Driver detection steering wheel
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael Frey, Michael Peter Mongeau, Bryce Crane, Kyle Ness
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example systems and methods for a driver detection steering wheel are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a steering wheel, a driver, a detector, and an enabling module. The example steering wheel includes a plurality of capacitive sensors. The example driver is to change voltage levels on the plurality of capacitive sensors. The example detector is to measure time delays corresponding to the plurality of capacitive sensors, and determine a number of hands on the steering wheel based on the time delays. The example enabling module is to, in response to the detector detecting two hands on the steering wheel, grant access to an infotainment system.
Claims18
A vehicle comprising:
- a steering wheel comprising:
- a body;
- a wheel;
- pillars connecting the wheel to the body;
- first sensors disposed on the wheel and facing away from the body;
- and
- second sensors disposed on the wheel and facing the body, each of the first sensors and second sensors forming a group;
- a vehicle speed sensor;
- a passenger sensor;
- and
- processors configured to:
- measure a duration of having a number of hands on the steering wheel by using the first sensors and the second sensors;
- and
- responsive to detecting, via the first sensors and the second sensors, two hands on the steering wheel for a predetermined period, responsive to detecting, via the vehicle speed sensor, that a speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined speed, and responsive to detecting, via the passenger sensor, a passenger, grant access to an infotainment system;
- and
- responsive to less than all sensors in the group satisfying a delay threshold, limit access to an infotainment system.
A system comprising:
- a steering wheel comprising:
- a body;
- a wheel;
- pillars connecting the wheel to the body
- first capacitive sensors disposed on the wheel and facing away from the body;
- and
- second capacitive sensors disposed on the wheel and facing the body, each of the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors forming a group;
- a vehicle speed sensor;
- a passenger sensor;
- a controller;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to:
- detect a duration of having a number of hands on the steering wheel using the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensors;
- detect a speed of the vehicle using the vehicle speed sensor;
- and
- detect a passenger using the passenger sensor;
- and
- responsive to detecting two hands on the steering wheel for a predetermined period, responsive to detecting the speed of the vehicle being greater than a predetermined speed, and responsive to detecting the passenger, grant access to an infotainment system;
- and
- responsive to less than all sensors in the group satisfying a delay threshold, limit access to an infotainment system.
A vehicle comprising:
- steering wheel comprising:
- a body;
- a wheel;
- pillars connecting the wheel to the body;
- first sensors disposed on the wheel and facing away from the body;
- second sensors disposed on the wheel and facing the body, each of the first sensors and the second sensors forming a group;
- and
- processors configured to, responsive to less than all sensors in the group satisfying a threshold, limit access to an infotainment system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.