Decoupled Steering Input With Angle Limiting for In-Car Gaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current on-board entertainment systems for vehicles, which integrate with the steering system, cause increased tire wear and safety hazards due to the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and tires during gaming or entertainment modes.

Innovation Solution

A steering system with a decoupling mechanism that separates the steering gear input shaft from the gear shaft during game mode, preventing wheel rotation and thus reducing wear, and includes a limiting mechanism to control the steering angle and a feeling feedback mechanism for enhanced user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the steering wheel is integrated with the vehicle steering system for on-board entertainment applications, then the entertainment interaction means is improved, but the tire wear increases and safety hazards arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentertainment interaction meansVSAvoidtire wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The steering system is segmented into two independent parts: the steering wheel assembly and the steering gear. A decoupling mechanism is introduced that can separate these two parts, allowing the steering wheel to rotate independently during game mode while the steering gear remains stationary, thus preventing tire wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between two operational states: in driving mode, the steering wheel is coupled to the steering gear for normal vehicle control; in game mode, the decoupling mechanism activates to disconnect them, allowing the steering wheel to rotate freely without affecting the tires

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the steering wheel is decoupled from the gear shaft during game mode, then the tire wear is reduced, but the steering control is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire wearVSAvoidsteering control

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a decoupling mechanism is added to the steering system, then the tire wear is reduced during game mode, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire wearVSAvoidsteering system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A decoupling mechanism acts as an intermediary component between the steering wheel input shaft and the steering gear. This mechanism includes a clutch assembly that can engage or disengage the connection, allowing the system to switch between coupled and decoupled states without requiring complete redesign of the steering system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20230294755A1Steering system and vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.09.21 BYD CO LTD

AI summary

A steering system includes: a steering gear body, where the steering gear body includes a steering gear input shaft and a gear shaft; a decoupling mechanism, where the decoupling mechanism is configured to decouple the steering gear input shaft from the gear shaft or couple the steering gear input shaft to the gear shaft; and a limiting mechanism, where the limiting mechanism is configured to limit a range of a steering angle of the steering gear input shaft, in response to that the steering gear input shaft is decoupled from the gear shaft or that the steering gear input shaft is coupled to the gear shaft.