Dual position vehicle steering command module

• US 6,360,149 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kwon, Ki C., Brooks, Vincent Lee, Dybalski, Ronald Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/456,446
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 701/53, 701/1, 298/941, 114/144.R, 116/31, 172/278, 475/18, 477/1, 180/6.2, 180/6.54, 180/400, D12/175, 244/236, 244/228, 244/175
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/22 Alternative steering-control elements, e.g. for teaching purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49488 Steering wheel

Abstract

A vehicle steering command module as disclosed wherein the command module is necessary to start and control the motion of a vehicle, and once removed from the vehicle the command module can function as a personal computer. The vehicle steering command module includes a housing having a computer processing unit and a connection port. The connection port releasably connects the command module to one of a pair of spaced apart mating connection ports on an instrument panel of the vehicle, thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of the vehicle. Rotation of the command module controls the direction of travel of the vehicle when the command module is connected to one of the mating connection ports. The command module includes at least one input device operably connected to the computer processing unit. A cover of the steering command module is moveable between a closed position and an opened position, and includes a display screen operably connected to the computer processing unit. The steering command module further includes a pair of opposed handles, which are moveable between a retracted position and a plurality of extended positions.

Claims

1. A dual position vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a first mating connection port and a second mating connection port spaced from the first mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said first or said second mating connection ports of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to one of said mating connection ports, and

said command module includes a computer processing unit such that said command module can be operated as a personal computer when the command module is disconnected from mating connection ports of the vehicle.

2. A dual position vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a first mating connection port and a second mating connection port spaced from the first mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said first or said second mating connection ports of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to one of said mating connection ports, and

the command module includes a computer processing unit and wherein the command module includes at least one input device operably connected to said computer processing unit.

3. A vehicle steering command module as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one input device comprises a mouse.

4. A dual position vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a first mating connection port and a second mating connection port spaced from the first mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said first or said second mating connection ports of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to one of said mating connection ports, and

wherein a cover (34) is connected to said command module and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover having a display screen.

5. A dual position vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a first mating connection port and a second mating connection port spaced from the first mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said first or said second mating connection ports of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to one of said mating connection ports, and

wherein said housing further includes at least one keyboard cover movable between a closed and an open position and a keyboard;

said keyboard accessible when said cover is in said open position and said keyboard not accessible when said cover is in said closed position.

6. A vehicle steering command module as recited in claim 5, wherein said cover further includes a pair of speakers.

7. A dual position vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a first mating connection port and a second mating connection port spaced from the first mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said first or said second mating connection ports of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to one of said mating connection ports, and

wherein said command module includes a computer processing unit and wherein said housing further includes a plurality of input and output ports, each of said ports operably connected to said computer processing unit.

8. A dual position vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a first mating connection port and a second mating connection port spaced from the first mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said first or said second mating connection ports of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to one of said mating connection ports, and

wherein said command module includes a display screen and wherein said display screen displays a plurality of vehicle information gages when said command module is connected ton one of said mating connection ports.

9. A dual position vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a first mating connection port and a second mating connection port spaced from the first mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said first or said second mating connection ports of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to one of said mating connection ports, and

wherein connection of said command module to one of said mating connection ports enables a user to modify a plurality of preset vehicle settings.

10. A vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having at least one mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said mating connection port of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to said mating connection port, and

said command module including a computer processing unit such that said command module can be operated as a personal computer when the command module is disconnected from mating connection port of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having at least one mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said connection port of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to said mating connection port, and

the command module including a computer processing unit and wherein the command module includes at least one input device operably connected to said computer processing unit.

12. A vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having at least one mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said mating connection port of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to said mating connection port, and

wherein a cover is connected to said command module and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover having a display screen.

13. A vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a mating connection port of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to said mating connection port, and

wherein said housing further includes at least one keyboard cover movable between a closed and an open position and a keyboard;

said keyboard accessible when said cover is in said open position and said keyboard not accessible when said cover is in said closed position.

14. A vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said mating connection port of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to said mating connection port, and

wherein said command module includes a computer processing unit and wherein said housing further includes a plurality of input and output ports, each of said ports operably connected to said computer processing unit.

15. A vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing leaving a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said mating connection port of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to said mating connection port, and

wherein said command module includes a display screen and wherein said display screen displays a plurality of vehicle information gages when said command module is connected to said mating connection port.

16. A vehicle steering command module comprising:

an instrument panel of a vehicle, said instrument panel having a mating connection port;

a vehicle steering command module comprising a housing having a connection port, said connection port for releasably connecting said command module to said mating connection port of said instrument panel and thereby completing a steer by wire circuit of said vehicle;

said command module for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle when said command module is connected to said mating connection port, and

wherein connection of said command module to said mating connection port enables a user to modify a plurality of preset vehicle settings.