FR2780936A1 - Power assisted steering system with electric motor, associated instrumentation and control unit to assist in parking of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a central data processing unit (11) connected to acquisition means (14) for obtaining vehicle velocity, determination means (15) for of the angular direction of the front wheels, means (7-10) for determination of vehicle position relative to vehicles in front of and behind it and to the edge of the pavement and an electric motor (4) for power assisted steering. Control of the electric motor by the central control unit in conjunction with the measured data assists in parking.

Description

The present invention relates to a driving assistance system for a

motor vehicle.

  More particularly, the invention relates to a system for assisting with

  driving a vehicle equipped with a power assisted steering column

  electric tor, during the realization of a niche. Motor vehicles are already known in the state of the art

  whose steering column is assisted by an electric motor.

  Despite the increasingly frequent integration of such steering assistance in vehicles, the maneuvering thereof remains a problem for

  certain drivers and in particular during the creation of a niche.

  Indeed, such a maneuver is relatively delicate and difficult to succeed.

  The object of the invention is to solve these problems.

  To this end, the invention relates to a driving assistance system for a motor vehicle, equipped with a steering column assisted by an electric motor, when producing a slot, characterized in that '' It comprises a central information processing unit connected at the input, to means for acquiring vehicle speed, to means for acquiring

  the steering angle of the steering wheels of the vehicle, and to means for

  termination of the position of the vehicle with respect to vehicles located in front of and behind the corresponding vehicle and at the curb and at the exit, to means for controlling the power supply of the electric steering assistance motor to automatically control the steering angle of the steered wheels

  of the vehicle and therefore the trajectory thereof, in order to achieve the niche.

  The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows.

  vre, given only by way of example and made with reference to the drawings an-

  attached, in which: - Fig.1 shows a block diagram illustrating a steering column of a motor vehicle assisted by an electric motor,

  - Fig.2 shows schematically a vehicle equipped with diff-

  different location sensors, and - Fig.3 shows a block diagram illustrating the structure and

  operation of a driving assistance system according to the invention.

  We recognize in fact in Figure 1, a vehicle steering column

  automobile, assisted by an electric motor, which includes

  a steering shaft designated by the general reference 1, one of which is

  part is adapted to receive a steering wheel 2 and of which another external

  mity is connected to the rest of the vehicle's steering mechanism, designated by the

general reference 3.

  Steering assistance is provided for example by an electric motor

  stick designated by the general reference 4, connected by coupling means to the steering shaft. These columns with assistance by electric motor being well known

  in the state of the art, they will not be described in more detail later.

  If we refer to FIG. 2 which represents a block diagram illustrating a motor vehicle equipped with locating means, it can be seen that it comprises for example on its front and rear faces and on

these sides, different sensors.

  In this figure 2, the vehicle is designated by the general reference 6

  and the sensors arranged on its front face and on its rear face, by the referen-

  these 7 and 8 respectively, and on its lateral flanks by the references 9 and 10

  respectively, for one of these.

  Already known in the prior art, vehicles equipped with

  such sensors which are part of the constitution of assistance systems for the ma-

parking lot of these.

  These sensors are therefore suitable for determining the distance separating the vehicle from a obstacle, such as for example a vehicle located at the front or at the rear of the corresponding vehicle and the curb and for emitting a

  audible signal for example of assistance in maneuvering the vehicle.

  According to the invention, the information from these sensors is used

  to assist the driver of the vehicle when making a slot.

  Indeed, and as can be seen in Figure 3, the help system

  according to the invention comprises a central information processing unit

  hindered by the general reference 11, comprising for example any set at mid

  appropriate croprocessor designated by the general reference 12 associated with information storage means designated by the general reference 13, this central information processing unit being connected at input to means 14 for acquiring the speed of the vehicle, acquisition means 15

  the steering angle of the steering wheels of the vehicle and at the various

  position sensors relative to the vehicles located in front and behind the corresponding vehicle and to the curb designated by the references 7,8,9 and 10 respectively, corresponding to the sensors illustrated in FIG. 2,

for example.

  At the output, this central information processing unit 11 is connected to means 16 for controlling the power supply to the steering assistance motor 4 for automatically controlling the steering angle of the steered wheels.

  of the vehicle and therefore the trajectory of the vehicle in order to achieve the niche.

  Indeed, the central information processing unit is adapted for,

  during the creation of such a niche and from the various information available

  quises, calculate the ideal trajectory of the vehicle to achieve satisfactorily

  health the niche and to pilot in a corresponding way the means of feeding

  tion 16 of the steering assistance motor 4 in order to control the steering angle

  the wheels of the vehicle and therefore the trajectory of the latter during its displacement

  cement. Thus, as the vehicle moves longitudinally during this maneuver, the central information processing unit is responsible for driving the electric power steering motor in order to rotate the vehicle wheels and the steering wheel without that the driver of it needs to

touch that steering wheel.

  The steering angle of the vehicle wheels is determined at all times.

  so as to make the vehicle follow the desired trajectory.

  It will also be noted that the driver only intervenes for

  check the speed of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction.

  However, it is also possible that the central processing unit

  11 is adapted to control this movement of the vehicle

  cule during the realization of the niche.

  For example, this central data processing unit

  mations 11 can also be connected to means 17 for controlling a pa-

  operating ram for example of the vehicle engine 18 to control

  vehicle travel speed.

  Such a control can for example act on a motorized throttle valve, a gearbox or an automatic clutch, as well as possibly a

  vehicle braking system.

  It goes without saying of course that still other embodiments of such a system can be envisaged.

Claims (2)

  1. Assistance system for driving a motor vehicle equipped with a steering column assisted by an electric motor, when producing a slot, characterized in that it comprises a central processing unit for information (11) connected as input, to means (14) for acquiring the vehicle speed, to means (15) for acquiring the steering angle of the wheels   of the vehicle, and to means (7,8,9,10) for determining the position   tion of the vehicle with respect to vehicles located in front of and behind the corresponding vehicle and at the curb and at the exit, to means (16) for controlling the supply of power to the electric steering assistance motor (4)   to automatically control the steering angle of the steering wheels of the vehicle   cule and therefore the trajectory of it in order to achieve the niche.   2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the central unit   information processing connection is connected at the output to control means   (17,18) of the appearance of the vehicle when the slot is produced.