Steering wheel positioner for automatic driving position system

• US 5,207,451 A
• Filed: 06/03/1991
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hori, Eisaku, Furuse, Takahisa, Yokoyama, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKSON, PAUL N
• Application Number:
  US07/709,560
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 74/493, 74/492, 74/495, 180/271
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory

Abstract

A steering wheel positioner for an automatic driving position system is provided with an actuator for driving a steering wheel shaft, a tilt sensor for detecting an inclination of the steering wheel shaft, a car speed sensor, a neutral-park relay for detecting the vehicle to be stepped and a controller for memorizing a steering wheel position suitable for the driver, for driving a steering wheel to the memorized steering wheel position through the actuator, for driving the steering wheel downwardly when the tilt sensor is abnormal, and for preventing the steering wheel from driving in the downward direction when the tilt sensor is abnormal and the neutral-park delay detects the vehicle to be traveling.

Claims

1. A steering wheel positioner for an automatic driving position system for a vehicle with a tiltable steering wheel comprising:

an actuator for driving a steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle and for adjusting an inclination angle of the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle;

a tilt sensor for detecting the inclination angle of the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle and for generating a position signal of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle;

a speed sensor provided on the vehicle for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle for generating a traveling speed signal of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling;

vehicle condition detecting means for detecting whether the vehicle is traveling for generating a traveling signal of the vehicle;

switching means having a setting switch and a memory switch;

control means connected with said actuator, said tilt sensor, said speed sensor, said vehicle condition detecting means and switching means;

said control means including;

memory means for memorizing the inclination angle of the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle detected by said tilt sensor in response to the operation of the setting switch of said switching means;

first driving means for driving the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle to the inclination angle memorized in the memory means through said actuator in response to the operation of the memory switch of said switching means;

judgement means for detecting an abnormal state of said tilt sensor and for generating a signal indicating the abnormal state of said tilt sensor;

second driving means for driving the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle downwardly through said actuator in response to the signal indicating the abnormal state of said tilt sensor; and

prohibiting means responsive to the travelling speed signal from the speed sensor or the travelling signal from the vehicle condition detecting means when the travelling speed signal from the speed sensor is not output for generating a preventing signal preventing said second driving means from driving downwardly the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle.

2. A steering wheel positioner for an automatic driving position system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means further includes timer means for counting a predetermined time to drive the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle downwardly by said second driving means.

3. A steering wheel positioner for an automatic driving position system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle condition detecting means is a neutral/parking relay for detecting a shift lever in a neutral or parking position.

4. A steering wheel positioner for an automatic driving position system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle condition detecting means is a detect switch for detecting a shift lever to be in a parking position.

5. A steering wheel positioner of an automatic driving position system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle condition detecting means is a parking range switch for detecting a shift lever to be in a parking position.

6. A steering wheel positioner for an automatic driving position system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle condition detecting means is a rotational sensor for detecting rotation of an engine.

7. A steering wheel positioner of an automatic driving position system for a vehicle with a tiltable steering wheel comprising:

an actuator for driving a steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle and for adjusting an inclination angle of the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle;

a tilt sensor for detecting the inclination angle of the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle and for generating a position signal of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle;

a speed sensor provided on the vehicle for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle for generating a traveling speed signal of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling;

a rotational sensor for detecting whether the vehicle is working by sensing rotation of an engine and for generating a working signal of the vehicle;

switching means having a setting switch and a memory switch;

control means connected with said actuator, said tilt sensor, said speed sensor, said rotational sensor and said switching means;

said control means including;

memory means for memorizing the inclination angle of the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle detected by said tilt sensor in response to the operation of the setting switch of said switching means;

first driving means for driving the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle to the inclination angle memorized in the memory means through said actuator in response to the operation of the memory switch of said switching means;

judgement means for detecting an abnormal state of said tilt sensor and for generating a signal indicating the abnormal state of said tilt sensor;

second driving means for driving the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle downwardly through said actuator in response to the signal indicating the abnormal state of said tilt sensor;

timer means for counting a predetermined time to drive the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle downwardly by said second driving means; and

prohibiting means responsive to the travelling speed signal from the speed sensor or the working signal from the rotational sensor when the travelling speed signal from the speed sensor is not output for generating a preventing signal preventing said second driving means from driving downwardly the steering wheel shaft of the tiltable steering wheel of the vehicle.