Steering Wheel Base Quick Coupling and Electrical Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheel bases for gaming applications have limited versatility, as they are designed to work with specific types of steering wheels and require complex internal connections that are difficult to adapt for different wheels.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel base with an attachment component that includes an electric plug-in contact for direct connection to the steering wheel's electronics, combined with interchangeable mechanical quick coupling elements that allow different steering wheels to be easily attached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a quick coupling system with fixed internal connections is used, then the connection between steering wheel base and steering wheel is simple and proper, but the versatility of the steering wheel base is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is divided into two independent parts: a fixed attachment component on the steering wheel base and interchangeable mechanical quick coupling elements. This segmentation allows the base to maintain a simple fixed structure while enabling versatility through interchangeable elements that can be quickly swapped to accommodate different steering wheel types.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment component is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple types of steering wheels through interchangeable mechanical quick coupling elements. Each coupling element is designed to work with specific steering wheel types, allowing a single base to support multiple wheel types by simply changing the coupling element.
2Reliability
If internal electronic connections are integrated into the coupling system, then the connection is secure, but the complexity of adapting to different steering wheels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection component (electric plug-in contact) is extracted from the mechanical coupling system and integrated into the attachment component. This separation allows the mechanical coupling elements to be interchangeable without affecting the electrical connection, as the plug-in contact remains fixed and handles all electrical connections independently of the mechanical coupling elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric plug-in contact acts as an intermediary that handles all electrical connections between the steering wheel base and the steering wheel. By placing this intermediary component in the fixed attachment component, the system ensures reliable electrical connection while allowing mechanical coupling elements to be easily interchanged without affecting electrical connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel base is provided for gaming applications and includes a steering wheel shaft, an attachment component, which is fixed to the steering wheel shaft to rotate with the steering wheel shaft and that is configured such that the steering wheel base is directly electrically connectable to electronics of a steering wheel via an electric plug-in contact of the attachment component, and a system including a first mechanical quick coupling element and a second mechanical quick coupling element, which are interchangeably fixable to the attachment component into a fixed position and are adapted for different steering wheel side coupling elements of the steering wheel to provide mechanical quick coupling between the steering wheel base and the steering wheel. A full system including a steering wheel and a steering wheel base, and a method of connecting a steering wheel to a steering wheel base are also provided.