MDPS Steering Hands-Off Detection Using Pinion-Column Angle Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems struggle to accurately detect the hands-on/off state of the steering wheel, which is crucial for safety and convenience systems like ESC, SCAS, SPAS, and SCC, due to limitations in steering angle signal processing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determines the difference between pinion and column angles in a motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system, using a torque angle sensor and electronic control unit to identify a hands-off state by analyzing the distribution of these angles and steering torque, particularly in driving assist modes like lane keeping assist control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If steering angle sensor signals are used for hands-off state detection, then the detection system is simple to implement, but the detection accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection parameters (steering angle sensor signals, torque sensor signals, and angular acceleration sensor signals) into a comprehensive hands-off state detection system. By merging these different signal sources, the system achieves higher detection accuracy while maintaining reasonable implementation complexity, as each sensor leverages existing vehicle components.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system utilizes multiple sensors that serve various functions in the vehicle (steering angle for navigation, torque for power assistance, angular acceleration for stability control) and repurposes them for hands-off state detection. This multi-functionality approach improves detection accuracy without requiring dedicated specialized sensors, thus maintaining ease of implementation.
2Device complexity
If traditional steering angle sensor only is used for detection, then the device complexity is low, but the detection reliability in driving assist control mode is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the ECU continuously monitors multiple sensor signals (steering angle, torque, angular acceleration) and dynamically adjusts the hands-off state determination based on the driving assist control mode. This feedback loop enhances detection reliability by cross-validating multiple parameters rather than relying on a single sensor, while the existing control architecture maintains manageable device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and parameters are combined for detection, then the detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing vehicle sensors (steering angle sensor, torque sensor, angular acceleration sensor) that are already part of the vehicle's standard equipment for other functions. By making these existing sensors serve the additional function of hands-off state detection, the system achieves high detection precision without significantly increasing device complexity, as the sensors and their signal processing pathways already exist in the vehicle architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A hands-off state detection method of a vehicle includes determining a difference between a pinion angle and a column angle of a motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system of the vehicle, and determining a hands-off state of a steering wheel of the vehicle based on the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle.