Device and method for selectively operating a motor vehicle in a user-controlled or an automatic driving operation mode

US9845866B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Leopold KOSTAL GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Roland Drees · Kürten, DE
• Mario Janetzko · Dortmund, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 2015
• Grant date: Dec 19, 2017
• Expiry date: Jan 4, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/64
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system for a vehicle operable in a user-controlled driving mode and an automatic driving mode includes a hand-operated control element and a contact sensor configured to detect whether a driver of the vehicle is holding the control element. The system further includes a controller to monitor an alertness of the driver while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the control element and/or switch operation of the vehicle between the user-controlled driving mode and the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the control element.