DESC:CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based on and derives the benefit of Indian Provisional Application 201641025417, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to driving assistance systems, and more particularly to methods and systems for assisting a driver in performing turns and parking maneuvers.
BACKGROUND
[002] Current vehicles include an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), which typically comprises of a hydraulic modulator with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), wheel speed sensors (one located at each wheel) and warning means in the cabin such as lamps in the instrument cluster. The brake pipes are connected to the brakes through the ABS Electro Hydraulic Control Unit (EHCU). The front right and rear left brakes are connected through connectors. Internal to the hydraulic modulator, each brake is having a pair of solenoid valves, one inlet and one outlet, which are activated by the ECU to control brake pressure of individual wheels.
[003] In case of a normal braking operation, when a difference in wheel speeds are detected and neither ABS nor EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) are active, and when the driver presses the brake pedal, brake pressure developed in Tandem Master Cylinder (TMC) reaches to each wheel through the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU). During this phase, both the inlet and outlet solenoid valves are switched OFF (or not excited) by the ECU. Hence the inlet valve is open and outlet valve remains through the inlet valve and to the relevant wheel. When the driver releases brake pedal, the brake fluid flows back from the wheel, through the respective valve towards the TMS. This can cause in sub-optimal performance resulting in an increase in the turning radius of the vehicle.
OBJECTS
[004] The principal object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for providing assistance for performing turning and parking maneuvers in a vehicle.
[005] Another object of embodiments herein is to reduce the radius of a circular path traversed by the vehicle when a turning or parking maneuver is performed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[006] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[007] FIG. 1 depicts a circle traversed by a vehicle while turning, with and without a Turning and Parking Enhancer (TPE) system implemented in the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[008] FIG. 2 depicts layout of the TPE system, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[009] FIG. 3 depicts the working of the TPE system in a scenario when the vehicle is turning left, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0010] FIG. 4 depicts the working of the TPE system in a scenario when the vehicle is turning right, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIGS. 5a and 5b depict an example scenario in which the TPE system reduces the turning radius of the vehicle during a parking maneuver, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0012] FIGS. 6a and 6b depict an example scenario in which the TPE system reduces the turning radius of the vehicle during a turn maneuver, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0014] The embodiments herein achieve a reduction in radius of a circle traversed by a vehicle when a driver of the vehicle performs a turning or a parking maneuver. The embodiments herein provide a Turning and Parking Enhancer (TPE) system in the vehicle, which can reduce the radius of the circle traversed by the vehicle, while the driver of the vehicle performs a turn or a parking maneuver. The TPE system allows application of the brake to only the rear inner wheel of the vehicle corresponding to the direction in which the maneuver is performed. When the brake is applied to the inner rear wheel, it can get locked and the speed of the outer wheel can increase due to differential action. Due to locking of the inner wheel, a skidding effect can be generated.
[0015] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5b, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a circle traversed by a vehicle while turning, with and without a Turning and Parking Enhancer (TPE) system implemented in the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. As depicted in FIG. 1, the radius of the circle traversed by the vehicle, during a turn and/or parking maneuver, without TPE system is greater in comparison with the radius of the circle traversed by the vehicle with TPE system. When a driver of the vehicle applies a brake, the TPE system ensures that the brake is applied only to the rear inner wheel, corresponding to the direction of the turn and/or parking maneuver. When the brake is applied to the inner rear wheel, the wheel will get locked and the speed of the outer wheel doubles due to differential action, hence generating a skidding effect. As such, the radius of the circle traversed by a vehicle with TPE system is reduced, in comparison with a vehicle without TPE system.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts layout of the TPE system, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The TPE system, as depicted, comprises of an ON/OFF switch 1, a steering sensor 2, an Electronic Control Unit (ECU 3, a master cylinder 4, a front right brake 5.1, a front left brake 5.2, a rear right brake 5.3, a rear left brake 5.4, and a speed detecting sensor 6. The TPE system can be enabled or disabled by the driver using the ON/OFF switch 1. The steering sensor 2 senses the direction of turn (Left/Right) and sends a signal to the ECU 3 to choose the brake actuation wheel. The speed sensor 6 detects the speed of the vehicle and provides it to the ECU 3. The ECU 3 obtains inputs from the steering sensor 2 and the speed sensor 6. Thereafter the inputs are processed with the help of a predefined logic and the output commands are provided to the respective brakes 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4.
[0018] When the driver presses a particular brake pedal, the master cylinder 4 provides a pressure using brake fluids. Valve assembly of each tire of the vehicle comprises of an inlet and outlet solenoid operated direction control valve, an accumulator and a re-circulation pump. The valve can be opened or closed in accordance to the signals or output commands from the ECU 3. The accumulator stores the excess brake fluid coming from the outlet valve. The re-circulation pump increases the hydraulic fluid pressure, if required, and is controlled by the ECU 3.
[0019] In an embodiment, if the TPE system is enabled, then normal barking and Antilock Braking System (ABS), if installed in the vehicle, may not be functioning. If the TPE system is disabled, then normal braking and ABS system may be functioning as usual.
[0020] FIG. 3 depicts the working of the TPE system in a scenario when the vehicle is turning left, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The ECU 3 provides output commands, which control the brakes, valve assembly and electricity supply, of each tire of the vehicle, based on a predefined logic. When input commands are fed to the predefined logic, the output commands are generated. In an embodiment, the input commands can be: the status of ON/OFF switch 1; steering sensor 2 input, indicating the direction of turn; and speed sensor 6 input, indicating the speed of the vehicle. The predefined logic is indicated in the table 1.
Input Logic Output Commands Brake
TPE Switch Direction of turn Speed Sensor Brake Electricity status Valve status
ON Left Less than 15kmph 5.1 ON Close OFF
5.2 ON Close OFF
5.3 ON Close OFF
5.4 OFF Open ON
ON Right Less than 15kmph 5.1 ON Close OFF
5.2 ON Close OFF
5.3 OFF Open ON
5.4 ON Close OFF
Table 1
[0021] Considering the scenario, if the TPE system is ON, the steering sensor 2 can sense that the direction of the turn as ‘left’ and can provide the sensed direction to the ECU 3. The speed sensor 6 can also sense that the speed of the vehicle is less than a predefined speed and can provide the sensed direction to the ECU 3. In an example, the predefined speed can be 15kmph. If the sensed speed is more than 15kmph, the TPE system is disabled, i.e., the status of the TPE switch is OFF.
[0022] The ECU 3 can process the input command, viz., status of TPE switch, the direction of turn, and speed, of the vehicle, to generate output commands based on the predefined logic depicted in the table 1. In response to the input command, the ECU 3 can switch ON the inlet valves of the right front tire, the left front tire, and the right rear tire. Hence the brake cylinders of these tires will not be pressurized and the brakes 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, will not be applied (will remain OFF) to the right front tire, the left front tire, and the right rear tire respectively. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the brake pressure is applied (brake is ON) only to the left rear brake 5.4 and only the left rear tire will get locked.
[0023] FIG. 4 depicts the working of the TPE system in a scenario when the vehicle is turning right, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. Consider the scenario that the vehicle is turning right, the ECU 3 can provide an output command to switch ON the inlet valve of the left front tire, the right front tire and the left rear tire. Hence, the right front brake 5.1, left front brake 5.2, and the left rear brake 5.4 will not be applied. Hence, these brakes will be OFF and the respective cylinders will not get pressurized. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the brake pressure is applied only to the right rear brake 5.3 and only the right rear tire will get locked.
[0024] FIGS. 5a and 5b depict an example scenario in which the TPE system reduces the turning radius of the vehicle during a parking maneuver, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. As depicted in FIG. 5b, the turning radius of the vehicle with the TPE system is reduced, in comparison with the turning radius of the vehicle without the TPE system (FIG. 5a), when the driver performs the parking maneuver.
[0025] FIGS. 6a and 6b depict an example scenario in which the TPE system reduces the turning radius of the vehicle during a turn maneuver, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. As depicted in FIG. 6b, the turning radius of the vehicle with the TPE system is reduced, in comparison with the turning radius of the vehicle without the TPE system (FIG. 6a), when the driver performs the turn maneuver.
[0026] Embodiments herein are explained using a vehicle with four wheels merely as an example. It may be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to implement the embodiments as disclosed herein on a vehicle with any number of wheels.
[0027] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The elements shown in FIG. 2 include blocks, which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.
[0028] The embodiment disclosed herein describes a method and a system for providing assistance for performing a turn maneuver and parking maneuver in a vehicle. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer readable means having a message therein, such computer readable storage means contain program code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a server or mobile device or any suitable programmable device. The method is implemented in at least one embodiment through or together with a software program written in e.g. Very high speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) another programming language, or implemented by one or more VHDL or several software modules being executed on at least one hardware device. The hardware device can be any kind of portable device that can be programmed. The device may also include means which could be e.g. hardware means like e.g. an ASIC, or a combination of hardware and software means, e.g. an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g. using a plurality of CPUs.
[0029] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments and examples, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments and examples disclosed herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
We claim:

1. A method of performing a turn and parking maneuver in a vehicle, the method comprising:
sensing, by a steering sensor (2), a direction of turn of the vehicle;
sensing, by a speed detecting sensor (6), a speed of the vehicle; and
applying, through an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (3) and brake (5.3, 5.4), brake pressure to at least one rear inner wheel of the vehicle corresponding to the direction of turn, wherein the speed of the vehicle is less than a predefined value.
2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake is applied on receiving a command from the ECU (3), wherein the command is based on inputs from the speed detecting sensor (6) and the steering sensor (2).
3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake is applied to the right rear wheel of the vehicle on sensing that the vehicle is turning in the right direction and the speed of the vehicle is less than the predefined value.
4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake is applied to the left rear wheel of the vehicle on sensing that the vehicle is turning in the left direction and the speed of the vehicle is less than the predefined value.
5. A system for performing a turn and parking maneuver in a vehicle, the system comprising:
a steering sensor (2) to sense a direction in which the vehicle is turning;
a speed detecting sensor (6) to sense a speed of the vehicle; and
an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (3), to apply a brake to at least one rear inner wheel of the vehicle corresponding to the direction of turn, wherein the speed of the vehicle is less than a predefined value.
6. The system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the system further comprises a switch (1) to enable or disable the system, wherein the switch is enabled on sensing that the speed of the vehicle is less than the predefined value.
7. The system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the brake is applied on receiving a command from the ECU (3), wherein the command is based on inputs from the speed detecting sensor (6) and the steering sensor (2).
8. The system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the brake is applied to the right rear wheel of the vehicle on sensing that the vehicle is turning in the right direction and the speed of the vehicle is less than the predefined value.
9. The system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the brake is applied to the left rear wheel of the vehicle on sensing that the vehicle is turning in the left direction and the speed of the vehicle is less than the predefined value.

Dated: 17th July 2017 Signature:
Somashekar Ramakrishna