Steering wheel remote control for vehicle and vehicle including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11417476-B2
Application number	US-202016952457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2020
Priority date	Jul 3, 2020
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A steering wheel remote control for a vehicle includes: a first button and a second button arranged on a top surface of the remote control and configured to move downward when being pressed; and a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second PCB each of which arranged under the first button and the second button. The first PCB comprises a first switch terminal configured to be pressed downward to perform a first function when the first button moves downward, and the second PCB comprises a second switch terminal configured to be pressed downward to perform a second function when the second button moves downward. The first PCB and the second PCB are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering wheel remote control for a vehicle, the steering wheel remote control comprising:
a first button and a second button arranged on a top surface of the remote control, the first and second buttons configured to move downward when being pressed;
a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second PCB each of which arranged under the first button and the second button;
a pusher arranged between the first button and the first PCB;
a block portion arranged under the first button and fixedly coupled to the first button; and
a first plate arranged under the block portion,
wherein the first PCB comprises a first switch terminal configured to be pressed downward to perform a first function when the first button moves downward,
wherein the second PCB comprises a second switch terminal configured to be pressed downward to perform a second function when the second button moves downward,
wherein the first PCB and the second PCB are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction,
wherein the first PCB is located below the second PCB,
wherein the pusher is configured to contact the first switch terminal and press the first switch terminal when the first button moves downward,
wherein the pusher includes:
a body portion arranged to be above the first switch terminal and facing the first switch terminal; and
an extension portion extending upward from the body portion, and

wherein, when the first button moves downward, the extension portion is configured to be pressed downward while the body portion presses the first switch terminal for performing the first function,
wherein the extension portion faces the block portion,
wherein, when the first button moves downward, the block portion interferes with the extension portion to press the extension portion downward,
wherein an opening is defined in the block portion,
wherein the second button and the first plate face each other through the opening, and
wherein, when the second button moves downward, the first plate is configured to be pressed downward to press the second switch terminal for performing the second function.

2. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 1 , wherein the first button is configured as a top cover arranged on the top surface of the remote control, and
wherein the second button is disposed on to be within the top cover.

3. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 1 , wherein the first switch terminal and the second switch terminal are arranged to partially overlap with each other when the remote control is viewed from top.

4. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 1 , wherein the extension portion extends upward through the second PCB.

5. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 1 , wherein the extension portion extends upward through the first plate.

6. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 5 , wherein the first plate includes a pusher guide member arranged to be adjacent to a portion of a bottom surface of the first plate through which the extension portion passes, the pusher guide member extending downward,
wherein the pusher guide member faces the extension portion on a side of the extension portion, and
wherein a shape of the pusher guide member corresponds to that of the extension portion in an area in which the extension portion and the pusher guide member face each other.

7. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 1 , wherein the extension portion includes a first extension portion and a second extension portion, and
wherein the first extension portion and the second extension portion have a symmetrical shape with the body portion arranged therebetween.

8. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 6 , wherein a horizontal cross-section of the extension portion and a horizontal cross-section of the pusher guide member have an L shape in the area in which the extension portion and the pusher guide member face each other.

9. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 7 , further comprising a stabilizer coupled to the block portion on a bottom surface of the block portion, the stabilizer arranged to be transverse to the block portion.

10. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 9 , wherein the block portion includes a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion coupled to both end portions of the stabilizer, respectively, and
wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion extend downward through the first plate.

11. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 10 , wherein the first plate includes a coupling portion guide member arranged to be adjacent to an area of a bottom surface of the first plate through which the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion pass, the coupling portion extending downward,
wherein the coupling portion guide member faces the coupling portion on a side of the coupling portion, and
a shape of the coupling portion guide member corresponds to that of the coupling portion in an area in which the coupling portion and the coupling portion guide member face each other.

12. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 11 , wherein a horizontal cross-section of the coupling portion includes a U-shape section in the area in which the coupling portion and the coupling portion guide member face each other, and
wherein a horizontal cross-section of the coupling portion guide member includes an I-shape section configured to be fitted into the U-shape section in the area in which the coupling portion and the coupling portion guide member face each other.

13. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 9 , wherein a direction in which the first extension portion and the second extension portion face each other intersects with a direction in which the stabilizer is transverse to the block portion.

14. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 9 , further comprising a second plate arranged under the pusher,
wherein the stabilizer includes a projection area extending downward, and
wherein the stabilizer and the second plate are coupled in the projection area.

15. The steering wheel remote control according to claim 10 , wherein the block portion further includes a penetrating portion arranged on a peripheral area of the bottom surface of the block portion and extending downward through the first plate.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Koh Jin Young
• Kim Yun Ho

Classifications

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title

• H01H2231/026

  Car · CPC title

• H01H13/70

  having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard (mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B) · CPC title

• B62D1/046 Primary

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