signal to the vehicle controller, the second signal being used to instruct the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering.

[0102] Optionally, in some embodiments, the sending unit 202 is specifically used to send an activation signal to the display screen 302 when the steering wheel 3 is detected to be in a folded state. The activation signal is used to indicate that the display screen 302 is in an activation state. The receiving unit 203 is also used to receive a second response from the display screen 302. The second response is generated after the user performs an activation operation on the steering information on the display screen 302. The generating unit 204 is also used to generate a first signal based on the second response.

[0103] Optionally, in some embodiments, the generating unit 204 is further configured to generate a third signal, and the sending unit 202 is further configured to send the third signal to the display screen 302, wherein the third signal is used to instruct the display screen 302 to stop receiving user operations.

[0104] Optionally, in some embodiments, the generating unit 204 is further configured to generate a fourth signal, and the sending unit 202 is further configured to send the fourth signal to the display screen 302, the fourth signal being used to instruct the display screen 302 to continue receiving user operations.

[0105] Optionally, in some embodiments, the vehicle steering control device includes a control unit for controlling the steering wheel 3 to change from a folded state to an active state.

[0106] Optionally, in some embodiments, the detection unit 201 is further configured to detect whether the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state when receiving a fifth signal sent by the vehicle controller. The fifth signal is sent by the vehicle controller when it detects that the vehicle speed is 0. Of course, in this embodiment, similar to the steering wheel controller 308, the vehicle controller also includes a detection unit and a sending unit. The detection unit is used to detect the vehicle speed, and the sending unit is used to send the fifth signal to the steering wheel controller 308.

[0107] In this embodiment, the vehicle steering control device is presented in the form of a functional unit. Here, a unit refers to an ASIC circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or fixed programs, and / or other devices that can provide the above-mentioned functions.

[0108] Further functional descriptions of the above modules are the same as those in the corresponding embodiments described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0109] This invention provides a vehicle steering control system, including: a steering wheel 3, a display screen 302 on the steering wheel 3, the steering wheel 3 having a working state and a folded state; a vehicle controller; a steering mechanism connected to the vehicle controller; and a steering wheel controller 308 connected to the steering wheel 3, the display screen 302 and the vehicle controller, for detecting the state of the steering wheel 3 and executing the above-described vehicle steering control method.

[0110] Among them, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the steering wheel 3 can be folded in both a horizontal and vertical manner. Regardless of its folding position, the steering wheel 3 saves more cabin space, providing greater comfort, especially when the driver needs to rest. Alternatively, the steering wheel 3 can be folded only horizontally or vertically.

[0111] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the steering wheel 3 includes: a steering wheel body 301, on which a display screen 302 is provided; two handles 303 connected to the steering wheel body 301 and located on the left and right sides of the steering wheel body 301 respectively; a first drive assembly connected to the handles 303, adapted to drive the handles 303 to move horizontally relative to the steering wheel body 301 to achieve a horizontally folded state; and a second drive assembly connected to the steering wheel body 301, adapted to drive the steering wheel body 301 to move vertically to achieve a vertically folded state.

[0112] In this embodiment, the display screen 302 is located at the center of the steering wheel body 301 for easy viewing and operation by the user. The display screen 302 has two display modes: driving mode and emergency mode. The driving mode exists when the vehicle is being driven normally. The display screen 302 replaces the vehicle's instrument panel and displays vehicle status data such as battery level, speed, tire pressure, and remaining range. The emergency mode is applicable to all emergency operations when the steering wheel 3 is in the folded state. When the steering wheel 3 is in the folded state and it takes a certain amount of time to extend and retract, or when the steering wheel 3 malfunctions while in the folded state, the driver may need to move the vehicle urgently due to external reasons. In this case, the emergency mode can be activated. The emergency mode requires the driver to use fingerprint unlocking or gesture, facial recognition, digital password, or other quick unlocking methods to activate it. The driver can then use the virtual buttons on the display screen 302 to steer the vehicle to achieve the purpose of emergency vehicle movement.

[0113] In this embodiment, the handle 303 is an irregularly shaped handle, different from the traditional round and D-shaped steering wheel structures. The steering wheel shape of this embodiment is suitable for steer-by-wire control systems with high and variable transmission ratios. This shape is designed to better fit the variable transmission ratio function of the steer-by-wire control system, changing the monotonous steering wheel shape and improving the hand operating space in the cockpit. A gap is provided between the two handles 303, such as an opening above the steering wheel 3, which can effectively prevent the steering wheel 3 from shifting perpendicular to the ground due to the driver's height, posture, and habits when adjusting the steering column. This would prevent the upper edge of the round or D-shaped steering wheel from obstructing the driver's view of the vehicle's instrument panel.

[0114] The first drive assembly includes a first drive mechanism fixedly connected to the steering wheel body 301; and a first transmission mechanism connected to the first drive mechanism and the handle 303, adapted to drive the handle 303 to move under the drive of the first drive mechanism. Specifically, the first drive mechanism is a motor, and the first transmission mechanism is a gear 305 and a rack.

[0115] like Figure 3 As shown, the steering wheel body 301 is connected to the two handles 303 via telescopic arms 304, as... Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the motor and gear 305 are located in the middle of the steering wheel body 301. Two racks are respectively located in the two telescopic arms 304 and arranged vertically, namely the upper rack 306 and the lower rack 307. The motor drives the gear 305 to rotate, and the gear 305 meshes with the upper rack 306 and the lower rack 307. Clockwise rotation causes the two handles 303 of the steering wheel 3 to retract inward, and counterclockwise rotation causes the two handles 303 of the steering wheel 3 to extend outward, so as to achieve the purpose of extension and retraction. As an alternative implementation, the driver can also manually drive the telescopic arms 304 to extend or retract, thereby causing the handles 303 to fold inward or extend outward.

[0116] like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the two telescopic arms 304 are staggered vertically. Alternatively, in a different implementation, the two telescopic arms 304 can be arranged along the same straight line.

[0117] The second drive assembly in this embodiment includes a second drive mechanism, fixedly connected to the lower part of the steering wheel body 301, suitable for driving the steering wheel body 301 to rise and fall. Specifically, the second drive mechanism is a linear motor, which can axially retract the parallel-retracted steering wheel body 301 and embed it into the dashboard 4, thus reserving more space for movement in the driver's cabin. As an alternative implementation, the second drive assembly may also include a second drive mechanism and a second transmission mechanism, where the second drive mechanism is a motor and the second transmission mechanism is a gear and rack. As an alternative implementation, the steering wheel body 301 may also be extended and retracted manually.

[0118] Figure 5 and Figure 6 This is a simplified schematic diagram of the steering wheel 3 of the present invention performing a lifting and lowering movement. When the steering wheel 3 is not needed, the steering wheel 3 moves vertically downwards and embeds into the dashboard 4, according to the attached diagram. Figure 6 As shown, when the steering wheel 3 is embedded in the dashboard, the upper surface of the steering wheel 3 can be flush with the upper surface of the dashboard 4, which can greatly improve the usable space of the cockpit.

[0119] Figures 7 to 10 A simplified diagram illustrating the horizontal telescopic movement of the handle 303 of the steering wheel 3. When the driver is not using the steering wheel 3, the two telescopic arms 304 are aligned with the center of the steering wheel 3, forming a large circle. When the driver needs to use the steering wheel 3, the two telescopic arms 304 extend the steering wheel 3 in opposite directions. (Details follow...) Figure 7 and Figure 9 When the central motor operates, it drives gear 305 to rotate. The rotation of gear 305 causes the meshing upper rack 306 and lower rack 307 to move simultaneously. When gear 305 rotates clockwise, the upper rack 306 and lower rack 307 move laterally towards each other along the tangent direction of the meshing position of gear 305. At this time, the handle 303 representing the steering wheel 3 folds inward; specifically as follows... Figure 8 and Figure 10 When gear 305 rotates counterclockwise, the upper rack 306 and lower rack 307 move laterally away from each other, at which point the handle 303 of the steering wheel 3 extends outward. This structure reduces the space occupied by the steering wheel 3 in the cockpit, and when the steering wheel 3 is extended and embedded into the dashboard 4, it can also reduce the size of the reserved holes on the dashboard 4.

[0120] In this embodiment, the vehicle controller is the main controller of the vehicle, and the steering mechanism is the wheel.

[0121] In this embodiment, the steering wheel controller 308 is located below the steering wheel body 301. In the normal driving mode, it receives vehicle status parameters and displays them on the display screen 302. In the emergency mode, it processes and identifies the driver's fingerprint, gesture, face, digital password, or other quick unlocking methods. It receives the vehicle's power-on status, identifies the driver's operation commands, and issues steering commands to the steering mechanism, thereby enabling the vehicle to perform steering behavior.

[0122] In this embodiment, the vehicle steering control system allows the display screen 302 to function as a vehicle dashboard in normal driving mode, displaying dynamic vehicle operating data and overall vehicle status data for the driver to easily understand the vehicle's dynamics. When the vehicle is not in a driving state or in a free driving state, the steering wheel 3 is in a folded state. At this time, the vehicle can activate the emergency steering function as needed, which can greatly improve the utilization rate of the cockpit while ensuring the safety of using the steering wheel 3 in the folded state.

[0123] The vehicle steering control system in this embodiment adopts a steer-by-wire control system. Therefore, the vehicle steering control system includes a torque sensor and an angle sensor, which convert the steering signal into a torque signal and an angle signal, respectively, and then control the vehicle steering.

[0124] This invention provides a vehicle including the vehicle steering control system described above.

[0125] Specifically, in this embodiment, the vehicle is an automobile. As an alternative implementation, the vehicle may be of other types.

[0126] This invention provides an electronic device; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 12 , Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an optional embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 12 As shown, the electronic device includes one or more processors 10, memory 20, and interfaces for connecting the components, including high-speed interfaces and low-speed interfaces. The components communicate with each other via different buses and can be mounted on a common motherboard or otherwise as required. The processor 10 can process instructions executed within the electronic device, including instructions stored in or on memory 20 to display graphical information of a GUI on an external input / output device (such as a display device coupled to the interface). In some alternative embodiments, multiple processors 10 and / or multiple buses can be used with multiple memories 20 if desired. Similarly, multiple electronic devices can be connected, each providing some of the necessary operations (e.g., as a server array, a group of blade servers, or a multiprocessor 10 system). Figure 12 Take a processor 10 as an example.

[0127] Processor 10 may be a central processing unit, a network processor, or a combination thereof. Processor 10 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The programmable logic device may be a complex programmable logic device (CAMP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a general-purpose array logic (GDA), or any combination thereof.

[0128] The memory 20 stores instructions executable by at least one processor 10 to cause at least one processor 10 to perform the method shown in the above embodiments.

[0129] The memory 20 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the electronic device as displayed on a mini-program landing page. Furthermore, the memory 20 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some alternative embodiments, the memory 20 may optionally include memory remotely located relative to the processor 10, and these remote memories can be connected to the electronic device via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0130] The memory 20 may include volatile memory, such as random access memory; the memory 20 may also include non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, hard disk or solid-state drive; the memory 20 may also include a combination of the above types of memory 20.

[0131] The electronic device also includes a communication interface 30 for communicating with other devices or communication networks.

[0132] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The methods described above according to embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or firmware, or implemented as computer code that can be recorded on a storage medium, or implemented as computer code downloaded via a network and originally stored on a remote storage medium or a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and then stored on a local storage medium. Thus, the methods described herein can be processed by software stored on a storage medium using a general-purpose computer, a dedicated processor, or programmable or dedicated hardware. The storage medium can be a magnetic disk, optical disk, read-only memory, random access memory, flash memory, hard disk, or solid-state drive, etc.; further, the storage medium can also include combinations of the above types of memory. It is understood that computers, processors, microprocessor controllers, or programmable hardware include storage components capable of storing or receiving software or computer code, which, when accessed and executed by the computer, processor, or hardware, implements the methods shown in the above embodiments.

[0133] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle steering control method, applied to a steering wheel controller, wherein the steering wheel controller is connected to a steering wheel and is used to detect the state of the steering wheel, the steering wheel being provided with a display screen, characterized in that, The method includes: Upon detecting that the steering wheel is in a folded state, a first signal is sent to the display screen, the first signal being used to instruct the display screen to display steering information; the step of sending the first signal to the display screen upon detecting that the steering wheel is in a folded state includes: when the steering wheel controller receives a fifth signal sent by the vehicle controller, the fifth signal being sent by the vehicle controller when it detects that the vehicle speed is 0; upon detecting that the steering wheel is in a folded state, an activation signal is sent to the display screen, the activation signal being used to indicate that the display screen is in an activation state; a second response is received from the display screen, the second response being generated after the user activates the steering information on the display screen; and the first signal is generated based on the second response; Receive a first response from the display screen, the first response being generated by the user's operation on the turning information of the display screen; A second signal is generated based on the first response and sent to the vehicle controller. The second signal is used to instruct the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering.

2. The vehicle steering control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After receiving the second response from the display screen, the process includes: The steering wheel controller generates a third signal and sends the third signal to the display screen, which instructs the display screen to stop receiving user input.

3. The vehicle steering control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, After the vehicle controller controls the vehicle's steering, the method includes: The steering wheel controller generates a fourth signal and sends the fourth signal to the display screen, the fourth signal being used to instruct the display screen to continue receiving user input; And / or, the steering wheel controller controls the steering wheel to change from the folded state to the working state.

4. The vehicle steering control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After receiving the second response from the display screen, the process includes: The steering wheel controller generates a sixth signal and sends the sixth signal to the vehicle infotainment controller. The sixth signal is used to instruct the vehicle infotainment controller to stop detecting the vehicle speed.

5. The vehicle steering control method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The activation operation includes at least one of gesture operation, fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and digital password; And / or, the steering information includes at least one of: left turn, right turn, and straighten.

6. A vehicle steering control device, characterized in that, An application for a steering wheel controller, the steering wheel controller being connected to the steering wheel and used to detect the state of the steering wheel, the steering wheel having a display screen, including: The detection unit is used to detect whether the steering wheel is in a folded state; A sending unit is configured to send a first signal to a display screen when the detection unit detects that the steering wheel is in a folded state, the first signal being used to instruct the display screen to display steering information; the step of sending the first signal to the display screen when the steering wheel is detected to be in a folded state includes: when the steering wheel controller receives a fifth signal sent by the vehicle controller, the fifth signal being sent by the vehicle controller when it detects that the vehicle speed is 0; when the steering wheel is detected to be in a folded state, sending an activation signal to the display screen, the activation signal being used to indicate that the display screen is in an activation state; receiving a second response from the display screen, the second response being generated after the user activates the steering information on the display screen; and generating the first signal based on the second response; A receiving unit is configured to receive a first response from the display screen, the first response being generated by the user's operation on the turning information of the display screen; A generation unit is used to generate a second signal based on a first response; The transmitting unit is further configured to send the second signal to the vehicle controller, the second signal being used to instruct the vehicle controller to control the vehicle steering.

7. A vehicle steering control system, characterized in that, include: A steering wheel, the steering wheel having a display screen, and the steering wheel having a working state and a folded state; Vehicle infotainment system controller; The steering mechanism is connected to the vehicle control unit; A steering wheel controller, connected to the steering wheel, the display screen, and the vehicle control unit, is used to detect the state of the steering wheel and execute the vehicle steering control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the vehicle steering control system as described in claim 7.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: A memory and a processor are communicatively connected, the memory storing computer instructions, and the processor executing the computer instructions to perform the vehicle steering control method of any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions for causing the computer to perform the vehicle steering control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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