Retractable telescopic mechanism for steering column with feedback actuator
First Claim
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
- a passenger compartment having a front and a back;
a retractable telescopic steering column mounted near the front of the passenger compartment and configured to selectively extend rearwardly into the passenger compartment, the retractable telescopic steering column comprising a second segment slidably mounted to a first segment, and a third segment slidably mounted to the second segment;
a steering wheel fixedly connected to the retractable telescopic steering column; and
a force feedback motor configured to selectively exert a rotational force on the retractable telescopic steering column,wherein the second segment comprises a first spline and a first slot, the first slot configured to receive a second spline of one of the first and third segments, and the first spline configured to be received by a second slot of one of the first and third segments; and
wherein the first spline and the second spline ensure that a rotational force applied to one of the first segment, the second segment, or the third segment is transmitted to the other segments of the telescopic steering column.
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Abstract
A steering apparatus for a vehicle that utilizes steer-by-wire controls and may selectively be operated in an autonomous mode comprises a retractable telescopic steering column adapted to extend by as much as three hundred millimeters (300 mm) from its fully retracted position. The steering column is also in force communication with a feedback motor, which provides feedback to the driver of the vehicle via a steering wheel attached to the steering column to emulate the forces that would be transmitted to the steering wheel if the steering wheel were mechanically linked to the steerable wheels of the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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a passenger compartment having a front and a back; a retractable telescopic steering column mounted near the front of the passenger compartment and configured to selectively extend rearwardly into the passenger compartment, the retractable telescopic steering column comprising a second segment slidably mounted to a first segment, and a third segment slidably mounted to the second segment; a steering wheel fixedly connected to the retractable telescopic steering column; and a force feedback motor configured to selectively exert a rotational force on the retractable telescopic steering column, wherein the second segment comprises a first spline and a first slot, the first slot configured to receive a second spline of one of the first and third segments, and the first spline configured to be received by a second slot of one of the first and third segments; and wherein the first spline and the second spline ensure that a rotational force applied to one of the first segment, the second segment, or the third segment is transmitted to the other segments of the telescopic steering column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A retractable telescopic steering column comprising:
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a first telescoping section rotatably attached to a base housing member; a second telescoping section slidably engaged with the first telescoping section; a third telescoping section slidably engaged with the second telescoping section; a steering wheel fixedly connected to a proximal end of the third telescoping section; a telescoping housing member slidably engaged with the base housing member; and a force feedback motor in force-transmitting communication with the steering wheel; wherein the base housing member is mounted to an arm, the arm slidably supported by a plurality of rails. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An extendable steering apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; a connecting cylinder rotatably mounted to the housing; an extendable column comprising; a first column section fixedly connected to the connecting cylinder; a second column section slidably connected to the first column section; a third column section slidably connected to the second column section; a steering wheel fixedly connected to the third column section; and a force feedback motor mounted near a frame of a vehicle and configured to selectively rotate the connecting cylinder, wherein the force feedback motor is connected to the connecting cylinder via a belt, wherein the second column section comprises a first spline and a first slot, the first slot configured to receive a second spline of one of the first and third column sections, and the first spline configured to be received by a second slot of one of the first and third column sections; and wherein the first spline and the second spline ensure that a rotational force applied to one of the first column section, the second column section, or the third column section is transmitted to the other column sections of the extendable column. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification