Steering Column Control Unit for Verifiable Adjustment Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable steering columns pose a safety risk during certain driving situations as they can be adjusted without considering the vehicle's operational state, potentially leading to unsafe conditions.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable steering column with a control unit that evaluates signals from sensors and safety-relevant driver assistance systems to determine a release or locked state based on predefined conditions, preventing adjustments during potentially dangerous driving situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the steering column is made automatically adjustable to improve driver comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but driving safety deteriorates due to potential unsafe adjustments during critical driving situations
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit evaluates signals from sensors and driver assistance systems before enabling adjustment, determining in advance whether the current driving situation permits safe adjustment. This preliminary evaluation prevents unsafe adjustments by checking conditions such as vehicle speed, steering angle, and driver presence before allowing the positioning unit to be adjusted.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the steering column allows free adjustment to improve adaptability, then adaptability is improved, but driving safety deteriorates due to unverified adjustments during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives feedback from sensors and driver assistance systems about the current driving situation. Based on this feedback, the control unit dynamically determines whether adjustment is permitted, allowing adaptability when safe while preventing adjustments when dangerous conditions are detected.
3Reliability
If the steering column includes comprehensive safety checks to improve driving safety, then driving safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control units and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit leverages existing sensors and driver assistance systems already present in modern vehicles, making them serve the additional function of verifying adjustment safety. This approach improves driving safety without requiring entirely new specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a support unit by which a positioning unit is adjustably held, and an adjustment device which is designed to adjust the positioning unit relative to the support unit. Associated with the steering column is a control unit which is designed to receive a signal, to evaluate the signal in terms of a predefined release condition, and to produce a release state of the steering column when the signal meets the release condition, and to produce a locked state of the steering column when the signal does not meet the release condition. Adjustment of the positioning unit is thus enabled exclusively in the release state.