Steer-by-wire steering wheel unit with integrated airbag module

• US 7,651,124 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gulde, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US11/578,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 180/402, 180/444, 745/52, 743/88.PS
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/105 Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/006 power actuated

Abstract

A steering wheel unit for a steer-by-wire steering system in motor vehicles, consisting of a steering wheel (12), an airbag module, a steering wheel angle sensor unit (24) as well as a force feedback unit, is characterized in that steering wheel (12) is located in rotatable fashion on module housing (10) of the airbag module, which is fixed to the vehicle, and that module housing (10) forms the stator and steering wheel (12) the rotor of the force feedback unit formed as an electric motor.

Claims

1. A steering wheel unit for a steer-by-wire steering system in motor vehicles, the steering wheel unit comprising a steering wheel, an airbag module including an airbag module housing fixed to the vehicle, a steering wheel angle sensor unit and a force-feedback unit, wherein the steering wheel is mounted rotatably on the airbag module housing, and wherein the airbag module housing forms a stator of the force-feedback unit, which is constructed as an electric motor.

2. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel forms a rotor of the force-feedback unit.

3. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel angle sensor unit is located between the airbag module housing and the steering wheel and is located on the steering wheel so as to be rotatable therewith.

4. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module housing includes a wire winding acting as the stator and the steering wheel includes a permanent magnet acting as a rotor.

5. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, further comprising function buttons and a spiral spring associated with the steering wheel, the spiral spring transferring at least one of signals and energy to the function buttons.

6. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, further comprising function buttons supported by the steering wheel, the function buttons including a radio device with a transmitter-receiver unit located on the steering wheel and a transmitter-receiver unit connected with a control unit and attached to the vehicle.

7. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, further comprising function buttons supported by the steering wheel and in communication with a control unit, the function buttons communicating with the control unit via induction.

8. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, further comprising an airbag cover cap that covers and is connected to the airbag module housing.

9. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, further comprising an airbag cover cap that covers the airbag module housing, is connected to the steering wheel, and is rotatable relative to the airbag module housing.

10. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module includes a gas generator located inside the airbag module housing.

11. A steering wheel unit according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module includes a gas generator located outside of the airbag module housing.

12. A steering wheel unit for a steer-by-wire steering system, the steering wheel unit comprising a force-feedback unit, an airbag module including a housing, and a steering wheel rotatably attached to the housing, the steering wheel forming a rotor of the force-feedback unit and the housing forming a stator of the force-feedback unit.

13. A steering wheel unit according to claim 12, wherein the force-feedback unit is constructed as an electric motor.

14. A steering wheel unit according to claim 12, further comprising a steering wheel angle sensor unit.

15. A steering wheel unit according to claim 12, further comprising a wire winding and a magnet.

16. A steering wheel unit according to claim 15, wherein the wire winding is attached to the housing and the magnet is attached to the steering wheel.

17. A steering wheel unit for a steer-by-wire steering system, the steering wheel unit comprising a force-feedback unit, an airbag module including a housing, and a steering wheel rotatably attached to the housing and supporting a magnet of the force-feedback unit the magnet is fixed to the steering wheel for rotation therewith.