Patent ID: 7078718

Claim:
A steering device suitable for use in a vehicle, the steering device structured and dimensioned for operation by an individual, the steering device comprising: a support structure; a steering wheel borne for rotation with respect to said support structure; a base part mounted to said support structure and not rotating along with said steering wheel; at least one light transmitting unit mounted to said base part, said light transmitting unit emitting light signals; at least one light receiving unit mounted to said base part for detecting said light signals; light switches mounted to said steering wheel for activation by the operating individual to switch or influence said light signals; and means for passing, in a contact-free manner, said tight signals from said transmitting unit to said light switches and for passing, in a contact-free manner, said light signals from said light switches to said light receiving unit, wherein said light transmitting unit transmits said light signals in a contact-free manner into at least one light guide ring disposed around an axis of rotation of said steering wheel on a steering wheel side, said light guide ring optically communicating with said light switches, wherein a plurality of light guide rings are substantially disposed in one single plane, concentrically about said axis of rotation.