Vehicle steering device

• US 20030067148A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Keutz, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 6,860,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera

Abstract

A vehicle steering device comprises a steering wheel. A sensor is disposed at the steering wheel, this sensor being adapted to detect in a contactless way data related to a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle steering device including a steering wheel, the improvement comprising a sensor disposed at said steering wheel, said sensor being adapted to detect in a contactless way data related to a driver of said vehicle.

2. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor is a camera.

3. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said camera is directed towards a driver of said vehicle.

4. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said camera is connected with an electronic unit which can evaluate signals of said camera.

5. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said camera and said electronic unit are designed such that a picture of said driver can be recorded, evaluated, compared with a stored set of data, and, as a result, the identity of said driver can be determined.

6. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electronic unit is connected with an immobilizer system and wherein said electronic unit is designed such that it can address said immobilizer system such that utilization of said vehicle is prevented if said identity of said driver does not correspond with a stored set of data.

7. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said camera and said electronic unit are designed such that data which allow to make a statement on the physical fitness of said driver can be recorded and evaluated.

8. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a signal device can be activated in dependence on said detected data.

9. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electronic unit and said vehicle are designed such that predetermined vehicle parameters can be set in dependence on said identity of said driver.

10. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor is designed such that via said sensor a distance between driver and steering wheel can be detected.

11. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steering wheel has a gas bag module comprising a gas bag and a front-side covering cap which closes an outlet opening for said gas bag until deployment thereof, said sensor being arranged in said covering cap and said outlet opening extending around said sensor.

12. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of a display and an operating device is provided in said covering cap.

13. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said outlet opening has a closed annular shape.

14. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said gas bag is ring-shaped and can move to the outside through said outlet opening.

15. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 11, wherein upon deployment of said gas bag said sensor remains stationarily attached to said steering wheel.

16. The vehicle steering device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said gas bag has a front wall which an occupant can impinge upon, which front wall has a centric indentation extending as far as to said sensor.