Motor Vehicle Steering Wheel

• US 20160001807A1
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Audio Mobil Elektronik Gmbh, Takata AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Audio Mobil Elektronik Gmbh, Takata AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: HANS, Andreas, MLLER, Norbert, RUCK, Heiko, STOTTAN, Thomas, GRADINGER, Martin
• Application Number:
  US14/770,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001807A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1523 Matrix displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1523 Matrix displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering wheel with at least one gripping portion for gripping the steering wheel by a driver and with a central steering wheel region which is connected with the gripping portion is provided. The central steering wheel region—based on the state of the steering wheel properly mounted in a motor vehicle—forms a cover surface facing the driver, wherein behind the cover surface a receptacle for a gas bag is arranged and the cover surface defines an outlet opening through which the gas bag can be deployed for the protection of the driver. The steering wheel furthermore comprises an electronic display device with a screen. The screen is provided beside the outlet opening on the cover surface of the central steering wheel region, and the surface of the screen amounts to at least 60% of the opening cross-section of the outlet opening.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle steering wheel, comprising

at least one gripping portion for gripping the steering wheel by a driver, and

a central steering wheel region which is connected with the gripping portion and which—

based on the state of the steering wheel properly mounted in a motor vehicle—

forms a cover surface facing the driver,

wherein behind the cover surface a receptacle for a gas bag is arranged and the cover surface defines an outlet opening through which the gas bag can be deployed for the protection of the driver, and wherein the steering wheel furthermore comprises an electronic display device with a screen,

wherein the screen is provided beside the outlet opening on the cover surface of the central steering wheel region and that the surface of the screen amounts to at least 60% of the opening cross-section of the outlet opening, and

wherein the screen is touch-sensitive, so that by action on the screen commands to components of the motor vehicle can be generated.

2. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the screen amounts to at least 80% of the opening cross-section of the outlet opening.

3. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the screen is at least as large as the opening cross-section of the outlet opening.

4. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the outlet opening and the screen substantially lie in a plane which extends vertically to the steering axis.

5. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is closed by means of a cover which covers the gas bag arranged in the receptacle.

6. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein in the deployed state the gas bag covers the screen.

7. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the screen is removably arranged on a holder of the central steering wheel region.

8. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the spatial orientation of the screen is adjustable.

9. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 8, wherein the screen is pivotally arranged on the central steering wheel region.

10. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the screen is divided into at least two regions, of which the one region serves for displaying information to be provided permanently in operation of a motor vehicle and the other region serves for displaying information required only at times during the operation of a motor vehicle.

11. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the screen is actuated such that at least a part of the elements displayed on the screen maintains its spatial orientation independent of the steering angle of the steering wheel.

13. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein in the central steering wheel region further display elements are arranged in addition to the screen.

14. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 13, wherein at least a part of the further display elements is arranged adjacent to the screen.

15. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein on the central steering wheel region control elements are arranged, with which functional components of the motor vehicle can be actuated.

16. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 15, wherein at least a part of the control elements is arranged adjacent to the screen.

17. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 15, wherein at least a part of the control elements can be assigned with different operating functions, in dependence on the content of information currently displayed on the screen.

18. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 15, wherein at least a part of the control elements is reachable for a driver from the gripping region.

19. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein all control elements and/or all display elements, which during operation of a motor vehicle must be available for actuation by the driver, are arranged on the motor vehicle steering wheel.

20. The motor vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the screen—

based on the position of the steering wheel corresponding to a straight-ahead travel—

is arranged in the 12 o'"'"'clock position relative to the outlet opening.

12. (canceled)