Steering Wheel Common-Conductor Harness for Multi-Device Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle steering wheels with multiple electrical devices face complex and bulky power harnesses due to the need to connect devices at various distances, requiring significant space and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle steering wheel design featuring a common electrical conductor that connects multiple electrical devices with a single cable, reducing harness size and complexity by using a common electrical conductor for power and data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electrical devices are integrated into the steering wheel, then the functionality and user experience are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple electrical devices (heating element, cooling element, speaker, haptic actuator) into a single steering wheel structure. These devices are integrated into different regions of the steering wheel, allowing them to share the same housing and control system, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the increased functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The steering wheel is designed as a multi-functional platform that can simultaneously perform heating, cooling, audio output, and haptic feedback functions. This universal design allows a single device to replace multiple separate components, improving versatility while managing complexity through unified control architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electrical devices are integrated into the steering wheel, then the functionality is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The steering wheel is divided into multiple regions, with each region housing a specific electrical device. The heating element is positioned in a first region, the cooling element in a second region, the speaker in a third region, and the haptic actuator in a fourth region. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the steering wheel are designed with specific local properties suitable for their intended function. Each region has optimized characteristics for its assigned device, allowing for specialized manufacturing approaches in each area rather than requiring uniform high precision across the entire steering wheel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electrical devices are integrated into the steering wheel, then the functionality is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the steering wheel into distinct regions for different electrical devices, the manufacturing process can be broken down into separate, more manageable steps. Each device can be installed and tested independently in its designated region, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the increased number of components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The steering wheel serves as a universal platform that can accommodate various electrical devices through standardized integration methods. This multi-functional design allows manufacturers to use similar assembly procedures for different device types, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution simplifies the power harness architecture, reducing its size and complexity while maintaining efficient power and data transmission to multiple electrical devices on the steering wheel.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element integrated into the steering wheel, configured to generate heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a cooling element integrated into the steering wheel, configured to generate cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4499482B1Vehicle steering wheel comprising a plurality of different electrical devices

Publication Date: 2026.05.06 AUTOLIV DEV AB

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AI summary

A vehicle steering wheel comprising: at least two different electrical devices (50), a power harness (80) arranged to connect the plurality of separate electrical devices (50) to an electrical system on board the vehicle, characterized in that the power harness (80) comprises at least one common electrical conductor (91) connected to the at least two different electrical devices (50).