Dial device for steering wheel of an automobile

• US 6,339,700 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Complex Instruments Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: Complex Instruments Technology Corp.
• Inventors: Tsai, Huo-Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US09/703,370
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/345, 455/575, 455/566, 455/550, 455/346, 455/351, 455/347, 455/99, 744/92, 280/777, 280/778, 280/779, 224/276
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/26 Devices for calling a subscriber H04M1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface

Abstract

A dial device for a steering wheel of an automobile includes a steering wheel having an annular frame, and an annular film keyboard tightly mounted on the annular frame of the steering wheel and having a connecting terminal connected to a wireless emitter so that the annular film keyboard supplies a pressing dial signal which can be transmitted to a main processor through the wireless emitter in a wireless transmission manner. In such a manner, the annular film keyboard co-operates with the steering wheel so that a driver can hold the steering wheel and can press the annular film keyboard so as to dial synchronously, thereby achieving a dial function.

Claims

1. A dial device for a steering wheel of an automobile comprising:

a steering wheel (10) having an annular frame (11); and

an annular film keyboard (20) tightly mounted on said annular frame (11) of said steering wheel (10) and including a connecting terminal (23) connected to a wireless emitter (25) so that said annular film keyboard (20) supplies a pressing dial signal which is transmitted to a main processor (30) through said wireless emitter (25) in a wireless transmission manner;

wherein, said annular film keyboard (20) co-operates with said steering wheel (10) so that a driver can hold said steering wheel (10) and can press said annular film keyboard (20) so as to dial synchronously, thereby achieving a dial function.

2. The dial device for a steering wheel of an automobile in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of equally spaced elastic press button switches (21) mounted on said annular film keyboard (20).

3. The dial device for a steering wheel of an automobile in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wireless emitter (25) is bonded on said annular frame (11) of said steering wheel (10) by a snap member (28).

4. The dial device for a steering wheel of an automobile in accordance with claim 1, wherein said main processor (30) can be used to magnify audio signals and to process signals.

5. The dial device for a steering wheel of an automobile in accordance with claim 1, wherein said main processor (30) is connected to a mobile telephone (40) by an interface card (32).

6. The dial device for a steering wheel of an automobile in accordance with claim 1, wherein said annular film keyboard (20) is a press button switch.