AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTING AND EXTENDING A VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL

• US 20170297606A1
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Richard S., LeFranc, Charles, Xie, Kenneth X.
• Granted Patent: US 10,569,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/185 adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence

Abstract

A system for automatically adjusting a steering wheel of a vehicle may include a controller configured to generate a control signal for retracting a steering wheel to a collapsed position. The steering wheel may include a first half and a second half, and the system may include an actuator configured to collapse the steering wheel in response to the control signal. The actuator may be configured to fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column, and retract the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.

Claims

1. A system for automatically adjusting a steering wheel of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller configured to generate a control signal for retracting the steering wheel to a collapsed position, the steering wheel including a first half and a second half;

an actuator configured to collapse the steering wheel in response to the control signal, wherein the actuator is configured to;

fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column; and

retract the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a second control signal for extending the steering wheel from the collapsed position, and wherein the actuator is further configured to:

extend the steering wheel in the direction of the longitudinal axis, away from the dashboard; and

unfold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in the direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a sensor or a camera configured to detect and transmit information to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signal based on the information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information is indicative of an autonomous driving status of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel and retract the steering wheel simultaneously.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is configured to detach from a drive train to allow for autonomous driving.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the steering wheel comprises an elliptical shape.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to fold the first and second halves about a fixed pivot extending along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to fold the first and second halves about an airbag stored in the steering column of the steering wheel.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel including a first half and a second half;

a controller configured to generate a control signal for retracting the steering wheel to a collapsed position;

an actuator configured to collapse the steering wheel in response to the control signal, wherein the actuator is configured to;

fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column; and

retract the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a second control signal for extending the steering wheel from the collapsed position, and wherein the actuator is further configured to:

extend the steering wheel in the direction of the longitudinal axis, away from the dashboard; and

unfold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in the direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising at least one of a sensor or a camera configured to detect and transmit information to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signal based on the information.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the information is indicative of an autonomous driving status of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel and retract the steering wheel simultaneously.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the steering wheel is configured to detach from a drive train to allow for autonomous driving.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the steering wheel comprises an elliptical shape.

17. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to fold the first and second halves about a fixed pivot extending along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

18. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to fold the first and second halves about an airbag stored in the steering column of the steering wheel.

19. A method for automatically adjusting a steering wheel of a vehicle, the method comprising:

generating, by at least one controller, a control signal for retracting the steering wheel to a collapsed position, the steering wheel including a first half and a second half;

collapsing, by at least one actuator, the steering wheel in response to the control signal, wherein collapsing the steering wheel includes;

folding the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column; and

retracting the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.

20. The method of claim 19, further including:

extending the steering wheel in the direction of the longitudinal axis, away from the dashboard; and

unfolding the first and second halves of the steering wheel in the direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis.