The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 01, 2002
Wilfried Bullinger, Korntal-Muenchingen, DE;
Florent Paviot, Filderstadt, DE;
DaimlerChrysler AG, Stuttgart, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for sensing the readiness to steer or the steering behavior of the driver of a motor vehicle, at least one pressure and/or contact sensor which supplies an electrical signal when it is touched and/or pressure is exerted being integrated into the steering wheel or mounted on the steering wheel. The pressure sensor and/or contact sensor has a multiplicity of sensor elements or segments arranged along the circumference of the steering wheel. Each of the sensor elements or sensor segments has, in the cross section of the steering wheel rim, a multiplicity of pressure-sensitive and/or contact-sensitive zones so that it is possible to detect whether the driver's hand grasps the steering wheel from the inside, outside, top or bottom. A signal which represents the readiness to steer can be used to generate in an evaluation unit, for example, an audible, optical, haptic or similar warning to the driver as a function of the travel situation at a particular time or the events on the road detected around the vehicle.