Method and detection unit for detecting a probability that a steering element of a vehicle is held by a hand of a driver

A detection unit, comprising:

• a processor configured to carry out the acts of:
• reading-in a torque signal representing a torque acting on a torque sensor coupled between the steering element and a steering transmission;
• determine at least one of a value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) a threshold value that is dependent on a current vehicle speed, where the threshold value has a lower value at a higher vehicle speed than a lower vehicle speed;
• determine a probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver when at least one of value of the torque signal or the absolute value of the torque signal is determined to exceed(s) the threshold value;
• and
• at least one of omit or downgrade in priority a steering intervention by a driver assistance system of the vehicle when the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the user indicates a valid signal that the driver is holding the steering wheel with their hand.

A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed on one more processors, carries out the acts of:

• reading-in a torque signal representing a torque acting on a torque sensor coupled between the steering element and a steering transmission;
• determining at least one of a value of the torque signal or an absolute value of the torque signal exceed(s) a threshold value that is dependent on a current vehicle speed, where the threshold value has a lower value at a higher vehicle speed than a lower vehicle speed;
• and
• determining a probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the driver when at least one of the value of the torque signal or the absolute value of the torque signal is determined to exceed(s) the threshold value;
• and
• at least one of omitting or downgrading in priority a steering intervention by a driver assistance system of the vehicle when the probability of the steering element of the vehicle being held by a hand of the user indicates a valid signal that the driver is holding the steering wheel with their hand.