Motor vehicle steering wheel having operating elements and method of operating same

• US 9,254,859 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Eckstein, Lutz, Fuchs, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kong, Sze-Hon
• Application Number:
  US12/487,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/52, 701/70, 701/93, 701/49, 701/94, 701/96, 701/36, 701/91, 701/41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/20 Operator actuated switches or levers for cruise control or speed limiting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• 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: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle has operating elements for controlling at least one longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle. The operating elements include an adjusting element for changing a set speed value for the longitudinally dynamic control system, which adjusting element can be actuated in two opposite actuating directions in order to predefine a direction of the change of the set speed value by way of the actuating direction. The adjusting element can be actuated in at least two steps in each of the two actuating directions with respect to the extent of the actuation in order to predefine an extent of the change of the set speed value by way of the extent of the actuation.

Claims

1. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle having at least one longitudinally dynamic control system, comprising:

a plurality of operating elements for controlling the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle;

wherein the plurality of operating elements comprise;

an adjusting element for changing a set speed value for the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system, the adjusting element being actuatable in two opposite actuating directions in order to predefine a direction of change of the set speed value in accordance with the actuating direction; and

wherein the adjusting element is actuatable beyond at least two perceptible pressure points in each of the two opposite actuating directions in which an extent of actuation of the adjusting element corresponds to a predefined extent of speed change of the set speed value,

wherein a first extent of speed change of the set speed value is associated with overcoming a first of the at least two perceptible pressure points of the adjusting element, and wherein the motor vehicle changes to a first new speed as a result of overcoming the first perceptible pressure point, where the difference between the first new speed and a speed of the motor vehicle before the first perceptible pressure point is overcome is equal to the first extent of speed change, and

wherein a second extent of speed change of the set speed value is associated with a second of the at least two perceptible pressure points of the adjusting element, and wherein the motor vehicle changes to a second new speed as a result of overcoming the second perceptible pressure point, where the difference between the second new speed and a speed of the motor vehicle before the second perceptible pressure point is overcome is equal to the second extent of speed change.

2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein different controller adjustments of the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system are assigned to the at least two perceptible pressure points.

3. The steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein different adjustments with respect to brake usage of the motor vehicle are assigned to the at least two perceptible pressure points.

4. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting element is operatively configured as a rotary rocker, the rotary rocker having, in each case, a multi-step construction in two rotational directions.

5. The steering wheel according to claim 4, wherein the multi-step construction is a two-step construction.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating elements are arranged on the steering wheel, the operating elements further comprise at least one preselection element constructed separately from the adjusting element, the at least one preselection element being operatively configured to preselect one of several longitudinally dynamic control systems of the motor vehicle or one of several operating modes of the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle.

7. The steering wheel according to claim 6, wherein the operating elements further comprise at least one additional operating element for carrying out another operating input, the additional operating element being constructed separately from the adjusting element and the preselection element.

8. The steering wheel according to claim 6, wherein the adjusting element and the preselection element are arranged on the steering wheel in a spatially adjacent manner,

the adjusting element and the preselection element being arranged on a same side of the steering wheel with respect to a center line of the steering wheel, and

wherein only input elements not related to a longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle are arranged on an opposite side with respect to the center line of the steering wheel.

9. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein an extent of haptic feedback provided to an operator of the motor vehicle corresponds to the extent of actuation of the adjusting element.

10. A motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one longitudinally dynamic control system;

a steering wheel having a plurality of operating elements for controlling the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system;

wherein the plurality of operating elements comprise;

an adjusting element for changing a set speed value for the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system, the adjusting element being actuatable in two opposite actuating directions in order to predefine a direction of change of the set speed value in accordance with the actuating direction; and

wherein the adjusting element is actuatable beyond at least two perceptible pressure points in each of the two opposite actuating directions in which an extent of actuation of the adjusting element corresponds to a predefined extent of speed change of the set speed value,

wherein a first extent of speed change of the set speed value is associated with overcoming a first of the at least two perceptible pressure points of the adjusting element, and wherein the motor vehicle changes to a first new speed as a result of overcoming the first perceptible pressure point, where the difference between the first new speed and a speed of the motor vehicle before the first perceptible pressure point is overcome is equal to the first extent of speed change, and

wherein a second extent of speed change of the set speed value is associated with overcoming a second of the at least two perceptible pressure points of the adjusting element, and wherein the motor vehicle changes to a second new speed as a result of overcoming the second perceptible pressure point, where the difference between the second new speed and a speed of the motor vehicle the second perceptible pressure point is overcome is equal to the second extent of speed change.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein several longitudinally dynamic control systems are operatively configured in the motor vehicle, each being operable as a function of the set speed value;

and

wherein the operating elements further comprise at least one preselection element constructed separately from the adjusting element, actuation of the preselection element preselecting one of the several longitudinally dynamic control systems;

wherein, in the event of a preselection of a first longitudinally dynamic control system, the adjusting element is used for changing the set speed value for this first control system; and

wherein, in the event of a preselection of a second longitudinally dynamic control system, the adjusting element is used for changing the set speed value for the second control system.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein at least two longitudinally dynamic control systems are operable as a function of at least one additional operating input;

and

wherein the operating elements further comprise at least one additional operating element constructed separately from the adjusting element and the preselection element, by which, in an event of a preselection of the first control system, the at least one additional operating input concerning the first control system is carried out, and in an event of the preselection of the second control system, the at least one additional operating input concerning the second control system is carried out.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle is operable in several different operating modes, in each case as a function of the set speed value,

wherein the operating elements further comprise at least one preselection element constructed separately from the adjusting element, by whose actuation one of the several operating modes is preselectable;

and

wherein, in an event of the preselection of a first operating mode, the adjusting element is used for changing the set speed value for the first operating mode; and

wherein, in an event of the preselection of a second operating mode, the adjusting element is used for changing the set speed value for the second operating mode.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system is operable in at least two different operating modes in each case as a function of at least one additional operating input;

and

wherein the operating elements further comprise at least one additional operating element constructed separately from the adjusting element and the preselection element, by which, in an event of the preselection of the first operating mode, the at least one additional operating input is carried out concerning the first operating mode, and, in an event of the preselection of the second operating mode, the at least one additional operating input is carried out concerning the second operating mode.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising:

an instrument cluster having two display surfaces, one display surface being arranged on one side with respect to a center line of the instrument cluster and the other display surface being arranged on an opposite side;

wherein the operating elements further comprise at least one preselection element, constructed separately from the adjusting element, for preselecting one of several longitudinally dynamic control systems of the motor vehicle or one of several operating modes of the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle; and

wherein visual information relating to the at least one longitudinally dynamic control system is provided on the display surface that is arranged on a same side with respect to the center line of the instrument cluster on which the adjusting element and the preselection element are arranged with respect to the center line of the steering wheel.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein an extent of haptic feedback provided to an operator of the motor vehicle corresponds to the extent of actuation of the adjusting element.

17. A method of operating a longitudinally dynamic control system of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

operating an adjusting element arranged on a steering wheel of the motor vehicle in order to operate the longitudinally dynamic control system;

wherein the adjusting element is actuatable in two opposite actuating directions in order to predefine a direction of change of a set speed value based on the actuating direction; and

wherein the adjusting element is further actuatable beyond at least two perceptible pressure points in each of the two actuating directions in which an extent of actuation of the adjusting element corresponds to a predefined extent of speed change of the set speed value,

wherein a first extent of speed change of the set speed value is associated with overcoming a first of the at least two perceptible pressure points of the adjusting element, and wherein the motor vehicle changes to a first new speed as a result of overcoming the first perceptible pressure point, where the difference between the first new speed and a speed of the motor vehicle before the first perceptible pressure point is overcome is equal to the first extent of speed change, and

wherein a second extent of speed change of the set speed value is associated with a second of the at least two perceptible pressure points of the adjusting element, and wherein the motor vehicle changes to a second new speed as a result of overcoming the second perceptible pressure point, where the difference between the second new speed and a speed of the motor vehicle before the second perceptible pressure point is overcome is equal to the second extent of speed change.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein different controller adjustments of the longitudinally dynamic control system are assigned to the at least two perceptible pressure points.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the act of:

preselecting one of several longitudinally dynamic control systems of the motor vehicle or one of several operating modes of the longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle via a preselection element arranged on the steering wheel separate from the adjusting element.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein an extent of haptic feedback provided to an operator of the motor vehicle corresponds to the extent of actuation of the adjusting element.