Steering handle for motor vehicles and method for recording a physical parameter on a steering handle

• US 20050242965A1
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Bohm, Jurgen, Kuhn, Matthias, Rieth, Peter, Schirling, Andreas, Nell, Joachim, Linkenbach, Steffen, Hoffmann, Oliver, Netz, Achim, Stauder, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,321,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/065 Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292

Abstract

Steering handle, in particular steering wheel, for motor vehicles, on which means are provided for recognition of a contact between at least one hand of the vehicle driver and the steering handle (free hand recognition).

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. Steering handle for motor vehicles,

wherein means for determining a contact between at least one hand of the driver and the steering handle (free hand recognition) are provided.

23. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the free hand recognition is realized by means of one or more electrically conducting metal elements arranged in the steering handle.

24. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the steering handle is provided with a capacitive free hand recognition.

25. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the steering handle is provided with at least one electrode arranged under a coat and interacting with a fastening element of the steering handle.

26. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein in case of capacitive free hand recognition the damping is recorded which is caused when the driver acts upon the steering handle.

27. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the free hand recognition is realized by means of one or more pressure-resistant piezoelectric elements arranged in the steering handle.

28. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the free hand recognition is realized by means of one or more strain gauges arranged on a metal strip in the steering handle.

29. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the piezoelectric elements are arranged in pairs around the steering handle, preferably in segments.

30. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the free hand recognition is realized by determining the deflection of a steering column.

31. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the free hand recognition is realized by means of one or more waves or oscillations of or on the steering handle.

32. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 31,

wherein the waves are optical waves.

33. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 31,

wherein the waves are surface waves.

34. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 31,

wherein damping of the wave or waves is recorded which are caused by the driver acting upon the steering handle.

35. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the free hand recognition is realized by determining the electrical conductivity of a surface of the steering handle.

36. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the free hand recognition is realized by measuring the temperature of a surface of the steering handle.

37. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the steering handle is provided with a heating and that at least one metal component of the heating is interacting with the free hand recognition.

38. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein a heating filament or a heating foil is used as an electrode for a capacitive free hand recognition.

39. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 37,

wherein the heating is powered with direct voltage and the free hand recognition with a high-frequency alternating voltage and that the electrical connection of the heating with the vehicle mass is galvanically separated.

40. Steering handle for motor vehicles according to claim 22,

wherein the change of the physical parameter, in particular its damping, is recorded which is caused by the driver acting upon the steering handle.

41. Steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle,

wherein it is provided with a steering handle according to claim 22.

42. Steering system for a motor vehicle on which a steering torque is actively applied (IPAS), wherein it is provided with a steering handle according to claim 22.