IP Library Granted Patent US 10,377,409
Granted Patent B2
US 10,377,409 · App. 15/679,251 · Granted Aug 13, 2019

Enhanced vehicle steering

Inventors: Mohamad Wajih Issam Farhat (Dearborn, MI); Domenic Miccinilli (Royal Oak, MI); Jens Christiansen (Plymouth, MI); Nathaniel Abram Rolfes (Detroit, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B62D1/286B62D6/10G05D1/0061G05D1/0088G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,377,409
App. No.
15/679,251
Granted
Aug 13, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A manual steering torque input is measured. A manual steering mode of a vehicle is actuated when the manual steering torque input is below a first torque threshold and above a second torque threshold for longer than a time threshold that is based on a vehicle speed.

Claims (26)

1. A system, comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to:

measure a manual steering torque input;

select a time threshold based on a vehicle speed; and

actuate a manual steering mode of a vehicle when the manual steering torque input is below a first torque threshold and above a second torque threshold for longer than the time threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate an autonomous steering mode upon receiving user input.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate an autonomous steering mode upon operating in the manual steering mode for longer than a second time threshold.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine a second vehicle speed and to determine the second time threshold based on the second vehicle speed.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine a second manual steering torque input in the manual steering mode and to actuate an autonomous steering mode when the second manual steering torque input is below the second torque threshold for longer than a second time threshold.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine a second manual steering torque input in the manual steering mode and to actuate an autonomous steering mode when the second manual steering torque input is below a third torque threshold for longer than a second time threshold.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine at least one of the first torque threshold and the second torque threshold based on the vehicle speed.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify the manual steering torque input based on user input to a steering wheel.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the manual steering mode when the manual steering torque input is above the first torque threshold.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to remain in the manual steering mode until the vehicle is deactivated.

11. A method, comprising:

measuring a manual steering torque input;

selecting a time threshold based on a vehicle speed; and

actuating a manual steering mode of a vehicle when the manual steering torque input is below a first torque threshold and above a second torque threshold for longer than the time threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating an autonomous steering mode upon receiving user input.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating an autonomous steering mode upon operating in the manual steering mode for longer than a second time threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a second vehicle speed and determining the second time threshold based on the second vehicle speed.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a second manual steering torque input in the manual steering mode and actuating an autonomous steering mode when the second manual steering torque input is below the second torque threshold for longer than a second time threshold.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a second manual steering torque input in the manual steering mode and actuating an autonomous steering mode when the second manual steering torque input is below a third torque threshold for longer than a second time threshold.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining at least one of the first torque threshold and the second torque threshold based on the vehicle speed.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising identifying the manual steering torque input based on user input to a steering wheel.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating the manual steering mode when the manual steering torque input is above the first torque threshold.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising remaining in the manual steering mode until the vehicle is deactivated.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST INVENTOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 045248 FRAME: 0825. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Mar 28, 2018
From: FARHAT, MOHAMAD WAJIH ISSAM; MICCINILLI, DOMENIC; CHRISTIANSEN, JENS; ROLFES, NATHANIEL ABRAM
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045749/0051 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST INVENTOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 044736 FRAME: 0122. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 6, 2018
From: FARHART, MOHAMAD WAJIH ISSAM; MICCINILLI, DOMENIC; CHRISTIANSEN, JENS; ROLFES, NATHANIEL ABRAM
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045248/0825 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE NAME OF INVENTOR FARHART PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 043317 FRAME 0680. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded Nov 13, 2017
From: FARHART, MOHAMAD MOHAMAD WAJIH; MICCINILLI, DOMENIC; CHRISTIANSEN, JENS; ROLFES, NATHANIEL ABRAM
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 044736/0122 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2017
From: FARHAT, MOGHAMAD WAJIH ISSAM; MICCINILLI, DOMENIC; CHRISTIANSEN, JENS; ROLFES, NATHANIEL ABRAM
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 043317/0680 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190054950A1 · Feb 21, 2019