Steering Wheel Vibration Control Without Turning Angle Change

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles with mechanically coupled steering wheels and turning wheels, the vibration of the steering wheel used for alerting drivers of lane departure can potentially influence the vehicle's behavior, leading to instability.

Innovation Solution

A steering control device that includes a processor to control the steering wheel's vibration in a specific region where the turning angle does not change, minimizing the impact on the vehicle's behavior, and includes processes for acquiring alarm information, correcting the target rudder angle, and controlling the steering angle to ensure safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the steering wheel is vibrated to alert the driver of lane departure, then the driver can be warned effectively, but the vibration may influence the vehicle's behavior and cause instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver warning effectivenessVSAvoidvehicle behavioral stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by restricting the vibration to a specific angular range (predetermined region) where the steering angle does not change even when the steering wheel rotates. This localized approach ensures that the warning function is achieved without affecting vehicle stability, as the vibration occurs in a region where mechanical coupling does not transmit the motion to the turning wheels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the steering wheel's rotational range into different regions: a predetermined region where vibration is applied for warning without affecting vehicle behavior, and other regions where normal steering control operates. This segmentation allows the warning function to be separated from the steering control function, eliminating the contradiction between effective warning and vehicle stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the steering wheel is vibrated in a region where turning angle changes, then the driver can feel the vibration strongly, but the vehicle's turning angle will fluctuate unintentionally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration perception intensityVSAvoidturning angle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies and utilizes a specific local region (predetermined region) of the steering wheel's rotational range where vibration can be applied without causing turning angle changes. This local quality approach ensures that the vibration is applied where it provides warning feedback without the harmful side effect of unintentional turning angle fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively restrains the vibration's influence on the vehicle's behavior, allowing for precise control of the steering wheel's vibration to alert drivers of potential dangers without compromising the vehicle's stability.

Implementation Method 1

In vehicles with mechanically coupled steering wheels and turning wheels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical coupling:

Data Source

PatentEP4375163A1Steering control device
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 JTEKT CORP
  • EP4375163A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4375163A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4375163A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A steering control device is configured to control a steering device (10). The steering device (10) includes a steering wheel (12), a steering shaft (14) coupled to the steering wheel (12), a turning wheel (40) of a vehicle, and a motor (50) configured to rotate the steering shaft (14). The turning wheel (40) is configured to turn along with rotation of the steering shaft (14). The steering control device includes a processor. The processor is configured to execute an alarm information acquisition process of acquiring information indicating that an alarm needs to be issued to a driver of the vehicle, and a vibration process of vibrating the steering wheel (12) in a predetermined region by operating the motor (50), in a situation where the alarm needs to be issued. The predetermined region is a region where a turning angle of the turning wheel (40) does not change even when the steering wheel (12) rotates.