Method and Device for Deactivating a Driver Assistance System

Abstract

A method and a device are provided for deactivating a driver assistance system for autonomous transverse guidance of a vehicle, which driver assistance system has a sensor unit for detecting a contact with the rim of a steering wheel by a driver, and a control unit which detects, via the detected contact, a request by the driver to transfer from the autonomous transverse guidance into a manual transverse guidance by the driver. The pressure sensor constitutes at least one pressure sensor, which extends over at least that part of the surface of the steering wheel rim which is usually touched by the driver's hands. It does not extend over the area of the surface of the steering wheel rim which, viewed in a cross section of the steering wheel rim, describes an approximately circular-segment-shaped arc which extends over a sector angle of the order of magnitude of 90?, which arc is spaced apart as far as possible from the center point of the steering wheel.

Claims

1. A method for deactivating a driver assistance system for autonomous transverse guidance of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: detecting, via a sensor unit of the driver assistance system, contact with a steering wheel rim by a driver; and determining, via a control unit, a request by the driver to transfer from the autonomous transverse guidance into a manual transverse guidance based on detecting the contact, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one pressure sensor, which extends at least over a portion of a surface of the steering wheel rim usually touched by hands of the driver, but which does not comprise an area of the surface of the steering wheel rim which, viewed in a cross section of the steering wheel rim, describes an approximately circular-segment-shaped arc extending over a sector angle (?) of the order of magnitude of 90?, which arc is spaced apart as far as possible from a center point of the steering wheel.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit deactivates the autonomous transverse guidance only when a contact pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a limit value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the limit value is adjustable depending on a driving situation.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the limit value is adjusted to a higher setting with increasing vehicle speed.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the limit value is adjusted to a lower setting in an event of a control transfer request by the driver assistance system.

6. A device for deactivating a driver assistance system for autonomous transverse guidance of a vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel having a rim; a sensor unit of the driver assistance system, the sensor unit detecting contact with the rim of the steering wheel by a driver; a control unit of the driver assistance system, the control unit detecting, via the detected contact, a request by the driver to transfer from the autonomous transverse guidance into a manual transverse guidance, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one pressure sensor, which extends at least over a portion of a surface of the steering wheel rim usually touched by hands of the driver, but which does not comprise an area of the surface of the steering wheel rim which, viewed in a cross section of the steering wheel rim, describes an approximately circular-segment-shaped arc extending over a sector angle (?) of the order of magnitude of 90?, which arc is spaced apart as far as possible from a center point of the steering wheel.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pressure sensor is made of a material which emits an electrical signal under action of pressure.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the material of the pressure sensor is a magneto-rheological, an electro-rheological, a dielectric or a piezoelectric material.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor is a film or a plurality of sensors is integrated into a film.

10. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pressure sensor is a film or a plurality of sensors is integrated into a film.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle steering wheel in a plan view.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a vehicle steering wheel.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention on the basis of a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle steering wheel in a plan view, wherein the pressure sensor device 1 according to the invention in this specific example is located as an annular film or membrane on the driver-facing side of the steering wheel rim 2.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the area 3 on the rim of the steering wheel, which is not covered by the pressure sensor device.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows, in a cross section of the steering wheel from FIG. 2, the area 3 of the surface of the steering wheel rim 2, which describes an approximately circular-segment-shaped arc which extends over a sector angle B on the order of magnitude of 90?, said arc being spaced apart as far as possible from the center point P of the steering wheel. Since the area 3 is frequently touched by other parts of the body than the hands, in particular by the legs or the knees of the driver, this area 3 is not covered by the pressure sensor device 1. This enables an unwanted deactivation of the driver assistance system for autonomous transverse guidance to be avoided.

[0031] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.