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KR-102962237-B1 - Vehicle including steering wheel device

KR102962237B1KR 102962237 B1KR102962237 B1KR 102962237B1KR-102962237-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle (1) having a steering wheel device comprising a control unit (8) and a steering wheel disposed on a steering column (9) and connected to the control unit (8), which can be positioned from a steering position (L) to a safety position (S). According to the present invention, the steering wheel device comprises a position adjustment unit (7) connected to the control unit (8) such that the steering wheel (4) disposed on the steering column (9) is positioned from at least the steering position (L) to the safety position (S), and the steering wheel device is designed to vibrate when positioned from the steering position (L) to the safety position (S).

Inventors

  • 부가르치치, 데얀
  • 개르트너 에릭
  • 쿠르바지치, 로베르트

Assignees

  • 메르세데스-벤츠 그룹 아게

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20220325
Priority Date
20210430

Claims (9)

  1. A vehicle (1) having a steering wheel device comprising a control unit (8) and a steering wheel (4) disposed on a steering column (9), connected to the control unit (8), and capable of being positioned from a steering position (L) to a safety position (S). The above steering wheel device includes a position adjustment unit (7) connected to a control unit (8) for positioning a steering wheel (4) placed on a steering column (9) from at least a steering position (L) to a safe position (S). The above steering wheel device is designed to vibrate when positioned from a steering position (L) to a safe position (S), and A mechanical guide of the baffle and/or steering column (9) is designed relative to the steering column tube (10) so that vibration of the steering wheel (4) is generated when the steering wheel (4) is positioned from the steering position (L) to the safety position (S), and A baffle element (10.1) for generating vibration is disposed and/or formed in the steering column (9) and/or the steering column tube (10). Vehicle (1) characterized by
  2. In paragraph 1, The vehicle (1) is characterized in that the control unit (8) is designed such that the position adjustment unit (7) is activated to position the steering wheel (4) from the steering position (L) to the safety position (S) just before the driver airbag (5) is activated when the automatic driving mode is activated.
  3. In paragraph 1 or 2, The vehicle (1) is characterized in that the above position adjustment unit (7) includes a pulling element (13) connected to an electric motor.
  4. In paragraph 1 or 2, The vehicle (1) is characterized in that the above position adjustment unit (7) includes a pulling element (13) connected to a pyrotechnic gas generator (12, 12').
  5. delete
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  7. In paragraph 1, A vehicle (1) characterized in that a vibration motor (14) connected to the steering wheel (4) and/or the steering column (9) is designed to generate vibration when the steering wheel (4) is positioned from a steering position (L) to a safety position (S).
  8. In paragraph 1, The above control unit (8) is characterized by being connected to a collision sensor device, vehicle (1).
  9. In paragraph 1, The above control unit (8) is characterized by being connected to a support system for automatic driving mode, vehicle (1).

Description

Vehicle including steering wheel device The present invention relates to a vehicle having a steering wheel device comprising a control unit and a steering wheel disposed on a steering column and connected to the control unit, which can be positioned from a steering position to a safe position. German Patent Publication DE 198 60 804 A1 discloses a configuration for a driver airbag installed in a vehicle, including a switch panel and a steering wheel. At least one foldable driver airbag is installed in the switch panel, which can be charged by a gas generator and deployed in front of the driver through the airbag outlet of the switch panel. The present invention provides a vehicle equipped with a steering wheel device. According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a vehicle having the features set forth in claim 1. The preferred configurations of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims. A vehicle has a steering wheel device comprising a control unit and a steering wheel disposed on a steering column and connected to the control unit, which can be positioned from a steering position to a safe position. According to the present invention, the steering wheel device includes a position adjustment unit connected to the control unit to position the steering wheel disposed on the steering column to at least from a steering position to a safe position. Additionally, the steering wheel device is designed to vibrate when positioned from a steering position to a safe position. When the steering wheel is positioned from the steering position to the safe position, the steering wheel mechanism, specifically the steering wheel, vibrates, causing the vehicle user, particularly the driver, to realize that they must remove their hands from the steering wheel. Consequently, if the vehicle user firmly grips the steering wheel with their hands when the steering wheel is positioned to the safe position, it can be generally prevented from being pulled toward the instrument panel. In one embodiment, the control unit is designed such that a position adjustment unit is activated to position the steering wheel from a steering position to a safe position when the automatic driving mode is activated and/or immediately before the driver airbag is deployed. When the steering wheel is positioned in a safe position due to the activation of automatic driving mode, the steering wheel no longer protrudes toward the cabin, providing greater clearance for the vehicle user to move. When a collision is imminent and the steering wheel is positioned in a safe position, the driver airbag assigned to the vehicle user can deploy freely and largely unhindered to occupy its operational position. Accordingly, the protective action of the driver airbag for the vehicle user can be optimized. Since the vehicle user's grip is not sufficient to maintain the steering wheel in the steering position due to the steering wheel vibrating, it can be ensured that the vehicle user can remove their hands from the steering wheel in the event of an accident or immediately before an accident occurs. For example, the vibration can be performed in a pulsed manner. In one embodiment, the position adjustment unit is designed to be reversible by including a pulling element connected to an electric motor. Accordingly, the steering wheel can be positioned from a safe position back to a steering position multiple times without degrading the function of the position adjustment unit. In an alternative or additional embodiment, the positioning unit includes a pull element connected to a pyrotechnic gas generator. When the pyrotechnic gas generator is activated, a pulling force is applied to the pull element, particularly in the form of a rope, so that the steering wheel can be positioned from the steering position to a safe position. For example, this execution is selected when it is determined that the steering wheel will be positioned to a safe position within the shortest possible time before a collision is imminent and the driver airbag deploys. Accordingly, the driver airbag is generally ensured to deploy without obstruction. An improved embodiment of a steering wheel device provides that a baffle and/or a mechanical guide of a steering column is designed relative to a steering column tube so that vibration of the steering wheel device, particularly the steering wheel, is generated when the steering wheel is positioned from a steering position to a safe position. Accordingly, there is no need to place a separate functional element to generate vibration. Additionally, there is no need to install cables to transmit control signals and supply electrical energy to the functional element. In particular, in a possible improved embodiment, a baffle element is positioned and/or formed to generate vibration in the steering column and/or steering column tube. The baffle element may be designed with teeth between the steering column and the steerin