Vehicle safety system

• US 8,095,270 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bossler, Hans-Juergen, Bollinger, Christian, Hirzmann, Guido, Lefringhausen, Heinz-Joerg, Stegmann, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/869,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,764 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701 45- 46, 701/41, 340666-667, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01528 mounted on the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/065 Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

In a vehicle safety system with a vehicle steering wheel, which has a steering wheel rim, and with at least one capacitive sensor which detects an alteration to an electric or electromagnetic field, the sensor is arranged in or on the steering wheel rim.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system, comprising

a vehicle steering wheel (10), which has a steering wheel rim (12), and

at least one capacitive sensor (14) which detects an alteration to an electric or electromagnetic field (16),

the sensor (14) being arranged in or on said steering wheel rim (12) and

the sensor (14) having a flexible fleece mat (32) with elongated electric leads (34) held therein.