IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,319,342
Granted Patent B2
US 12,319,342 · App. 18/067,891 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Vehicle steering control

Inventors: Andrew Denis Lewandowski (Sterling Heights, MI); Keith Weston (Canton, MI); Jordan Barrett (Milford, MI); Brendan Francis Diamond (Grosse Pointe, MI); David Michael Russell (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B62D15/025B62D15/029
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,319,342
App. No.
18/067,891
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle maneuvering scenario can be identified based on data from vehicle sensors including at least one of (a) a location of the vehicle, or (b) data indicating that a first steering wheel rotation in a first direction and a second steering wheel rotation in a second direction each exceed a rotation threshold. A steering ratio can be determined based on the vehicle maneuvering scenario. Vehicle steering can then be actuated according to the steering ratio.

Claims (26)

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

identify a vehicle maneuvering scenario based on data from vehicle sensors including data indicating that a first steering wheel rotation in a first direction and a second steering wheel rotation in a second direction each exceed a rotation threshold;

determine a steering ratio based on the vehicle maneuvering scenario; and

actuate vehicle steering according to the steering ratio.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to identify the vehicle maneuvering scenario further include instructions to identify the vehicle maneuvering scenario based on a vehicle speed.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to determine the steering ratio further include instructions to determine the steering ratio based on a vehicle speed.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to determine the steering ratio further include instructions to determine the steering ratio based on a type of the vehicle maneuvering scenario.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the type of the vehicle maneuvering scenario is one of a parallel parking scenario, a reverse-parking scenario, a forward-parking scenario, or a trailer maneuvering scenario.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to determine the steering ratio further include instructions to determine the steering ratio based on user input confirming the vehicle maneuvering scenario.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to determine the steering ratio further include instructions to adjust the steering ratio based on historical data for a location of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to determine the steering ratio further include instructions to suppress an adjustment to the steering ratio based on a vehicle location.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to determine the steering ratio further include instructions to adjust the steering ratio as a location of the vehicle changes.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data from the vehicle sensors to identify the current vehicle maneuvering scenario further include data about a vehicle occupant.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the data about a vehicle occupant includes image data showing that the occupant is checking vehicle mirrors and/or looking out of a rear window.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to determine a second steering ratio based on determining a second maneuvering scenario after actuating the vehicle steering according to the steering ratio, and to actuate the vehicle steering according to the second steering ratio.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data from the vehicle sensors to identify the current vehicle maneuvering scenario further include data about a third steering wheel rotation and a fourth steering wheel rotation each exceeding the rotation threshold.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering ratio is calibrated for a type of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering ratio is calibrated for a speed of the vehicle.

16. A method, comprising:

identifying a vehicle maneuvering scenario based on data from vehicle sensors including data indicating that a first steering wheel rotation in a first direction and a second steering wheel rotation in a second direction each exceed a rotation threshold;

determining a steering ratio based on the vehicle maneuvering scenario; and

actuating vehicle steering according to the steering ratio.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising identifying the vehicle maneuvering scenario based on a vehicle speed.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining the steering ratio based on a vehicle speed and/or a type of the vehicle maneuvering scenario and/or based on historical data for a location of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising adjusting the steering ratio as a location of the vehicle changes.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the data from the vehicle sensors to identify the current vehicle maneuvering scenario further include data about a vehicle occupant.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2022
From: LEWANDOWSKI, ANDREW DENIS; WESTON, KEITH; BARRETT, JORDAN; DIAMOND, BRENDAN FRANCIS; RUSSELL, DAVID MICHAEL
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 062140/0145 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240199120A1 · Jun 20, 2024
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