US 12,116,062 B2
System and method for providing a center indicator for a temporarily decoupled steering wheel
Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Mountain View, CA (US); and Hiroshi Yasuda, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC., Los Altos, CA (US)
Filed by TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC., Los Altos, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/690,254.
Prior Publication US 2023/0286576 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 6/00 (2006.01); B60Q 3/283 (2017.01); B62D 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 6/008 (2013.01) [B60Q 3/283 (2017.02); B62D 1/046 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of center indicator devices, wherein the plurality of center indicator devices are disposed along a perimeter on a steering wheel of a vehicle; and
a controller, wherein the controller:
determines a position of the steering wheel that corresponds to a true center position on the steering when the steering wheel is out of alignment with steerable wheels of the vehicle, the true center position determination based on an analysis of vehicle data;
determines one of the plurality of center indicator devices that is at a position on the steering wheel that corresponds to the determined true center position on the steering wheel; and
illuminates the determined center indicator device to produce feedback to a driver of the vehicle indicating the true center position on the steering wheel when the steering wheel is out of alignment with the steerable wheels of the vehicle.