Haptic steering wheel switch apparatus

• US 8,987,620 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LS Automotive Technologies., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Daesung Electric Company Limited (LS Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jin Young, Gohng, Jun-ho, Jung, Lee-Hwa, Kwon, Dae Woo, Ahn, Su Young, Bae, Jung Hoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US13/455,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20120267222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 701/44, 701 41- 42, 180/400, 200/61.54
• US Class Current: 200/61.54
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

The present invention provides haptic steering wheel switch apparatus including: a haptic wheel housing unit disposed on a steering wheel of a vehicle; a circuit board unit disposed in the haptic wheel housing unit; and a haptic wheel device unit including a haptic wheel device actuator establishing an electrical connection with the circuit board unit and including a haptic shaft, a haptic knob connected to the haptic shaft and exposedly disposed on one surface of the haptic wheel housing unit, and a haptic wheel device sensing unit for detecting a rotating state of the haptic shaft, wherein the haptic knob achieves a rotary operation on a plane formed by the steering wheel of the vehicle, the haptic wheel device actuator moves in a longitudinal direction of the haptic shaft, and a button switch unit operating vertically and independently of the haptic knob is provided outside the haptic knob.

Claims

1. A haptic steering wheel switch apparatus comprising:

A haptic wheel housing unit disposed on a steering wheel of a vehicle;

A circuit board unit disposed in the haptic wheel housing unit,

A haptic wheel device unit including a haptic wheel device actuator establishing an electrical connection with the circuit board unit and including a haptic shaft, a haptic knob connected to the haptic shaft and exposedly disposed on one surface of the haptic wheel housing unit, and a haptic wheel device sensing unit for detecting a rotating state of the haptic shaft,

The haptic knob is rotatable on a plane formed by the steering wheel of the vehicle and is allowed to be pressed and movable in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the plane,

The haptic shaft is connected with the haptic knob, wherein, when the haptic knob rotates about a rotational axis, the haptic shaft rotates about the same rotational axis,

According to a movement of the haptic knob in said vertical direction, the haptic wheel device actuator moves in said vertical direction,

A button switch unit provided outside the haptic knob, the button switch unit operating vertically and independently of the haptic knob,

Wherein the button switch unit further comprises a button light source unit disposed on the circuit board unit, and the button guide is formed of a light guide material,

Wherein the button light source unit comprises a first wavelength light source for outputting a first wavelength light and a second wavelength light source for outputting a second wavelength light of a wavelength band different from a wavelength band of the first wavelength light, and the button switch unit further comprises a button optical filter unit for selectively passing the first wavelength light or the second wavelength light and indicating a variable symbol by changing an output region of light depending on an operation of the button light source unit.

2. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the button switch unit comprises:

a button knob disposed outside the haptic knob which is disposed to expose one surface thereof to outside of the haptic wheel housing unit;

a button guide, one end of which is disposed inside the button knob and the other end of which is disposed inside the haptic wheel housing unit toward the circuit board unit;

a button guide holder attached to the button guide and disposed in the haptic wheel housing unit to be vertically moved together with the button guide; and

a button switch including a button switch magnet disposed in the button guide holder, a button switch magnetic sensor disposed on one surface of the circuit board unit to be spaced apart from the button switch magnet, and a button switch elastic unit for elastically supporting the button guide.

3. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the button optical filter unit comprises:

a button screening filter unit disposed to face the button light source unit and selectively allowing passage of the first wavelength light or the second wavelength light; and

a button translucent filter unit positioned to dispose the button screening filter unit between the button translucent filter unit and the button light source unit and changing an output region of light depending on the first wavelength light or the second wavelength light passing through the button screening filter unit.

4. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the button screening filter unit comprises:

a button light total penetrating unit for passing both the first wavelength light and the second wavelength light;

a button selective light penetrating unit for passing either of the first wavelength light or the second wavelength light; and

a button light total blocking unit for blocking both the first wavelength light and the second wavelength light.

5. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the button translucent filter unit comprises:

a button symbol penetrating unit for providing an at least partial intersecting projection region together with the button light total penetrating unit and passing both the first wavelength light and the second wavelength light; and

a button symbol expandable unit formed outside the button symbol penetrating unit, in which transmittance of the first wavelength light and the second wavelength light is smaller than transmittance of the button symbol penetrating unit.

6. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit establishing an electrical connection with the circuit board unit and connected to the haptic wheel device unit and the button switch unit;

a storage unit establishing an electrical connection with the control unit and storing predetermined data for a predetermined operating mode; and

an arithmetic and logic unit electrically connected to the control unit and the storage unit and executing an arithmetic and logic process needed for a predetermined operating mode according to an arithmetic control signal of the control unit.

7. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit determines whether or not to block a signal outputted from the haptic wheel device unit or the button switch unit based on signals received from a vehicle speed sensor for sensing a driving speed of the vehicle and a steering angle sensor for sensing a rotating angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle.

9. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the button switch unit includes a button knob, and, when taken from a plan view, an entire outer circumference of the haptic knob is surrounded by the button knob.

10. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 1, the haptic wheel device actuator is configured to tilt depending on a movement of the haptic knob, such that, when the haptic knob is pressed to render a central region of the haptic knob not to be in a horizontal state, only one side of the haptic wheel device actuator moves downwardly.

8. A haptic steering wheel switch apparatus comprising:

A haptic wheel housing unit disposed on a steering wheel of a vehicle;

A circuit board unit disposed in the haptic wheel housing unit;

A haptic wheel device unit including a haptic wheel device actuator establishing an electrical connection with the circuit board unit and including a haptic shaft, a haptic knob connected to the haptic shaft and exposedly disposed on one surface of the haptic wheel housing unit, and a haptic wheel device sensing unit for detecting a rotating state of the haptic shaft,

The haptic knob is rotatable on a plane formed by the steering wheel of the vehicle and is allowed to be pressed and movable in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the plane,

The haptic shaft is connected with the haptic knob, wherein, when the haptic knob rotates about a rotational axis, the haptic shaft rotates about the same rotational axis,

According to a movement of the haptic knob in said vertical direction, the haptic wheel device actuator moves in said vertical direction,

A button switch unit provided outside the haptic knob, the button switch unit operating vertically and independently of the haptic knob,

Wherein the button switch unit further comprises a button light source unit disposed on the circuit board unit, and the button guide is formed of a light guide material,

Wherein the button light source unit comprises a first wavelength light source for outputting a first wavelength light and a second wavelength light source for outputting a second wavelength light of a wavelength band different from a wavelength band of the first wavelength light, and the button switch unit further comprises a button optical filter unit for selectively passing the first wavelength light or the second wavelength light and indicating a variable symbol by changing an output region of light depending on an operation of the button light source unit.

11. The haptic steering wheel switch apparatus according to claim 8, the haptic wheel device actuator is configured to tilt depending on a movement of the haptic knob, such that, when the haptic knob is pressed to render a central region of the haptic knob not to be in a horizontal state, only one side of the haptic wheel device actuator moves downwardly.