Rotary driver control input device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A driver control input device comprising:
- first and second rotatable hand grips positioned for rotation with respect to non-rotatable first and second support members at least partially circumscribing said rotatable hand grips, said rotatable hand grips being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system.
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Abstract
A driver control input device includes first and second rotatable hand grips positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to first and second support members. The rotatable rings are operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system. The hand grips may also include acceleration and braking demand mechanisms in various combinations.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A driver control input device comprising:
first and second rotatable hand grips positioned for rotation with respect to non-rotatable first and second support members at least partially circumscribing said rotatable hand grips, said rotatable hand grips being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A driver control input device comprising:
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first and second rotatable hand grips positioned for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable hand grips being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system;
wherein said first and second hand grips are positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, and said first and second support members comprise first and second outer non-rotatable rings circumscribing said first and second rotatable rings, respectively; and
a transducer operatively connected with said rotatable rings and non-rotatable rings to convert mechanical motion of the hand grips into steering control signals.
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12. A driver control input device comprising:
first and second rotatable hand grips positioned for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable hand grips being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system, wherein said first and second rotatable hand grips are each longitudinally slidable with respect to a track for generating acceleration and braking signals to be sent to an energy conversion system and brake-by-wire system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A driver control input device for a vehicle comprising:
first and second rotatable hand grips positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to non-rotatable first and second support members at least partially circumscribing said rotatable hand grips, said rotatable rings being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system of the vehicle for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A driver control input device for a vehicle comprising:
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first and second rotatable hand grips positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable rings being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system of the vehicle for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system;
wherein said first and second support members comprise first and second outer non-rotatable rings circumscribing said first and second rotatable rings, respectively; and
a transducer operatively connected with said rotatable rings and non-rotatable rings to convert mechanical motion of the hand grips into steering control signals.
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20. A driver control input device for a vehicle comprising:
first and second rotatable hand arms positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable rings being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system of the vehicle for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system, wherein said first and second rotatable hand grips are each longitudinally slidable with respect to a track for generating acceleration and braking signals to be sent to an energy conversion system and brake-by-wire system. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A driver control input device for a vehicle comprising:
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first and second rotatable hand grips positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable rings being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system of the vehicle for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system, wherein said first and second support members comprise generally U-shaped members. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A driver control input device for a vehicle comprising:
first and second rotatable hand grips positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable rings being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system of the vehicle for sending steering control signals to the steer-by-wire system, wherein said first and second rotatable hand grips are positioned at the ends of first and second armrests, respectively, on a vehicle seat for convenient use by a seated driver.
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25. A driver control input device for a vehicle comprising:
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first and second rotatable hand grips positioned within first and second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable rings being operatively engaged with a steer-by-wire system of the vehicle for sending steering control signals through the steer-by-wire system;
said first and second rotatable hand grips each being longitudinally slidable with respect to a track for generating acceleration and braking signals to be sent to an energy conversion system and brake-by-wire system of the vehicle;
wherein said first and second rotatable hand grips are positioned at the ends of first and second arm rests, respectively, on a vehicle seat for convenient use by a seated driver.
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26. A vehicle comprising:
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a chassis;
at least three wheels operatively connected with respect to the chassis;
a steering system mounted with respect to the chassis and responsive to non-mechanical control signals;
a braking system mounted with respect to the chassis and responsive to non-mechanical control signals;
an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the chassis and responsive to non-mechanical control signals;
a connection port mounted with respect to the chassis and operatively connected to the steering, braking and energy conversion systems;
first and second rotatable hand grips positioned within first end second rotatable rings, respectively, for rotation with respect to first and second support members, said rotatable rings being operatively engaged with said steering system for sending steering control signals to said steering system via the connection port;
at least one of said first and second rotatable hand grips having an accelerator demand input mechanism to facilitate sending acceleration signals to said energy conversion system via the connection port; and
at least one of said first and second rotatable hand grips having a braking demand input mechanism to facilitate sending braking signals to said braking system via the connection port.
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Specification