Steering Wheel, Shaft Or Column Mounted Patents (Class 200/61.54)
  • Patent number: 11919439
    Abstract: A lever operation device includes a housing, a lever portion which is attached to the housing and on which a first rotation operation about a first shaft is performed, a magnet attached to a tip portion of the lever portion, a magnetic sensor that is arranged in the housing so as to be located on extension from the tip portion, and a detent portion provided on the lever portion and includes a detent tip end portion and an elastic portion, the detent tip end portion generating a detent by moving with a tilt in a direction of the first rotation operation from a direction of extension from the tip portion of the lever portion and coming into contact with a detent surface of a detent wall arranged on the housing, and the elastic portion applying an elastic force to the detent tip end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Yosuke Hatada, Yuki Sato, Takamitsu Ito
  • Patent number: 11878731
    Abstract: A switch device includes a switch body, which is attached to and rotated integrally with an irregularly-shaped steering unit, and a lever unit, which is held pivotally about a switch body. The lever unit includes a lever shaft including a base, which extends in a direction intersecting the steering shaft, and an arm, which is formed integrally with the base and extends in a direction that differs from the direction in which the base extends. The lever unit also includes a lever head at the distal end of the lever shaft, and the lever head extends from the lever shaft in the width direction, which intersects an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Nobuyuki Ishigure, Yuki Sato, Tadashi Usuya, Takayuki Aoki, Shinji Matsubara, Toshihiko Kosugi, Ryusuke Ohta, Shinji Hara
  • Patent number: 11845441
    Abstract: A speed based alarm system to be used in automobiles includes a first touch sensor, a second touch sensor, a processing unit, and a notification alarm. The first touch sensor and the second touch sensor are integrated into a steering wheel body of an automobile to detect the hands of the driver on the steering wheel. The feedback from the first touch sensor and/or the second touch sensor are received at the processing unit along with a vehicle speed, wherein the vehicle speed is retrieved from a vehicle logic board. The processing unit determines if the automobile is at a speed which requires both hands of the driver for better control of the automobile. If the automobile is at a speed that requires both hands of the driver, and only one hand is detected on the steering wheel, the processing unit activates the notification alarm to notify the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
    Inventor: Ahmed Salah M. Alkhoudiri
  • Patent number: 11827143
    Abstract: A smart functional leather assembly includes a leather substrate, an electronic circuit layer including one or more conductive traces and optional electronic elements arranged on the leather substrate, optionally a pigmented coating arranged on the circuit layer, and an optional anti-soiling layer arranged on the pigmented layer. The entire smart functional leather assembly, including the circuit, are embossed to provide an embossed smart functional leather assembly with an embossed pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Scott, Zainab I. Ali
  • Patent number: 11798758
    Abstract: A steering switch device includes a display arranged on a front side of a steering wheel of a vehicle to show a function in a switching manner, an input unit to receive an operation, and a control unit to execute the function shown on the display based on the operation received by the input unit. A steering switch system includes the steering switch device and a display device to show a view related to the display of the steering switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Shintaro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11780395
    Abstract: An airbag device for a driver's seat is provided with a variant steering wheel, and an airbag module. The variant steering wheel has a module mounting surface and a cover member. When the cover member receives the expansion pressure of a cushion, a cover door opens. The airbag module includes a cloth member that is put on the cushion. A front end side of the cloth member is connected to an inflator, and a rear end is a free end. The airbag module is in a state in which the cushion is in a stored state, the cloth member is put over the cover member side of the cushion, and the cloth member is held between the cover member and the cushion in the stored state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Kazuki Morita, Kazuhiro Abe, Hiroyoshi Shimono
  • Patent number: 11746888
    Abstract: A scrolling shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a scrolling wheel having a knurled exterior edge accessible to a vehicle operator, the scrolling wheel also including an annular side detent profile. A magnet is positioned in proximity to a sensor mounted to a printed circuit board (PCBA) within the housing and displaces relative to the sensor in response to rotation of the scrolling wheel. A display component is mounted in proximity to the PCBA. At least one haptic biasing component including any of spring loaded pawl or wave spring is supported within the housing and biases against the detent profile such that, and upon the operator actuating the scrolling wheel, the pawl is caused to displace relative to the profile in order to incrementally rotate the wheel, the magnet rotating relative to the PCBA sensor to cause an associated processor to electronically instruct a shift change to an engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Patent number: 11731575
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus attachment mechanism includes a holder, a supporting member, an urging member, and a functional member. The holder is fastened to a metal core with a fastening member. The supporting member protrudes further forward than an airbag apparatus and is inserted into the holder. The urging member urges the airbag apparatus rearward. The functional member is attached to a part of the supporting member that is inserted in the holder. The functional member includes a spring portion that is thinner than a gap between the supporting member and the holder. The spring portion is disposed in the gap. The functional member is configured such that the spring portion is elastically deformed in a radial direction of the supporting member due to vibration of the airbag apparatus, thereby suppressing the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Kento Saito
  • Patent number: 11708104
    Abstract: A steering wheel mounted visual display including a housing incorporated at a location defined within a circumference of the steering wheel and having a graphical display output. Upon rotation of the steering wheel, the display adjusts to remain in an upright orientation. The housing further includes a main lower housing and an assemble-able upper housing sandwiching a display component providing the graphical display output. The display component further includes a stationary inner component, a display support and a PCB component cooperating for auto-updating the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KUSTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Christopher Soave, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Patent number: 11693505
    Abstract: Various implementations include a switch assembly that includes a housing and at least two printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are disposed within the housing and are axially arranged relative to each other. One or more force sensors are disposed on one of the PCBs, and, in some implementations, the one or more force sensors receive force input received by a touch overlay plate. Signals from the force sensors are processed to determine a magnitude, acceleration, and/or location of the force input, and a haptic feedback response is received by the touch overlay plate. The haptic feedback response is based on the force magnitude, acceleration, and/or location of input, according to some implementations. Axially arranging the PCBs reduces the footprint of the switch assembly and allows for the inclusion of more electrical components in the switch assembly, according to some implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lisseman, David Andrews, Daniel Alt, Nicholas Borgerding, Jason Peters, Erick Staszak, Prathap Chandra
  • Patent number: 11685305
    Abstract: A vehicular light switch can change the mode of an exterior-illuminating light by rotating to different positions including an auto setting and a SMALL setting. If the position of the vehicular light switch is rotated to the SMALL setting, a momentary mechanism returns the position to the auto setting. If extravehicular brightness is less than a prescribed value and the position is rotated to the SMALL setting whilst the vehicle is stationary, a first light controller turns off a low-beam light, and turns on the low-beam light if the vehicle runs afterwards. If extravehicular brightness is less than a prescribed value and the position is rotated to the SMALL setting while the vehicle is running, a second light controller keeps the low-beam light turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Shimada, Ryuichi Nakano, Takeo Mizukoshi, Masahiko Shimada
  • Patent number: 11673597
    Abstract: A switch device includes a switch body, which is arranged at the back side of a steering unit, and a lever unit, which is attached to the switch body to allow for switching by a pivotal operation about a first axis, which extends in the axial direction of a steering shaft. The lever unit includes a lever shaft, which extends in a direction intersecting the first axis of the pivotal operation, a lever head, which is arranged at the distal end of the lever shaft and has a larger dimension than the diameter of the lever shaft, and a push operation unit, which allows for switching by a push operation. The push operation unit is arranged so that the operation direction of the push operation is directed toward the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ishigure, Yuki Sato, Tadashi Usuya, Akio Nishiyama, Masahiro Kato, Takayuki Aoki, Shinji Matsubara, Toshihiko Kosugi, Ryusuke Ohta, Shinji Hara
  • Patent number: 11661000
    Abstract: A lever switch includes a lever main body and a rotary operation element rotatably provided at a tip end portion of the lever main body. The rotary operation element is provided with a light ON switch position at which an instruction to cause head lights and small lights to be on at all times is issued, an automatic light switch position at which an instruction to set an automatic light mode, in which a turned-on state of the head lights and the small lights is controlled based on the intensity of illumination in the vicinity of the vehicle, is issued, and a light OFF switch position at which an instruction to turn the head lights off is issued, the light ON switch position, the automatic light switch position, and the light OFF switch position being arranged in an order along a rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Doi, Yuji Imai
  • Patent number: 11618501
    Abstract: This invention provides a vehicle steering wheel vibration reducing structure capable of effectively damping induced vibration generated in the steering wheel and contributing to vibration reduction in both low frequency bands and high frequency bands. A vehicle steering wheel vibration reducing structure, where the vehicle steering wheel structure is such that an airbag module, which serves as a damper mass, is attached to the steering wheel via vibration damping parts to damp vibrations of the steering wheel, and where the airbag module is formed such that the upper region above the center of steering of the steering wheel is lighter than the lower region, with reference to a neutral position of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Norihisa Shiraishi, Kazuhiro Abe, Takayuki Kura
  • Patent number: 11518369
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an operation unit operated by a driver; and a controller that causes a vehicle to turn according to a movement of the operation unit and causes a height of the vehicle to be changed. The controller causes the height of the vehicle to be changed according to an upward or downward movement of the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Sato, Kei Yamamoto, Takashi Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 11511665
    Abstract: The steering wheel in a vehicle includes a frame, an attachment support movable between a rest position and a depressed position, and an element for guiding the attachment support. The element for guiding the attachment support includes a first guiding part and a second guiding part. Further, the steering wheel includes an electrical circuit part with at least one switch having a first contact terminal, a second contact terminal, a resilient return element, and deformable damping element. In addition, the second guiding part includes a push interface for receiving the return force of the resilient return element. The push interface is arranged between the resilient return element and the damping element, and the second contact terminal is supported by the second guiding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Olivier Bertrand, Hugues Doursoux, Thomas Letierce
  • Patent number: 11479187
    Abstract: A bearing structure includes a base-side unit structure provided on a bearing member side, a rotary member-side unit structure relatively rotatable with respect to the base-side unit structure, an arcuate or circumferential conductor provided in one of the base-side unit structure and the rotary member-side unit structure, and a contactor provided in the other of the unit structures and configured to retain an electric conduction state with the conductor and includes a power feeding path configured by a power feeding harness for feeding electric power from a power feeding device of a vehicle to an electric device of the rotary member via the conductor and the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Yumoto
  • Patent number: 11472365
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag system is disclosed, the inflatable airbag system configured with a wrapper to facilitate an inflating airbag cushion to exit a housing of the inflatable airbag system. The inflatable airbag system may be mounted forward of an occupant of a vehicle, the inflatable airbag system disposed behind one or more panel doors, the panel doors each equipped with a hinge to facilitate opening of the panel doors without the panel doors detaching. The wrapper is configured to separate so as to form a ramp to cover each hinge of each panel door whereby the inflating airbag cushion is precluded from engaging the hinge, wherein such engagement may otherwise adversely alter an inflation rate or trajectory of the inflating airbag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Yaney, Don Heydens, Mark Olson, Andrew Fisher
  • Patent number: 11453329
    Abstract: A vehicular light switch can change the mode of an exterior-illuminating light by rotating to different positions including an auto setting and a SMALL setting. If the position of the vehicular light switch is rotated to the SMALL setting, a momentary mechanism returns the position to the auto setting. If extravehicular brightness is less than a prescribed value and the position is rotated to the SMALL setting whilst the vehicle is stationary, a first light controller turns off a low-beam light, and turns on the low-beam light if the vehicle runs afterwards. If extravehicular brightness is less than a prescribed value and the position is rotated to the SMALL setting while the vehicle is running, a second light controller keeps the low-beam light turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Shimada, Ryuichi Nakano, Takeo Mizukoshi, Masahiko Shimada
  • Patent number: 11420554
    Abstract: Vehicle horn control device, embedded on a vehicle steering wheel, comprising: a base part (10); a control part (20), movable between a rest position and a depressed position; elastic return means (31), for pushing back the control part (20) to the rest position,—positioning means (41); an electrical circuit with at least one switch comprising a second contact terminal (51; 151; 251a, 251b; 21, 452), embedded on the control part (20), and a first contact terminal (52; 152; 252; 441), secured to the base part (10), characterized in that the positioning means (41) comprises the initial contact terminal (52; 152; 252; 441) arranged to position the control part (20) in the rest position, so as to close the switch when the control part (20) is in the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurent Groleau
  • Patent number: 11420574
    Abstract: A steering switch is provided on a spoke of a steering wheel for steering a vehicle, and includes a main switch pressed to input an ON/OFF operation of a drive assistance system installed in the vehicle, and an approval switch pressed to input an approval of a lane change executed by the drive assistance system. The approval switch is arranged adjacent to the upper side of the main switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yano
  • Patent number: 11361927
    Abstract: A lever switch device includes a shaft member, a rotary operation member, a push switch, and a flexible board. The flexible board has a first board part, a first wiring part connected to the first board part, a second board part, a second wiring part connected to the second board part, and an integrated wiring part. The first board part has a fixed contact. A movable contact of the rotary operation member comes into contact with and separates from the fixed contact in response to a positional shift of the rotary operation member. The second board part receives a signal output from the push switch. The integrated wiring part is at a position away from the first board part and the second board part, and a part of the first wiring part and a part of the second wiring part are integrated in the integrated wiring part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideki Nishinakama
  • Patent number: 11325546
    Abstract: A rotary connector includes a case including a housing space and fixed to a vehicle body that includes a steering wheel including a steering-side electric component, a rotor that is rotatable around a rotational axis relative to the case, a first connector provided on the rotor and electrically connected to the steering-side electric component, a second connector provided on the case and electrically connected to a vehicle-side electric component in the vehicle body, a flexible cable that is provided in a wound state in the housing space of the case and electrically connects the first connector to the second connector, and a controller that is disposed between the first connector and the flexible cable and performs a predetermined process on an electric signal transmitted between the first connector and the flexible cable. The controller is configured to rotate together with the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hirohashi, Toshiaki Asakura, Hiroyuki Sato, Toshiyuki Hoshi, Hiroshi Hanzawa, Satoshi Terashita
  • Patent number: 11305715
    Abstract: A driver airbag device may include: a housing having an airbag module mounted therein, and configured to induce a horn operation while moved backward by an external force; a boss part formed on the housing; a steering wheel part mounted in the housing, configured to sense a horn operation and perform a steering operation, and having the boss part installed therethrough; and a movement prevention part mounted on the boss part, and configured to prevent movement of the housing connected to the boss part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Oh Koang Kwon
  • Patent number: 11281322
    Abstract: Various implementations include a switch assembly that includes a housing and at least two printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are disposed within the housing and are axially arranged relative to each other. One or more force sensors are disposed on one of the PCBs, and, in some implementations, the one or more force sensors receive force input received by a touch overlay plate. Signals from the force sensors are processed to determine a magnitude, acceleration, and/or location of the force input, and a haptic feedback response is received by the touch overlay plate. The haptic feedback response is based on the force magnitude, acceleration, and/or location of input, according to some implementations. Axially arranging the PCBs reduces the footprint of the switch assembly and allows for the inclusion of more electrical components in the switch assembly, according to some implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lisseman, David Andrews, Daniel Alt, Nicholas Borgerding, Jason Peters, Erick Staszak, Prathap Chandra
  • Patent number: 11267424
    Abstract: Problem: To provide a damper mechanism of a steering wheel and a steering wheel apparatus for a vehicle in which it is possible to ensure a damping effect comparable to that of the known art and to decrease an airbag module in size so as to achieve a reduction in cost. Solution: A damper mechanism of a steering wheel includes: two damper units 11 that are provided between a steering wheel 1 and an airbag module 2 functioning as a damper mass and damp vibration of the steering wheel; and an engaging mechanism (hook of a plate-shaped damper 18) that is provided in parallel with the damper unit, between the steering wheel and the airbag module, and holds the steering wheel and the airbag module in a relatively displaceable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Hirota, Kazuhiro Abe, Hiroyoshi Shimono
  • Patent number: 11260751
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting command gestures made by a finger of a driver of a motor vehicle, including an interface pad, a light source that emits an optical beam in the infrared band toward the interface pad, an imaging sensor, for capturing images steered by the interface pad away from the driver, with a base frame and a movable plate, an optical zone of interest seen by the imaging sensor being defined at the interface between the base frame and the movable plate, the interface pad including an elastic deformable seal interposed between the base frame and the movable plate, the deformable seal including a first inclined facet, so that an optical path passing via the first inclined facet is proportionally modified by the deformation of the seal under the effect of the movement of the movable pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Pascal Clochard, Jerome Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 11201023
    Abstract: A change-over switch includes a swing member configured to swing in response to an operation from the outside, a contact member configured to swing about the swing axis identical to the axis of the swing member and including a plurality of movable contacts extending in different directions, and a substrate on which a fixed contact is formed, the fixed contact configured to contact the plurality of movable contacts of the contact member. In the change-over switch, the movable contact that contacts the fixed contact formed on the substrate is changed over by swinging of the contact member in conjunction with swinging of the swing member. A switch device includes a power source switch configured to open and close a circuit which supplies electric power to a power load, and a change-over switch configured to change over electric power supplied to the power load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Taiki Koyama, Kazufumi Osaki, Akira Ueno
  • Patent number: 11124111
    Abstract: A deformable carrier assembly adapted to hold an elongate light guide in a vehicle, the deformable carrier assembly including: a first component adapted to receive and retain a first portion of the elongate light guide and including a break-away pin at an end thereof; and a second component adapted to receive and retain a second portion of the elongate light guide and including a loop structure at an end thereof; wherein the loop structure is adapted to engage the break-away pin and couple the first component to the second component; and wherein the break-away pin is adapted to be sheared off of the end of the first component and decouple the first component from the second component when a lateral force is applied to one or more of the first component and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Lennartsson, Stefan Langner, Markus Andersson
  • Patent number: 11110938
    Abstract: A steering angle display device includes a display part disposed along a ring portion of a steering wheel of a vehicle; and a controller configured, during automated driving control in which a steering angle of the vehicle is controlled in accordance with road situations without rotating the steering wheel, to cause a steering angle indication indicating the controlled steering angle to be displayed at a position of the display part in accordance with the controlled steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Susumu Mega, Yoshiaki Nabe
  • Patent number: 11001216
    Abstract: A driver seat airbag may include: a mounting plate seated on a wheel armature; a cover coupled to the mounting plate so as to be lifted and lowered; an elastic member installed between the mounting plate and the cover to apply an elastic force to the cover; an electrode unit installed in the mounting plate; and a connector installed on the cover and connected to the electrode unit when the cover is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Oh Koang Kwon
  • Patent number: 10953793
    Abstract: A functional vehicle component and related methods include a functional leather assembly fixed over a vehicle component. The functional leather assembly includes a leather sheet, a flexible electronic circuit arranged on a first surface of the leather sheet that faces away from the vehicle component to thereby define an outermost surface of the leather sheet, and including a piezoelectric switch that can be actuated to make or break a conductive path in the circuit; and a pigmented coating arranged over the circuit. Upon actuation of the piezoelectric switch to make or break the conductive path in the circuit, the piezoelectric switch provides a haptic signal that indicates the actuation of the piezoelectric switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zainab I. Ali, Patricia A. Scott
  • Patent number: 10952322
    Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel frame having a rim portion and a hub portion within the rim portion. The hub has a first surface facing a rear of the vehicle and a second surface facing a front of the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) has a first surface facing the rear of the vehicle located in a plane that is disposed between a second plane that includes the second surface of the hub and the front of the vehicle. An electrical connector extends from the first surface of the ECU towards the first surface of the hub portion. The ECU comprises a clock spring connector electrically coupled to the electrical connector via a wire trace. By incorporating wire traces that provide electrical connections between the electrical connectors and the clock spring connector, the ECU reduces the size and/or number of wire harnesses used in the steering wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventors: Molly Hengel, Ryan Jacewicz, Phil Maguire
  • Patent number: 10843621
    Abstract: A lever switch includes a lever main body and a rotary operation element rotatably provided at a tip end portion of the lever main body. The rotary operation element is provided with a light ON switch position at which an instruction to cause head lights and small lights to be on at all times is issued, an automatic light switch position at which an instruction to set an automatic light mode, in which a turned-on state of the head lights and the small lights is controlled based on the intensity of illumination in the vicinity of the vehicle, is issued, and a light OFF switch position at which an instruction to turn the head lights off is issued, the light ON switch position, the automatic light switch position, and the light OFF switch position being arranged in an order along a rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Doi, Yuji Imai
  • Patent number: 10742061
    Abstract: A smart functional vehicle component includes a vehicle component, a leather sheet fixed over a surface of the vehicle component, a flexible electronic circuit contacting an A-surface of the leather sheet and including a printed and cured conductive ink, and a pigmented coating arranged over the electronic circuit. The circuit includes a wireless transmitter, which is configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field when an associated portable electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the wireless transmitter. The circuit may also include an electronic element such as a light source, a sensor, or a switch. When the circuit includes a light source, the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit and the light source from being visible through the pigmented coating, but light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zainab I. Ali, Patricia A. Scott
  • Patent number: 10696221
    Abstract: Various implementations of a horn system include one or more force sensors disposed on a first portion of a driver air bag module and one or more actuators disposed on a second portion of the driver air bag module. For example, the force sensors may be disposed adjacent a perimeter of a base plate of the driver air bag module, and the actuators may extend inwardly toward the force sensors from an inner surface of a cover of the driver air bag module, or vice versa. To actuate the horn, the cover is moved axially toward the base plate, causing the actuators to apply force to the force sensors. Force signals received from the force sensors are used by one or more processors to determine characteristics of the force received and/or select a control message for communicating to the horn system based on the force signal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Jason Carl Lisseman, Erick Paul Staszak, David William Andrews
  • Patent number: 10682952
    Abstract: A smart functional leather assembly includes a leather substrate, an electronic circuit layer including one or more conductive traces and optional electronic elements arranged on the leather substrate, optionally a pigmented coating arranged on the circuit layer, and an optional anti-soiling layer arranged on the pigmented layer. The entire smart functional leather assembly, including the circuit, are embossed to provide an embossed smart functional leather assembly with an embossed pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Scott, Zainab I. Ali
  • Patent number: 10632843
    Abstract: A driver assistance module is designed to be fixed on an automobile steering wheel. The driver assistance module includes a first driver information device and an infrared radiation source arranged to illuminate the driver and forming part of a second information device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Laurent Groleau
  • Patent number: 10464589
    Abstract: A steering control device includes a steering wheel configured to allow a traveling direction of a vehicle to be adjusted depending on performed turning operation, an input operation unit disposed in a center region of the steering wheel and configured to receive input operation by an operator, a switching unit connected to the steering wheel and the input operation unit and configured to switch a turn of the steering wheel between a turn of the steering wheel together with the input operation unit and a turn of only the steering wheel, and a controller configured to control the switching unit such that only the steering wheel turns in accordance with an input of an input signal indicating a start of a self-driving mode in which a turn of the steering wheel is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Ryoko Nakano, Jun Kawamori
  • Patent number: 10464471
    Abstract: A switching device for a vehicle headlight of a vehicle having an Adaptive LED Headlight (ALH) mode. The switching device may include a steering column lever switch supported on a steering column of the vehicle so as to be movable between an initial position and a predetermined moved position by a moving operation input, an ALH switch configured to receive a switching operation input that sets the ALH mode, and a controller configured to change the irradiation mode of the headlight according to a position of the lever switch and the switching operation input received by the ALH switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Sueishi, Manabu Yamaoka, Tomonori Ohtsubo, Keiichi Sato, Keiichirou Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10453625
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a switch attachment member includes a support that is formed to be attachable between a steering wheel and a steering boss, and supports a switch. The support is formed to be capable of changing a position of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: WORKS BELL INC.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10442483
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle alarm device, including a main body and a connection mechanism connected with a bicycle. The main body comprises controller. The controller includes an upper cover and a lower cover connected with the upper cover. A first waterproof rubber ring is positioned between the upper cover and the lower cover. The main body also includes a battery compartment. One end of the battery compartment is connected with the controller, and the other end is connected with the connection mechanism. The battery compartment includes a compartment body and a compartment cover. A second waterproof rubber ring is positioned between the compartment body and the compartment cover. The present disclosure has good waterproof effect, and can effectively protect the controller and electrical parts in the battery compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Haoyu Xing
  • Patent number: 10442454
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing a work vehicle in which an operator can easily view each of switches in spite of the work vehicle in which a plurality of switches such as a DPF regeneration switch, a working switch and a one-touch automatic switch are concentrically provided on a front surface of a control seat. In a work vehicle having a cabin which is inward provided with a control seat installed in a travel machine body, a DPF regeneration switch, a working switch, and a one-touch automatic switch are provided. The DPF regeneration switch is provided on an upper surface of a steering column in a base portion of a control steering wheel, and the DPF regeneration switch is arranged in a field of vision of an operator under a straight moving work posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gaku Higashiguchi
  • Patent number: 10436605
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to apparatus (200) and methods for distinguishing data of a plurality of multidimensional magnetic field sensors (120). A first sensor arrangement (100-1) comprises a first magnetic field source (110-1) and a first multidimensional magnetic field sensor (120-1), wherein the first magnetic field source and the first magnetic field sensor are arranged relative to one another in a first manner characteristic for the first sensor arrangement. At least one second sensor arrangement (100-2) comprises a second magnetic field source (110-2) and a second multidimensional magnetic field sensor (120-2), wherein the second magnetic field source and the second magnetic field sensor are arranged relative to one another in a second manner characteristic for the second sensor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Scherr
  • Patent number: 10393083
    Abstract: A remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission with improved safeguards for preventing the vehicles from being remotely started while the manual transmission is in gear. The remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission may also include additional safeguards to prevent the vehicles from being remotely started when there is a risk that the vehicle may move upon being remotely started, such as when the door has been opened after the vehicle has been placed in state safe for remote start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Automotive Data Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien Boulais, Simon Pilikian
  • Patent number: 10322742
    Abstract: A steering device 10 mounted on a vehicle includes: a steering body 12 having left and right sensors 22L and 22R installed in a rim 16 gripped by a driver to detect a driver's condition; and a detection circuit 14 configured to detect a driver's condition on the basis of a detection signal from at least the left and right sensors 22L and 22R, wherein a wire length Ll of a left harness 30L from the detection circuit 14 to the left sensor 22L is substantially equal to a wire length Lr of a right harness 30R from the detection circuit 14 to the right sensor 22R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shotaro Odate, Takeshi Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 10308114
    Abstract: A hand control throttle system includes an actuating mechanism and a sensor. The system is mounted to a standard steering wheel for a vehicle, so that a disabled driver can operate the throttle using a single hand (either right or left) while the hand is also holding the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventors: Brian A. Downey, Ryan A. Downey, Philip W. Worthington
  • Patent number: 10300981
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for providing rider control assemblies for adjusting and displaying pressure and height settings for vehicle air suspension devices, such as on adjustable air shocks and air struts, used in vehicles such as motorcycles. The assemblies can have a protruding eyelet portion that can be mounted to existing control panel clamps on motorcycle handlebars. The assemblies can have two part housings attached to one another by waterproof gaskets placed in opposite facing channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ARNOTT T&P HOLDING, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Arnott, Matt Edward Kirar
  • Patent number: 10279882
    Abstract: A member (10) for controlling the direction of a vehicle, preferably in the form of a steering wheel for controlling the direction of a nautical vehicle, or boat, and includes a rotatable body (11), which can be manually operated by the skipper of the vehicle for controlling the direction of the vehicle and which is operatively connectable to unit defining, or determining, the direction of travel of the vehicle. The member includes a unit, or hub, (12) supporting the rotatable body, which include a component (14) fixed to the structure of the vehicle which rotatably support respective units (16) for supporting, or coupling, the rotatable body which can be operated manually, the unit fixed to the structure of the vehicle supporting corresponding unit (18) which can be used, in particular which can be operated and/or viewed, by the skipper, which remain fixed during the rotation of the rotatable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: I.F.R.A. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Tosini
  • Patent number: 10180723
    Abstract: A system and method for setting threshold values based on an amount and selecting a haptic feedback response. The method comprises determining a touch value based on a touch applied to a touch-sensitive sensor. The method further comprises determining an amount that the touch value exceeds a first threshold value. The method further comprises setting a second threshold value based, at least in part on the amount. The method further comprising selecting a haptic feedback response that can be based at least in part on the amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lisseman, David Andrews