Wireless charging steering wheel
First Claim
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1. A wireless charging steering wheel, comprising:
- a center portion pivot-able and attached to a vehicle;
a connection portion coupled to the center portion;
a handle portion that circumscribes the center portion, and is connected to the connecting portion;
a clockspring installed in the center portion, the clockspring electrically connecting an electronic component unit (ECU) of the vehicle with actuators installed on the steering wheel;
an upholstery layer covering the center portion, the connection portion, and the handle portion;
at least one coil wrapped around the handle portion and coupled to the clockspring, and covered by the upholstery layer, wherein the coil is electrically charged to provide wireless charge to a wearable device worn by a driver of the vehicle in a proximity of the steering wheel; and
a processor configured to control whether the coil is in a heating mode, a wireless charging mode, both the heating mode and the wireless charging mode, or neither the heating mode nor the wireless charging mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless charging steering wheel device is described herein. The wireless charging steering wheel device is coupled to a power source via a clockspring included in the steering wheel. Also disclosed herein is an integrated wireless charging/heating system. Also disclosed herein are multiple coil placements for implementing the wireless charging steering wheel device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wireless charging steering wheel, comprising:
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a center portion pivot-able and attached to a vehicle; a connection portion coupled to the center portion; a handle portion that circumscribes the center portion, and is connected to the connecting portion; a clockspring installed in the center portion, the clockspring electrically connecting an electronic component unit (ECU) of the vehicle with actuators installed on the steering wheel; an upholstery layer covering the center portion, the connection portion, and the handle portion; at least one coil wrapped around the handle portion and coupled to the clockspring, and covered by the upholstery layer, wherein the coil is electrically charged to provide wireless charge to a wearable device worn by a driver of the vehicle in a proximity of the steering wheel; and a processor configured to control whether the coil is in a heating mode, a wireless charging mode, both the heating mode and the wireless charging mode, or neither the heating mode nor the wireless charging mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for a wireless charging steering wheel, the method comprising:
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controlling, by a processor, a mode of a coil of the wireless charging steering wheel, the wireless charging steering wheel comprising a center portion pivot-able and attached to a vehicle, a connection portion coupled to the center portion, a handle portion that circumscribes the center portion, and is connected to the connecting portion, a clockspring installed in the center portion, the clockspring electrically connecting an electronic component unit (ECU) of the vehicle with actuators installed on the steering wheel, an upholstery layer covering the center portion, the connection portion, and the handle portion, at least one coil wrapped around the handle portion and coupled to the clockspring, and covered by the upholstery layer; electrically charging the coil to provide wireless charge to a wearable device worn by a driver of the vehicle in a proximity of the steering wheel, switching, by the processor, the mode of the coil from among a heating mode, a wireless charging mode, both the heating mode and the wireless charging mode, or neither the heating mode nor the wireless charging mode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless charging steering wheel, comprising:
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a center portion pivot-able and attached to a vehicle; a connection portion coupled to the center portion; a handle portion that circumscribes the center portion, and is connected to the connecting portion; a conductor installed in the center portion, the conductor electrically connecting an electronic component unit (ECU) of the vehicle with actuators installed on the steering wheel; an upholstery layer covering the center portion, the connection portion, and the handle portion; at least one coil wrapped around the handle portion and coupled to the conductor, and covered by the upholstery layer, wherein the coil is electrically charged to provide wireless charge to a wearable device in the vehicle in a proximity of the steering wheel; and a processor configured to control whether the coil is in a heating mode, a wireless charging mode, or both the heating mode and the wireless charging mode, wherein the heating mode is configured to heat the steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification