Horn module for a vehicle steering wheel and vehicle steering wheel

• US 8,382,152 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Radde, Werner, Frisch, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US13/061,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 200/61.54, 200/61.55, 200/61.56, 200/61.57
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2037 the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658

Abstract

A horn module (12) in a vehicle steering wheel has at least one electronic horn sensor (20) including a trigger component (22) deflectable upon application of a horn operating force (F). At the trigger component (22) at least one strain gauge (24) is arranged by deflection of which a signal is produced.

Claims

1. A horn module for a vehicle steering wheel comprising:

at least one electronic horn sensor (20) including a cantilevered trigger component (22) deflectable upon application of a horn operating force (F),

wherein at the trigger component (22) at least one strain gauge (24) is arranged by deflection of which a signal is produced, the horn operating force (F) being applied to the cantilevered trigger component (22) at a location spaced from the at least one strain gauge (24).

2. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein the trigger component (22) includes a bar-shaped portion deflectable upon operating the horn.

3. The horn module according to claim 2, wherein the bar-shaped portion has a freely projecting end.

4. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein an evaluation circuit (29) is provided to perform signal processing.

5. The horn module according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation circuit (29) is designed so that it distinguishes between horn signals and short interference pulses.

6. The horn module according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation circuit (29) is programmed so that at a predetermined starting time they determine an electronic value defined by the strain gauge (24) as zero value.

7. The horn module according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation circuit (29) is arranged on a board (18) also supporting at least one of the horn sensors (20).

8. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein plural horn sensors (20) are provided.

9. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein in the vicinity of the strain gauge (24) mounting positions (25) are provided for mounting the horn sensor (20).

10. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein plural strain gauges (24) extending in parallel are provided.

11. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein the strain gauge (24) is formed by printing resistance varnish onto the horn sensor (20).

12. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein at least one strain gauge (24) is arranged on opposite sides of the horn sensor (20).

13. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein the trigger component (22) is mounted in a biased state.

14. A vehicle steering wheel comprising a horn module according to claim 1, wherein an airbag module (15) at which at least one contact point (30) is provided for contacting a trigger component (22) so as to deflect the trigger component (22) is movably arranged in a hub area of the vehicle steering wheel.

15. The horn module according to claim 1, wherein at least one strain gauge (24) is arranged on a pair of sides of the trigger component (22) that face away from one another.

16. A horn module for a vehicle steering wheel comprising:

at least one electronic horn sensor (20) including a trigger component (22) having a bar-shaped portion deflectable upon application of a horn operating force (F),

wherein at the trigger component (22) at least one strain gauge (24) is arranged by deflection of which a signal is produced, the at least one strain gauge (24) being positioned at the transition of the bar-shaped portion to the remaining trigger component (22).

17. A horn module for a vehicle steering wheel comprising:

at least one electronic horn sensor (20) including a trigger component (22) deflectable upon application of a horn operating force (F), the trigger component (22) constituting a portion of a board (18), board;

wherein at the trigger component (22) at least one strain gauge (24) is arranged by deflection of which a signal is produced.

18. The horn module of claim 17, wherein the board comprises a printed board.