Electronic steering wheel with swiveling touch controls.

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic steering wheel (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel body designed to be mounted for rotation on the vehicle, the body comprising all the gripping means for allowing the driver to hold the steering wheel (1), the steering wheel body (1) forming a plate (4) delimited by a contour inscribed within a rectangular perimeter, the plate (4) comprising at least one control interface (7) having a control surface (8) provided with a plurality of touch zones (9), each allowing the selection of a specific function selectable by contact with the driver, the surface (8) being movably mounted on the plate (4) and cooperating with activation means (14) designed to detect a movement of the surface (8) relative to the plate (4) in order to allow the execution of at least one function selected using the zones (9). (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic steering wheel with pivoting touch controls.

[0001] The technical field relates to electronic steering wheels with controls and to motor vehicles equipped with such steering wheels.

[0002] The ergonomics of a driver's seat in a motor vehicle are of crucial importance to car manufacturers, as they primarily contribute to the driver's perceived driving experience. Therefore, the arrangement of the various elements of the driver's seat is constantly evolving to offer the driver ever more easily accessible information. These various elements are obviously arranged around the centrally positioned steering wheel. Traditionally, most steering wheels have a circular rim, allowing for a secure grip. The rim is connected to a central block that links the steering wheel to the steering column. The rim is usually inscribed within a square perimeter with sides of a significant dimension, on the order of 350 mm.Some vehicles feature a steering wheel with one or more flat sections on the rim, either at the top or bottom, giving the vehicle a more luxurious and / or sporty appearance. Despite these flat sections, the dimensions of conventional steering wheel rims present a significant visual obstacle to the placement of information elements on the vehicle's dashboard.

[0003] Sports vehicles developed for motor racing, such as Formula 1 cars, use column-free technology that employs angle sensors and motors, known as electric steering wheels. An electric steering wheel offers the advantage of allowing for customizable settings to adapt the steering force and response to inputs on the wheel. Thus, depending on the vehicle's speed, the steering ratio between the wheel and the wheels can be adjusted to facilitate vehicle maneuvers.

[0004] Furthermore, drivers are accustomed to having access to a multitude of functions directly available on their steering wheel. Therefore, in order to equip a road vehicle with an electronic steering wheel, it is necessary to equip the electronic steering wheel with such functions. However, unlike the electronic steering wheels used in Formula 1 cars, the electronic steering wheel of a road vehicle must include a safety airbag located in the center of the steering wheel. Consequently, the need to accommodate such an airbag makes it impossible to install functions on the electronic steering wheel, due to lack of space, using conventional solutions.

[0005] Finally, drivers are generally sensitive to the adjustments of the assemblies of the elements of the passenger compartment and particular care should be taken to the play of the various moving parts.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution enabling the equipping of an electronic steering wheel with functions in a compact manner while presenting neat assemblies and lines of play.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic steering wheel equipped with at least one control interface that is easily operated by the driver and that is easily integrated into the limited volume of the electronic steering wheel.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to an electronic steering wheel for a motor vehicle, without a rim, comprising a steering wheel body designed to be mounted in rotation on the vehicle, the steering wheel body comprising all the means for gripping the steering wheel to allow the steering wheel to be taken by a driver of the vehicle, the steering wheel body forming a plate delimited by a contour inscribed in a rectangular perimeter, the plate comprising at least one control interface each having a control surface provided with a plurality of touch zones, each allowing the selection of a specific function selectable by contact with the driver, the surface being movably mounted on the plate and cooperating with activation means designed to detect a movement of the surface relative to the plate in order to allow the execution of at least one function selected using the touch zones.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the electronic steering wheel according to the invention provides the driver with at least one control interface offering a plurality of functions thanks to the plurality of touch zones. Depending on the touch zones in contact with the driver's hand, for example, their thumb, a specific function, from among a plurality of functions, can be selected. The driver can then activate the function by moving the control surface, for example, by pressing on the control surface, to activate the activation means. The use of a single control surface for several functions makes the assembly compact and minimizes play in the design. Therefore, the electronic steering wheel according to the invention complies with homologation standards, namely the presence of an airbag, while exhibiting adjustments free from visual defects.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, each control surface is mounted movable around an activation axis allowing the surface to be brought closer control and turntable.

[0012] According to one possibility of the steering wheel, the activation axis is mounted movable relative to the plate.

[0013] Advantageously, the activation axis is formed by a C-shaped articulation bar mounted movably in rotation on the plate.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the steering wheel, each touch zone is delimited by a detection film designed to detect an approach or contact with the driver's hand.

[0015] According to one possibility, the activation means comprise at least one contactor activated when the control surface and the plate are brought closer together.

[0016] According to one embodiment, each control surface is provided on the periphery of a gripping hole through the body of the steering wheel, sized and positioned to allow the passage of a driver's thumb.

[0017] According to one possibility, each control interface features a backlight.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the steering wheel has four control interfaces.

[0019] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a steering wheel according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows a detailed view of a steering wheel control interface of the [Fig.l];

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a detailed view of an articulation bar of the control surface of the control interface of [Fig.2];

[0023] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0024] An electronic steering wheel 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is intended to equip a motor vehicle according to the invention. The steering wheel 1 is designed to be connected to the vehicle's steering system by electronic means, in particular angle sensors and motors. The steering wheel 1 thus eliminates the need for a steering column.

[0025] Advantageously, thanks to the implementation of the electronic steering wheel 1 according to the invention, the force and response of the vehicle's steering, in particular the gear ratio between the electronic steering wheel 1 and the wheels, can be adapted according to, among other things, the vehicle's speed according to the invention. The steering wheel 1 illustrated in the figures comprises a steering wheel body 2 designed to be rotatably mounted on the vehicle.

[0026] The steering wheel body 2 includes all the means of gripping the steering wheel 3 to allow the steering wheel 1 to be gripped by a driver of the vehicle.

[0027] Contrary to the prior art, the steering wheel 1 is without a rim. Indeed, the body 2 of the steering wheel forms a plate 4 delimited by a contour 5 inscribed within a rectangular perimeter 6, as illustrated in [Fig. 1].

[0028] As illustrated in [Fig.1], the plate 4 includes at least one control interface 7, each having a control surface 8 with a plurality of touch zones 9, illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig.1], the steering wheel 1 has four control interfaces 7.

[0030] In the example described in [Fig.2], each control surface 8 is provided on The circumference 10 of a gripping hole 11 passing through the body 2 of the steering wheel 1, each dimensioned and positioned to allow the passage of a driver's thumb 12. The gripping holes 11 and the body 2 form the gripping means 3. Each gripping hole 11 is delimited by a hyperboloidal sheet passing through the body 2.

[0031] Advantageously, each control interface 7 features backlighting.

[0032] Each touch zone 9 allows the selection of a specific function, selectable by contact with the driver's hand, in particular with the thumb 12. As illustrated in [Fig.2], each touch zone 9 has, for example, a rectangular shape covering part of the perimeter 10 of the gripping hole 11. For this purpose, each touch zone 9 is, for example, delimited by a detection film 13 designed to detect an approach or contact with the driver's hand.

[0033] The control surface 8 is movably mounted on the plate 4 and cooperates with activation means 14 designed to detect a movement of the surface 8 relative to the plate 4, in order to allow the execution of at least one function selected using the touch zones 9.

[0034] In the example illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, each control surface 8 has a crown shape. Advantageously, an icon 15 is placed on the control surface 8 to illustrate each function associated with each touch zone 9.

[0035] As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, each control surface 8 is movable around an activation axis A1, allowing the control surface 8 to move closer to the plate 4. The activation axis A1 is advantageously movable relative to the plate 4. Thus, when the driver presses on the control surface 8, the surface 8 moves closer to the plate 4. To obtain such an activation axis A1, it is formed by a C-shaped articulation bar 16, which is movable and rotatable on the plate 4, about a second axis A2. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the first A1 and second A2 axes are parallel to each other.

[0036] Finally, the activation means 14 comprise at least one contactor 17 projecting from the plate 4 and arranged so as to be activated when the control surface 8 of the plate 4 is brought close by pressing the conductor against the surface Order number 8.

[0037] Thus, the electronic steering wheel 1 according to the invention provides the driver with at least one control interface 7 offering a plurality of functions thanks to the plurality of touch zones 9. Depending on the touch zone(s) 9 in contact with the driver's hand, for example, their thumb 12, a specific function, from among a plurality of functions, is selected. The driver can then activate the selected function by moving the control surface 8: pressing on the control surface 8 causes the surface 8 to rotate around the activation axis A1 and the articulation bar 16 to rotate around the second axis A2. This brings the control surface 8 closer to the plate 4 and activates the switch 17. The use of a single control surface 8 for several functions makes the assembly compact and reduces play in the mechanism.Thus, the electronic steering wheel 1 according to the invention complies with the homologation standards, namely the presence of a housing 18 to accommodate an airbag, not shown in [Fig. 1], while exhibiting adjustments free from visual defects.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the steering wheel described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Electronic steering wheel (1) for a motor vehicle, without a rim, comprising a steering wheel body (2) designed to be mounted for rotation on the vehicle, the steering wheel body (2) comprising all the means for gripping the steering wheel (1) to allow the steering wheel (1) to be held by a driver of the vehicle, the steering wheel body (2) (1) forming a plate (4) delimited by a contour (5) inscribed within a rectangular perimeter (6), the plate (4) comprising at least one control interface (7) each having a control surface (8) provided with a plurality of touch zones (9), each allowing the selection of a specific function selectable by contact with the driver,the surface (8) being movablely mounted on the plate (4) and cooperating with activation means (14) designed to detect a movement of the surface (8) relative to the plate (4) in order to allow the execution of at least one function selected using the touch zones (9).

2. Handwheel (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each control surface (8) is movablely mounted around an activation axis (Al) allowing a rapprochement of the control surface (8) and the plate (4).

3. Handwheel (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the activation shaft (Al) is mounted movable relative to the plate (4).

4. Handwheel (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the activation axis (Al) is formed by a C-shaped articulation bar (16) mounted movably in rotation on the plate (4).

5. Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each touch zone (9) is delimited by a detection film (13) designed to detect an approach or contact with the driver's hand.

6. Handwheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the activation means (14) comprise at least one contactor (17) activated when the control surface (8) and the plate (4) are brought closer together.

7. Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each control surface (8) is provided on the periphery (10) of a gripping hole (11) passing through the body (2) of the steering wheel, sized and positioned to allow the passage of a thumb (12) of the driver.

8. Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that Each control interface (7) features backlighting.

9. Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises four control interfaces (7).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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