Method and detection unit for detecting a probability that a steering element of a vehicle is held by a hand of a driver
A method for detecting a probability of a steering element of a vehicle being held by a hand of a driver is disclosed. The method includes a step of reading in a torque signal representing a torque acting on a torque sensor coupled between the steering element and a steering transmission. The method also includes a step of recognizing a probability of a steering element of a vehicle being held by a hand of a driver if a value of the torque signal and/or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) a threshold value that is dependent on a current vehicle speed in order to detect the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver.
1 . A method for detecting a probability of a steering element of a vehicle being held by a hand of a driver, the method comprising the steps of:
reading-in a torque signal, with a processor of the vehicle, representing a torque acting on a torque sensor coupled between the steering element and a steering transmission;
determining, with the processor, at least one of a value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) a threshold value that is dependent on a current vehicle speed, where the threshold value has a lower value at a higher vehicle speed than a lower vehicle speed;
determining, with the processor, a probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver when at least one of the value of the torque signal or the absolute value of the torque signal is determined to exceed(s) the threshold value; and
at least one of omitting or downgrading in priority, with the processor, a steering intervention by a driver assistance system of the vehicle when the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the user indicates a valid signal that the driver is holding the steering wheel with their hand.
2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver is further recognized by at least one of:
(i) using at least one of at least one time period for which a value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) the threshold value, or
(ii) using at least one of at least a frequency with which the value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) the threshold value.
3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver is further recognized by at least one of:
(i) using at least one of at least one time period threshold value, which is exceeded by the time period for which a value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) the threshold value, or
(ii) using at least one of at least one frequency threshold value which is exceeded by the frequency with which the value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) the threshold value.
4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver becomes smaller when a value of at least one of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) a threshold value during an observation time.
5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver becomes greater when a value of at least one of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal fall(s) below a threshold value again during the observation time.
6 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver becomes smaller the longer at least one of a value of the time period exceeds the time period threshold value or a value of the frequency exceeds the frequency threshold value in an observation time interval.
7 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver becomes greater when at least one of a value of the time period falls below the time period threshold value again or a value of the frequency falls below the frequency threshold value again in the observation time interval.
8 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability is increased or reduced in probability levels.
9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability is increased or reduced in probability levels of 10 percent.
10 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability is increased or reduced in probability levels.
11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the probability is increased or reduced in probability levels of 10 percent.
12 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein,
in determining the probability, use is made of a threshold value which is dependent on a steering lock angle of the steering element.
13 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein,
in determining the probability, the torque signal is read-in exclusively from a torque sensor which is at least one of installed or embedded in or on a steering column of the vehicle, wherein the torque sensor transmits a rotation of the steering element to a steering transmission.
14 . A detection unit, comprising:
a processor configured to carry out the acts of:
reading-in a torque signal representing a torque acting on a torque sensor coupled between the steering element and a steering transmission;
determine at least one of a value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) a threshold value that is dependent on a current vehicle speed, where the threshold value has a lower value at a higher vehicle speed than a lower vehicle speed;
determine a probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver when at least one of value of the torque signal or the absolute value of the torque signal is determined to exceed(s) the threshold value; and
at least one of omit or downgrade in priority a steering intervention by a driver assistance system of the vehicle when the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the user indicates a valid signal that the driver is holding the steering wheel with their hand.
15 . A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed on one more processors, carries out the acts of:
reading-in a torque signal representing a torque acting on a torque sensor coupled between the steering element and a steering transmission;
determining at least one of a value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) a threshold value that is dependent on a current vehicle speed, where the threshold value has a lower value at a higher vehicle speed than a lower vehicle speed; and
determining a probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver when at least one of the value of the torque signal or the absolute value of the torque signal is determined to exceed(s) the threshold value; and
at least one of omitting or downgrading in priority a steering intervention by a driver assistance system of the vehicle when the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the user indicates a valid signal that the driver is holding the steering wheel with their hand.