IP Library Granted Patent US 9,630,628
Granted Patent B2
US 9,630,628 · App. 14/713,025 · Granted Apr 25, 2017

Hand-on steering wheel detection

Inventor: Patrick Kevin Holub (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60W40/08B60W50/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,630,628
App. No.
14/713,025
Granted
Apr 25, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Data representing movement of a portable device is received. A vibrational torque signal within that data corresponding to the vibration of a steering wheel is identified. Based at least in part on the identification, it is determined that a user has a hand on the steering wheel.

Claims (44)

1. A computer comprising a memory and a processor storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:

receive from a wearable portable device, mobile movement data representing movement of the wearable portable device;

identify, from the mobile movement data, a vibrational torque signal including a periodic component, the periodic component corresponding to a vibration of a steering wheel during driving and transmitted by the steering column to the steering wheel; and

determine that a hand of a user is on the steering wheel based at least in part on the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal from the mobile movement data.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to determine that the periodic component is in a predetermined frequency range in the identification of the vibrational torque signal including the periodic component from the mobile movement data.

3. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to:

receive vehicle movement data from a vehicle component, the vehicle movement data including a vibrational torque signal corresponding to the vibration of the steering wheel; and

include a comparison of the vehicle movement data with the mobile movement data in the identification of the vibrational torque signal.

4. The computer of claim 3 , wherein the comparison includes a correspondence between at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal identified in the mobile movement data and at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of a periodic signal identified in the vehicle movement data.

5. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to:

associate the wearable portable device with the user; and

determine, based at least in part on the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal, that the user is located in a driver's seat.

6. The computer of claim 5 , further programmed to:

adjust at least one parameter of one vehicle component based on the determination that the user is located in the driver's seat.

7. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal includes a frequency greater than 5 Hertz.

8. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to:

send, to the wearable portable device, a request for the mobile movement data.

9. The computer of claim 8 , further programmed to:

determine that a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined threshold; and

send the request based at least in part on the determination that the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined threshold.

10. The computer of claim 8 , further programmed to:

send, to a vehicle component, a request for vehicle movement data.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, from a wearable portable device, mobile movement data representing the movement of the wearable portable device;

identifying, from the mobile movement data, a vibrational torque signal including a periodic component, the periodic component corresponding to a vibration of a steering wheel during driving and transmitted by the steering column to the steering wheel; and

determining that a hand of a user is on the steering wheel based at least in part on the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal from the mobile movement data.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying the vibrational torque signal in the mobile movement data includes determining that the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal is in a predetermined frequency range.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving vehicle movement data from a vehicle component, the vehicle movement data including a vibrational torque signal corresponding to the vibration of the steering wheel; and

comparing the vehicle movement data and the mobile movement data; wherein identifying the vibrational torque signal from the mobile movement data is based, at least in part, on the comparison.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the comparison includes identifying a correspondence between at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal identified in the mobile movement data with at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of a periodic signal found in the vehicle movement data.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

associating the wearable portable device with the user; and

determining, based at least in part on the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal, that the user is located in a driver's seat.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

adjusting at least one parameter of one vehicle component based on the determination that the user is located in the driver's seat.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the periodic component of the vibrational torque signal includes a frequency greater than 5 Hertz.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

sending, to the wearable portable device, a request for the mobile movement data.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

determining that a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined threshold; and

sending the request based at least in part on the determination that the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined threshold.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

sending, to a vehicle component, a request for vehicle movement data.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2015
From: HOLUB, PATRICK KEVIN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 035646/0265 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160332635A1 · Nov 17, 2016