Steering column assembly

• US 7,407,190 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Phillips, Timothy M., Berg, Frederick J., Riefe, Richard K., Dybalski, Ronald H., Bennett, Timothy J., Davis, Alan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/109,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/779, 744/93
• US Class Current: 280/775
• 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 25/25 using biometry
• 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 motor actuators for steering column adjustments and/or pedal position adjustments. 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 display and on-board processor moves with the steering column as it is adjusted for telescope and/or tilt position. 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 vehicular steering column assembly of the type including an integrated display panel, said assembly comprising:

a steering column moveable in at least one of an angular adjustment and a telescoping adjustment and having a connection for receiving a steering wheel;

an adjustable column support having a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed relative to a support structure of a vehicle with said adjustable column support coupled to and rotatably supporting said steering column for moveably mounting said steering column relative to the support structure of the vehicle in one of said angular adjustment and said telescoping adjustment; and

a data display coupled to said column support and moveable with said steering column during one of said angular adjustment and said telescoping adjustment.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further including at least one electrical device operatively attached to said column support for an operator to control the vehicle, and 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 said data display.

3. The assembly of claim 2 further including a column raking bracket for supporting said on-board processor and said display.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said column support includes a caniage housing support moveably carried on said mounting bracket for telescopically adjusting said steering column relative to said mounting bracket.

5. The assembly of claim 4 further including a column raking bracket supported by said carriage housing support for moveably supporting said on-board processor and said display relative to the support structure of the vehicle.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said column support includes a tilting bracket for angularly adjusting said steering column.

7. The assembly of claim 6 further including a column raking bracket for moveably supporting said on-board processor and said display relative to said carriage housing support.

23. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an integrated bracket supported by said adjustable column support and interconnecting said data display and said adjustable column support.

8. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column moveable in at least one of an angular adjustment and a telescoping adjustment and having a connection for receiving a steering wheel;

a column support having a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed relative to a support structure of a vehicle and coupled to and rotatably supporting said steering column for moveably mounting said steering column relative to the support structure of the vehicle in one of said angular adjustment and said telescoping adjustment;

at least one electrical device operatively attached to said column support and including at least one actuator for an operator to control a vehicle feature; and

an on-board processor coupled to said column support and moveable with said steering column in one of said angular adjustment and said telescoping adjustment and having an electrical outlet for connection to a vehicle communications bus for receiving and consolidating signals from said electrical devices and sending data to and from the vehicle communications bus.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said column support includes a carriage housing support moveably carried on said mounting bracket for telescopically adjusting said steering column relative to said mounting bracket.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said at least one actuator includes a telescopic actuator operatively disposed between said mounting bracket and said carriage housing support.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said telescopic actuator includes a motor, a drive shaft rotatably coupled to said motor, a power screw, and a nut.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said column support includes a tilting bracket for angularly adjusting said steering column.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said at least one actuator includes a tilt actuator.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said tilting actuator includes a motor, a drive shaft rotatably coupled to said motor, a power screw, and a nut.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said tilting actuator includes a motor and a clamping mechanism.

16. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said column support includes a pedal bracket moveably affixed to the support structure of a vehicle, and a foot pedal assembly operatively supported on said pedal bracket.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said at least one actuator includes a pedal actuator operatively connected to said pedal bracket.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said pedal actuator includes a motor.

19. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said at least one actuator includes a seat position adjustment device.

20. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said at least one actuator includes a power door motor.

21. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said at least one actuator includes a power lumbar adjustment device.

22. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said at least one actuator includes a minor position adjustment device.

24. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising an integrated bracket supported by said adjustable column support and interconnecting said on-board processor and said adjustable column support.