US 11,884,317 B2
Method for positioning a steering wheel of a motor vehicle in a rest position and/or an easy-entry position and a motor vehicle to carry out the method
Sebastian Loos, Ingolstadt (DE); and Richard Schroeder, Ingolstadt (DE)
Assigned to AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed by AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/377,973.
Claims priority of application No. 102020122327.7 (DE), filed on Aug. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0063704 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 1/183 (2006.01); B62D 1/10 (2006.01); B60R 16/037 (2006.01); B60W 10/20 (2006.01); B60W 50/00 (2006.01); B60N 2/02 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/183 (2013.01) [B60R 16/037 (2013.01); B60W 10/20 (2013.01); B62D 1/10 (2013.01); B60N 2/0272 (2023.08); B60W 2050/0085 (2013.01); B60W 2540/227 (2020.02)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for positioning a steering wheel of a motor vehicle in a rest position and/or an easy-entry position, wherein the steering wheel has an operative connection to an adjustment means via which the steering wheel is movable in a steeling wheel adjustment field, the method comprising:
establishing a steering wheel position that was last set as a current steering wheel position;
determining a target position in the steering wheel adjustment field, which represents a maximum increase in space for a driver in relation to a currently set steering wheel position;
establishing the target position as a rest position and/or as an easy-entry position; and
moving the steering wheel to the established rest position and/or easy-entry position,
wherein:
a seat position set in the current steering wheel position is established as a reference position;
an actual distance dimension between a defined point of the steering wheel and a defined point of a driver seat in the reference position is determined;
for all n-possible steering wheel positions in the steering wheel adjustment field, associated distance dimensions between the defined point of the steering wheel and the defined point of the driver seat in the reference position are determined;
a maximum for a ratio between the actual distance dimension and the associated distance dimensions are determined; and
a distance dimension, at which the ratio has the maximum, is defined as the target position which represents the maximum increase in space.