Motor vehicle steering wheel system pulsates in case of danger

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering system (MVS) comprising a wheel rim (WRI) having a closed fluid circulation circuit (CRT) arranged within the wheel rim substantially around its periphery and near its outer surface; said circuit being connected to a variable fluid pressure regulator (VAR) which is controlled by a control unit (CU) capable of determining, in real time, an overall danger level from data delivered by a multi-sensor system (MSS) of the vehicle, and capable of translating the overall danger level into a determined fluctuation of the fluid pressure within the circuit; said fluctuation resembling a heartbeat: the higher the overall danger level, the higher the heartbeat. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle steering wheel system that activates in case of danger

[0001] The invention relates generally to the field of human-machine interfaces, or HMIs, particularly those equipping the steering wheels of motor vehicles, and more specifically to a steering wheel system equipped with a structure capable of reproducing pulsations that allow the driver, whose hands are in contact with the steering wheel, to feel in real time the evolution of an overall level of danger to which their vehicle is subjected. Such a structure, associated with the steering wheel, defines a real-time adaptive hazard warning system.

[0002] Commonly used warning systems are of the audible, visual, haptic (vibrations in the seat or on the steering wheel) type, or a combination of these different types of systems.

[0003] Audible alerts are very intrusive and relate to imminent dangers.

[0004] Visual alerts may not be seen or, on the contrary, may distract the driver.

[0005] Haptic-type alerts such as vibrations in the seat or steering wheel are rather targeted at specific dangers such as the detection of a vehicle in a blind spot or crossing a line.

[0006] None of these alerts allows for the overall and progressive representation of the evolution of a danger level.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to provide a minimally intrusive solution while making the driver aware of an overall danger to which his vehicle and its evolution are subject, in the vehicle's environment and in real time.

[0008] By overall danger, we mean all the dangers to which the vehicle is exposed, dangers which are assessed on the basis of criteria for increasing the risk of accidents such as night driving, road conditions, weather conditions, noise level in the passenger compartment, presence of passengers, driver distraction and fatigue, speeding, traffic density, inter-vehicle distance, driver's level of driving experience, driving style, etc.

[0009] To this end, the invention primarily relates to a steering wheel system for a motor vehicle comprising a rim covered with an external gripping surface; said rim comprising a closed circuit for circulating a fluid, arranged inside the rim substantially around its entire periphery and in the vicinity of the external gripping surface; said circuit being connected to a variable speed drive. fluid pressure which is controlled by a control unit capable of determining, in real time, the evolution of an overall danger level from data delivered by a multi-sensor system of the vehicle, and capable of transcribing the evolution of the overall danger level in the form of a determined fluctuation of the fluid pressure inside the circuit; said determined fluctuation being close to a heart rate: the higher the overall danger level and the higher the rate.

[0010] According to one feature, the fluid used in the circuit is a gas, in particular air, and the variator includes an air compressor capable of fluctuating the air pressure inside the circuit.

[0011] As an alternative, the fluid used is a liquid, in particular water, and the variator includes a water pump capable of fluctuating the water pressure inside the circuit.

[0012] According to another feature, the rim comprises a rigid frame surrounded by a foam-based material of determined density, held inside a sheath closed around the rim; said sheath comprising, on at least a part of its outer surface, said gripping surface, called skin, intended to be in contact with the hands of the driver of the vehicle in driving position, and in which the fluid circuit is arranged inside the foam-based material, under the skin and in the vicinity of the skin, over substantially the entire outer periphery of the rim.

[0013] According to another feature, the control box includes at least one processing computer capable of determining the evolution of the overall danger level in real time, and capable of transcribing this evolution into a control signal intended for the pressure variator.

[0014] According to another feature, the multi-sensor system belongs to, or cooperates with, a vehicle driver assistance system.

[0015] According to another feature, the evolution of the overall danger level is determined, in real time, from risk increase criteria chosen from: night driving, road conditions, weather conditions, noise level in the passenger compartment, presence of passengers, driver distraction and fatigue, speeding, traffic density, inter-vehicle distance, driver's level of driving experience, driving style.

[0016] According to another feature, the closed fluid circuit defines a pipe, based on plastic material, whose wall is thin enough to allow a "tactile" feeling of the pressure fluctuations of the fluid circulating inside the pipe and strong enough to withstand the pressure without tearing or piercing the pipe wall.

[0017] The present invention has as its second object, a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel system as described above.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a steering wheel system according to the invention; and

[0020] [Fig.2] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the rim of the steering wheel system according to the invention.

[0021] A finding in car accidentology indicates that one in two deaths in cars is a young driver, therefore inexperienced, and who is often unaware of the danger.

[0022] This danger may stem from his behavior, which can be exacerbated by his environment. It is therefore essential to find a way to make him aware of the danger.

[0023] To this end, the present invention proposes to use the lever of symbiosis between the driver and his "personified" vehicle in order to sensitize him to the "emotions" of his vehicle, a bit like a rider might be with his mount.

[0024] The vehicle's "emotions" are translated by the evolution of the overall danger detected by the vehicle from various sensors equipped on the vehicle capable of perceiving the vehicle's driving environment and the driver's behavior in this environment, in real time.

[0025] The evolution of the overall danger level, once determined, is returned in the form of a beat, a pulse, in a manner similar to the beat of the human heart whose pulse one would take to follow the heart rate; the "pulse" of the vehicle being taken via the steering wheel.

[0026] To translate this beat concretely, into feeling by the driver of the vehicle, the present invention proposes to equip the rim of the steering wheel system with a closed and sealed circuit allowing the circulation of a fluid, with determined pressure fluctuations of the fluid inside the circuit so as to reproduce heartbeats of the type, by analogy with the blood pressure inside the human circulatory system.

[0027] The fluid circuit is arranged on the outer periphery of the rim, under the steering wheel skin and as close as possible to the steering wheel skin, so as to allow the driver, who in the driving position has both hands on the steering wheel, to feel the effects of these pressure fluctuations.

[0028] He will therefore be immediately informed of the danger and its evolution by the rhythm of these pressure fluctuations.

[0029] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a steering wheel system SVD according to the invention of a motor vehicle VHL.

[0030] The SVD steering wheel system consists of a generally circular JTE rim connected to a central hub MOY by at least one connecting arm, here three connecting arms BRL. The hub MOY is rotationally connected to the vehicle's steering column, not shown. A steering wheel system may also support control HMIs or other attention and / or drowsiness detection sensors connected by an electrical harness to a vehicle control unit.

[0031] As illustrated in more detail in the cross-sectional view of [Fig. 2], along the section axis II-II of [Fig. 1], the JTE rim is made from a rigid ARM frame with a generally constant, substantially circular cross-section. It is covered with a foam-based material, such as polyurethane foam, of a determined density, contained within a GNE sheath stretched and closed around the JTE rim.

[0032] The outer surface of the GNE sheath, also designated as PEA skin, has a texture or grain, determined both to allow good grip on the JTE rim, which is the gripping element of the SVD steering wheel system, and to provide a pleasant feel.

[0033] In one embodiment, the JTE rim includes a closed CRT fluid circuit, defining a thin-walled, resistant plastic-based pipe arranged in the MMS foam-based material, under the PEA skin, in the vicinity of the PEA skin.

[0034] The CRT circuit is arranged substantially around the entire outer periphery of the JTE rim, between the PEA skin and the ARM reinforcement of the JTE rim. A thin-walled, strong tube is defined as a tube whose wall is thin enough to allow a "tactile" feeling of pressure fluctuations in the fluid flowing inside the tube and strong enough to withstand the pressure without tearing or puncturing the tube wall. Furthermore, it must be able to be arranged within the MMS foam-based material without being crushed by it.

[0035] The CRT circuit is connected to a VAR device or variator capable of varying the fluid pressure within the CRT circuit. Figure 1 shows a CNE inlet and a CNS outlet of the fluid of the CRT fluid circuit connected to the VAR variator, corresponding respectively to the first and second ends of the pipe.

[0036] The BDC control box and / or the VAR variator are, for example, housed in the steering column block, not shown, and the first and second ends of the CNE, CNS pipe arrive at the level of the MOY hub and then join the JTE rim by one of the BRL connecting arms.

[0037] The VAR variator is connected to a BDC control box of the VHL vehicle which receives data provided by the VHL vehicle in relation to the evolution of the overall level of danger to which the VHL vehicle is subjected.

[0038] The pressure inside the CRT circuit fluctuates according to the evolution of the overall danger level estimated by the VHL vehicle from the criteria already introduced above.

[0039] This evolution is reproduced in such a way as to approximate a feeling of heartbeat type whose pulse is reproduced by a fluctuation of the pressure of the fluid in the circuit characterized by a succession of compressions and decompressions of the fluid circulating in the circuit.

[0040] The human sense of touch is sensitive to pressure fluctuations that the driver can associate with a heartbeat-like pulsation. The faster the vehicle's "pulse," the greater the danger.

[0041] The fluid can be a liquid, for example water, in which case the CRT circuit is a water circuit connected to a VAR water pump and a system of valves not shown, controlled by the BDC control box.

[0042] Alternatively, the fluid can be a gas under pressure, for example compressed air, in which case the CRT circuit is a compressed air circuit, connected to a VAR air compressor whose compression (inflation) and decompression (deflation) are controlled by the BDC control box.

[0043] The BDC control unit is coupled to an intelligent electronic system, in particular a multi-sensor system (SMC) belonging to, or cooperating with, an ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance System) driver assistance system of the vehicle (VHL). This system provides the BDC control unit, after multi-sensor fusion processing or other methods, with data delivered by the various sensors equipping the vehicle (VHL): vehicle status sensors (speed, lights on or off, windshield wipers activated or not, number of passengers, cabin noise level, cigarette smoke, etc.), sensors for perceiving the driving environment (cameras, radar, etc.), as well as sensors for driver attention, drowsiness, etc.

[0044] Such an SMC system is generally referred to as a multi-sensor system.

[0045] The BDC control unit includes at least one computer that processes these Multi-sensor data delivered by the SMC multi-sensor system in real time determines the evolution of the overall danger level based on various risk increase criteria chosen from the following non-exhaustive list: night driving, road conditions, weather conditions, cabin noise level, presence of passengers, driver distraction and fatigue, speeding, traffic density, vehicle-to-vehicle distance, driver experience level, and driving style. This real-time overall danger level is then translated into a control signal determined by the VAR variable speed drive, pump or compressor, allowing to reproduce pressure fluctuations in a manner similar to that of a heartbeat.

Claims

Demands

1. Steering wheel system (SVD) of a motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a rim (JTE) covered with an outer gripping surface (PEA); said rim (JTE) comprising a closed circuit (CRT) for circulating a fluid, arranged inside the rim (JTE) substantially around the entire periphery of the rim (JTE) and in the vicinity of the outer gripping surface (PEA); said circuit (CRT) being connected to a variable pressure regulator (VAR) of the fluid which is controlled by a control unit (BDC) capable of determining, in real time, the evolution of an overall danger level from data delivered by a multi-sensor system (SMC) of the vehicle (VHL), and capable of translating the evolution of the overall danger level into a determined fluctuation of the fluid pressure inside the circuit (CRT); said fluctuation determined to approximate a heart rate: the higher the overall danger level, the higher the rate.

2. Steering wheel system (SVD) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fluid used in the circuit (CRT) is a gas, in particular air, and wherein the variator (VAR) includes an air compressor capable of fluctuating the air pressure inside the circuit (CRT).

3. Steering wheel system (SVD) according to claim 1, wherein the fluid used is a liquid, in particular water, and wherein the variator (VAR) includes a water pump capable of fluctuating the water pressure inside the circuit (CRT).

4. Steering wheel system (SVD) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rim (JTE) comprises a rigid frame (ARM) surrounded by a foam-based material (MMS) of determined density, held within a sheath (GNE) closed around the rim (JTE); said sheath (GNE) comprising on at least a portion of its outer surface said gripping surface (PEA), called skin, intended to be in contact with the hands of the vehicle driver (VHL) in the driving position, and wherein the fluid circuit (CRT) is arranged within the foam-based material (MMS), under the skin (PEA) and in the vicinity of the skin (PEA), over substantially the entire outer periphery of the rim (JTE).

5. Steering wheel system (SVD) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (BDC) includes at least one processing computer capable of determining the evolution of the overall danger level in real time, and capable of transcribing this evolution into a control signal intended for the pressure regulator (VAR).

6. Steering wheel system (SVD) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the multi-sensor system (SMC) belongs to, or cooperates with, a vehicle driver assistance system (VHL).

7. Steering wheel system (SVD), according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the evolution of the overall danger level is determined, in real time, from risk increase criteria selected from: night driving, road conditions, weather conditions, noise level in the passenger compartment, presence of passengers, driver distraction and fatigue, overspeed, traffic density, inter-vehicle distance, driver's level of driving experience, driving style.

8. Steering wheel system (SVD) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closed fluid circuit (CRT) defines a hose, based on plastic material, the wall of which is thin enough to allow a "tactile" feeling of pressure fluctuations of the fluid flowing inside the hose and strong enough to withstand the pressure without tearing or piercing the wall of the hose.

9. Motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a steering wheel system (SVD) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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