Device and method for selectively operating a motor vehicle in a user-controlled or an automatic driving operation mode

Abstract

A system for a vehicle operable in a user-controlled driving mode and an automatic driving mode includes a hand-operated control element and a contact sensor configured to detect whether a driver of the vehicle is holding the control element. The system further includes a controller to monitor an alertness of the driver while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the control element and/or switch operation of the vehicle between the user-controlled driving mode and the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the control element.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle operable in a user-controlled driving mode and an automatic driving mode, the system comprising: a control element other than a steering wheel, the control element having a contact sensor, the contact sensor configured to detect whether a driver of the vehicle is holding the control element; a controller in communication with the contact sensor and configured to switch operation of the vehicle from the user-controlled driving mode to the automatic driving mode upon the driver holding the control element after having not held the control element and to switch operation of the vehicle from the automatic driving mode to the user-controlled driving mode upon the driver releasing the control element after having held the control element; wherein: the control element is a drive stick; the system further including a steering wheel sensor configured to detect whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle; and the controller is in communication with the steering wheel sensor and is further configured to switch operation of the vehicle between the user-controlled driving mode and the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the drive stick and on whether the driver is holding the steering wheel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein: the control element is configured to enable the driver to move the control element to input commands for longitudinal and transverse guidance of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the controller is further configured to switch operation of the vehicle to the user-controlled driving mode while the driver is holding the steering wheel and is not holding the drive stick.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein: the controller is further configured to switch operation from the user-controlled driving mode to the automatic driving mode upon the driver holding the drive stick for a predetermined period of time after not having held the drive stick.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein: the controller is further configured to switch operation of the vehicle to the automatic driving mode while the driver is holding the drive stick and is not holding the steering wheel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein: the controller is further configured to switch operation of the vehicle from the automatic driving mode to the user-controlled driving mode upon the driver releasing the drive stick for a predetermined period of time after holding the drive stick.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein: the controller is further configured to deem the driver to be alert when the driver is holding the control element while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode.

8. A method for a vehicle operable in a user-controlled driving mode and an automatic driving mode, the method comprising: detecting whether a driver of the vehicle is holding a control element provided in the vehicle, the control element being an element other than a steering wheel; switching operation of the vehicle from the user-controlled driving mode to the automatic driving mode upon the driver holding the control element after having not held the control element; switching operation of the vehicle from the automatic driving mode to the user-controlled driving mode upon the driver releasing the control element after having held the control element; wherein: the control element is a drive stick; and the method further including detecting whether the driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle and switching operation of the vehicle between the user-controlled driving mode and the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the drive stick and on whether the driver is holding the steering wheel.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: the driver moving the control element to input commands for longitudinal and transverse guidance of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising: switching operation of the vehicle to the user-controlled driving mode while the driver is holding the steering wheel and is not holding the drive stick; and switching operation of the vehicle to the automatic driving mode while the driver is holding the drive stick and is not holding the steering wheel.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising: switching operation of the vehicle to the user-controlled driving mode upon the driver rotating the steering wheel.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising: deeming the driver to be alert when the driver is holding the control element while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode.

13. A system for a vehicle including a steering wheel and that is operable in (i) a user-controlled driving mode in which a driver of the vehicle handles the steering wheel to manually drive the vehicle and (ii) an automatic driving mode in which the vehicle drives automatically without the driver handling the steering wheel, the system comprising: a control element other than the steering wheel, the control element having a contact sensor, the contact sensor configured to detect whether the driver of the vehicle is holding the control element; and a controller in communication with the contact sensor and configured to switch operation of the vehicle from the user-controlled driving mode to the automatic driving mode upon the driver holding the control element after having not held the control element and to switch operation of the vehicle from the automatic driving mode to the user-controlled driving mode upon the driver releasing the control element after having held the control element.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein: the controller is further configured to deem the driver to be alert when the driver is holding the control element while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein: the control element is a drive stick.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system for selectively operating a vehicle in a user-controlled driving mode or in an automatic driving mode; and

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of operation of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

(4) Referring now to FIG. 1, a system for selectively operating a vehicle in a user-controlled (“driver-controlled”) driving mode or in an (at least partial) automatic driving mode is shown.

(5) In the conventional manner, input interfaces for the user-controlled driving mode include an accelerator pedal (or “gas pedal”) 1, a brake pedal 2 for longitudinal stopping control of the vehicle, and a steering wheel 3 for transverse control of the vehicle. In the conventional manner, the driver of the vehicle uses accelerator pedal 1, brake pedal 2, and steering wheel 3 to drive the vehicle while the vehicle is in the user-controlled driving mode.

(6) The system includes a device (“controller”) 4 and a hand-operated control element 5. Controller 4 is for switching from the user-controlled driving mode to the automatic driving mode, for switching from the automatic driving mode to the user-controlled driving mode, and for monitoring the alertness of the driver during the automatic driving mode. Control element 5 is manually operable by the driver. Control element 5 may be a component in addition to other manually operable control elements in the vehicle. For instance, control element 5 is formed by a “drive stick.” Drive stick 5 may be in the center console of the vehicle and thus located in a position at which a conventional shift lever for the vehicle is normally mounted.

(7) Drive stick 5 is associated with the automatic driving mode. The driver may manually manipulate drive stick 5 to transmit commands to the vehicle for controlling longitudinal and transverse driving operations of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode. For example, drive stick 5 is functionally designed in the known manner of a joystick. Thus, the driver can manipulate drive stick 5 using intuitive motions parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to transmit commands to the vehicle for longitudinal and transverse driving operations.

(8) Drive stick 5 includes a tactile (or contact) sensor 5′ (“drive stick sensor 5′”). Drive stick sensor 5′ is configured to generate a signal indicative of whether drive stick 5 is being held (e.g., touched, handled, gripped, grasped, etc.) by the driver (regardless of whether the driver is actually moving the drive stick). Controller 4 is in communication with drive stick sensor 5′ to receive the drive stick sensor signal indicative of whether the driver is holding drive stick 5.

(9) Controller 4 uses the drive stick sensor signal to monitor the attention of the driver during the automatic driving mode. Controller 4 deems the driver to be attentive during the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding drive stick 5. Controller 4 further uses the drive stick sensor signal to determine when to switch between the user-controlled and automatic driving modes. Controller 4 generally switches the vehicle between the user-controlled and automatic driving modes depending on whether the driver releases or holds drive stick 5 after respectively holding or not having held the drive stick.

(10) Drive stick sensor 5′, for instance, is located directly under the outer skin of drive stick 5 as a capacitive sensor, and whose output signal is transmitted to controller 4. Drive stick sensor 5′ thereby enables drive stick 5 to cooperate with controller 4 for switching between the user-controlled and automatic driving modes and for monitoring the alertness of the driver during the automatic driving mode.

(11) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, steering wheel 3 includes a tactile sensor 3′ (“steering wheel sensor 3′”). Steering wheel sensor 3′ is integrated into steering wheel 3 like drive stick sensor 5′ is integrated into drive stick 5′. Steering wheel sensor 3′ is configured to generate a signal indicative of whether steering wheel 3 is being held (e.g., touched, handled, gripped, grasped, etc.) by the driver (without the driver necessarily rotating the steering wheel) and/or is being rotated by the driver.

(12) Controller 4 is in communication with steering wheel sensor 3′ to receive the steering wheel sensor signal indicative of whether the driver is holding and/or rotating steering wheel 3. Steering wheel sensor 3′ thereby enables steering wheel 3 to also cooperate with controller 4 for switching between the user-controlled and automatic driving modes and for monitoring the alertness of the driver during the automatic driving mode. For instance, controller 4 further uses the steering wheel sensor signal to determine when to switch between the user-controlled and automatic driving modes. Controller 4 generally switches the vehicle between the user-controlled and automatic driving modes depending on whether the driver releases or holds steering wheel 3 after respectively holding or not having held the steering wheel. As described below, controller 4 may switch the vehicle between the user-controlled and automatic driving modes depending on both of the drive stick sensor and the steering wheel sensor signal (i.e., depending generally on whether the driver is holding or not holding drive stick 5 and whether the driver is holding or not holding steering wheel 3).

(13) Controller 4 may also be in communication with accelerator pedal 1 and/or brake pedal 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 2, with continual reference to FIG. 1, a flowchart illustrating a method of operation of the system is shown. The following are abbreviations listed in the flowchart and their meanings:

(15) DS+: drive stick 5 held

(16) DS−: drive stick 5 released

(17) LR+: steering wheel 3 held

(18) LR−: steering wheel 3 released

(19) LRm: steering wheel 3 rotated manually

(20) x s: x seconds in this state

(21) For switching between a user-controlled and an (at least partial) automatic driving mode, also referred to as a manual driving mode and an automatic driving mode, respectively, drive stick sensor 5′ detects whether the driver is holding drive stick 4 and/or steering wheel sensor 3 detects whether the driver is holding steering wheel 3.

(22) Drive stick sensor 5′ and steering wheel sensor 3′ are tactile or contact sensors. A capacitive sensor located directly in drive stick 5 can be used as drive stick sensor 5′. Similarly, a capacitive sensor located directly in steering wheel 3 can be used as steering wheel sensor 3′. Optical or piezoelectric sensors, for example, can be used to implement drive stick sensor 5′ and/or steering wheel sensor 3′.

(23) An underlying principle of the operating philosophy and security strategy on which the method of operation of the system is based is as follows. The vehicle is in the automatic driving mode as long as the driver holds drive stick 5 in the driver's hand (DS+) and is not holding steering wheel 3 (LR−). The driving mode of the vehicle is to switch from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode upon either the driver now releasing (i.e., not holding) drive stick 5 (DS−) or holding steering wheel 3 (LS+). By continuously touching drive stick 5 during the automatic driving mode, the driver remains in the loop and thereby confirms at all times that the driver is monitoring the automatically driven vehicle and that the automatic system is performing correctly.

(24) Thus, there are two standard situations. The first standard situation involves the vehicle operating in the manual driving mode. The vehicle operates in the manual driving mode while the driver is holding steering wheel 3 (LR+) and is not holding drive stick 5 (DS−). In the manual driving mode, the driver uses accelerator pedal 1, brake pedal 2, and steering wheel 3 to drive the vehicle manually. The second standard situation involves the vehicle operating in the automatic driving mode. The vehicle operates in the automatic driving mode while the driver is holding drive stick 5 (DS+) and is not holding steering wheel 3 (LR−). In the automatic driving mode, the vehicle drives (partially) automatically with the driver being able to use drive stick 3 to input commands for longitudinal and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode.

(25) The first standard situation involving the vehicle operating in the manual driving mode is indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 2 by the block labeled with DS−/LR+. The second standard situation involving the vehicle operating in the automatic driving mode is indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 2 by the block labeled DS+/LR−. These two blocks represent the stable states of the system and are indicated as such in FIG. 2 with the bold outline.

(26) Starting from either the stable manual driving mode state (DS−/LR+) or the stable automatic driving mode state (DS+/LR−), switching between the manual driving mode and the automatic driving mode can be made by releasing or holding drive stick 5 and/or steering wheel 3. The driver can also overrule the automatic driving mode and thereby immediately return to the manual driving mode by active intervention with steering wheel 3 (LRm). That is, the driver can switch from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode by executing a steering motion of steering wheel 3 (LRm).

(27) As depicted in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, transition from the manual driving mode to the automatic driving mode may occur as follows. Initially, the vehicle is in the manual driving mode according to the stable state in which the driver is touching steering wheel 3 (LR+) and is not touching drive stick 5 (DS−) (i.e., the stable manual driving mode state (DS−/LR+)). A switch to the automatic driving mode occurs by the driver now holding drive stick 5 (DS+) for at least two seconds. Also, a switch to the automatic driving mode occurs by the driver now holding drive stick 5 (DS+) for at least 0.5 seconds after releasing steering wheel 3 (LR−). The automatic driving mode is maintained as long as the driver does not release drive stick (DS−) or hold steering wheel 3 (LR+) after having released the steering wheel.

(28) As further depicted in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, transition from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode may occur as follows. Initially, the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode according to the stable state in which the driver is holding drive stick 5 (DS+) and is not holding steering wheel 3 (LR−). A switch to the manual driving mode occurs by the driver now releasing drive stick 5 (DS−) for at least two seconds. Also, a switch to the manual driving mode occurs by the driver now holding steering wheel 3 (LR+) for at least two seconds (the driver having not released drive stick 5 (DS−) in this case). Should the driver not touch steering wheel 3 after a switch from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode has been made, an appropriate warning is triggered by an indicator device.

(29) The automatic driving mode is activated only under the conditions just described when the appropriate routines are designated for the actual current driving situation. Examples of such driving situations include freeway driving, driving in a line of traffic, or parking.

(30) While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the present invention.