# US 10,501,114 B2 · Steering input apparatus and vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,114 B2 - Document ID: US10501114B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/339,395 - Filed: 2016-10-31 - Published: 2017-07-13 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-08 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Hyungseok Oh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501114B2 ## CPC - B62D 6/00: Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits (means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00) - B62D 5/0457: {characterised by control features of the drive means as such} - B62D 5/06: fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle - B62D 6/007: {adjustable by the driver, e.g. sport mode} - B62D 6/008: {Control of feed-back to the steering input member, e.g. simulating road feel in steer-by-wire applications} - B62D 6/04: responsive only to forces disturbing the intended course of the vehicle, e.g. forces acting transversely to the direction of vehicle travel - B62D 15/025: {Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence)} - B62D 15/0255: {Automatic changing of lane, e.g. for passing another vehicle} - B60R 2300/804: for lane monitoring - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A steering input apparatus includes a steering input apparatus including a power provision unit for providing power to rotation input through a steering wheel, an interface unit for receiving object information indicating an object located in front of or around a vehicle, and a processor for adjusting manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel by controlling the power provision unit based on the object information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering input apparatus comprising: a power provision unit configured to provide power to a rotation input through a steering wheel; an interface configured to receive information; and a processor configured to adjust a manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel by controlling the power provision unit based on the information, wherein the processor is further configured to: divide the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel into a plurality of levels according to object information for a detected object received by the interface, to adjust the manipulation sensitivity, and adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel by dividing the manipulation sensitivity into a plurality of different levels according to the type of the detected object, and wherein the processor is further configured to: adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel to one of the plurality of different levels according to an expected weight or expected size of the detected object, and adjust, as the expected weight or the expected size of the detected object increases, the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel to a level indicating a lower manipulation sensitivity, wherein the interface is further configured to receive, from a camera module for acquiring a front view image of a vehicle, object information indicating an object detected in the front view image, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel based on the object information, wherein the interface is further configured to receive travel speed information about the vehicle, wherein the object information is information indicating a driving lane in front of the vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel based on the driving lane information and the travel speed information, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel according to a curvature of the driving lane when the driving lane is a curved lane, wherein the interface is further configured to receive position information about the vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel when understeer occurs during travel of the vehicle in the curved lane such that a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction of occurrence of the understeer is lower than a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction of occurrence of the oversteer, wherein the object information comprises location information about a large vehicle, a median strip, a median barrier, a guardrail, a street tree or a streetlight, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel such that a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction in which the vehicle faces the object is lower than a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction in which the vehicle faces the object, and wherein the processor is further configured to gradually lower manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction in which the vehicle faces the object when the vehicle approaches the object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel such that a manipulation sensitivity to a first-direction rotation input of the steering wheel is different from a manipulation sensitivity to a second-direction rotation input of the steering wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The steering input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel such that the manipulation sensitivity to the second-direction rotation input of the steering wheel is lower than the manipulation sensitivity to the first-direction rotation input of the steering wheel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The steering input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel such that when the second-direction rotation input is received with the steering wheel rotated by a first rotational displacement in a first direction, the manipulation sensitivity to the second-direction rotation input is lower than the manipulation sensitivity to the first-direction rotation input with respect to the first rotational displacement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to gradually lower the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel when a rotational displacement of the steering wheel increases according to the rotation input of the steering wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the power provision unit to rotate the steering wheel by a predetermined displacement in a second direction when a first-direction rotational displacement is greater than or equal to a reference value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power provision unit comprises a hydraulic power provision apparatus, an electrohydraulic power provision apparatus or a motor-driven power provision apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel according to the travel speed information when the driving lane is a straight lane, and the travel speed information is higher than or equal to a reference speed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel when oversteer occurs during travel of the vehicle in the curved lane such that a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction of occurrence of the oversteer is lower than a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction of occurrence of the oversteer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to receive information indicating a strong wind section of a road, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel when the vehicle travels in the strong wind section such that the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel is lower than when the vehicle travels on a section of the road other than the strong wind section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The steering input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the interface is configured to receive information indicating a wind direction, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel such that a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction in which the vehicle faces wind is lower than a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction in which the vehicle faces the wind. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object information comprises information indicating light infiltrating the vehicle, a pothole located in a driving lane, a slippery section, or a construction section, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel when the object information is received such that the manipulation sensitivity is lower than when the object information is not received. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The steering input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to gradually lower the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel when the vehicle approaches the object. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel according to a number of detected vehicles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to receive lane change information, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel according to the lane change information such that a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction of a guide on a lane change is higher than a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction of the guide on the lane change. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to receive, from a camera module for acquiring a surroundings image of a vehicle, object information indicating an object detected in the surroundings image, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel based on the object information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The steering input apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the object information is information indicating an other vehicle located in a lane neighboring a driving lane of the vehicle and behind the vehicle, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to the rotation input of the steering wheel such that a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction in which the vehicle faces the other vehicle is lower than a manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction in which the vehicle faces the other vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to receive driver status information, and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel based on the driver status information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a manipulation sensitivity output unit, wherein the processor is configured to output information about the manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel through the manipulation sensitivity output unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a grip position sensor configured to sense a grip position on a rim of the steering wheel, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel according to the grip position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The steering input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a grip pressure sensor configured to sense a grip pressure on a rim of the steering wheel, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the manipulation sensitivity to a rotation input of the steering wheel according to the grip pressure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the steering input apparatus according to claim 1.