Mechanical Steering Wheel End Stops for Steer-by-Wire Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steer-by-wire steering systems lack tactile feedback for full left and right stops, leading to a diminished user experience and reduced operational safety.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical steering wheel turn-end-stop device with a connection element and mechanical stop elements that provide physical limits to steering wheel movement, translating rotational movements into tactile feedback, ensuring safe and familiar steering feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If steer-by-wire steering systems are used without mechanical stops, then system complexity is reduced and electronic control is improved, but tactile feedback for full left and right stops is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical stop element is introduced as an intermediary component between the connection element and the environment. This mechanical stop provides tactile feedback information to the user without requiring a complete mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and steering rack, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced system complexity and loss of tactile feedback information.
2Reliability
If mechanical stop elements are added to provide tactile feedback, then user experience and operational safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a mechanical feedback zone with stop elements for tactile information, and an electronic control zone for steering actuation. This segmentation allows the mechanical stop elements to be added only where needed for safety and user experience, without unnecessarily complicating the entire steering system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical stop element acts as an intermediary that provides safety feedback without requiring full mechanical coupling. This intermediary approach maintains operational safety while preserving the benefits of electronic steering control, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If purely electronic steering wheel turn-end-stop devices are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but user acceptance is reduced due to unfamiliar steering feel
Solution Approach 1:
Mechanical stop elements are introduced as intermediary components that provide familiar tactile feedback at the extremes of steering travel. This mechanical feedback intermediary helps users adapt to steer-by-wire systems by providing expected physical cues, thereby improving user acceptance without requiring complete mechanical linkage.
Solution Approach 2:
Mechanical feedback properties are applied locally at the turn-end-stop positions rather than throughout the entire steering system. This localized application of mechanical characteristics allows the system to maintain electronic simplicity while providing familiar tactile feedback where users expect it most, thus improving adaptability without increasing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical steering wheel turn-end-stop device for use in steer-by-wire steering systems, comprising a connection element, which is configured for establishing a physical connection with a steering wheel shaft of a steering wheel, and which is configured for performing a coupled movement together with a physically connected steering wheel when the steering wheel is turned, and comprising a mechanical stop element, forming a limit stop for the connection element, preventing a further movement of the connection element in at least one movement direction and, via the established physical connection with the steering wheel shaft, preventing a further turning of the connected steering wheel in at least one turning direction is proposed.