Steering wheel electronic interface
First Claim
1. A steering wheel assembly for use in a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a steering wheel having a steering wheel hub adapted to be coupled to the vehicle;
(b) a steering wheel input connected to the steering wheel hub;
(c) a steering wheel interface module in the steering wheel hub having a communication connection with the steering wheel input for receiving control information from the steering wheel input and formulating a data message based on the control information; and
(d) a data communication bus in the steering wheel hub adapted to be connected to a data communication bus in the vehicle, wherein the data communication bus in the steering wheel hub is connected to the steering wheel interface module for communicating the data message from the steering wheel interface module to the data communication bus in the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for interfacing steering wheel inputs on a steering wheel assembly with electronically-controlled devices in a vehicle. A steering wheel interface module in the steering wheel assembly is connected between the steering wheel inputs and a data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly. The steering wheel inputs provide control information to the steering wheel interface module, which in turn formulates data messages based on the control information and transmits the data messages on the data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly. Preferably, the steering wheel interface module includes a processing unit and a memory in communication with the processing unit. The data messages are formulated by the processing unit in accordance with programmed instructions stored in the memory. The programmed instructions and/or data messages stored in the memory may be modified or supplemented at a later time. The steering wheel interface module may also have a communication connection with one or more outputs on the steering wheel assembly for displaying status information. The data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly is electrically connected through a rotational connection assembly to a data communication bus in the vehicle that conveys the data messages sent by the steering wheel interface module to the electronically-controlled devices in the vehicle.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A steering wheel assembly for use in a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) a steering wheel having a steering wheel hub adapted to be coupled to the vehicle;
(b) a steering wheel input connected to the steering wheel hub;
(c) a steering wheel interface module in the steering wheel hub having a communication connection with the steering wheel input for receiving control information from the steering wheel input and formulating a data message based on the control information; and
(d) a data communication bus in the steering wheel hub adapted to be connected to a data communication bus in the vehicle, wherein the data communication bus in the steering wheel hub is connected to the steering wheel interface module for communicating the data message from the steering wheel interface module to the data communication bus in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of interfacing a steering wheel input in a steering wheel assembly with a data communication bus in a vehicle, comprising;
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(a) providing a data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly;
(b) connecting a steering wheel interface module to the steering wheel input and to the data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly;
(c) connecting the data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly to the data communication bus in the vehicle;
(d) formulating a data message in the steering wheel interface module based on control information received by the steering wheel interface module from the steering wheel input; and
(e) transmitting the data message from the steering wheel interface module on the data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly to the data communication bus in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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- 23. A steering wheel interface module for use in a steering wheel assembly to interface a steering wheel input with a data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly, the steering wheel interface module comprising a processing unit and a memory in communication with the processing unit, the processing unit having a communication connection with the steering wheel input for receiving control information from the steering wheel input and formulating a data message based on the control information, the processing unit further having a communication connection with a bus interface transceiver that is connected to a data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly for transmitting the data message on the data communication bus in the steering wheel assembly.
Specification