Driver control input device for drive-by-wire system

• US 7,142,963 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• 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., Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Montousse, Julien, Embach, James Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/347,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 180/7.1, 180/337, 180/315, 180/170, 180/204, 180/6.2, 180/6.24, 180/6.28, 180/6.44, 180/6.6, 180/311, 180/400, 180/444, 340/870.01, 340/425.5, 340/426.31, 340/426.32, 340/426.33, 340/441, 340/453, 340/500, 73/10.1, 731/46, 734/88, 701/36, 701/1, 701 41- 43, 701/53, 701/51, 701/70, 701/93, 188/382, 477/1, 477/7, 477/34, 477/182, 475/18, 475/19, 475/158, 280/1
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/82 Brake-by-Wire, EHB
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/02 for personal initiation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/085 by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• 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

Abstract

A driver control input device includes a support post and a steering ring rotatably supported with respect to the support post. A steering transducer is operatively connected between the steering ring and support post to convert mechanical rotation of the steering ring into non-mechanical steering control signals to be sent to a steer-by-wire system. A braking ring and acceleration ring may also be provided for generating non-mechanical braking and acceleration control signals.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

at least three wheels operatively connected with respect to the chassis;

a steer-by-wire system mounted with respect to the chassis and responsive to non-mechanical control signals;

a brake-by-wire 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 support post supported with respect to the chassis;

a steering ring rotatably supported with respect to the support post and engaged with a steering transducer to convert mechanical rotation of the steering ring into non-mechanical steering control signals to be sent to the steer-by-wire system;

a braking ring operatively connected adjacent the steering ring and engaged with a braking transducer to convert mechanical motion of the braking ring into non-mechanical braking control signals to be sent to the brake-by-wire system; and

an acceleration ring operatively connected adjacent the steering ring and engaged with an acceleration transducer to convert mechanical motion of the acceleration ring into non-mechanical acceleration control signals to be sent to the energy conversion system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said steering ring is substantially hollow and is positioned on a stationary wheel, and rotatable with respect to the stationary wheel via bearings on the stationary wheel abutting an inside surface of the hollow steering ring.