Steering column assembly

• US 7,255,366 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacific Century Motors, Inc. (Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd.), GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Berg, Frederick J., Riefe, Richard K., Dybalski, Ronald H., Davis, Alan C., Balius, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/767,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 307/10.1, 307/115, 200/61.54, 200/61.27
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• 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 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/05 associated with the steering wheel, steering hand lever or steering column yieldable steering columns B62D1/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column

Abstract

A steering column assembly for operating a vehicle packages mechanical components and electrical devices normally found in or around the steering column of the vehicle into a single unit. An on-board processor accepts signals from the electrical devices, which may include a steering sensor, an acceleration pedal sensor, a brake pedal sensor, a turn signal switch, a cruise control switch, a windshield wiper switch, etc. The on-board processor connects to a vehicle communications bus to communicate data received from the electrical devices to various systems throughout the vehicle. The on-board processor also receives data from the various systems. The steering column assembly also includes a display connected to the on-board processor. The operator receives information about the operation of the vehicle from the display. All components, including the on-board processor, are operatively connected to a column support, allowing the steering column assembly to be installed as a unit. Therefore, the steering column assembly installs quickly into the vehicle with a reduced chance of installation error.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column having a connection for receiving a steering wheel;

a column support coupled to said steering column for mounting said steering column to a support structure of a vehicle;

at least one electrical device operatively attached to said column support for an operator to control the vehicle;

an on-board processor carried by said column support for receiving and consolidating signals from said electrical devices and having an electrical outlet for connection to a vehicle communications bus for sending data to and from the vehicle communications bus;

at least one control pedal pivotally supported by said column support; and

said at least one electrical device including a pedal sensor electrically connected to said on-board processor for sensing a pivotal movement of said control pedal.

2. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one control pedal is further defined as an accelerator pedal pivotally supported by said column support.

3. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pedal sensor is further defined as an accelerator pedal sensor electrically connected to said on-board processor for sensing a pivotal movement of said accelerator pedal.

4. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one control pedal is further defined as a brake pedal pivotally supported by said column support.

5. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pedal sensor is further defined as a brake pedal sensor electrically connected to said on-board processor for sensing a pivotal movement of said brake pedal.

6. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column having a connection for receiving a steering wheel;

a column support coupled to said steering column for mounting said steering column to a support structure of a vehicle;

at least one electrical device operatively attached to said column support for an operator to control the vehicle;

an on-board processor carried by said column support for receiving and consolidating signals from said electrical devices and having an electrical outlet for connection to a vehicle communications bus for sending data to and from the vehicle communications bus;

a display supported by said column support and electrically connected to said on-board processor for displaying the data; and

said at least one electrical device including a selector switch electrically connected to said on-board processor for changing the data presented on said display.

7. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one electrical device includes a steering sensor electrically connected to said on-board processor for sensing the rotational movement of the steering wheel.

8. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one electrical device includes an ignition switch electrically connected to said on-board processor for allowing starting of an engine of the vehicle.

9. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one electrical device includes a turn signal switch electrically connected to said on-board processor for activating turn signals of the vehicle.

10. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one electrical device includes a windshield wiper switch for controlling a windshield wiper of the vehicle.

11. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one electrical device includes a cruise control switch for controlling a cruise control system of the vehicle.

12. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a clockspring coil supported by said column support for providing an electrical connection between said on-board processor and the steering wheel.

13. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a knee bolster supported by said column support for protecting the operator in the event of an accident of the vehicle.

14. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising an integrated bracket supported by said column support and having a first portion for supporting said steering column and a second portion for supporting said on-board processor and said display.

15. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a cluster mechanism supported by said first portion of said column support for mounting said at least one electrical device.

16. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said cluster mechanism includes a clockspring coil for providing an electrical connection between said on-board processor and the steering wheel.

17. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a wireway for electrically connecting said cluster mechanism and said on-board processor.

18. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column having a connection for receiving a steering wheel;

a column support coupled to said steering column for mounting said steering column to a support structure of a vehicle;

at least one electrical device operatively attached to said column support for an operator to control the vehicle;

an on-board processor carried by said column support for receiving and consolidating signals from said electrical devices and having an electrical outlet for connection to a vehicle communications bus for sending data to and from the vehicle communications bus; and

an energy absorbing (EA) mechanism electrically connected to said on-board processor for adjusting an energy absorption load of said steering column based on physical characteristics of the operator.

19. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said at least one electrical device includes a fingerprint sensor electrically connected to said on-board processor for determining an identification of the operator of the vehicle.

20. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said fingerprint sensor includes a memory for storing a record of said physical characteristics of the operator.

21. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said fingerprint sensor sends said record of said physical characteristics of the operator to said on-board processor to adjust said energy absorption load of said EA mechanism.