2709results about "Hand wheels" patented technology

A control interface for accessing a plurality of systems of a vehicle, comprising: a first control interface disposed on a surface of a steering wheel; a second control interface disposed on a surface of a steering wheel, the second control interface being positioned remote from the first control interface; a visual display disposed within the vehicle, wherein the first control interface provides access to a vehicle system and the second control interface provides a means for modifying the state of the vehicle system access by the first control interface.

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determining by what degree a driver is gripping a steering wheel. In one example, a computer may send an electrically assisted power steering system (EPS) motor an excitation command to move. The EPS motor may respond by moving a flexible coupling between the steering wheel and the EPS motor. This may cause a corresponding movement at the steering wheel. A torque sensor may generate pattern data by monitoring the flexible coupling during the movement. The EPS motor may generate system position data for the entire steering system, for example, from the tires to the steering wheel. The pattern data and the system position data may be compared by the computer to determine the degree of grip. In this regard, the computer may determine the degree of a driver's grip without the need for additional sensors.

A steering wheel is configured as a dual-state input device configured to operate in two distinct states based on a current driving mode. In a manual driving mode, the input device is configured to control a limited set of vehicle functions and in an autonomous mode the input device is configured to control an expanded set of vehicle functions. The steering wheel includes a wheel rim movably mounted on a steering column and a hub disposed within a center of the wheel rim on the steering column, the main body portion comprising an interactive touch screen disposed on the main body portion. The wheel rim is configured to disengage from the hub and move along the steering column to a retracted position.

A sensor system for a steering wheel of a vehicle includes a first sensor disposed within a first portion of the steering wheel to detect contact with a front left surface of the steering wheel. The sensor system includes a second sensor disposed within a second portion of the steering wheel separate from the first portion to detect contact with a front right surface of the steering wheel. The sensor system also includes a third sensor disposed within the steering wheel to detect contact with a rear surface of the steering wheel. The first, second and third sensors are configured to respectively detect touching of the front left surface, the front right, and the rear surface of the steering wheel by a hand or a non-hand part of an operator of the vehicle. The first, second and third sensors can be complex impedance sensors.

A steering wheel is configured as a dual-state input device configured to operate in two distinct states based on a current driving mode. In a manual driving mode, the input device is configured to control a limited set of vehicle functions and in an autonomous mode the input device is configured to control an expanded set of vehicle functions. The steering wheel includes a wheel rim movably mounted on a steering column and a hub disposed within a center of the wheel rim on the steering column, the main body portion comprising an interactive touch screen disposed on the main body portion. The wheel rim is configured to disengage from the hub and move along the steering column to a retracted position.

The present invention provides a system which integrates motor vehicle component operation into actuators located in the rim of a motor vehicle steering wheel. The two actuators of the system of the present invention are located in an arc segment of the steering wheel defined by the three o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the right-hand actuator and the nine o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the left-hand actuator. The actuators may operate in parallel with a conventional stalk switch or controls associated with an on board computer and only operate a motor vehicle component when activated and subsequently depressed. The integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention further provides for vehicle component operation which does not require a driver to remove his or her hands from the steering wheel. Furthermore, the integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention when integrated with steering wheel and vehicle position detection systems provides a means to disengage an activated turn signal depending on the position of the steering wheel and / or the vehicle.

A method of manufacturing a decorative components for vehicle interiors, comprises the steps of pre-forming a sheet of formable veneer material under pressure and heath, positioning the pre-formed sheet in a mold half of an injection mold comprising a cavity; holding the sheet in position on the mold half, closing said mold and injecting into the cavity one or more thermoplastic materials on the back of the veneer sheet to provide a support layer.

A steering wheel for motor vehicles is disclosed. The aim of the steering wheel is to supply information from a driver guidance system or a driver assistance system to a driver in such a way that said information is easily received and that the driver can also input information for said systems or for a telephone, without having to divert his or her attention from the traffic. To achieve this, the steering wheel is configured as a communication interface for the driver.

An assist apparatus for electric-powered power steering apparatus is provided to have a torque sensor, steering shaft, preload pad 70, a torsion coil spring 30, and an electric motor 31. With the preload pad 70 and torsion coil spring 30, an elastic force is applied to the worm shaft 29 in the direction toward the worm wheel 28, whereby noises due to colliding teeth are prevented from occurring in the meshing portion between the worm wheel 28 and worm shaft 29.

A slider 24 is supported on a holder 19 of a steering wheel 11 via a coil spring 25 so as to be movable in a direction of an axis while an air bag module 20 is supported on a slider 24 via a damper spring 26 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Since the coil spring 25 does not affect vibration of the air bag module 20 in the direction perpendicular to the axis, it is possible to set a spring constant of the coil spring 25 at a value appropriate for the operation of a horn switch 37, and to set a spring constant of the damper spring 26 at a value appropriate for the operation of the dynamic damper. As a result, it is possible to effectively reduce the vibration of the steering wheel 11 in the direction perpendicular to the axis with the dynamic damper without affecting the operability of the horn switch 37.

The invention relates to a vehicle safety system includes a steering wheel, a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors located in the steering wheel, and a control unit. The pressure sensitive sensors can be located in different regions of the steering wheel. The pressure sensitive sensors can determine if a driver's hand is pressing upon a respective region of the steering wheel associated with one or more of the plurality of pressure sensitive sensors. The control unit can be configured or programmed to determine if at least one of the driver's hands is pressing upon a region of the steering wheel for a predetermined amount of time.

A steering device for a superposition steering system is provided using at least one actuator. The device is based on the object of producing a superposition steering system which requires no additional installation space in the steering column. The actuator for the superposition steering system is therefore arranged in the steering wheel.

In a method for detecting contact between a driver's hands and the steering wheel (12) of a vehicle, an actuator (14) for selectively applying a steering force and sensors (22) for measuring the instantaneous steering force and / or the steering angle being associated with the steering wheel (12), the actuator (14) impresses (32) a test force pulse pattern on the steering wheel (12). The steering force sensor and / or the steering angle sensor (22) measure(s) the reaction of the steering wheel movement to the test pulse pattern, and the reaction of the steering wheel movement is used to decide whether or not at least one of the driver's hands is in contact with the steering wheel (12).

A steering wheel comprises a control interface coupled to a device controller. The device controller is configured for controlling operation of at least one vehicle device, and the at least one vehicle device comprises an active device. The at least one control interface comprises a display element for visually displaying an interface image associated with the active device. The device controller comprises a processor coupled to a memory storage device and is configured for communicating the interface image to the at least one control interface for display by the display element. The at least one control interface is configured for receiving an operator input and transmitting an input signal indicative of the operator input to the device controller. The device controller configured for receiving the input signal from the at least one control interface and for transmitting a control signal to the active device in accordance with the input signal.

The application provides non-circular steering wheel designs and steering wheel-mounted airbag housings, cushions, and modules for use in vehicles using non-circular steering wheels. The airbag housings and modules of the invention provide supplemental reaction surfaces to support an airbag cushion mounted on a non-circular steering wheel. Airbag cushions of the invention utilize the steering wheel, steering column or steering wheel shroud as a partial reaction surface to support an airbag cushion.

A steering apparatus is provided for use by a physically challenged driver comprising a steering wheel having a diameter significantly smaller than the diameter of the stock steering wheel and a position encoding mechanism coupled to the steering wheel operable to generate a position signal in relation to the amount of rotation of the steering wheel. This position signal is fed to a processor that is operable to generate a steering command in relation to the position signal, which command directs a steering mechanism to rotate the steering shaft in response thereto. The position encoding mechanism includes a steering gear rotatable with the steering wheel, and at least three driven gears and associated position sensors meshed with the steering gear, operable to provide triple redundancy to the position signal used to generate the steering command. The steering apparatus further comprises a sensitivity mechanism that is operable to produce an adjustable resistance to rotation of the steering wheel.

Various implementations include a light bar system for a steering wheel of a vehicle that includes a high intensity light source, a light diffusing layer, and an outer lens. For example, in certain implementations, the light diffusing layer is disposed between a plurality of high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an outer lens, and the light diffusing layer causes the light from the LEDs to appear as a continuous stream of light across a length of the lens and provides sufficiently bright lighting to warn or communicate with the driver in various ambient lighting conditions. In certain implementations, the outer lens is colored to blend in with the rest of the steering wheel when the LEDs are not activated.

A steering column device with a knee airbag device includes a steering column provided with a telescopic mechanism; a column cover that covers the rear end portion of the steering column; an airbag module, provided inside the column cover, which includes a gas generation device that generates gas, and a knee airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas; an airbag door that is provided in the column cover, and that is opened when the airbag door receives the inflation pressure of the knee airbag; a collision prediction device that predicts that a vehicle will have a collision with a collision object; and a control device that operates the telescopic mechanism so that each of the column cover and the airbag module is moved rearward to a predetermined position, when the collision prediction device predicts that the vehicle will have a collision with the collision object.

A three wheeled vehicle that has an improved dual front wheel steering system that allows the vehicle to be maneuvered by a combination of arm and leg steering movements coupled with front end leaning that shifts the center of mass of the vehicle down and toward the inside wheel. This transfer of mass counteracts a conventional cornering vehicle's tendency to fling its mass to the outside wheel and lift the inner wheel off the ground as well as changing the angle of the line of force exerted through the tires, and enhancing the vehicles's grip on the ground. The vehicle has a reduced amount of sliding and potential of flipping when turning sharply. The steering system is compatible with traditional ACKERMAN steering geometry wherein the inner wheel turns in a smaller diameter circle than the outer wheel.

In a broad respect, vehicles that are capable of making a low- to zero-radius turn using the independent rotation of drive wheels and by turning the non-driving steerable structure or structures (such as wheels) with a steering input device (in some embodiments, the driving wheels also may be capable of being turned). This may be accomplished using a steering system, a speed control system and an integration device (together, a control system) that are configured to work together to provide correct steering in forward and reverse, and, in some embodiments, to reduce the speed of the outboard drive wheel of the vehicle when it enters an extreme turn under constant speed input. Different systems configured for use in such vehicles are included.

A steering wheel for a vehicle includes a steering wheel hub. Also included is a first portion of the steering wheel hub having an electronic display. Further included is a second portion of the steering wheel hub having a keyboard, the keyboard being in operable communication with the electronic display.

A vehicle control apparatus, method and system are described. The vehicle control apparatus includes multiple sensing locations adapted to receive input from an operator of the vehicle, each sensing location has a set of sensing elements placed throughout the sensing location, a set of components adapted to evaluate signals produced by the sensing locations, and a set of components adapted to generate at least one output signal that controls operation of a vehicle functionality. The method receives an input signal from a pressure-sensing location, determines whether the input signal matches some criteria, and generates a control output when they match. The system includes an operator input module that receives a control signal based at least partly on pressure applied to locations along a steering control, a verification module that determines whether the received control signal matches some criteria, and an output module that activates at least one vehicle functionality.

A surface-heating element for a curved surface and method of producing a heating element is provided. The heating element includes a continuous, planar conductor arranged along a longitudinal axis including a plurality of turns connected by regions being generally transverse to the longitudinal axis. The conductor including end portions each having a terminal for receiving electrical current. The heating element also includes a film applied to one side of the conductor and configured to substantially follow an outer contour of the conductor. The film and the conductor form a continuous web generally centered about the longitudinal axis, and at least one turn connecting two generally transverse regions extends beyond the continuous web. The heating element may also include an adhesive layer on the other side of the heating element sealingly engaging the film.

A three wheeled vehicle that has an improved dual front wheel integrated steering and suspension system that allows the vehicle to be maneuvered by a combination of arm and leg steering movements coupled with front end leaning that shifts the center of mass of the vehicle down and toward the inside wheel. This transfer of mass counteracts a conventional cornering vehicle's tendency to fling its mass to the outside wheel and lift the inner wheel off the ground as well as changing the angle of the line of force exerted through the tires, and enhancing the vehicles's grip on the ground. The vehicle has a reduced amount of sliding and potential of flipping when turning sharply. The steering system is compatible with traditional ACKERMAN steering geometry wherein the inner wheel turns in a smaller diameter circle than the outer wheel.