Steering assembly

• US 10,029,724 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions Up Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lubischer, Frank P., Riefe, Richard K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US15/044,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2084 Perpendicular arrangement of drive motor to screw axis
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2025 with means to disengage the nut or screw from their counterpart; Means for connecting screw and nut for stopping reciprocating movement F16H25/2015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

A steering assembly includes a steering wheel having a convenience feature, an environmental detection system, and a controller in communication with an autonomous vehicle. The steering wheel is selectively coupled to a steering shaft and is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position. The environmental detection system is configured to provide a cabin environmental signal. The controller is programmed to move the steering wheel towards the retracted position and operatively decouple the steering wheel from the steering shaft, while the steering wheel is in the deployed position and in response to a request to activate an advanced driver assist system and the cabin environmental signal indicating a clear path of travel of the steering wheel.

Claims

1. A steering assembly, comprising:

a steering wheel selectively coupled to a steering shaft, the steering wheel movable between a deployed position and a retracted position;

an advanced driver assist system in communication with the steering wheel, the advanced driver assist system configured to selectively control an autonomous vehicle;

an environmental detection system configured to provide a cabin environmental signal; and

a controller in communication with the advanced driver assist system, the controller programmed to, while the steering wheel is in the retracted position, move the steering wheel towards the deployed position and operatively couple the steering wheel to the steering shaft, in response to a request to deactivate the advanced driver assist system and the cabin environmental signal indicating a clear path of travel of the steering wheel and while the steering wheel is in the deployed position, in response to a request to activate to the advanced driver assist system and the cabin environmental signal indicating a clear path of travel of the steering wheel, move the steering wheel towards the retracted position.

2. The steering assembly of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment assembly in communication with the controller, the adjustment assembly including:

an actuator disposed proximate the steering wheel, and

an extension member operatively coupled to the actuator and at least one of the steering wheel and the steering shaft, the extension member and the actuator arranged to move the steering wheel between the deployed position and the retracted position.

3. The steering assembly of claim 2, further comprising a torque-displacement sensor disposed proximate the steering shaft, the torque-displacement sensor in communication with the controller.

4. The steering assembly of claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to, while the steering wheel is in the retracted position, in response to at least one of a torque applied to the steering wheel greater than a torque threshold and a displacement of the steering wheel greater than a displacement threshold, move the steering wheel towards the deployed position and operatively couple the steering wheel to the steering shaft.

5. The steering assembly of claim 2, wherein the environmental detection system is disposed proximate the steering assembly.

6. The steering assembly of claim 5, wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the cabin environmental signal indicating an object within a path of travel of the steering wheel, activate at least one of a visual, a haptic, and an audible indicator.

7. The steering assembly of claim 5, wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the cabin environmental signal indicating an unavailable driver of a vehicle, activate at least one of a visual, a haptic, and an audible indicator.

8. The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein an operative decoupling of the steering wheel from the steering shaft inhibits rotation of the steering wheel.

9. A steering assembly, comprising:

a steering wheel having a convenience feature is selectively coupled to a steering shaft and is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position;

an environmental detection system configured to provide a cabin environmental signal; and

a controller programmed to;

while the steering wheel is in the deployed position, in response to a request to activate an advanced driver assist system and the cabin environmental signal indicating a clear path of travel of the steering wheel, move the steering wheel towards the retracted position and operatively decouple the steering wheel from the steering shaft, and while the steering is in the retracted position, in response to a request to deactivate the advance driver assist system and the cabin environmental signal indicating another clear path of travel of the steering wheel, move the steering wheel towards the deployed position.

10. The steering assembly of claim 9, further comprising an adjustment assembly that includes an extension member operatively coupled to an actuator and at least one of the steering wheel and the steering shaft, the adjustment assembly configured to move the steering wheel between the deployed position and the retracted position.

11. The steering assembly of claim 9, wherein the convenience feature includes:

an extensible member operatively connected to the steering wheel, the extensible member movable between a stowed position and an extended position; and

a locking mechanism configured to inhibit movement of the extensible member away from the stowed position.

12. The steering assembly of claim 11, wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the steering wheel being operatively decoupled from the steering shaft and the steering wheel in a non-rotating state, enable the locking mechanism to permit movement of the extensible member between the stowed position and the extended position.

13. The steering assembly of claim 9, wherein the convenience feature includes an access panel movably connected to the steering wheel, the access panel configured to selectively permit access to a recess defined within a core of the steering wheel configured to receive a nomadic device.

14. The steering assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the steering wheel being operatively decoupled from the steering shaft and the steering wheel in a non-rotating state, enable the access panel to move from a closed position towards an open position to permit access to the recess.

15. The steering assembly of claim 9, wherein the environmental detection system includes a cabin environmental sensor is disposed within a sensor housing.

16. The steering assembly of claim 15, wherein the controller is programmed to, in response to cabin environmental signal indicating an unsafe condition within a vehicle compartment, output an indicator indicative of the unsafe condition.