Manually retractable steering column assembly for autonomous vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A manually retractable steering column assembly comprising:
- a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver;
a stationary portion defining a slot path at least partially defined by a first end wall and a second end wall;
a member operatively coupled to, and projecting outwardly from, the retractable portion; and
a gate operatively coupled to the stationary portion proximate the second end wall, the gate having an edge protruding into the slot path, the member extending through, and moveable within, the slot path during translation of the retractable portion, the first end wall and the edge of the gate defining a first translation range of the retractable portion available during a standard driving mode, the gate moveable to dispose the edge of the gate out of the slot path to allow a second translation range of the retractable portion available during an autonomous driving mode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A manually retractable steering column assembly includes a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver, the retractable portion restricted to a first translation range during a standard driving mode and translatable within a second translation range during an autonomous driving mode, the second translation range greater than the first translation range.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A manually retractable steering column assembly comprising:
-
a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver; a stationary portion defining a slot path at least partially defined by a first end wall and a second end wall; a member operatively coupled to, and projecting outwardly from, the retractable portion; and a gate operatively coupled to the stationary portion proximate the second end wall, the gate having an edge protruding into the slot path, the member extending through, and moveable within, the slot path during translation of the retractable portion, the first end wall and the edge of the gate defining a first translation range of the retractable portion available during a standard driving mode, the gate moveable to dispose the edge of the gate out of the slot path to allow a second translation range of the retractable portion available during an autonomous driving mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A manually retractable steering column assembly comprising a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver, and a stationary portion attached thereto, the retractable portion restricted to a first translation range during a standard driving mode and translatable within a second translation range during an autonomous driving mode, a gate operatively coupled to the stationary portion, the gate restricting translation of the retractable portion to the first translation range during the standard driving mode, the gate moveable to allow the second translation range during the autonomous driving mode, the second translation range greater than the first translation range.
-
12. A manually retractable steering column assembly for an autonomous vehicle comprising:
-
a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver; a stationary portion defining a slot path at least partially defined by a first end wall and a second end wall; a member operatively coupled to, and projecting outwardly from, the retractable portion; and a gate operatively coupled to the stationary portion proximate the second end wall, the gate restricting translation of the retractable portion to a first translation range during a standard driving mode, the gate moveable to allow a second translation range during an autonomous driving mode, the gate having a contoured recess for receiving the member in the autonomous driving mode, the member removable from the contoured recess to translate the retractable portion to the first translation range upon exertion of a force on the retractable portion toward the first end wall of the slot path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A manually retractable steering column assembly comprising a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver, the retractable portion restricted to a first translation range during a standard driving mode and translatable within a second translation range during an autonomous driving mode, the second translation range having an autonomous range outside the first translation range, the retractable portion configured to be manually extensible from the autonomous range to the first translation range.
Specification