Automatic wheel steering control system for a motor vehicle at the end of a maneuver

Abstract

An automatic steering control (ASC) system for at least one steering wheel (SW) of a motor vehicle (MV) at the end of a vehicle maneuver in a predetermined direction relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, said system comprising a steering wheel (SW) coupled to said wheel via a power steering (PS) control device of the vehicle; said steering wheel comprising at least one touch control zone (TCZ) arranged on the steering wheel so as to deliver a control signal to the power steering control device for the automatic steering of the wheel to a predetermined steering angle, in said predetermined direction, following a double touch on said zone; said control signal being taken into account following a vehicle maneuver completion signal issued by the vehicle. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Automatic wheel steering control system for a motor vehicle at the end of a maneuver

[0001] The invention relates generally to automatic control systems using human-machine interfaces, or HMIs, particularly those equipping the steering wheels of motor vehicles, and more particularly to an automatic wheel steering control system for a motor vehicle at the end of a maneuver, using touch control zones arranged on the steering wheel of the vehicle; each touch control zone relating to a specific steering angle to be applied to the steering wheels of the vehicle to orient them in a specific direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0002] Within a motor vehicle, the steering function is generally ensured by the cooperation of a steering wheel, a steering column, a pinion, a rack and a tie rod, and acts on the steering wheels of the vehicle, which are most often the front wheels of the vehicle.

[0003] In order to reduce the effort exerted by a driver during low-speed vehicle maneuvers, assistance devices have been developed, including electric assistance devices.

[0004] Such devices include an electric motor interposed between the steering wheel and the vehicle's steering wheels, capable of generating torque that can be superimposed on the torques applied to the steering wheel by the driver. Thanks to this electric assistance, the effort required from the driver to turn the vehicle's steering wheels is reduced. The electric motor of the power steering system can also be automatically controlled to replace the driver during automatic parking, for example.

[0005] At the end of the journey, when the vehicle maneuver is completed, in particular at the end of a parking maneuver, the driver may want to have the front wheels of his vehicle oriented in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (steering wheel in neutral position).

[0006] In other cases, particularly when parking the vehicle on a steep street, the driver may wish to turn the front wheels against a curb for safety reasons.

[0007] The driver must then manually maneuver the steering wheel to reposition the steering wheels with the desired direction.

[0008] Furthermore, in the case of the orientation of the wheels in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (wheel alignment), an uncertainty on the correct manual alignment of the wheels remains.

[0009] The invention consists of enabling the driver of a vehicle equipped with power steering to easily and intuitively control an automatic repositioning of the steering wheels of his vehicle at the end of a maneuver with a determined orientation conforming to the orientation desired by the driver.

[0010] To this end, the invention has as its first object an automatic steering control system for at least one steering wheel of a motor vehicle at the end of a maneuver of the vehicle in a direction determined relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; said system comprising a steering wheel coupled to said wheel via a power steering control device for the vehicle; said steering wheel comprising at least one touch control area arranged on the steering wheel so as to deliver a control signal to the power steering control device for the automatic steering of the wheel with a determined steering angle, in said determined direction, following a double touch contact on said area; said control signal being taken into account following the detection of an end-of-maneuver information for the vehicle delivered by the vehicle.

[0011] According to one feature, the touch control area is activated and the control signal is taken into account when zero vehicle speed information is detected within a determined time interval after a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0012] According to another feature, the steering wheel has a rim and in which a first tactile control area is arranged on the rim according to a determined position on the rim corresponding to a first determined orientation direction of the steering wheel.

[0013] According to another feature, the first touch control area is arranged on the rim in the upper part of the steering wheel, being centered in said upper part, considering the steering wheel in a so-called neutral angular position; a double contact on the first touch control area for this neutral position being able to automatically control the orientation of the steering wheel according to a first direction of orientation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle corresponding to a zero steering angle of the wheel.

[0014] According to another feature, a second control zone is provided on the rim to the left of the first touch control zone, and a third touch control zone is provided on the rim to the right of the first touch control zone; the second and third touch control zones being capable of controlling the wheel's orientation in the second and third directions, respectively. directions with a determined maximum steering angle, respectively to the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0015] According to another feature, the steering angles to the left or right are limited respectively by steering stops to the left or right, or by determined resistive couples created by a fixed obstacle encountered by the wheel, before reaching the steering stops, to the left or right.

[0016] According to another feature, the vehicle has two steering wheels belonging to the same front axle of the vehicle.

[0017] The present invention has as its second object a steering wheel of a motor vehicle intended for a system as described above, comprising a human-machine interface consisting of at least one touch control area arranged on the steering wheel for the control of the automatic orientation of at least one steering wheel of the vehicle.

[0018] The present invention has as its third object, a motor vehicle comprising a system as described above.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, on which:

[0020] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a first use of a touch control interface of a system according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a second use of the interface of touch control of the system according to the invention; and

[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a third use of the touch control interface of the system according to the invention.

[0023] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a touch control interface for an SOA system according to the invention, comprising three touch control zones ZCC, ZCG and ZCD arranged on the steering wheel VDD of a motor vehicle VHL and which acts as an immediately available (shortcut) and easily accessible HMI by the UTI driver using one or more fingers, here the index finger of the UTI driver's right hand.

[0024] In this embodiment, the three touch control zones ZCC, ZCG and ZCD are arranged on the rim JTE of the steering wheel VDD, facing the user: the UTI driver.

[0025] A first touch control zone ZCC is arranged in the upper part of the rim JTE, substantially circular, being centered in the upper part of the rim JTE and second and third zones ZCG and ZCD are arranged respectively symmetrically on the left and on the right of the first central touch control zone ZCC, considering the steering wheel VDD, as illustrated in the figure, in an angular position called the "neutral" angular position.

[0026] In the embodiment considered, the second and third touch control zones ZCG and ZCD are respectively positioned approximately 90° to the left and right of the first touch control zone ZCC.

[0027] Each touch control zone ZCC, ZCG and ZCD relates to a specific steering angle to be applied to the steering wheels RDR of the vehicle VHL, in particular the front left wheels RDG and right wheels RDD of the same front axle TAV of the vehicle VHL, by a power-assisted and controlled steering device DAP, coupled to the steering column, not shown, considering that the vehicle VHL has mechanical steering.

[0028] Each touch control zone ZCC, ZCG and ZCD is capable of delivering a control signal to the DAP power steering device which, in response, applies the steering angle to the steering wheels corresponding to the activated touch control zone ZCC, ZCG or ZCD.

[0029] The power-assisted steering (PAS) system under consideration typically comprises an electric motor, not shown, which is controlled by a steering control unit, also not shown, to provide the necessary assistance (torque) to support the UTI driver in low-speed steering maneuvers. The electric motor can also be controlled to replace the UTI driver for certain maneuvers, particularly automatic parking maneuvers.

[0030] In a first use of 1THM touch control, illustrated in [Fig.1], the first touch control zone ZCC, arranged in the upper part of the rim JTE, is activated by touch by the driver UTI to automatically control a first steering angle, called the “zero” steering angle, 0 = 0, to be applied to the steering wheels RDR of the vehicle VHL.

[0031] By zero steering angle, we mean a steering angle to be applied to the steering wheels RDR that automatically orients the steering wheels RDR in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle VHL, not shown. The angular position of the steering wheel VDD corresponding to this first "zero" steering angle, 0 = 0, is then the so-called "neutral" angular position. The orientation of each of the left steering wheels RDG and right steering wheels RDD is represented in the figure by an arrow, here parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle VHL.

[0032] In a second use of the touch control HMI, illustrated in [Fig.2], the second touch control area ZCG, located in the left part of the JTE rim of the VDD steering wheel, is activated by touch by the driver UTI to automatically control a second steering angle to be applied to the wheels RDR with a second orientation of the steering wheels RDR corresponding to a maximum steering angle determined to the left 0G with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle VHL.

[0033] The steering angle 0G of each of the left steering wheels RDG and right steering wheels RDD is shown in the figure between a steering arrow and an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle VHL.

[0034] This maximum steering angle 0G can correspond to the angle defined by the left steering stop (not shown), or to a fixed obstacle against which the left front wheel RDG would strike during steering, for example, a curb, before reaching the left steering stop. In this case, it is the maximum resistive torque created by this obstacle that is detected by the power steering system DAP and that defines the maximum left steering stop.

[0035] And, in a third use of the touch control HMI, illustrated in [Fig.3], the touch control area ZCD, arranged in the right part of the rim JTE, is activated by touch by the driver UTI to automatically control a third steering angle to be applied to the wheels RDR with a third orientation of the steering wheels RDR corresponding to a maximum steering angle determined to the right 0D with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle VHL.

[0036] The steering angle 0D of each of the left steering wheels RDG and right steering wheels RDD is shown in the figure between a steering arrow and an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle VHL.

[0037] This maximum steering angle 0D can correspond to the angle defined by the right-hand steering stop (not shown), or to a fixed obstacle against which the right front wheel RDD would come into contact during steering, for example, a curb, before reaching the right-hand steering stop. In this case, it is the maximum resistive torque created by this obstacle that is detected by the power steering system DAP and that defines the maximum right-hand steering stop.

[0038] Activation of one of the three touch control zones ZCC, ZCG, or ZCD on the JTE rim of the VDD steering wheel is advantageously achieved by a double contact (two consecutive contacts made within a predetermined time interval of "X" ms), "X" being configurable by the UTI driver or by default by the vehicle manufacturer. Beyond this time interval, the touch control zones ZCC, ZCG, or ZCD are inactive.

[0039] Furthermore, for safety reasons, it is necessary to prevent any risk of accidental activation of the SOA system according to the invention, in a driving situation of the VHL vehicle.

[0040] For this purpose, the SOA system conditions the activation of the touch control zones ZCC, ZCG and ZCD in very specific situations.

[0041] Thus, the touch control zones ZCC, ZCG or ZCD are activated and the control signal is taken into account when zero speed information is received from the vehicle. is detected within a specified time interval after a change in the direction of travel of the VHL vehicle.

[0042] By changing the direction of travel of the VHL vehicle, we mean a forward direction immediately following a reverse direction, or vice versa. This type of maneuver generally reflects a maneuver of the VHL vehicle to park before the VHL vehicle comes to a complete stop, a stop which results in the VHL vehicle reaching zero speed within the time interval determined after the VHL vehicle has come to a complete stop.

[0043] Thus, when the UTI driver of the VHL vehicle has completed his maneuver for parking the VHL vehicle, for example, along a curb between two vehicles already parked (parallel parking), and the vehicle has been stationary (zero speed) for a determined time, he can command the automatic repositioning of the RDR steering wheels of his VHL vehicle by making a double contact, respecting a determined time between the two consecutive contacts, on the central touch control area ZCC so that the RDR wheels automatically realign parallel to the longitudinal axis of the VHL vehicle so as not to overhang onto the traffic lane or the curb.

[0044] Same for parking the VHL vehicle in a parking space delimited on the ground, by a white line on either side of the space.

[0045] Thus, the SOA system according to the invention allows, thanks to a touch-sensitive HMI comprising at least one touch control zone ZCC, directly accessible on the steering wheel VDD and intuitive, in cooperation with the power-assisted and controlled steering device DAP of the vehicle VHL, an automatic repositioning of the steering wheels RDR of the vehicle VHL with a determined orientation, without mechanical action by the driver UTI on the steering wheel VDD (without rotation of the steering wheel VDD by the driver UTI).

[0046] Advantageously, a touch control HMI comprising three touch control zones ZCC, ZCG and ZCD each positioned angularly on the steering wheel VDD in an intuitive manner to evoke respectively three orientations of the steering wheels RDR, makes it possible to cover a large number of situations for which a repositioning of the steering wheels RDR is recommended.

[0047] Thus, the angular position of the first touch control zone ZCC, centered in the upper part of the steering wheel, suggests a zero steering angle: 0 = 0.

[0048] The angular position of the second touch control zone ZCG positioned at 90°, to the left of the position of the first touch control zone ZCC, suggests a left turn: 0 = 0G.

[0049] And, the angular position of the third touch control zone ZCD positioned at 90°, to the right of the position of the first touch control zone ZCC, suggests a right turn: 0 = 0D.

[0050] Technologies relating to touch control areas and double contact acquisition are not part of the scope of the present invention and are therefore not described.

Claims

Demands

1. Automatic steering control (ASC) system of at least one steering wheel (SW) of a motor vehicle (MV) at the end of a maneuver of the vehicle (MV) in a direction determined relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (MV), said ASC comprising a steering wheel (SW) coupled to said wheel (SW) via a power steering (PS) control device of the vehicle (MV); said steering wheel (SW) comprising at least one touch control zone (TCZ) arranged on the steering wheel (SW) so as to deliver a control signal to the power steering (PSZ) control device for the automatic steering of the wheel (SW) with a determined steering angle, in said determined direction, following a double touch contact on said zone (TCZ); said control signal being taken into account following detection of end-of-maneuver information of the vehicle (MV) delivered by the vehicle (MV).

2. System (SOA) according to the preceding claim, wherein the touch control zone (ZCC) is activated and the control signal is taken into account when zero vehicle speed (VHL) information is detected within a specified time interval after a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle (VHL).

3. System (SOA) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steering wheel (VDD) comprises a rim (JTE) and wherein a first tactile control zone (ZCC) is arranged on the rim (JTE) according to a determined position on the rim (JTE) corresponding to a first determined orientation direction of the steering wheel (RDR).

4. System (SOA) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first tactile control zone (ZCC) is arranged on the rim (JTE) in the upper part of the steering wheel (VDD), being centered in said upper part, considering the steering wheel (VDD) in a so-called neutral angular position; a double contact on the first tactile control zone (ZCC) for this neutral position being capable of automatically controlling the orientation of the steering wheel (RDR) along a first parallel orientation direction to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (VHL) corresponding to a wheel steering angle (RDR) of zero.

5. System (SOA) according to the preceding claim, wherein a second control zone (ZCG) is provided on the rim (JTE) to the left of the first tactile control zone (ZCC) and a third tactile control zone (ZCD) is provided on the rim (JTE) to the right of the first tactile control zone (ZCC); the second and third tactile control zones (ZCG, ZCD) being capable of controlling the orientation of the wheel (RDR) respectively in second and third directions with a determined maximum steering angle, respectively to the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (VHL).

6. System (SOA) according to the preceding claim, wherein the steering angles to the left or right are limited respectively by steering stops to the left or right, or by determined resistive torques created by a fixed obstacle encountered by the wheel (RDR), before reaching the steering stops, to the left or right.

7. System (SOA) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle (VHL) comprises two steering wheels (RDG, RDD) belonging to the same front axle (TAV) of the vehicle (VHL).

8. Steering wheel (VDD) of a motor vehicle (VHL) intended for a system (SOA) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a human-machine interface consisting of at least one touch control zone (ZCC) arranged on the steering wheel (VDD) for controlling the automatic orientation of at least one steering wheel (RDR) of the vehicle (VHL).

9. Motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a system (SOA) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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