IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,617,460
Granted Patent B2
US 12,617,460 · App. 18/488,762 · Granted May 5, 2026

Vehicle and hands-off state detection method thereof

Inventor: Dongseob Lee (Ulsan, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
B62D6/10B62D15/0215B62D15/0225B62D15/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,617,460
App. No.
18/488,762
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hands-off state detection method of a vehicle includes determining a difference between a pinion angle and a column angle of a motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system of the vehicle, and determining a hands-off state of a steering wheel of the vehicle based on the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle.

Claims (28)

1 . A hands-off state detection method of a vehicle comprising:

determining a difference between a pinion angle and a column angle of a motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system of the vehicle;

determining whether a state of a steering wheel of the vehicle is a hands-off state based on the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle, the hands-off state indicating that hands of a driver of the vehicle are spaced apart from the steering wheel; and

controlling the vehicle based on the determining of the hands-off state.

2 . The hands-off state detection method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, based on a determination that the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle is 0 degrees for a preset number of times or more for a preset time, the state of the steering wheel as the hands-off state.

3 . The hands-off state detection method according to claim 2 , further comprising, determining, based on the state of the steering wheel not being the hands-off state, strength of grasp of the driver on the steering wheel according to a difference between (i) distribution of the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle and (ii) the 0 degree.

4 . The hands-off state detection method according to claim 1 , further comprising

determining the state of the steering wheel as the hands-off state while the vehicle is in a driving assist control mode.

5 . The hands-off state detection method according to claim 4 , wherein

the driving assist control mode comprises a lane keeping assist control mode.

6 . The hands-off state detection method according to claim 1 , wherein

the motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system is provided in a rack mounting method (R-MDPS).

7 . A vehicle comprising:

a torque angle sensor provided to detect a difference between a pinion angle and a column angle of a motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system of the vehicle; and

an electronic controller configured to:

determine the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle of the motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system, and

determine whether a state of a steering wheel of the vehicle is a hands-off state based on the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle, the hands-off state indicating that hands of a driver of the vehicle are spaced apart from the steering wheel.

8 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine, based on a determination that the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle is 0 degrees for a preset number of times or more for a preset time, the state of the steering wheel as the hands-off state.

9 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine, based on the state of the steering wheel not being the hands-off state, strength of grasp of the driver on the steering wheel according to a difference between (i) distribution of the difference between the pinion angle and the column angle and (ii) the 0 degree.

10 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to determine the state of the steering wheel as the hands-off state while the vehicle is in a driving assist control mode.

11 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein

the driving assist control mode comprises a lane keeping assist control mode.

12 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein

the motor-driven power steering (MDPS) system is provided in a rack mounting method (R-MDPS).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2023
From: LEE, DONGSEOB
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065261/0320 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0144531 · Nov 2, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240140526A1 · May 2, 2024
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