Flexible potentiometer in a horn control system

• US 5,309,135 A
• Filed: 05/10/1993
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensitron
• Original Assignee: Gordon B. Langford
• Inventors: Langford, Gordon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Application Number:
  US08/060,346
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 338/211, 338/2, 338/69, 338/210, 338/211, 338/154, 338/114, 338/50
• US Class Current: 338/211
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/18 using change in resistance
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/00 Adjustable resistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/10 adjustable by mechanical pressure or force
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/106 on resistive material dispersed in an elastic material H01C10/103 and H01C10/12 take precedence; for electric switches H01H1/029
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 3/06 Flexible or folding resistors, whereby such a resistor can be looped or collapsed upon itself

Abstract

A flexible potentiometer acts as a horn actuator in an automobile horn control system. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible potentiometer is adhered to a flexible substrate, which is in turn adhered to the inside surface of an airbag hub cover. The shape of the flexible potentiometer is chosen so that the automobile horn will sound when the driver presses against particular portions of the outside of the hub cover. The resistance of the flexible potentiometer changes as its shape changes as the user presses against the hub cover. A horn control circuit responds to extremely rapid changes in the resistance of the flexible potentiometer, but not to more gradual changes caused by, for example, temperature changes. Additional flexible potentiometers may be used to control other functions such as cruise control.

Claims

1. A flexible potentiometer horn actuator for use in an automobile horn control system of an automobile having an airbag between a steering wheel hub and a hub cover, the automobile including a horn control circuit that selectively activates a horn upon receiving an input signal, the flexible potentiometer horn actuator comprising:

a conductor connected to the horn control circuit;

a flexible substrate adhered to the hub cover;

a conductive material connected to the conductor and adhered to the flexible substrate in a preselected pattern, the conductive material having a resistance that changes as the conductive material is bent, whereby as a driver presses against the hub cover, the flexible substrate and conductive material are bent changing the resistance of the conductive material and creating the input signal.

2. The actuator of claim 1 in which the conductive material is divided into portions that are separated by conductors.

3. The actuator of claim 1 in the resistance changes due to cracking in the conductive material.

4. An automobile electrical component actuator system for use in an automobile having an airbag between a steering wheel hub and a hub cover, the automobile including a horn control circuit that selectively activates a horn upon receiving an first input signal, and an auxiliary control circuit that activates an auxiliary electrical component of the automobile upon receiving a second input signal, the component actuator system comprising:

a first conductor connectable to the horn control circuit;

a first conductive material in a preselected pattern operationally connected to the hub cover, the first conductive material connected to the first conductor, the first conductive material having a resistance that changes as the first conductive material is bent, whereby as a driver presses against the hub cover, the first conductive material is bent changing the resistance of the first conductive material and creating the input signal;

a second conductor connectable to the auxiliary electrical component; and

a second conductive material in a preselected pattern operationally connected to the hub cover, the second conductive material connected to the second conductor, the second conductive material having a resistance that changes as the second conductive material is bent, whereby as a driver presses against the hub cover, the second conductive material is bent changing the resistance of the second conductive material and creating the second input signal.

5. A flexible potentiometer horn actuator for use in an automobile horn control system of an automobile having an airbag between a steering wheel hub and a hub cover, the automobile including a horn control circuit that selectively activates a horn upon receiving an input signal, the flexible potentiometer horn actuator comprising:

a conductor connectable to the horn control circuit; and

a conductive material having a preselected pattern operationally connected to the hub cover, the conductive material connected to the conductor, the conductive material having a resistance that changes as the conductive material is bent, whereby as a driver presses against the hub cover, the conductive material is bent changing the resistance of the conductive material and creating the input signal in the conductor when the conductor is connected to the horn control circuit.