Steering wheel control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345384-B2
Application number	US-202016856314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2020
Priority date	Apr 23, 2020
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A steering wheel control system associated with a vehicle includes a steering wheel movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the steering wheel is centrally located relative to an operator of the machine. The steering wheel control system also includes a sensor assembly configured to generate a control signal pertaining to a position of the steering wheel. The steering wheel control system further includes a control module communicably coupled with the sensor assembly. The control module is configured to receive the control signal corresponding to the position of the steering wheel. The control module is also configured to control at least one operation of the vehicle based on receipt of the control signal from the sensor assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering wheel control system for a vehicle, the steering wheel control system comprising:
a steering wheel movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the steering wheel is centrally located relative to an operator of the vehicle;
a sensor assembly configured to generate a control signal pertaining to a position of the steering wheel;
a control module communicably coupled with the sensor assembly, wherein the control module is configured to:
receive the control signal corresponding to the position of the steering wheel;
control at least one operation of the vehicle based on receipt of the control signal from the sensor assembly;

a mounting assembly, wherein the steering wheel is adapted to be coupled to the mounting assembly, the mounting assembly including:
a first bracket coupled to a seating system; and
a second bracket defining a first end and a second end, wherein the second bracket is pivotally coupled to the first bracket proximate to the first end, the steering wheel being adapted to be coupled to the second bracket;

wherein the sensor assembly is coupled with the first bracket, and wherein the sensor assembly generates the control signal based exclusively on a pivoting movement of the second bracket relative to the first bracket;
wherein the steering wheel control system notifies the operator regarding the position of the steering wheel.

2. The steering wheel control system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is communicably coupled with the steering wheel.

3. The steering wheel control system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one operation includes deactivating the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in the stowed position.

4. The steering wheel control system of claim 1 , wherein
the second bracket includes a frame member and a cover disposed proximate to the second end, the steering wheel being adapted to be coupled to the frame member and the cover.

5. The steering wheel control system of claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel is positioned at a front end of the seating system in the deployed position.

6. The steering wheel control system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting assembly is movable along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle based on actuation of an input device;
wherein the mounting assembly is movably coupled to an armrest structure, the armrest structure including input devices to perform various functions associated with the vehicle.

7. The steering wheel control system of claim 1 , wherein the second bracket is adapted to move towards the first bracket for positioning the steering wheel in the stowed position.

8. The steering wheel control system of claim 7 , wherein the second bracket is adapted to move away from the first bracket for positioning the steering wheel in the deployed position.

9. The steering wheel control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly includes at least one proximity sensor.

10. A method of controlling at least one operation of a vehicle, the method comprising:
mounting a steering wheel on a mounting assembly associated with a seating system, the mounting assembly including a first bracket and a second bracket pivotally coupled to the first bracket;
positioning the steering wheel movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the steering wheel is centrally located relative to an operator of the vehicle;
coupling a sensor assembly with the first bracket, wherein the sensor assembly generates a control assembly based exclusively on a pivoting movement of the second bracket relative to the first bracket;
generating, by the sensor assembly, the control signal pertaining to a position of the steering wheel;
receiving, by a control module, the control signal corresponding to the position of the steering wheel, the control module being communicably coupled with the sensor assembly;
controlling, by the control module, the at least one operation of the vehicle based on receipt of the control signal from the sensor assembly; and
transmitting a notification notifying the operator regarding the position of the steering wheel.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of controlling the at least one operation of the vehicle further includes communicably coupling the control module with the steering wheel.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of controlling the at least one operation of the vehicle further includes deactivating the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in the stowed position.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising coupling at least one proximity sensor with the mounting assembly.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising coupling the steering wheel with the second bracket.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising moving the steering wheel to the stowed position based exclusively on a pivoting movement of the second bracket towards the first bracket.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising moving the steering wheel to the deployed position based on a pivoting movement of the second bracket away from the first bracket.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising positioning the steering wheel at a front end of the seating system in the deployed position.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Ries Michael William
• Koshiol Keith Daniel
• Mohamed Yasin Haji
• Downing Bryan Joseph

Classifications

• B62D1/183

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

• B62D1/10 Primary

  Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/02 Primary

  vehicle-mounted · CPC title

• B62D1/18

  yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable (padded linings associated with the steering column B60R21/05) · CPC title

• B62D1/046

  Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches · CPC title