Vehicle with multiple driver interfaces

• US 6,948,740 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Szczerba, Joseph F., Chernoff, Adrian B., Montousse, Julien, Embach, James Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/347,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/778, 744/93
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/08 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18181 Propulsion control with common controlling member for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access

Abstract

A vehicle driver control input assembly includes a seat with a steering wheel structure configured to provide non-mechanical steering signals to a steer-by-wire system. The steering wheel structure is collapsible underneath the seat for storage. First and second movable arm structures are connected to opposing sides of the seat and are movable between an upright position for use and a lowered position for storage. The movable arm structures include control input members to provide non-mechanical steering signals to the steer-by-wire system. A plurality of selectable driver control input devices may be interchangeably connected with the vehicle to provide steering, braking and/or acceleration signals to the vehicle as desired.

Claims

1. A vehicle driver control input assembly comprising:

a seat;

a steering wheel structure configured to provide non-mechanical steering signals to a steer-by-wire system, said steering wheel structure being supported by a collapsible support post which enables the steering wheel structure to be collapsed below the seat for storage; and

first and second movable arm structures connected to opposing sides of the seat and movable between an upright position for use and a lowered position for storage, said first and second movable arm structures each including control input members to provide non-mechanical steering signals to the steer-by-wire system.

2. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 1, wherein said steering wheel structure and said control input members include a braking demand input mechanism for sending braking signals to a brake-by-wire system.

3. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 1, wherein said steering wheel structure and said control input members include an acceleration demand input mechanism for sending acceleration signals to an energy conversion system.

4. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 2, wherein said braking demand input mechanism comprises a braking lever adjacent a rear side of a steering wheel on the steering wheel structure.

5. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 2, wherein said control input members each include a rotatable hand grip, and said braking demand input mechanism comprises a braking button on each rotatable hand grip.

6. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 3, wherein said control input members each include a rotatable hand grip, and said acceleration demand input mechanism comprises an acceleration button on each rotatable hand grip.

7. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second movable arm structures each include a support sleeve to support the forearm of a driver.

8. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second movable arm structures are movable laterally and downwardly with respect to a forward-facing direction of the seat.

9. The vehicle driver control input assembly of claim 1, wherein said post includes an upper portion pivotally mounted to a lower portion, and said lower portion is pivotally and slidably mounted to the seat.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

at least three wheels operable 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 seat mounted with respect to the chassis;

a steering wheel structure configured to provide non-mechanical steering signals to the steering system, said steering wheel structure being supported by a collapsible support post which enables the steering wheel structure to be collapsed below the seat for storage; and

first and second movable arm structures connected to opposing sides of the seat and movable vertically and laterally between an upright position for use and a lowered position for storage, said first and second movable arm structures each including control input devices to provide non-mechanical steering signals to the steering system, non-mechanical braking signals to the braking system, and non-mechanical acceleration signals to the energy conversion system.