Manually retractable steering column assembly for autonomous vehicle

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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments described herein relate to retractable steering column assemblies and, more particularly, to a manually retractable steering column assembly for an autonomous vehicle.

As autonomously driven vehicles are developed, a number of opportunities will evolve related to comfort, entertainment and functionality for drivers. Steering wheels are commonly limited to standard driving positions due to the need for a driver to handle the steering wheel during operation of the vehicle. These limitations may be unnecessary during an autonomous driving mode of a vehicle. For example, a steering wheel may be retracted to a stowed position to enlarge the space available to a driver. Many vehicles with stowable columns during autonomous driving utilize power column actuators to move the column into the stowed position. However, manually adjusted columns do not have stow capability and do not have the ability to communicate a driving mode status to potential autonomous system(s).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a manually retractable steering column assembly includes a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver. Also included is a stationary portion defining a slot path at least partially defined by a first end wall and a second end wall. Further included is a member operatively coupled to, and projecting outwardly from, the retractable portion. Yet further included is 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.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, 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.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a manually retractable steering column assembly for an autonomous vehicle includes a retractable portion translatable upon exertion of a manual force applied by a driver. Also included is a stationary portion defining a slot path at least partially defined by a first end wall and a second end wall. Further included is a member operatively coupled to, and projecting outwardly from, the retractable portion. Yet further included is 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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Figures, where the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments, without limiting same, illustrated is a portion of a steering column assembly10. The steering column assembly10facilitates translation of a steering wheel (not shown) and a steering shaft in a manually retractable manner. This is particularly beneficial in embodiments where the assembly10is employed in a passenger vehicle equipped with Advanced Driver Assist System(s) (ADAS) to allow the vehicle to be autonomously, or semi-autonomously, controlled using sensing, steering, and/or braking technology. When the ADAS is activated, the steering wheel is not required for vehicle control in some situations. Retraction of the steering wheel and steering shaft toward, and possibly into, the instrument panel (e.g., dash) greatly enhances user comfort by providing a driver with more space when compared to typical ranges of repositioning available to a driver. The additional space provided facilitates additional workspace area or leg room, for example.

The embodiments described herein provide a manually retractable steering column which allows the steering wheel to be retracted to a greater extent while the vehicle is in an autonomous, or semi-autonomous, driving mode. The operating conditions described herein for the steering wheel are standard driving mode and an autonomous driving mode.

In the standard driving mode, the steering column assembly10is extended to a location that disposes the steering wheel in a position that is comfortably reached by a driver in a manner that allows the driver to fully handle and control the steering wheel. Adjustment over a first range of extended positions is possible in the standard driving mode, as shown inFIG. 1. During the standard driving mode, the driver may activate the ADAS through a vehicle interface, such as a switch or button. The steering column may be at least partially retracted in a manual manner into the instrument panel of the vehicle during a transition mode.

Extension and retraction of the steering column assembly10refers to translation of a retractable portion16of the steering column assembly10. The retractable portion16includes one or more components that are translatable. For example, in addition to the aforementioned steering wheel and the steering shaft, a moveable portion18, which may also be referred to as an upper jacket in some embodiments, is translatable relative to a stationary portion20, which may be referred to as a lower jacket in some embodiments. In the autonomous driving mode, a second range of translation, or retraction, is available to the driver, with the second range of translation being greater than the first range that is available in the standard driving mode, as shown inFIG. 2and as appreciated from the description herein. The second range of translation available to a driver allows for retraction of the steering column assembly10further into the instrument panel compared to the first range of translation.

The steering column assembly includes a member36that is operatively coupled to the moveable portion18, and projects outwardly from the moveable portion18. The member36projects through a slot24(also referred to herein as a slot path) defined by the stationary portion20of the steering column assembly10and partially constrained therein. In particular, the slot24is at least partially defined by a slot wall26having a first end wall28and a second end wall30. The slot24extends substantially axially with respect to the longitudinal direction of the steering column assembly10. The member36may include any variety of shapes, and may be a pin that may be substantially cylindrical, for example.

A gate40is operatively coupled to the stationary portion20proximate the second end wall30of the slot24. The gate40may be formed of any shape, but includes an edge42regardless of the particular geometry. In the standard driving mode, the gate40is positioned to dispose at least a portion of the edge42within the slot24to limit the telescoping travel of the moveable portion18of the steering column assembly10by impeding the travel within the slot24of the member36protruding from the moveable portion18. Specifically, the first end wall28and the edge42of the gate40define the above-described first range of translation. The boundary labeled with numeral44defines the full range of motion of the member36, and therefore the moveable portion18, in some embodiments (FIG. 1). Boundary44includes the first range of translation and a tilt, or rake, motion.

The gate40is moveable to remove the edge42from the slot24to avoid impeding the member36from additional translation. Upon removal of the edge42from the slot24, the second range of translation is available to a driver. The second range of translation is only available when the vehicle is operated in the autonomous driving mode. Upon initiation of the autonomous driving mode, the gate40is moved to remove the edge42from the slot24. This is carried out with an actuator46operatively coupled to the gate40. The actuator46may be any suitable actuator, such as a solenoid or electric motor, for example. The actuator46is in operative communication with the ADAS48to determine if the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode or the standard driving mode. The operative communication between the actuator46and the ADAS48may be wired or wireless. If the ADAS is activated (i.e., vehicle is in autonomous driving mode), the ADAS48provides a signal to the actuator46to impart movement of the gate40to remove the edge42from the slot24. The ADAS may include a sensor or any other position detection structure to determine if the moveable portion18of the steering column assembly10is in a retracted condition (i.e., stowed position of steering column assembly10).

Movement of the gate40may be carried out in several contemplated manners. For example, the actuator46may translate the gate40within a plane or may rotate the gate40. Furthermore, a combination of translation and rotation may occur. Irrespective of the particular movement of the gate40, the edge42is removed from the slot24to allow the member36to translate further along the slot24.

The gate40also includes a contoured recess50that retains the member36. In some embodiments, the contoured recess50includes an angled portion or portion with curvature that allows the vehicle operator to manually withdraw the steering column assembly from the stowed position to an extended position. The driver simply manually unclamps the steering column assembly10and exerts a manual force on the moveable portion18in a direction away from the instrument panel. In the stowed position, the member36is positioned within the contoured recess50, but is removable upon exertion of the manual force based on the geometry of the angled portion. In particular, the angled portion or portion with curvature facilitates movement of the gate40during sliding of the member36therealong. Such motion allows the member36to be released from the contoured recess50of the gate40to place the member36in the portion of the slot24that restricts motion to the first range of translation. In an embodiment having this angled feature, the driver can disengage the ADAS by moving the steering column from the stowed position. In other embodiments, an angled feature is not present. Such embodiments require the ADAS system to activate the gate40via the actuator46before the column may be released from the stowed position.

The embodiments described herein facilitate conditional stowing of manually adjusted steering columns and enables ADAS with stowable columns in vehicles which do not package power adjustable columns.