Patent ID: 9457815
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: B60K,B60W

Claim Text:
1. A multi-level control circuit for controlling multiple actuators associated with at least one motion direction within an automotive vehicle having plural sensors and actuators for effecting changes in vehicle motion in at least said one motion direction, where at least one of the sensors provides driver correlated input signals corresponding to actions performed by the driver, comprising: a master control circuit coupled to receive input signals from said sensors and coupled to provide electronic control signals to said actuators and to monitor the state of said actuators; the master control circuit being configured to provide multiple levels of control over vehicle motion in said one motion direction; the multiple levels including: (a) an actuator monitoring level in which the integrity of said actuators is assessed; (b) a first actuator controlling level that interprets input signals from said sensors, including driver correlated input signals and provides supervisory control over said actuators; (c) a second actuator controlling level that assesses a level of driver trustworthiness by interpreting said input signals and that provides supervisory control over said actuators in a manner different from that effected by the first actuator controlling level when driver trustworthiness is below a predetermined level.