Steering, steering system, method for controlling steering, and non-temporary computer readable storage media
AssigneeAutoliv Development AB
InventorsYukinori Midorikawa, Yuki Yamazaki, Yuta Ozawa, Toshiaki Ebana
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Abstract
With the steering wheel, steering system, method of controlling steering, and non-temporary computer readable storage media, a grasp detection function can be applied to a steering wheel with a heating function, where one function can contribute to the improvement of the other function. The steering wheel includes a core part to which ground potential is supplied, a first conductor provided on the exterior of the core part and insulated from the core part, and a second conductor provided on the exterior of the first conductor and insulated from the first conductor to sense gripping of the steering wheel.
Claims14
A steering wheel, comprising:
- a core part to which ground potential is supplied,
- a first conductor provided insulated from the core part on an exterior of the core part and electrically coupled with ground, the first conductor being for warming the steering wheel,
- a second conductor provided insulated from the first conductor on an exterior of the first conductor, the second conductor being for detecting grasping of the steering wheel,
- a first switching part that switches electrical connection between one end of the first conductor and a power supply ON and OFF based on a first signal,
- a controller that outputs the first control signal for controlling ON and OFF of the first switching part,
- a capacitance measuring circuit for measuring a capacitance of a capacitive coupling generated between the second conductor and ground,
- a grip determining part for determining whether or not the driver is gripping the steering wheel, and
- a second switching part that electrically switches ON and OFF between the second conductor and ground based on a second control signal, wherein the controller turns the second switching part ON upon switching of the first switching part and turns OFF the second switching part after the first switching part has not switched ON or OFF for a prescribed period of time, outputting the second control signal, wherein the prescribed period of time is a period of inactivity during which no ON-to-OFF or OFF-to-ON transition of the first switching part occurs.
In a method of controlling steering, the steering wheel is provided with a first conductor for warming the steering wheel, wherein the first conductor is electrically coupled to ground, and a second conductor insulated from the first conductor provided on the exterior of the first conductor;
- the method comprising a step of outputting a first control signal that controls the ON and OFF actions of a first switching part that switches an electrical connection between one end of the first conductor and a power supply, a step of receiving capacitance measurement results of the capacitance coupling generated between the second conductor and ground and determining whether or not the steering wheel is being grasped by the driver based on the measured capacitance, and a step of outputting a second signal for switching ON a second switching part that electrically connects between the second conductor and ground when the first switching part is switched ON or OFF and switching the second switching part OFF if the first switching part has not switched ON or OFF for a prescribed period of time.
Non-temporary computer readable storage media storing one or more programs that are configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device and one or more programs that allow the electronic device to control a steering wheel, the steering wheel comprising a first conductor for warming the steering wheel and a second conductor provided insulated from the first conductor on an exterior of the first conductor, wherein the one or more programs are configured to execute a process comprising:
- issuing a command to output a first control signal to control ON and OFF actions of a first switching part to switch an electrical connection between one end of the first conductor and a power supply;
- issuing a command to receive capacitance measurement results of capacitive coupling generated between the second conductor and ground;
- determining whether or not a driver is grasping the steering wheel based on the measured capacitance;
- and
- issuing a command to output a second control signal to control ON and OFF actions of a second switching part to switch an electrical connection with the second conductor, the second control signal being operably linked with the first control signal, wherein the second control signal turns the second switching part OFF when the first switching part has not switched ON or OFF for a prescribed period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.