Stowable vehicle interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486730-B2
Application number	US-201715820532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2017
Priority date	Nov 22, 2017
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A system includes a seat. The system includes a steering assembly including a support shaft and a user interface, the steering assembly movable between a first position and a second position. The steering assembly is disposed in front of the seat in the first position and below the seat in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a seat; and
a steering assembly including a support shaft and a user interface, the steering assembly movable between a first position and a second position;
a receiver located under the seat;
wherein the steering assembly is disposed in front of the seat and engaged with the receiver in the first position, and the steering assembly is below the seat and disengaged from the receiver in the second position.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a panel positioned relative to the seat and movable between a closed position in which the steering assembly is inhibited from moving from the second position to the first position and an open position in which the steering assembly is permitted to move from the second position to the first position.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a lock moveable between a locked state in which the panel is inhibited from moving from the closed position to the open position and an unlocked state in which the panel is permitted to move from the closed position to the open position.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state upon receiving a request to operate a vehicle in a manual mode.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is located at a vehicle inboard side of the seat.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is in electrical communication with the steering assembly in the first position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seat includes a seat frame, and the receiver is supported by the seat frame.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a lock moveable between a locked state in which disengagement of the steering assembly from the receiver is inhibited and an unlocked state in which disengagement of the steering assembly from the receiver is permitted.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the lock of the receiver to the locked state before operating a vehicle in a manual mode.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to operate a vehicle in a manual mode upon detecting that the steering assembly is in the first position.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor in wireless communication with the steering assembly, and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a vehicle steering system in response to a command from the steering assembly.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly includes a steering wheel and a sensor positioned to detect a steering angle of the steering wheel.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly includes a steering wheel and a force feedback actuator coupled to the steering wheel.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly includes a wiring harness disposed in the support shaft.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly includes a throttle control interface.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly includes a brake control interface.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly includes a head unit supported by the support shaft, and a steering wheel supported by the head unit.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the steering wheel is releasably secured to the head unit.

19. A system comprising:
a seat; and
a steering assembly including a support shaft and a user interface, the steering assembly movable between a first position and a second position, the steering assembly disposed in front of the seat in the first position and below the seat in the second position; and
a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to operate a vehicle in a manual mode upon detecting that the steering assembly is in the first position.

20. A system comprising:
a seat; and
a steering assembly including a support shaft and a user interface, the steering assembly movable between a first position and a second position, the steering assembly disposed in front of the seat in the first position and below the seat in the second position; and
wherein the support shaft includes a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, and in the first position the first elongated portion extends transverse to a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis and the second elongated portion extends along a lateral axis.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hansen Cheri Lyn
• Neubecker Cynthia M
• Ignaczak Brad Alan

Classifications

• B62D1/183 Primary

  adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access · CPC title

• B60N2002/905

  the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas · CPC title

• B60R7/043

  mounted on or under a seat · CPC title

• B60R25/01

  operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens · CPC title