IP Library Granted Patent US 9,586,618
Granted Patent B2
US 9,586,618 · App. 15/008,416 · Granted Mar 7, 2017

Vehicle control system for controlling steering of vehicle

Inventor: Wellen Sham (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
B62D15/025B60K28/00B60K35/00B62D1/00G06F21/74G06K9/00355G06K9/52G06K9/6215G06T7/004G06T7/0042G06T7/2033G06T7/60H04N7/18H04N9/3179B60K2350/2052G06T2207/30196G06T2207/30268
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,586,618
App. No.
15/008,416
Granted
Mar 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle control system comprising a projecting device, a camera device, a control device and an actuating device. The vehicle steering control system does not need a physical steering wheel, thus the weight and cost of the vehicles can be reduced. In addition, the steering control system according to the present invention provides the drivers with brand new driving experience.

Claims (28)

1. A control system for controlling steering of a driving apparatus, wherein the system comprising:

a projecting device configured to project a steering wheel image in front of a driver seat;

a camera device configured to take images of one or two hands on the projected steering wheel image periodically;

a processor configured by machine-readable instructions to:

determine a position of the one or two hands on the projected steering wheel image according to the images of the one or two hands,

calculate a movement of the one or two hands based on the determined position of the one or two hands on the projected steering wheel image,

determine a steering angle and a steering direction according to the movement of the one or two hands, and

output a control signal according to the steering angle and steering direction; and

an actuating device configured to receive the control signal and effectuate a maneuver of the driving apparatus according to the control signal.

2. The control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage device the storage device storing the positions of the hands;

wherein processor is further configured to calculate a position difference vector according to the position of the hands and at least one position of the one or two hands determined at a previous time to form the movement position difference vector.

3. The control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the camera device is configured to take images of the left and right hands on the steering wheel image; and

wherein the processor is configured to

separately calculate a left hand movement position difference vector and a right hand movement position difference vector,

check whether the left hand movement position difference vector is consistent with the right hand movement position difference vector, and,

in response to determining the left hand movement position difference vector is consistent with the right hand movement position difference vector, determines the steering angle and the steering direction according to the left or right hand movement position difference vector.

4. The control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage device, steering angles and steering directions corresponding to respective movement position difference vectors being pre-stored in the storage device.

5. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating device is a steering motor, operative connected to a steering structure having a steering rack and a steering gear.

6. An electric vehicle, comprising the vehicle control system according to claim 1 .

7. A control method for controlling steering of a driving apparatus, comprising the following steps:

projecting a steering wheel image in front of a driver seat;

taking images of one or two hands on the projected steering wheel image;

determining a position of the one or two hands on the projected steering wheel image according to the images of the one or two hands;

calculating a movement of the one or two hands based on the determined position of the one or two hands on the projected steering wheel image;

determining a steering angle and a steering direction according to the movement of the one or two hands

outputting a control signal according to the steering angle and steering direction;

receiving, at an actuating device, a control signal to effectuate a maneuver of the driving apparatus.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2017
From: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LIMITED
To: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042084/0334 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2016
From: SHAM, WELLEN
To: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
Reel/Frame 037602/0383 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62274110 · Dec 31, 2015
Provisional Application 62150848 · Apr 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62133991 · Mar 16, 2015
Related Publication 20160272242A1 · Sep 22, 2016