Active safety illuminated steering wheel

A steering wheel (102) having a hub portion (118), a rim (112) and at least one spoke (114) connected to the hub portion (118) and to the rim (112), the rim (112) having a groove and a surface of the steering wheel (102); a number of actuatable light sources located in or under the groove; light diffuser or lens (140) positioned in the groove above the light sources.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As road vehicles become more complex and abundant due to the ubiquity of smaller, faster vehicles with sophisticated electronic devices, the steering wheel (SW) can be called upon to deliver information to and receive direction from the driver. The steering wheel is the most immediate interface with the driver. Computers within or connected to the steering wheel may also operate on such information in ever more complicated ways to enhance vehicle safety.

This invention proposes the installation of a chain of printed circuit boards (PCBs) under the rim of a steering wheel on which electronic input and output devices are mounted. Such devices receive power and data from elsewhere in the vehicle and send data by return. This chain of PCBs is connected to and controlled by at least one digital computer, PLC or similar device. The PCB chain's primary purpose is to provide access to all parts of the rim. In the current invention visible and invisible light are used as the primary input/output medium but other wavelength radio signals can be used or mechanical energy in the form of sound or vibration as is considered as part of the invention.

The present invention includes a steering wheel having a hub portion, a rim and at least one spoke connected to the hub portion and to the rim, the rim having a groove and a surface of the steering wheel; a number of actuatable light sources located in or under the groove; a light diffuser or lens positioned in the groove above the light sources.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1illustrates an exploded view of steering wheel assembly100. Assembly100comprises a steering wheel102comprising an armature110having a rim112and a plurality of spokes114. The spokes114at an end opposite116opposite the rim terminate in a hub118which is operatively secured to the steering shaft120. Rim112is illustrative of the steering wheel having a split rim with a top rim portion122and a bottom rim portion124. The top rim portion is formed with an annular groove or slot130. Positioned apart from the armature and its slot130is a lens, light guide or light diffuser140. The lens, light guide or light diffuser can be formed using a translucent or transparent material. The lens may also include an acrylic base covered with a very thin layer of aluminum or chrome which permits the transmission of light while providing an artistically interesting steering wheel.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view through a fully assembled split rim steering wheel.FIG. 1shows the general position of the section line forFIG. 2. Reference is again made toFIG. 1. Positioned behind the armature is an annular grouping of printed circuit boards generally referred to as interconnected chain of PCBs150. In the preferred embodiment there are 10 interconnected PCBs150a-150j. In general there can be “n” printed circuit boards. The PCBs in the rim of a steering wheel are electronically linked together and to one or more digital computer(s) or controllers160. A plurality RGB (red green blue) LEDs are mounted on each of the printed circuit boards and transmit any color of light when energized by the computer/controller160. Each LED is identified by numeral152. Only three LEDs are shown on PCB150ainFIG. 1. To achieve a constant visible color each LED152can be cycled on and off 50 times per sec. The computer160uses algorithms to provide safety information relating to vehicle conditions to aid in the safe control of the vehicle. The various components of steering wheel102are covered with an exterior leather covering132which may have an under layer of foam134as more readily seen inFIG. 2.

Reference is again made toFIG. 2. The two rim portions122and124can be seen joined together such as by a weld125or comparable mechanical connection. Depending upon the application, the rim portions can be made utilizing aluminum, steel or magnesium. In some applications a plastic rim may be acceptable. The annular slot130is formed by bending over opposing sections127and129of the top rim portion122. In the embodiment shown the underside of the leather cover132has a foam layer134. The leather and foam extend about the periphery of the rim112and the leather has facing edges135. As can be seen the facing edges135extend downwardly on either side of slot130. The lens140is pressed in between the slot137formed by the leather and positioned and secured in place. As illustrated lens140has a narrow portion141and an enlarged portion142. The shape of the lens140will vary depending upon how the light from the LEDs is to illuminate the steering wheel.

As is known in the art of steering wheels, the spoke may be oval in shape with the minor diameter considerably smaller than the major diameter. This relationship is illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. The construction and assembly of various parts of the spoke114of a hollow spoke armature steering wheel are substantially the same as those comparable parts of the rim112.FIG. 1shows a plurality of PCBs150sacross each spoke114. Each PCB150sincludes a number of LEDs as is the case with the LEDs used to illuminate the rim112. The lens140aextends across each spoke114and will generally follow the shape of the center of the spoke. The lens140acan be secured within a slot130aand inserted within a leather portion132if used. As illustrated the spoke114is generally of a rectangular shape and the illustrated lens140ais also rectangular.

Each PCB board also can support a vibrator154. The vibrator can be secured to any available location on a PCB. One typically available location is to connect the vibrator154to a bottom156of the PCB as illustrated inFIGS. 2-5. Any one of these plurality of vibrators can be switched on or off with a constant or variable amplitude to provide tactile feedback to the driver at determinable locations relative to the steering wheel and/or relative to a more absolute coordinate system such as relative to the passenger compartment, steering column, dashboard, straight ahead position. Likewise the vibrators could be used actively to decrease unwanted vibrations of the steering wheel rim and also to detect damping of the rim caused by the driver's hands and hence also detect the presence or otherwise of hands on the steering wheel.

FIGS. 3 and 5show cross-sectional views of a steering wheel with a solid armature with the views taken across the rim (FIG. 3) and across the spoke (FIG. 5). InFIG. 3the rim114is covered with an elastomer such as polyurethane180. The top182of the elastomer180is formed as a flat surface. Extending from various locations of the elastomer180are elastomeric or metal curved rails184and186which form the annular slot130. These rails are equivalent to portions127and129of the steering wheel inFIG. 2which form the slot130. The PCB board such as150ais seated upon the top182of the elastomer180. Depending upon space available the vibrator154can be located below the PCB board or on top of the board, which is the case of the steering wheel ofFIG. 2.

The position of the LEDs in the rim and their absolute position in the vehicle is known to the computer for example by use of a steering wheel position or angle sensor188so that patterns of light can be created relative to the vehicle or relative to the steering wheel as appropriate.

Reference is made toFIGS. 6a-6fwhich show various features of the present invention.FIGS. 6athrough 6fshow the steering wheel with its plurality of LEDs distributed under the lens140. InFIG. 1the lens is shown as a smooth ring while inFIG. 6a-6fthis lens140includes some contouring changes200. InFIG. 6aa relatively small number of LEDs are activated to display a condition in which the driven vehicle has moved toward a right or left hand lane marker as sensed by the right and left hand lane sensors300or302or alternatively a vehicle is in the left blind spot of the driven vehicle. The blind spot is sensed by a blind spot detector304on the left side of the vehicle and306on the right-hand side of the vehicle. As there is no immediate emergency in the situation illustrated inFIG. 6athe choice of illumination can be a color that does not indicate an emergency, for example white or yellow.

One of the benefits of the present invention is the illumination or warning signal is within the line of sight of the driver thereby the driver need not take his or her eyes off of the roadway to be informed of the emergency. As previously mentioned the LEDs152are distributed under the lens140.FIG. 6bshows a very similar situation to that disclosed inFIG. 6a. However to provide more information to the driver activated LEDs are distributed over a larger region of the steering wheel in the left of center position. As can be seen alternating LEDs have been activated. Additionally, depending upon the severity of the impending emergency, rather than illuminating the LEDs with a constant color the LEDs inFIG. 6bcan be illuminated in a pattern such as using serial manner indicating a vehicle may be in the driven vehicle's blind spot but closer to the driven vehicle, or alternatively the driven vehicle may be about to cross the left or right hand lane marker.FIG. 6cfurther shows additional benefits of the present invention. In this condition let us assume another vehicle is in the driven vehicle's blind spot but extremely close to the driven vehicle, in this matter the LEDs in a larger segment of the steering wheel such as one half of the steering wheel can be activated with an appropriate color or with an appropriate elimination pattern such as blinking on or off or being activated in the serial manner as mentioned above. It is contemplated that in such an emergency the LEDs would be activated to produce an intense red color clearly indicating to the driver the potential emergency of the situation.

An inspection ofFIG. 6dshows another vehicle in front of the driven vehicle. Based upon vehicle speed as sensed by sensor312and whether or not the collision avoidance sensor or system310is activated an emergency signal needs to be communicated to the driver of the driven vehicle. In this situation the LEDs spanning a large upper sector of the steering wheel, for example from the 10 o'clock to the 2 o'clock position, will be illuminated in red (or some other color) to show the severity of the potential crash. A constant or blinking pattern can be used.

InFIG. 6ethe driven vehicle is in a turn as can be seen by the movement of the steering wheel to the right. Positioned in front of the now turning driven vehicle is another vehicle. If this other vehicle and the speed of the driven vehicle are such that a crash is pending the system will again generate the LED indications which may span the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock positions but here the LED illumination is not relative to the position of the steering wheel but is relative to a more absolute coordinate system, for example the coordinate system of the passenger compartment or a coordinate system based upon the steering wheel which does not rotate or other such coordinate system to enable the illuminate to remain at a top portion of the rotated steering wheel. The examples above referred to the left hand blind spot; the system can react to vehicles in the right or left hand blind spot.

Finally, one of the inherent benefits of the present invention is not that of announcing to the driver an impending dangerous situation. InFIG. 6fall or some of the LEDs are illuminated to simply set the tone or mood of the situation. In this case the eliminated color may be one of blue, purple or other soothing color.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, that scope is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.