STEERING DEVICE HAVING TILTING AND TELESCOPIC FUNCTION

• US 20140180541A1
• Filed: 09/09/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Dae Sung, Yu, Tae Young, Bae, Hyun Cheol
• Application Number:
  US14/021,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory

Abstract

A steering device having a tilting function and a telescopic function that includes a steering handle that is manipulated by a driver to adjust a running direction of a vehicle. A sensing unit is formed in one region of the steering handle and is configured to sense a contact of an object or contact pressure applied thereto. A tilting device and a telescope device are configured to tilt the steering handle or adjust a length of a steering column In addition, a controller is configured to adjust a tilting angle of the steering handle and a length of the steering column by operating the tilting device and the telescope device based on a direction in which a contacted portion moves or a direction in which contact pressure is applied, which is sensed by the sensing unit.

Claims

1. A steering device that has a tilting function and a telescopic function, the steering device comprising:

a steering handle manipulated by a driver to adjust a running direction of a vehicle;

a sensing unit formed in one region of the steering handle and configured to sense a contact of a different object or contact pressure applied thereto;

a tilting device and a telescope device configured to tilt the steering handle or adjust a length of a steering column; and

a controller configured to adjust a tilting angle of the steering handle and a length of the steering column by operating the tilting device and the telescope device based on a direction in which a contacted portion moves or a direction in which contact pressure is applied, which is sensed by the sensing unit.

2. The steering device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is formed along an outer circumferential surface of the steering handle.

3. The steering device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is formed at a predetermined section of the steering handle in a rotation direction.

4. The steering device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is formed in both sides of the steering handle to correspond to the driver'"'"'s hands.

5. The steering device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit includes:

a front sensor formed in a front portion where the driver is present; and

a rear sensor formed behind the front portion.

6. The steering device of claim 1, further comprising:

an operating button configured to activate or deactivate an operation of the sensing unit.

7. The steering device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit includes:

a malfunction sensor configured to activate or deactivate a sensing function based on a contact state of a different object; and

an operation sensor configured to sense a direction in which a contacted portion moves or a direction in which contact pressure is applied based on the sensing function activated by the malfunction sensor.

8. The steering device of claim 7, wherein the operation sensor is configured to tilt the steering handle or decrease or increase length of the steering column based on a direction in which a contact portion moves based on a direction in which contact pressure is applied, or based on a number of contacts.

9. The steering device of claim 7, wherein the malfunction sensor is configured to activate the sensing function while a contact of a different object is maintained.

10. The steering device of claim 7, wherein the malfunction sensor is formed in a portion corresponding to the driver'"'"'s palm, and the operation sensor is formed in a portion corresponding to the driver'"'"'s thumb.

11. A method of operating a steering device that has a tilting function and a telescope function, the method comprising:

receiving, at a controller, a contract signal or a pressure signal sensed by a sensing unit;

calculating, by the controller, a movement direction of a contacted portion or a direction in which a contact pressure is applied; and

operating, by the controller, a driving motor of a telescope device and a tilting device to adjust the angle of the steering handle and to decrease or increase a length of a steering column in which the steering handle is installed based on the calculation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing unit is formed along an outer circumferential surface of the steering handle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing unit is formed at a predetermined section of the steering handle in a rotation direction.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing unit is formed in both sides of the steering handle to correspond to the driver'"'"'s hands.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing unit includes:

a front sensor formed in a front portion where the driver is present; and

a rear sensor formed behind the front portion.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing unit includes:

a malfunction sensor configured to activate or deactivate a sensing function based on a contact state of a different object; and

an operation sensor configured to sense a direction in which the contacted portion moves or the direction in which contact pressure is applied based on the sensing function activated by the malfunction sensor.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a processor or controller, the computer readable medium comprising:

program instructions that receive a contract signal or a pressure signal sensed by a sensing unit;

program instructions that calculate a movement direction of a contacted portion or a direction in which a contact pressure is applied; and

program instructions that operate a driving motor of a telescope device and a tilting device to adjust the angle of the steering handle and to decrease or increase a length of a steering column in which the steering handle is installed based on the calculation.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the sensing unit is formed along an outer circumferential surface of the steering handle.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the sensing unit is formed at a predetermined section of the steering handle in a rotation direction.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the sensing unit includes:

a front sensor formed in a front portion where the driver is present; and

a rear sensor formed behind the front portion.