Vehicle-loaded display device

• US 4,638,287 A
• Filed: 01/10/1984
• Issued: 01/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Takahiro, Umebayashi, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruehl, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rittmaster, I.
• Application Number:
  US06/569,682
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 180/78, 307/10 R, 340/22, 340/700, 340/712, 339/35, 324/114, 324/115
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/105 Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating

Abstract

Key switches, a plane type CRT display, a modulator, a demodulator, etc. are arranged in a control board mounted on a steering wheel, while a TV camera, a character information generator, a modulator, a demodulator, etc., are arranged on the side of the vehicle body. Electric circuits on the control board and the vehicle body are interconnected through slip rings and brushes, and display information is transmitted from the vehicle body side to the control board in accordance with operation of the key switches on the control board, thus permitting the information to be displayed on the control board. A signal corresponding to operation of the key switches and a display information signal are made to have different frequencies from each other and then transmitted through the same line in a superimposed fashion.

Claims

1. A vehicle-loaded display device mounted on a vehicle having a steering wheel, said device comprising:

transmission line means, including an electric conductor;

a control board disposed at a central portion of said steering wheel;

a supporting mechanism for supporting said control board in a stationary condition irrespective of turning of said steering wheel;

at least one two-dimensional display means incorporated in said control board;

electric filter means, incorporated in said control board, for transmitting a first electric signal having a frequency, within a desired frequency range, through said transmitting means;

a first demodulation means incorporated in said control board for demodulating the first electric signal, received from said electric filter means, into display information and then applying the display information to said two-dimensional display means;

a plurality of command switches incorporated in said control board;

a first modulation means incorporated in said control board for FSK modulating a predetermined input code signal and for outputting a second electric signal through said transmission line means;

a first electronic control device incorporated in said control board to be connected with said command switches and said first modulation means for generating said code signal in accordance with operation of said command switches and then applying the code signal to said first modulation means;

a second modulation means disposed on a vehicle body in a position mechanically separated from said steering wheel for modulating an information signal into the first electric signal having a frequency different from and an amplitude much less than that of said second electric signal output by said first modulation means and then applying the first electric signal to said first demodulation means;

a display information generating means for generating said display information and then applying the display information to said second modulation means;

a second demodulation means, including a Schmitt trigger, disposed on the vehicle body in a position mechanically separated from said steering wheel, for demodulating said second electric signal into said code signal;

a second electronic control device disposed on the vehicle body in a position mechanically separated from said steering wheel and electrically connected to said second demodulation means for instructing said display information generating means to generate the display information in accordance with said code signal; and

an electric interconnection means, disposed beneath said steering wheel, said electric interconnection means comprising direct current blocking means for electrically connecting said first demodulation means and said first modulation means to said second modulation means and said second demodulation means, respectively, alternating current blocking means for electrically connecting a power supply line of said control board to a vehicle-loaded power supply, and said transmission line means,

whereby said first and second electric signals having different amplitudes and frequencies, and said code signal which is FSK modulated, all may be transmitted over said transmission line means.

2. A vehicle-loaded display device according to claim 1, wherein said electric interconnection means further comprises first and second brushes mounted on said steering wheel in an opposed relation, a first slip ring rigidly connected to said control board and disposed so as to come into contact with said first brush, and a second slip ring rigidly connected to a stationary member of the vehicle body, which is mechanically separated from said steering wheel, and disposed so as to come into contact with said second brush.

3. A vehicle-loaded display device according to claim 2, wherein said first and second slip rings are each covered with an annular grounded conductor in at least a part thereof.

4. A vehicle-loaded display device according to claim 1, wherein said display information generating means comprises a plurality of display information sources and a change-over switch adapted to connect one of said sources with an output terminal of said display in information generating means, and said second electronic control device controls said change-over switch in accordance with the information output by said second demodulation means.

5. A vehicle-loaded display device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting mechanism comprises a first gear rigidly connected to the vehicle body in a fixed position mechanically separated from said steering wheel, a first shaft coupled to said steering wheel for corotation therewith, a second gear rigidly connected to said control board, a third gear rigidly connected to said first shaft and engaged with said first gear, and a fourth gear rigidly connected to said first shaft and engaged with said second gear.

6. A vehicle-loaded display device comprising:

a control board disposed at the central portion of a steering wheel through a supporting mechanism in a stationary condition irrespective of turning of said steering wheel;

at least one two-dimensional display means incorporated in said control board;

a first demodulation means incorporated in said control board for demodulating a first electric signal into display information and then applying the display information to said two-dimensional display means;

a plurality of command switches incorporated in said control board;

a first modulation means incorporated in said control board for modulating a predetermined input data signal;

a first electronic control device incorporated in said control board to be connected with said command switches and said first modulation means for generating a code signal in accordance with operation of said command switches and then applying the code signal to said first modulating means;

a second modulation means disposed on a vehicle body in a position mechanically separated from said steering wheel for modulating an information signal into the first electric signal having its frequency different from that of a second electric signal output by said first modulation means and then applying the first electric signal to said first demodulation means;

a display information generating means for generating said display information and then applying the same to said second modulation means, said display information generating means comprising a plurality of display information sources and a change-over switch adapted to connect one of those sources with an output terminal of said means, and said second electronic control device controls said change-over switch in accordance with the information output by said second demodulation means;

a second demodulation means disposed on the vehicle body in a position mechanically separated from said steering wheel for demodulating said second electric signal into said code signal;

a second electronic control device disposed on the vehicle body in a position mechanically separated from said steering wheel and connected to said second demodulation means electrically for instructing said display information generating means to generate the display information in accordance with said code signal demodulated by said second demodulation means;

a first electric interconnection means disposed beneath said steering wheel for electrically connecting said first demodulation means and said first modulation means to said second modulation means and said second demodulation means, respectively, and

a second electric interconnection means disposed beneath said steering wheel for electrically connecting a power supply line of said control board to a vehicle-loaded power supply.