IP Library Granted Patent US 7,885,730
Granted Patent B2
US 7,885,730 · App. 11/972,230 · Granted Feb 8, 2011

Systems, methods and computer program products for lane change detection and handling of lane keeping torque

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,885,730
App. No.
11/972,230
Granted
Feb 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for lane change detection and handling of lane keeping torque during an un-signaled lane change. Disclosed herein is an exemplary embodiment for a method including calculating a distance between a center of a vehicle and a center of a lane, determining a discontinuity in the calculation of the distance between the center of the vehicle and the center of a lane and disabling torque corrections to compensate for the discontinuity until the vehicle is near the center (position based) of the new lane and a certain time has elapsed (time based) from the detection of the discontinuity. Hysterisis or smoothly changing torque controls are offered to work with the Time and Position based lane change handling method.

Claims (37)

1. A method for lane change detection and handling of lane keeping torque, the method comprising:

detecting a driver input torque exceeding a threshold value;

disengaging a lane keeping torque in response to said driver input torque exceeding said threshold value;

detecting said driver input torque decreasing below a threshold value;

calculating a time period; and

re-engaging a lane keeping torque in response to an expiration of the time period.

2. A method for lane change detection and handling of lane keeping torque, the method comprising:

detecting a driver input torque exceeding a threshold value;

disengaging a lane keeping torque in response to said driver input torque exceeding said threshold value;

detecting said driver input torque decreasing below a threshold value;

determining a position of a vehicle with respect to a center of a lane; and

re-engaging the lane keeping torque in response to a pre-determined distance of the vehicle to the center of the lane.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising measuring a distance from the center of the lane.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising detecting a sign change if the distance from the center of the lane has exceeded a pre-determined magnitude.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

measuring a first distance from the center of the lane at a first time; and

measuring a second distance from the center of the lane at a second time.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising comparing an absolute value of a difference between the first and second distance.

7. A method for lane change detection and handling of lane keeping torque, the method comprising:

detecting a driver input torque exceeding a threshold value;

disengaging a lane keeping torque in response to said driver input torque exceeding said threshold value;

detecting said driver input torque decreasing below a threshold value;

determining a position of a vehicle with respect to a center of a lane;

calculating a time period; and

re-engaging a lane keeping torque in response to the vehicle moving within a pre-determined distance of the vehicle to the center of the lane or an expiration of the time period.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising measuring a distance from the center of the lane.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising detecting a sign change if the distance from the center of the lane has exceeded a pre-determined magnitude.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

measuring a first distance from the center of the lane at a first time; and

measuring a second distance from the center of the lane at a second time.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising comparing an absolute value of a difference between the first and second distance.

12. A method for lane change detection and handling of lane keeping torque, the method comprising:

detecting a movement of a vehicle from a first lane to a second lane;

increasing a first torque to the vehicle to retain the vehicle in the first lane;

detecting further movement of the vehicle from the first lane to the second lane;

in response to detecting the further movement of the vehicle from the first lane to the second lane, decreasing the first torque to the vehicle; and

applying a second torque to the vehicle to retain the vehicle in the second lane.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2012
From: PACIFIC CENTURY MOTORS, INC.; NEXTEER (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027870/0666 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: PACIFIC CENTURY MOTORS, INC.; GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 027842/0918 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025386/0591 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025386/0503 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023988/0754 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023990/0349 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023990/0831 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2009
From: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023449/0065 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE LAST NAME OF INVENTOR KAUFMANN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 020693 FRAME 0729. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE LAST NAME SPELLED AS KAUFFMANN IS INCORRECT. Recorded Jun 18, 2008
From: KAUFMANN, TIMOTHY W.; BOLOURCHI, FARHAD
To: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 021110/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2008
From: KAUFFMANN, TIMOTHY W.; BOLOURCHI, FARHAD
To: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 020693/0729 →