Patent ID: 7560905

Claim:
A method for powering at least one subsystem switch provided on a steering wheel assembly of an off road vehicle, comprising: providing a rechargeable accumulator having an energy level, in said steering wheel assembly; powering said switch from said accumulator; providing an energy source in said off road vehicle, able to induce recharge energy into said accumulator; comparing one of a detected value of said energy level with an energy threshold value corresponding to a value of said energy level sufficient to power said at least one switch and enable its use, and a detected time elapsed since recharge energy was induced into said accumulator with a time threshold value corresponding to a time after which said energy level equals said energy threshold value, determining one of a sufficiency and an insufficiency of said energy level upon said comparison; if said comparison yields said insufficiency, instructing said energy source to recharge said accumulator, thereby increasing said energy level; and repeating said steps of comparing, determining, and instructing thereby ensuring said sufficiency.