Patent ID: 6324452
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: B60T,B62D

Abstract:
A system for controlling steering of a vehicle having an actuator which turns steered wheels of the vehicle; comprising:an image sensor mounted on the vehicle for taking an image ahead of the vehicle;lane detecting means for detecting a lane on which the vehicle travels based on outputs of the image sensor; andsteering assist torque control means for calculating a steering assist torque and conducting a steering assist control to operate the actuator such that the vehicle runs along the lane;whereinthe improvement comprises:the system includes:lateral deviation detecting means for detecting a lateral deviation of the vehicle from a reference line of the lane; andintention determining means for determining whether an operator of the vehicle has an intention to drive the vehicle based on at least the detected lateral deviation;and wherein the steering assist torque control means conducts at least one of alerting the operator and discontinuing the steering assist control, when it is determined by the intention determining means that the operator does not have the intention to drive the vehicle.