Vehicle steering device and safety system

• US 20040090321A1
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• 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 7,096,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns

Abstract

A vehicle steering device comprises a steering column (22) and a steering wheel with a steering wheel rim (24). Arranged inside the steering column (22) is a vibration device (26; 26′). The vibration device is designed such that it can generate a haptic signal which can be felt by a driver on a surface (28) of the steering wheel rim (24).

Claims

1. A vehicle steering device comprising a steering column (22) and a steering wheel with a steering wheel rim (24),

characterized in that inside said steering column (22) a vibration device (26;

26′

) is arranged for generating a haptic signal which is able to be felt by a driver on a surface (28) of said steering wheel rim (24).

2. The vehicle steering device according to claim 1, characterized in that said vibration device (26;

26′

) comprises an electromagnet with a coil (32) and an armature (38) arranged therein so as to be axially displaceable.

3. The vehicle steering device according to claim 2, characterized in that said coil (32) is held on a coil body (30) and said armature (38) extends through an axial opening (34) of said coil body (30).

4. The vehicle steering device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one spring (44) is provided, which offers a force against a movement of said armature (38) relative to said coil (32).

5. The vehicle steering device according to claim 2, characterized in that on said armature (38) at least one stop (42) is provided, which delimits an axial movement of said armature (38) relative to said coil (32).

6. The vehicle steering device according to claim 2, characterized in that said electromagnet can move said armature (38) relative to said coil (32) in opposite axial directions (A).

7. The vehicle steering device according to claim 2, characterized in that an additional mass (40) is arranged on said armature (38).

8. The vehicle steering device according to claim 2, characterized in that a coil body (30) fastened in said steering column (22) by pressing is provided.

9. The vehicle steering device according to claim 2, characterized in that a latching element (58) is constructed on a coil body (30) and that said steering column (22) has a bead (59) oriented in inward direction, with which said latching element (58) is in engagement.

10. A safety system comprising a vehicle steering device (20;

20′

) having a steering column (22) and a steering wheel with a steering wheel rim (24), a vibration device (26;

26′

) being arranged inside said steering column (22), for generating a haptic signal that can be felt by a driver on a surface (28) of said steering wheel rim (24), said safety system comprising an electronic unit (50) and at least one sensor (56) connected to said electronic unit (50), said electronic unit (50) being designed such that it activates said vibration device (26;

26′

) in response to a signal of said sensor (56).