Steering Wheel Display Assembly Counterweight Upright Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheel interfaces fail to maintain a continuously upright graphical display orientation during wheel rotation, limiting driver access to essential vehicle metrics and control functions.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel mounted assembly with a housing incorporating a display component that adjusts to remain upright through a combination of counterweights, ball bearings, and motor-driven mechanisms, ensuring the graphical display remains readable regardless of steering wheel position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display is fixed to the steering wheel housing, then the display rotates with the steering wheel, but the display orientation becomes non-upright and difficult to read
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight mechanism is employed where a weight is attached to the display assembly through a pivot point. As the steering wheel rotates, gravity causes the counterweight to rotate in the opposite direction, automatically keeping the display in an upright orientation relative to the driver regardless of the steering wheel's angular position.
Solution Approach 2:
The display assembly is made dynamically adjustable through a motor-driven mechanism that actively rotates the display to maintain upright orientation. The system detects steering wheel rotation and automatically adjusts the display angle in real-time, transitioning from a static fixed display to a dynamically adaptive one.
2Ease of operation
If a counterweight mechanism is added to maintain upright display orientation, then the display remains readable during steering rotation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complex motorized systems, a simple passive counterweight mechanism is used. The counterweight attaches to the display assembly via a pivot, allowing gravity to automatically compensate for steering wheel rotation. This mechanical solution eliminates the need for sensors, motors, and control systems while achieving the same upright display orientation goal.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the display is made stationary relative to the vehicle, then the display remains upright, but the display cannot be integrated into the rotating steering wheel structure
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel assembly is segmented into two independent rotating components: the outer steering wheel rim and the inner display housing. The display housing rotates independently on a central axis, allowing it to maintain upright orientation while the outer rim rotates for steering control. This segmentation enables both steering functionality and stable display orientation to coexist within the same rotating structure.
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
Enables continuous, upright display of vehicle metrics and control functions, reducing driver distraction and improving operational safety by maintaining a clear and accessible interface during steering wheel rotations.
Implementation Method 1
A physical variant of the assembly includes a counter weight component for rotating the display in response to steering wheel rotation
Implementation Method 2
a supporting ball bearing component for rotating a continuous graphical display output
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel mounted visual display including a housing incorporated at a location defined within a circumference of the steering wheel and having a graphical display output. Upon rotation of the steering wheel, the display adjusts to remain in an upright orientation. The housing further includes a main lower housing and an assemble-able upper housing sandwiching a display component providing the graphical display output. The display component further includes a stationary inner component, a display support and a PCB component cooperating for auto-updating the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.