Steering Switch Lever Layout for Irregular Steering Wheels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, irregularly-shaped steering units pose operability challenges due to varying distances of switches from the steering unit as it rotates, making it difficult to find and operate the switches effectively.
Innovation Solution
A lever-type switch device with a switch body attached to and rotating integrally with the irregularly-shaped steering unit, featuring a lever unit held pivotally about the switch body, including a lever shaft and a T-shaped lever head that extends in a direction intersecting the steering shaft, ensuring consistent switch accessibility regardless of the steering unit's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an irregularly-shaped steering unit is used to allow autonomous vehicle operation, then the steering unit can have a non-circular design according to user preference, but the distance from the switch to the steering unit varies with rotation angle making the switch difficult to find and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The switch body is integrated with the irregularly-shaped steering unit, forming a unified structure where the switch body rotates together with the steering unit. This merging ensures that the switch maintains a fixed positional relationship with the steering unit, solving the accessibility problem while preserving the customized shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever unit is designed to extend in a direction intersecting the rotary shaft of the irregularly-shaped steering unit, creating a spatial arrangement where the lever head's dimension is larger than the arm's diameter. This dimensional configuration ensures consistent accessibility from multiple angles.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the switch body is attached to and rotated integrally with the irregularly-shaped steering unit, then the positional relationship remains consistent, but the lever unit must be designed with specific geometric dimensions to ensure operability
Solution Approach 1:
The lever unit is designed with non-uniform geometry where the lever head has a dimension larger than the arm's diameter. This local differentiation optimizes the operational interface at the lever head while keeping the connecting arm compact, balancing accessibility with integrated design.
3Ease of operation
If the lever head has a dimension larger than the diameter of the arm, then operability is improved through easier identification and operation, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever unit is designed with non-uniform geometry where the lever head has a dimension larger than the arm's diameter. This local differentiation optimizes the operational interface at the lever head while keeping the connecting arm compact, balancing accessibility with integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A switch device includes a switch body, which is attached to and rotated integrally with an irregularly-shaped steering unit, and a lever unit, which is held pivotally about a switch body. The lever unit includes a lever shaft including a base, which extends in a direction intersecting the steering shaft, and an arm, which is formed integrally with the base and extends in a direction that differs from the direction in which the base extends. The lever unit also includes a lever head at the distal end of the lever shaft, and the lever head extends from the lever shaft in the width direction, which intersects an axial direction.