Display system and method for steering wheel of vehicle

• US 7,786,886 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center Incorporated, Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center Incorporated, Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Maruyama, Shuji, Kurozu, Tomotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/949,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/691.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A display system for a steering wheel includes: a vehicle information acquiring unit for acquiring vehicle information; an irradiation unit mounted to the steering column such that the irradiation unit is stationary during rotation of the steering wheel; a display device mounted to the steering wheel; and a display controller for controlling display content based on the vehicle information. A method includes: acquiring vehicle information; detecting a steering direction and/or a steering amount of the steering wheel; calculating a display range and/or a display speed to be displayed based on the steering information; controlling display content, based on information acquired by the vehicle information acquiring unit and a result calculated by the display portion calculating unit; and displaying the steering direction, the steering amount, and/or the steering time at a position on the steering wheel that is stationary during rotation of the steering wheel.

Claims

1. A display system for a steering wheel of a vehicle, the steering wheel being rotatably mounted to a steering column, the system comprising:

a vehicle information acquiring unit for acquiring vehicle information;

an irradiation unit mounted to the steering column such that the irradiation unit is stationary during rotation of the steering wheel;

a display device mounted to the steering wheel; and

a display controller for controlling display content based on the vehicle information;

wherein the irradiation unit transmits light to send the display content to the display device mounted to the steering wheel.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation unit moves along the steering column in positioning or tilting the steering wheel.

3. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is substantially near a top of the steering wheel.

4. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation unit comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a laser diode, a high luminance light emitting diode, and a thin panel display device.

5. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an optical transmittance member disposed at substantially an entire cross section of the steering wheel, an optical transmittance member disposed through the cross section in a substantially straight line, an optical transmittance member disposed through the cross section in a curve, an optical transmittance member installed at a surface of the cross section, and optical transmittance member installed interior to the cross section.

6. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display content comprises at least one of a steering direction, a steering amount, and a steering timing.

7. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle information acquiring unit comprises at least one of a lane maintenance device, a lane deviation alarm device, a park support device, a navigation device, and an instrument panel controller for controlling information on an instrument panel.

8. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display device displays at least one of an alert signal, a car speed, an engine speed, a power meter, and an eco-meter.

9. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display controller changes the display range and/or display speed of the display device in accordance with a driver'"'"'s steering amount and/or time length of steering.

10. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation unit is disposed at a position along the steering column that is substantially near a driver'"'"'s seat.

11. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the steering column comprises a recess, wherein the irradiation unit is disposed therein.

12. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the steering column comprises a barrier configured to shade a driver'"'"'s eyes from diffused light.

13. A display system for a steering wheel of a vehicle, the steering wheel being rotatably mounted on a steering column, the system comprising:

a vehicle information acquiring unit for acquiring vehicle information;

an irradiation unit mounted to the steering column such that the irradiation unit is stationary during rotation of the steering wheel;

a display device mounted to the steering wheel;

a steering information detecting unit for detecting a steering direction and/or a steering amount of the steering wheel;

a display portion calculating unit for calculating a display range and/or a display speed displayed by the display device based on the steering information; and

a display controller for controlling display content, based on the information acquired by the vehicle information acquiring unit and a result calculated by the display portion calculating unit.

14. The display system for the steering wheel of the vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the display controller determines the display range and/or the display speed displayed by the display device based on a driver'"'"'s steering amount and/or time length of steering

15. The display system for the steering wheel of the vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the display device displays the steering direction and/or the steering amount.

16. A display method for a steering wheel of a vehicle, comprising:

acquiring vehicle information;

detecting a steering direction and/or a steering amount of the steering wheel;

calculating a display range and/or a display speed to be displayed by the display device based on the steering information;

controlling content to be displayed, based on information acquired by the vehicle information acquiring unit and a result calculated by the display portion calculating unit; and

displaying the steering direction, the steering amount, and/or the steering time at a position on the steering wheel that is stationary during rotation of the steering wheel.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the acquiring vehicle information comprises acquiring information on lane maintenance and lane deviation.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the acquiring vehicle information comprises determining the steering direction according to a difference between a destination track and a traveling track estimated from a steering angle.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the acquiring vehicle information comprises determining the steering direction according to route direction information.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the calculating of the display range and/or the display speed to be displayed by the display device is determined in accordance with a driver'"'"'s steering amount and/or time length of steering.

21. A display method for a steering wheel of a vehicle,

the method comprising:

acquiring vehicle information;

controlling content to be displayed, based on the vehicle information; and

displaying a state of the vehicle at a position on the steering wheel that is stationary during rotation of the steering wheel;

wherein displaying the state of the vehicle comprises changing a display range and/or a display rate based on a comparison of the vehicle information with at least one predefined threshold value.

22. The display method for the steering wheel of the vehicle, according to claim 21, further comprises deciding the display range and/or the display speed to be displayed by the display device determined in accordance with a driver'"'"'s steering amount and/or time length of steering.