Small diameter steering wheel apparatus
First Claim
1. A steering apparatus for use in a vehicle having a stock steering wheel and steering shaft rotatably coupled to the stock steering wheel, the apparatus comprising:
- a steering wheel having a diameter significantly smaller than the diameter of the stock steering wheel;
a position encoding mechanism coupled to said steering wheel and operable to generate a position signal in relation to the amount of rotation of said steering wheel;
a steering mechanism coupled to the vehicle steering shaft including at least one motor configured to rotate the steering shaft in response to a steering command; and
a processor receiving said position signal from said position encoding mechanism and operable to generate said steering command in relation thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering apparatus is provided for use by a physically challenged driver comprising a steering wheel having a diameter significantly smaller than the diameter of the stock steering wheel and a position encoding mechanism coupled to the steering wheel operable to generate a position signal in relation to the amount of rotation of the steering wheel. This position signal is fed to a processor that is operable to generate a steering command in relation to the position signal, which command directs a steering mechanism to rotate the steering shaft in response thereto. The position encoding mechanism includes a steering gear rotatable with the steering wheel, and at least three driven gears and associated position sensors meshed with the steering gear, operable to provide triple redundancy to the position signal used to generate the steering command. The steering apparatus further comprises a sensitivity mechanism that is operable to produce an adjustable resistance to rotation of the steering wheel.
59 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A steering apparatus for use in a vehicle having a stock steering wheel and steering shaft rotatably coupled to the stock steering wheel, the apparatus comprising:
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a steering wheel having a diameter significantly smaller than the diameter of the stock steering wheel;
a position encoding mechanism coupled to said steering wheel and operable to generate a position signal in relation to the amount of rotation of said steering wheel;
a steering mechanism coupled to the vehicle steering shaft including at least one motor configured to rotate the steering shaft in response to a steering command; and
a processor receiving said position signal from said position encoding mechanism and operable to generate said steering command in relation thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle control system for a vehicle having stock steering, braking and acceleration controls, the control system comprising:
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a hand-operated controller operable to generate acceleration and braking signals independent of the stock vehicle braking and acceleration controls;
an actuator assembly coupled to the vehicle stock braking and acceleration controls and operable to manipulate the vehicle stock braking and acceleration controls in response to said acceleration and braking signals;
an auxiliary steering assembly having a steering wheel independent of the vehicle stock steering control and operable to generate a position signal in relation to the amount of rotation of said steering wheel;
a steering mechanism coupled to the vehicle stock steering and operable to manipulate the stock steering in response to said position signal; and
a support assembly for supporting said hand-operated controller and said auxiliary steering assembly within the vehicle while permit access to the vehicle stock steering, braking and acceleration controls. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification