# US 10,766,497 B2 · Method for deactivating an automated driving function of a vehicle and driver assistance system for implementing the method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,497 B2 - Document ID: US10766497B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/063,445 - Filed: 2016-11-21 - Published: 2018-12-27 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-19 - Assignees: Daimler AG - Applicants: Daimler AG - Inventors: Christian Braunagel; Thorben Schönenberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766497B2 ## CPC - B60W 50/10: Interpretation of driver requests or demands - B60W 60/0053: {from vehicle to occupant} - B60W 60/0059: {Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity} - B62D 1/286: {Systems for interrupting non-mechanical steering due to driver intervention} - B60K 2310/246: releasing speed control, e.g. inhibiting speed control if a brake pedal is depressed - B60W 2050/0073: {Driver overrides controller} - B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position - B60W 2540/103: Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown - B60W 2540/12: Brake pedal position - B60W 2540/18: Steering angle - B60W 2540/223: Posture, e.g. hand, foot, or seat position, turned or inclined - B60W 2540/225: Direction of gaze - B60W 2540/229: Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping - B60W 2540/26: Incapacity - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - 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) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A method for deactivating an automated driving function of a vehicle, in particular a highly automated or autonomous driving function, is provided. The driving function is deactivated when a driver of the vehicle carries out a steering intervention or pedal intervention with a strength exceeding a predeterminable deactivation threshold. The deactivation threshold is predetermined depending on an operation length of the driving function and/or depending on a responsiveness of the driver. In particular, the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that it is higher directly after an activation of the driving function than some time afterwards and/or it is higher with a low responsiveness of the driver than with a high responsiveness of the driver. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: activating an automated driving function of a vehicle; determining whether a driver intervention occurs; and deactivating the automated driving function responsive to the driver intervention exceeding a predetermined deactivation threshold, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined depending on an operation length of the automated driving function and on a responsiveness of the driver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that the deactivation threshold is higher directly after an activation of the driving function than a period of time after activation of the driving function. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that the deactivation threshold continuously decreases to a predefined pre-set threshold value as time increases since the activation of the driving function. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that, during a predetermined time window from the activation of the driving function, the deactivation threshold is at least equal to a value corresponding to a driver intervention occurring when the driving function is activated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the driver intervention is a pedal intervention in a pedal of the vehicle or a steering intervention in a steering wheel of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed during a highly automated or autonomous driving operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that the deactivation threshold is higher with a low responsiveness of the driver than with a high responsiveness of the driver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the responsiveness of the driver based on drive-extrinsic operating actions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined activation threshold increases to a threshold value so long as a driver of the vehicle is inattentive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined activation threshold decreases from the threshold value when the driver is responsive again. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: activating an automated driving function of a vehicle; determining whether a driver intervention occurs; and deactivating the automated driving function responsive to the driver intervention exceeding a predetermined deactivation threshold, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined depending on an operation length of the automated driving function and on a responsiveness of the driver, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that the deactivation threshold is higher with a low responsiveness of the driver than with a high responsiveness of the driver. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining the responsiveness of the driver based on drive-extrinsic operating actions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined activation threshold increases to a threshold value so long as a driver of the vehicle is inattentive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined activation threshold decreases from the threshold value when the driver is responsive again. ### Claim 15 A driver assistance system for a highly automated or autonomous driving operation of a vehicle, the driver assistance system being configured to: activate an automated driving function of a vehicle; determine whether a driver intervention occurs; and deactivate the automated driving function responsive to the driver intervention exceeding a predetermined deactivation threshold, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined depending on an operation length of the automated driving function and on a responsiveness of the driver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The driver assistance system of claim 15, wherein the deactivation threshold is predetermined in such a manner that the deactivation threshold is higher with a low responsiveness of the driver than with a high responsiveness of the driver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The driver assistance system of claim 15, wherein the driver assistance system is further configured to: determine the responsiveness of the driver based on drive-extrinsic operating actions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The driver assistance system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined activation threshold increases to a threshold value so long as a driver of the vehicle is inattentive. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The driver assistance system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined activation threshold decreases from the threshold value when the driver is responsive again.