Motor vehicle with downhill control function and method for enabling downhill control function

Abstract

A motor vehicle (1) comprises: a steering wheel (6) comprising a touch sensitive portion (10); a user interface (13) comprising a control device (14) for triggering the activation of a downhill control function; a control unit (ECU) coupled with the steering wheel (6) and the user interface (13) and configured to detect activation of the downhill control function by the control device (14) and to activate the downhill control function in response to a touch of the touch sensitive portion (10) by a driver of the motor vehicle (1) if the downhill control function has been activated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of Italian patent application No. 102024000005287, filed on March 8, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle having a hill descent control function. The present invention also relates to a method of activating the hill descent control function during use of a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0003] In motor vehicle technology, hill descent control is a well-known function that assists the driver in descending a slope by autonomously controlling the speed of the motor vehicle under the acceleration of gravity, i.e. without the driver having to intervene with the brake pedal.

[0004] Specifically, the hill descent control allows setting a constant value for the driving speed during a downhill slope, so that the function controls the braking system of the motor vehicle so that the actual driving speed approaches the set constant value and stabilizes at this value.

[0005] A hill descent control device is a device that applies hill descent control to a motor vehicle, including at least one control unit configured to perform or initiate hill descent control by controlling a braking system of the motor vehicle, for example, based on an acquired signal indicating an actual driving speed and, if necessary, a signal indicating a slope of a downhill slope of the motor vehicle.

[0006] The braking system controlled by the control unit may include brakes applied to the wheels, and an engine brake assembly for regulating the braking effect applied to the wheels by the propulsion assembly of the motor vehicle.

[0007] If the motor vehicle is actually traveling downhill at a speed that does not exceed the threshold, the driver may activate hill descent control by activating a control, which may include a button, lever, knob, touchpad, or the like.

[0008] The activation control is located near the steering wheel, making it easy and quick for the driver to reach by hand without requiring the driver to change posture for an extended period or relinquish manual control of the steering wheel.

[0009] This activation control is typically added to a number of other controls that must have the same reachability characteristics to activate or control other features of the vehicle that are typically used more frequently than hill descent control.

[0010] This often results in an overcrowding of controls near the steering wheel, which can cause a slight sense of disorientation for the driver and detract from the aesthetic appeal of the steering wheel area, which typically requires a high degree of aesthetic cleanliness and minimalism, which is generally associated with the simplicity of functionality and overall effectiveness of a motor vehicle.

[0011] Therefore, there is generally a need to identify a potential improved allocation of controls to the steering wheel compared to known motor vehicle models.

[0012] More specifically, the driver's accessibility to a particular control needs to be correlated with the frequency of use of the function activated or controlled by the particular control.

[0013] This applies in particular to features such as hill descent control, which are only particularly appreciated by certain user groups, such as those who frequently drive on mountain roads or on roads with frequent sections of significant gradient.

[0014] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to meet the above needs, preferably in a simple and reliable manner. Summary of the Invention

[0015] Said object is achieved by a motor vehicle and a method provided according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention provides a motor vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel including a touch-sensitive portion; a user interface including a control device, the control device being used to command the activation of a downhill control function; a control unit coupled to the steering wheel and the user interface and configured to: detect activation of the downhill control function by the control device, and, if the downhill control function is already activated, start the downhill control function in response to a driver of the motor vehicle touching the touch-sensitive portion.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, activation of the hill descent control function can only and exclusively be performed by the control device.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensitive portion is a portion of a screen, and the control unit is configured to cause an indicator of the hill descent control function to appear at the touch sensitive portion on the screen in response to the activation.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is configured to change a property of the indicator when the hill descent control function is activated.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the user interface comprises an additional screen for displaying a settings menu forming part of the control device, and the control device comprises a controller configured to cooperate with the settings menu for enabling the hill descent control function.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller is a touch command of the setting menu displayed on the additional screen.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the user interface is separate from the steering wheel.

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for enabling a hill-descent control function on a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: detecting the enabling of the hill-descent control function by a control device of a user interface of the motor vehicle, and only as a result of the enabling; allowing the hill-descent control function to be activated by the driver of the motor vehicle touching a touch-sensitive portion of a screen that forms part of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of causing an indicator of the hill descent control function to appear on the touch sensitive portion in response to the activation.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of changing the attribute of the indicator when the hill descent control function is activated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting embodiments of the invention, wherein

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 an enlarged perspective view of the interior of a motor vehicle;

[0029] Figure 3 Similar to Figure 2 , showing a driver enabling a hill descent control function from a settings menu on a screen of a user interface of a motor vehicle;

[0030] Figure 4 Similar to Figure 3 , showing the driver activating the hill descent control function via the controller, which appears after the hill descent control function is enabled via the settings menu;

[0031] Figure 5 Similar to Figure 4 , showing the controller lighting up after the hill descent control function is activated; and

[0032] Figure 6 is a block diagram representing method steps for enabling and activating a hill descent control function. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] exist Figure 1 , reference numeral 1 denotes the vehicle as a whole, or more precisely, the motor vehicle as a whole.

[0034] The motor vehicle 1 comprises a plurality of wheels 2, Figure 1 Only two of the wheels are visible.

[0035] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 comprises a propulsion device 3, which is shown schematically and which can be controlled to accelerate the motor vehicle 1. The propulsion device 3 may comprise an electric motor and / or a heat engine and is connected to the wheels 2 to rotate them, thereby achieving acceleration and thus forward movement of the motor vehicle 1.

[0036] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 comprises a brake system 4 which Figure 1 It is shown only in schematic form in the region in which one of the wheels 2 is visible.

[0037] This is not restrictive, as the brake device 4 may be applied to one or more wheels 2 , for example to the front wheels and / or the rear wheels, without loss of generality.

[0038] The brake system 4 is configured to brake the motor vehicle 1 , in particular under the control of the driver.

[0039] The brake device 4 may comprise devices known per se; for example, the brake device 4 may comprise a disc brake or other known type of brake and, if necessary, a servo-actuator, for example of the hydraulic type, which can be controlled so as to operate the brake in a known manner and which will therefore not be described in detail.

[0040] Furthermore, the braking device 4 may comprise a device for applying an engine braking effect to the wheels 2, such as an automatic transmission unit or a proportional shut-off valve on the exhaust pipe of a turbocharger of the thermal engine of the propulsion device 3, wherein the automatic transmission unit forms part of a transmission assembly between the propulsion device 3 and the wheels and can be controlled to downshift, thereby increasing the engine braking effect on the wheels 2.

[0041] The braking device 4 may comprise an electric motor of the propulsion device 3 , since an electric motor can perform a braking function when controlled to act as a generator.

[0042] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 comprises a steering wheel 6 for steering at least two wheels 2 ; the steering wheel 6 in turn comprises a supporting part 7 and a rotating part 8 which is rotatable relative to the supporting part 7 about a straight axis.

[0043] The rotating portion 8 is an adjustment member configured to adjust the steering of the wheel 2 by its rotation, particularly in a manner proportional to or increasing with the rotation angle of the rotating portion 8 .

[0044] The steering wheel 6 , or more specifically the rotating portion 8 , comprises a screen or interface 9 , or more generally an assembly having a touch-sensitive portion 10 .

[0045] The touch-sensitive portion 10 refers to a portion having a driver-touchable surface 12 and at least one sensor (not shown) configured to detect a driver's touch on the surface 12 and generate a corresponding signal indicating the detected touch.

[0046] The motor vehicle 1 further comprises a user interface 13 , which is particularly recognizable in the art as an HMI (short for Human Machine Interface). Preferably, the user interface 13 is separate from the steering wheel 6 , ie spaced apart or isolated therefrom.

[0047] For example, the user interface 13 is configured to perform a variety of functions, such as controlling information and / or entertainment (infotainment) components of the motor vehicle 1, i.e. controlling sources (e.g. multimedia sources) including but not limited to one or more of a satellite navigation device, a car radio, a telephone interface, a television device, etc.

[0048] The user interface 13 has or comprises a control device 14 , which the driver can use to control the enablement of a hill descent control (abbreviated hereinafter as HDC) function of the motor vehicle 1 .

[0049] As explained in more detail below, the HDC function is executable or activated by a control unit ECU of the motor vehicle 1 and comprises or in other words performs a control of the driving speed (or more simply, the speed) of the motor vehicle 1 .

[0050] The control unit ECU is coupled to the user interface 13 and is configured to detect activation of the HDC function by the control device 14 .

[0051] Preferably, activation of the HDC function can only and exclusively be performed by the control device 14. In other words, if the driver does not voluntarily decide to activate the HDC function via the control device 14, the HDC function cannot be activated in another alternative manner.

[0052] The activation of the HDC function is a prerequisite (but not a sufficient condition) for the control unit ECU to execute or start the HDC function itself. In other words, the control unit ECU can only start or execute the HDC function when it detects the activation of the HDC function.

[0053] In more detail, Figure 2 As shown, the user interface 13 comprises a screen 15 for displaying a settings menu 16 , which is part of the control device 14 .

[0054] Specifically, the control device 14 includes a controller 17 configured to cooperate with the setting menu 16 for enabling the HDC function.

[0055] More specifically, the controller 17 may be configured to allow the user to scroll through the setup menu 16 and, optionally, to input an activation instruction through the setup menu 16, which is received by the control unit ECU. The control unit ECU then activates the HDC function in response to receiving the activation instruction.

[0056] It should be understood that the controller 17 is not necessarily limited to a single controller of a particular type, but may include a plurality of sub-controllers, which may be of several types.

[0057] For example, according to embodiments not shown herein, the controller 17 may be a physical controller, such as a button, a joystick, etc. Alternatively, the controller 17 may be of the sound, magnetic, optical type, etc., without loss of generality.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, as shown, the controller 17 may be part of the settings menu 16 .

[0059] Specifically, the screen 15 is touch-sensitive, and thus the controller 17 is a touch controller for the setting menu 16 displayed on the screen 15 .

[0060] Once the HDC function is enabled, that is, only when the HDC function is enabled or under the condition of enabling the function (in other words, the enabling has occurred or is detected by the control unit ECU), the control unit ECU is configured to start or execute the HDC function in response to a touch on the touch sensing portion 10 (in particular, a touch by the driver) ( Figure 4 ).

[0061] In particular, the activation or execution of the HDC function can be performed exclusively by the touch sensing portion 10 , that is, more precisely, by touching the touch sensing portion 10 .

[0062] In addition to the conditions under which the HDC function must be enabled, activation of the HDC function can only be successful if or when certain predetermined operating conditions of the motor vehicle 1 occur.

[0063] The control unit ECU is configured to check whether a specific operating condition of the motor vehicle 1 has actually occurred, and if the specific operating condition is satisfied, then activation of the HDC function is completed, i.e., the HDC function is successfully activated. Otherwise, activation of the HDC function is unsuccessful; in other words, the control unit ECU is configured to abort activation of the HDC function if the specific operating condition is not satisfied.

[0064] The specific operating condition includes the motor vehicle 1 being driven downhill, i.e. the motor vehicle 1 is subject to acceleration in its direction of travel due to gravity. More precisely, the specific operating condition means that the gradient of the road on which the motor vehicle 1 is traveling lies within a predetermined range of descending gradients, wherein, in particular, a minimum descending gradient is greater than zero and extends to a maximum descending gradient.

[0065] Furthermore, the specific operating conditions may comprise conditions regarding the driving speed or velocity of the motor vehicle 1 , which speed must, for example, lie within a predetermined speed range, in particular between a minimum threshold value (e.g. less than 5 km / h but in any case not zero) and a maximum threshold value (e.g. greater than 50 km / h).

[0066] Furthermore, certain operating conditions may include the propulsion device 3 being actually coupled to the wheels 2 , ie the vehicle being in engaged-gear, or in idle while in motion, but not, for example, with the automatic transmission unit set to park.

[0067] Additionally, certain operating conditions may include a cruise control function (eg, adaptive) not being activated or being unable to be activated.

[0068] Once the HDC function is activated or executed, the control unit ECU controls the speed of the motor vehicle 1 by setting a target value for the speed itself and controlling at least one of the devices 3 , 4 as a function of the set target value, in particular so that the actual speed approaches the target value.

[0069] More specifically, according to one embodiment, the control unit ECU controls the braking device 4 instead of the propulsion device 3 to control the speed of the motor vehicle 1 .

[0070] The control is performed according to a control law to minimize or reduce the difference or variance between the actual value and the target value of the speed.

[0071] More precisely, the control law is used to keep the speed of the motor vehicle 1 substantially constant and equal to a target value, in particular during a descent of the motor vehicle 1 .

[0072] The control law is preferably a closed-loop control law, but it may be an open-loop control law without loss of generality.

[0073] Preferably, when the HDC function is successfully activated, the target value is set equal to the current value of the actual speed of the motor vehicle 1 .

[0074] Alternatively or additionally, the target value may be set by the driver via specific controls of known type and not shown here.

[0075] Preferably, the motor vehicle 1 is equipped or initially provided with a disabled HDC function, and the driver can enable this function via the control device 14 .

[0076] Furthermore, the control device 14 can be used, for example, by the driver to deactivate the HDC function after activation of the function via the same control device 14. In particular, the HDC function can only be deactivated exclusively by the control device 14.

[0077] The control unit ECU is also configured to store the state of activation or deactivation of the HDC function by the control device 14, regardless of the operating conditions of the motor vehicle 1 or its subsequent use. Thus, for example, if the motor vehicle 1 is turned off with the HDC function activated, the control unit ECU continues to detect activation of the HDC function when the motor vehicle 1 is turned back on.

[0078] Preferably, the touch sensitive portion 10 is part of the screen 9 .

[0079] The control unit ECU is configured, in particular, to cause an indicator 21 of the HDC function to appear at the touch-sensitive portion 10 on the screen 9 in response to activation of the HDC function ( Figure 3 ).

[0080] Basically, when the control device 14 activates the HDC function, the control unit ECU causes the indicator 21 to light up.

[0081] The indicator 21 indicates the position of the touch sensitive portion 10 on the screen 9 .

[0082] For example, the indicator 21 may comprise a graphical icon, such as the typical graphical icon commonly associated with the HDC function in the automotive industry, ie an icon representing a motor vehicle going downhill with an associated speedometer.

[0083] Furthermore, preferably, the control unit ECU is configured to change the properties of the indicator 21 ( Figure 5 ).

[0084] In particular, the control unit ECU changes a light property of the indicator 21 , such as the color, but may alternatively or additionally change other light properties, such as the light intensity or the flashing frequency of the light.

[0085] During operation of the motor vehicle 1 , the driver can trigger activation of the HDC function by using the control device 14 ( Figure 6 100 ), in particular, by scrolling through the setup menu 16 and providing an activation instruction to the control unit ECU via the controller 17 .

[0086] Here, the control unit ECU activates the HDC function ( Figure 6 101 ), and in particular, simultaneously causing the indicator 21 to appear at the touch-sensitive portion 10 on the screen 9.

[0087] At this time, the driver touches the touch sensing portion 10 specifically indicated by the indicator 21 to trigger the start of the HDC function ( Figure 6 102).

[0088] The control unit ECU detects the touch, i.e. the corresponding indication signal, and continues to start or execute the HDC function ( Figure 6 103).

[0089] If the control unit ECU checks that all necessary specific operating conditions are met, the execution or activation of the HDC function is successful ( Figure 6 104).

[0090] At this time, in particular, if the HDC function is successfully activated, the control unit ECU changes the attribute of the indicator 21 so that the driver recognizes that the HDC function has been activated.

[0091] Based on the above content, especially based on the above operation, the control unit ECU executes a method for enabling the HDC function, wherein the method includes the following steps:

[0092] - detecting the activation of the HDC function by the control device 14 and only as a result of said activation;

[0093] - Allowing the HDC function to be activated by the driver touching a touch-sensitive portion 10 of the screen 9 which is part of the steering wheel 6 .

[0094] Furthermore, the method preferably comprises the step of causing an indicator 21 of the HDC function to appear on the touch sensitive portion 10 in response to said activation.

[0095] Furthermore, the method preferably comprises the step of changing the properties of the indicator 21 when the HDC function is activated (in particular, when it is successfully activated).

[0096] Generally, any function executed by the control unit ECU may be a step of the above method.

[0097] For the reasons stated above, the advantages of the motor vehicle 1 and the method according to the invention are clear.

[0098] In particular, the screen 9 only displays the indicator 21 when the HDC function is actually activated by the control device 14. In this way, overcrowding of controls on the steering wheel 6 is avoided unless it is really necessary for a driver who frequently uses the HDC function.

[0099] In fact, when the HDC function is disabled, the touch sensing portion 10 can be advantageously used for other purposes or functions.

[0100] In this way, the aesthetics of the steering wheel 6 remain clean and efficient without reducing functionality that the driver may use.

[0101] Finally, the method and the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention are susceptible to changes and modifications without departing from the scope of protection of the technical solution described in this application.

[0102] For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that numerical adjectives such as first, second, and third do not necessarily have a limiting value and are used solely to avoid misunderstanding. In other words, the adjective first does not necessarily imply a second object, just as the adjective second does not necessarily imply a first object. Furthermore, different numerical adjectives can refer to the same or different objects without loss of generality.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle (1), comprising: a steering wheel (6) comprising a touch-sensitive portion (10), A user interface (13) comprising a control device (14) for commanding activation of a hill descent control function, and A control unit (ECU) is coupled to the steering wheel (6) and the user interface (13) and is configured to detect activation of the hill descent control function by the control device (14) and, if the hill descent control function is activated, activate the hill descent control function in response to a driver of the motor vehicle (1) touching the touch sensing portion (10).

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The activation of the hill descent control function can only and exclusively be performed by the control device (14).

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The touch-sensitive portion (10) is part of the screen (9), and the control unit (ECU) is configured to cause an indicator (21) of the hill descent control function to appear at the touch-sensitive portion (10) on the screen (9) in response to the activation.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein: The control unit (ECU) is configured to change the property of the indicator (21) when the hill descent control function is activated.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein: The user interface (13) includes an additional screen (15) for displaying a settings menu (16) forming part of the control device (14), while the control device (14) includes a controller (17) configured to cooperate with the settings menu (16) for enabling the hill descent control function.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein: The controller (17) is a touch command of the setting menu (16) displayed on the additional screen.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein: The user interface (13) is separate from the steering wheel (6).

8. A method for activating a hill descent control function on a motor vehicle (1), the method comprising the steps of: detecting activation of the hill descent control function by a control device (14) of a user interface (13) of the motor vehicle (1), and only as a result of said activation; The hill descent control function is enabled by the driver of the motor vehicle touching a touch-sensitive portion (10) of a screen (9) forming part of a steering wheel (6) of the motor vehicle (1).

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: In response to the activation, an indicator (21) of the hill descent control function is caused to appear on the touch sensitive portion (10).

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: When the hill descent control function is activated, the attribute of the indicator (21) is changed.

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