steering wheel of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Steering wheel (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising a first actuating element (11) for increasing a target gear for a transmission, and a second actuating element (12) for decreasing the target gear, wherein the first actuating element (11) is designed to be actuated in multiple stages, such that in a first actuating stage the target gear is increased by one gear and in a second actuating stage the target gear is increased to the highest available gear depending on the operating conditions, and wherein the second actuating element (12) is designed to be actuated in multiple stages, such that in a first actuating stage the target gear is decreased by one gear and in a second actuating stage the target gear is decreased to the lowest available gear depending on the operating conditions, wherein the respective actuating element (11,12) along a first actuation path and to provide the respective second actuation stage, the respective actuating element (11, 12) is actuable along a second actuation path that follows the first actuation path, wherein, if the target gear can only be increased or decreased by a single gear depending on operating conditions, the respective second actuation stage of the respective actuating element (11, 12) is blocked, and wherein the respective blockable actuation stage is provided by means of a switchable electromagnet.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 or 2.

[0002] Motor vehicles with steering wheels are known in practice. These have a first actuating element for increasing a target gear for the motor vehicle's transmission, and a second actuating element for decreasing the target gear for the motor vehicle's transmission. Changing the target gear triggers a gear shift or gear change in the transmission.

[0003] DE 10 2004 028 014 A1 discloses an actuating element for a motor vehicle for manually triggering a gearshift operation of a transmission of the motor vehicle.

[0004] DE 199 26 823 A1 discloses a device for shifting an automatic transmission, which has an element integrated into a steering wheel rim for manual downshifting or manual upshifting.

[0005] DE 199 51 374 A1 discloses a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, on which a first button for initiating an upshift and a second button for initiating a downshift are arranged. The buttons have two actuation levels: a first actuation level for a single downshift or single upshift, and a second actuation level for a maximum downshift or maximum upshift.

[0006] EP 2 836 745 B1 discloses a steering wheel of a motor vehicle with shift paddles for initiating a gear change in an automatic transmission.

[0007] EP 2 725 263 B1 discloses another steering wheel with shift paddles, which actuate to trigger a gear change in a transmission.

[0008] DE 103 28 313 A1 relates to a steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 or 2.

[0009] DE 10 2015 110 946 A1 and DE 10 2015 117 909 A1 disclose further prior art.

[0010] There is a need for a steering wheel with actuating elements for changing a target gear for a transmission and thus for triggering gear changes, which enables a simple and reliable change of the target gear.

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a corresponding steering wheel for a motor vehicle. This object is achieved by a steering wheel according to claim 1 and by a steering wheel according to claim 2.

[0012] According to the invention, the first actuating element is designed to be actuated in multiple stages, such that in a first actuating stage of the first actuating element, the target gear is increased by a single gear, and in a second actuating stage of the first actuating element, the target gear is increased to the highest available gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle. The second actuating element is also designed to be actuated in multiple stages, such that in a first actuating stage of the second actuating element, the target gear is reduced by a single gear, and in a second actuating stage of the second actuating element, the target gear is reduced to the lowest available gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle.This allows the target gear for a motor vehicle's transmission to be changed easily and reliably by the driver operating an actuating element on the steering wheel of the motor vehicle.

[0013] To provide the respective first actuation stage, the respective actuation element can be actuated along a first actuation path, optionally overcoming a first force threshold and / or optionally over a first actuation time. To provide the respective second actuation stage, the respective actuation element can be actuated along a second actuation path, which follows the first actuation path, and optionally overcoming a second force threshold that is greater than the first force threshold, and / or optionally over a second actuation time that is greater than the first actuation time.

[0014] A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is one in which the second actuation stage follows the first actuation stage and is achieved when the second force threshold, which is greater than the first force threshold, is overcome and when the second actuation path, which follows the first actuation path, is overcome. It is also possible to provide the second actuation stage by actuating the respective actuating element for a second actuation time that is greater than the first actuation time.

[0015] According to claim 1, if the target gear can only be increased or reduced by a single gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the respective second actuation stage is blocked. According to claim 2, if the target gear cannot be changed depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the respective first actuation stage and the respective second actuation stage are blocked. By blocking the respective actuation stage, the driving behavior of the motor vehicle can be understood by the driver. If the target gear can only be increased or reduced by a single gear, the second actuation stage is blocked. If the target gear cannot be changed, both the first actuation stage and the second actuation stage are blocked. In this case, the respective actuation element cannot be actuated, and the driver does not expect a gear change to be initiated in the transmission.

[0016] The respective lockable actuation stage is provided by means of a switchable electromagnet.

[0017] Preferred developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description.

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, without being limited thereto. Fig. 1 a highly schematic representation of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows a highly schematic representation of a steering wheel 10 of a motor vehicle according to the invention. The steering wheel 10 has a first actuating element 11, accessible on a first side of the steering wheel 10 and configured as a rocker switch or paddle, and a second actuating element 12, accessible on a second side of the steering wheel 10 and also configured as a rocker switch or paddle.

[0020] The first actuating element 11 serves to increase a target gear for a transmission of the motor vehicle designed as an automatic transmission, i.e. to trigger an upshift in a transmission.

[0021] The second actuating element 12 serves to reduce a target gear for the transmission of the motor vehicle, which is designed as an automatic transmission, i.e. to trigger a downshift in the transmission.

[0022] The first actuating element 11, designed as a shift rocker or shift paddle, can be actuated in several stages, in such a way that in a first actuation stage of the first actuating element 11, designed as a shift rocker or shift paddle, the target gear is increased by a single gear, while in a second actuation stage of the first actuating element 11, designed as a shift rocker or shift paddle, the target gear is increased to the highest gear available in each case depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle.

[0023] The second actuating element 12, designed as a rocker switch or shift paddle, is also designed to be operable in multiple stages, in such a way that in a first actuation stage of the second actuating element 12, designed as a rocker switch or shift paddle, the target gear is reduced by a single gear, while in a second actuation stage of the second actuating element, designed as a rocker switch or shift paddle, the target gear is reduced to the smallest gear available in each case depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle.

[0024] The steering wheel 10 according to the invention therefore has two-stage shift paddles for changing the target gear for a transmission of the motor vehicle and thus for initiating gear shifts in the transmission, wherein the respective first actuation stage enables upshifting or downshifting by a single gear, while the second actuation stage engages the largest available or smallest available gear in the transmission, depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle.

[0025] To provide the respective first actuation stage, the respective actuation element 11, 12 can preferably be actuated along a first actuation path by overcoming a first force threshold. To provide the respective second actuation stage of the respective actuation element 11, 12, the same can preferably be actuated along a second actuation path by overcoming a second force stage, wherein the second force threshold is greater than the first force threshold, and wherein the second actuation path follows the first actuation path.

[0026] The first force threshold for providing the first actuation level can be provided, for example, by a silicone switch mat.

[0027] The second force threshold for providing the second actuation stage can, for example, be provided by a magnetorheological fluid (MRF).

[0028] Alternatively, it is possible to actuate the respective actuating element over a first actuating time to provide the respective first actuating stage and to actuate the respective actuating element 11, 12 over a second actuating time which is greater than the first actuating time to provide the second actuating stage.

[0029] In this case, if the respective actuating element 11, 12 is actuated for a relatively short time, a target gear can be increased or reduced by a single gear, and if the respective actuating element 11, 12 is actuated for a relatively long time, the target gear can be changed to the largest available or the smallest available gear.

[0030] For example, if a motor vehicle is traveling in a high gear, such as forward gear 7, the target gear can be reduced by one gear via the first actuation stage of the second actuation element, thus triggering a downshift to gear 6. The second actuation stage can also be used to downshift to the lowest available gear, which is available depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, for example, depending on the speed of the motor vehicle and / or the speed of a drive unit.

[0031] In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that if, depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the target gear can only be increased or decreased by a single gear, the respective second actuation stage for the respective actuation element 11, 12 is blocked. If, depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the target gear cannot be changed because, for example, the motor vehicle is already traveling in the highest available gear and no further upshift is possible, both the first actuation stage and the second actuation stage can be blocked for the respective actuation element. Lockable actuation stages are provided via switchable electromagnets.

[0032] Fig.Figure 1 also shows a control unit 13, which is operatively connected to the steering wheel 10. The control unit 13 receives signals from the actuating elements 11, 12, depending on which signals a target gear is changed, thus triggering a gearshift in a transmission. Furthermore, the control unit 13 can provide signals to the shifting elements 11, 12, for example, to block individual actuation stages of the same.

[0033] If the first actuation stage or the second actuation stage can be blocked, the elements which, for example, provide the individual force thresholds are preferably electrically switchable.

Claims

[1] Steering wheel (10) of a motor vehicle, with a first actuating element (11) designed as a rocker switch or paddle switch and accessible on a first side of the steering wheel, in order to increase a target gear for a transmission of the motor vehicle, with a second actuating element (12) designed as a rocker switch or paddle switch and accessible on a second side of the steering wheel, in order to reduce the target gear for the transmission of the motor vehicle, wherein the first actuating element (11) is designed to be actuated in several stages, such that in a first actuation stage of the first actuating element (11) the target gear is increased by a single gear, in a second actuation stage of the first actuating element (11), the target gear is increased to the highest available gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle. wherein the second actuating element (12) is designed to be operable in several stages, such that in a first actuation stage of the second actuating element (12) the target gear is reduced by a single gear, in a second actuation stage of the second actuating element (12), the target gear is reduced to the smallest available gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, characterized by , that to provide the respective first actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated along a first actuation path, to provide the respective second actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated along a second actuation path which follows the first actuation path, when the target gear can only be increased or reduced by a single gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the respective second actuation stage of the respective actuation element (11, 12) is blocked, wherein the respective blockable actuation stage is provided by means of a switchable electromagnet. [2] Steering wheel (10) of a motor vehicle, with a first actuating element (11) designed as a rocker switch or paddle switch and accessible on a first side of the steering wheel, in order to increase a target gear for a transmission of the motor vehicle, with a second actuating element (12) designed as a rocker switch or paddle switch and accessible on a second side of the steering wheel, in order to reduce the target gear for the transmission of the motor vehicle, wherein the first actuating element (11) is designed to be actuated in several stages, such that in a first actuation stage of the first actuating element (11) the target gear is increased by a single gear, in a second actuation stage of the first actuating element (11), the target gear is increased to the highest available gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, wherein the second actuating element (12) is designed to be operable in several stages, such that in a first actuation stage of the second actuating element (12) the target gear is reduced by a single gear, in a second actuation stage of the second actuating element (12), the target gear is reduced to the smallest available gear depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, characterized by , that to provide the respective first actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated along a first actuation path, to provide the respective second actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated along a second actuation path which follows the first actuation path, when the target gear cannot be changed depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the respective first actuation stage and the respective second actuation stage of the respective actuation element (11, 12) are blocked, wherein the respective blockable actuation stage is provided by means of a switchable electromagnet. [3] Steering wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized byin that, in order to provide the respective first actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated by overcoming a first force threshold, and in order to provide the respective second actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated by overcoming a second force threshold which is greater than the first force threshold. [4] Steering wheel according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by in that, in order to provide the respective first actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated over a first actuation time, and in order to provide the respective second actuation stage, the respective actuation element (11, 12) can be actuated over a second actuation time which is greater than the first actuation time.

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