CN109070925B

CN109070925B - Steering wheel of vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN109070925B
Application number: CN201780024186.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·胡戈德
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 2016-02-17
Filing date: 2017-02-10
Publication date: 2021-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2037-02-10
Also published as: FR3047718B1; FR3047718A1; WO2017140588A1; CN109070925A

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering wheel for a motor vehicle, comprising: -at least one printed circuit (10) comprising at least one first and second electrical connection interface (11, 12), -at least one electrical and/or electronic component (41) embedded in said at least one printed circuit (10), -at least one power supply circuit, characterized in that said at least one printed circuit (10) is capable of connecting said at least one electrical and/or electronic component (41) to said at least one power supply circuit indifferently through one or the other of said at least one first and second electrical connection interface (11, 12).

Description

Steering wheel of vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a steering wheel (or steering wheel) for mounting on a motor vehicle.

Background

It is known in the prior art to provide steering wheels with rims equipped with electronic sensors, such as the steering wheel disclosed in US 2004267422. However, this system clearly has the drawback of providing a plurality of sensors that are difficult to position on the steering wheel, without providing a solution for assembling such a steering wheel that is easy and cost-effective.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art documents and, in particular, firstly, to provide a vehicle steering wheel, for example with electric and/or electronic components integrated with the rim, which is easy to assemble, inexpensive to manufacture and reduced in size.

To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to an automatic vehicle steering wheel comprising:

-at least one printed circuit comprising at least a first electrical connection interface and a second electrical connection interface,

at least one electrical and/or electronic component embedded on said at least one printed circuit,

-at least one power supply circuit,

characterized in that said at least one printed circuit is arranged to be able to connect said at least one electrical and/or electronic component to said at least one power supply circuit indifferently through one or the other of said at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces. The steering wheel according to this embodiment comprises a printed circuit with two connection interfaces and an embedded component, which is designed to be able to supply power to the component via one or the other of the connection interfaces. Modularity is improved by being able to position the printed circuit at different positions of the steering wheel, although one of the connection interfaces is at least close to the power supply circuit to connect to the power supply circuit to power the embedded components, which therefore limits the required length of the connection element and therefore optimizes the overall size of the device. It is also conceivable to use the same printed circuit in a symmetrical position on the steering wheel, for example to the left or right of the driver. The variety of components is also reduced accordingly. All of the above enables the components to be standardized, thus facilitating assembly and limiting the cost of tools and supplies.

According to the invention, the electrical and/or electronic components are embedded on the printed circuit, that is to say the printed circuit provided with the electrical and/or electronic components forms a complex electrical or electronic circuit. In other words, the electrical and/or electronic components are distinct from the tracks of the printed circuit and are connected to the vehicle edge circuit by the tracks of the printed circuit. Electrical and/or electronic components are typically soldered or soldered to a printed circuit. Advantageously, the electrical and/or electronic component is an integrated circuit, or an embedded processor or microprocessor.

A printed circuit (or PCB in english) is a support, usually a plate, which allows to hold and connect together a set of electronic components to each other for the purpose of a complex electronic circuit.

The printed circuit of the invention is capable of powering electrical and/or electronic components through one or the other of the connection interfaces. Each connection interface thus naturally comprises a plurality of connection lines connected to the printed circuit tracks. In this way, each connection interface is able to power electrical and/or electronic components in an autonomous manner.

Advantageously, the electrical and/or electronic components are polarized, that is to say the way in which the power is supplied influences the response that he produces. However, according to the invention, the electrical and/or electronic components, although polarized, react the same or produce the same response when powered by one or the other of said first and second electrical connection interfaces.

Advantageously, the steering wheel of a motor vehicle comprises:

-at least one second printed circuit comprising at least one first electrical connection interface and a second electrical connection interface,

at least one electrical and/or electronic component embedded on the at least one second printed circuit,

characterized in that each of said printed circuits is arranged to be able to connect its embedded electrical and/or electronic components indifferently to said at least one power supply circuit through one or the other of said at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces,

wherein a first of the at least two printed circuits is connected to the at least one power supply circuit by a first connection interface,

and wherein the at least one second printed circuit is connected to the at least one power supply circuit through a second connection interface. In other words, the steering wheel comprises at least two printed circuits, wherein each printed circuit has a first electrical connection interface and a second electrical connection interface. Modularity is improved by the ability to mount printed circuits in symmetrical positions on the steering wheel while easily connecting embedded components. In addition, the printed circuit (or PCB) may share the same manufacturing process until its external cutting. The mounting of the connector may be a separate step between the two printed circuits, that is to say the printed circuits will have the same "track pattern" and/or the same embedded components, but differ only in connection.

Advantageously, the steering wheel of a motor vehicle comprises:

at least one second printed circuit comprising at least one first and second electrical connection interface, wherein only the at least one printed circuit (in other words the first printed circuit) is connected to the power supply circuit through at least one of the at least one first and second electrical connection interface, and wherein one of the at least one first and second electrical connection interface of the at least one second printed circuit is connected to the other of the at least one first and second electrical connection interface of the at least one printed circuit. According to this embodiment, only one of the printed circuits of the steering wheel is connected to the power supply circuit, while the other or other printed circuits are connected only to the first printed circuit. Thus forming a series of printed circuits connected to each other in series. This allows the length of the connecting elements of the printed circuit and the power supply circuit to be optimized.

Advantageously, the first connection interface has a different geometry than the second connection interface. This embodiment optimizes the certainty of operation since some connector combinations are not compatible in shape so that the connections are not mistaken. At the same time, the manufacturing costs are optimized since the same manufacturing steps are retained except for the geometry of its connection interface.

By different geometries, only one connection interface should have one connector suitable for connecting the printed circuit to the power supply circuit; other connection interfaces are only electrically connected to the embedded electrical and/or electronic components. In other words, the first connection interface comprises a mechanical connector, while the second connection interface is part of the at least one printed circuit, which is capable of receiving a connector to achieve an electrical connection. In this case, the second connection interface may be part of a bare printed circuit, only the electrical path being ready to receive an electrical connection.

Advantageously, the steering wheel of a motor vehicle comprises:

wherein the at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces are the same for and between each printed circuit. According to this embodiment, the connection interface of the printed circuits is the same for all printed circuits and for the inside of the same printed circuit. Advantageously, the printed circuits are identical.

Advantageously, the steering wheel of the motor vehicle comprises at least one connection element, for example a lug, arranged between at least two of said printed circuits and connected to both of said printed circuits. It may additionally be provided that the printed circuits are connected to each other to form another circuit than the supply circuit, for example a detection circuit, or for supplying other components.

Alternatively, a coupling between the connection interfaces of each printed circuit may be envisaged for connecting to each other.

Advantageously, the steering wheel of the motor vehicle comprises a rim, said at least one printed circuit being arranged along a portion of the rim of the steering wheel. The use of embedded components for performing e.g. presence detection, contact detection or heat detection is thus envisaged.

Preferably, said at least one printed circuit is arranged on a portion between 10% and 25% of the average diameter of the rim. In other words, the printed circuit has a length in the range 10% to 25% of the average diameter of the rim. Thus, according to this embodiment, 4 printed circuits can be arranged along the rim.

Advantageously, the steering wheel comprises 4 printed circuits, each of the 4 printed circuits being arranged on a portion of between 10% and 25% of the average diameter of the rim. In other words, the printed circuits have a length in the range of 10% to 25% of the average diameter of the rim, 4 printed circuits being sufficient to cover a large part of the rim.

Advantageously, the at least one embedded electrical and/or electronic component is an optical device.

Advantageously, said at least two electrical connection interfaces comprise at least one connector, preferably a female connector.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least a vehicle steering wheel according to the first aspect of the invention.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description, in which two embodiments of the invention are described, for the purpose of illustration and not in any way of limitation, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an arrangement for a printed circuit of a steering wheel according to the invention;

figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an arrangement for a printed circuit of a steering wheel according to the invention;

fig. 3 shows a steering wheel according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT (S) OF INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the arrangement of the same printed circuit 10 under the outer surface of the steering wheel for mounting on the rim of the steering wheel.

In this embodiment, the steering wheel includes 4 printed circuits 10, each printed circuit 10 covering less than one quarter of the circumference of the rim. Each printed circuit 10 comprises electronic components, such as light emitting diodes 41, on the opposite side of the one that can be seen in fig. 1.

Each printed circuit 10 comprises a first connection interface 11 and a second connection interface 12, the light emitting diodes 41 being powered either by the first connection interface 11 or by the second connection interface 12. It will be appreciated that this modularity can simplify the wiring and/or mounting of the steering wheel.

The connection block 30, which is part of the power supply circuit of the steering wheel, is arranged at the 6 o' clock position, and each of the two printed circuits 10 of the lower half in fig. 1 is connected to the connection block 30 through a connection pad 22, each of which is connected to the first interface 12 of the printed circuit 10.

Subsequently, a further connecting lug 21 can be provided, which extends from the first connection interface 11 of the lower printed circuit 10 of fig. 1 to the second connection interface 12 of the upper printed circuit 10 of fig. 1. Thus, the leds 41 of each printed circuit 10 are all powered by current.

In summary, only the lower printed circuit 10 of fig. 1 is directly connected to the connection block 30 of the power supply circuit, whereas the two upper printed circuits 10 of fig. 1 are connected only to the adjacent printed circuits of the lower part of fig. 1.

Note that the circuits 10 are identical and can therefore be interchanged, and that only one numbered printed circuit 10 can be mounted on the steering wheel.

The first and second connection interfaces 11 and 12 can comprise male or female connectors, it being only necessary to provide suitable connectors on the

connection pieces

21 and 22.

Although a mechanical connector is present at the first connection interface 11 of the upper printed circuit 10 of fig. 1, it is conceivable that no mechanical connector is installed, the first connection interface then being a "bare" part of the printed circuit, where only tracks on the printed circuit ready for connection are present. In this case, the printed circuits 10 are no longer all identical, but such an embodiment saves two mechanical connectors.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the arrangement of the same printed circuit 10 for mounting on the rim of a steering wheel. Only the connecting pieces are different from the previous example, and thus the description thereof and the components will not be repeated.

In this embodiment, there are still 4 printed circuits 10, but each printed circuit 10 is directly connected to a connection block 30.

Therefore, each printed circuit 10 of the lower portion is connected to the power supply circuit via its second connection interface 12 through the connection pad 32, and each printed circuit 10 of the upper portion is connected to the power supply circuit via its second connection interface 12 through the connection pad 31.

Fig. 3 shows a vehicle steering wheel according to the invention, the footprint A, B, C, D of each printed circuit 10 being located below the surface of the rim of the steering wheel.

It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to make obvious changes and/or optimisation to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present specification without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle, comprising:

-at least one first printed circuit (10) comprising at least one first and second electrical connection interface (11, 12),

-at least one electric and/or electronic component (41) embedded in said at least one first printed circuit (10),

-at least one power supply circuit,

characterized in that said at least one first printed circuit (10) is arranged to be able to connect said at least one electrical and/or electronic component (41) to said at least one power supply circuit indifferently through one or the other of said at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces (11, 12).

2. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, comprising:

-at least one second printed circuit (10) comprising at least one first and second electrical connection interface (11, 12),

-at least one electrical and/or electronic component (41) embedded in said at least one second printed circuit (10),

characterized in that each of said printed circuits (10) is arranged to connect its embedded electrical and/or electronic components (41) indifferently to said at least one power supply circuit through one or the other of said at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces (11, 12),

wherein a first one of the at least one first printed circuit and the at least one second printed circuit is connected to the at least one power supply circuit through a first connection interface,

wherein the at least one second printed circuit (10) is connected to the at least one power supply circuit by a second connection interface.

3. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, comprising:

wherein only the at least one first printed circuit (10) is connected to the power supply circuit by one of the at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces (11, 12),

wherein one of the at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces (11, 12) of the at least one second printed circuit (10) is connected to the other of the at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces (11, 12) of the at least one first printed circuit (10).

4. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrical connection interface (11) has a different geometry than the second electrical connection interface (12).

5. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, comprising:

wherein the at least one first and second electrical connection interfaces (11, 12) are identical for each printed circuit (10) and between each printed circuit (10).

6. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, comprising at least one connection arranged between and connected to said at least one first printed circuit and said at least one second printed circuit.

7. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said at least one connection element is a connecting tab (21, 22; 31, 32).

8. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a rim, and wherein said at least one first printed circuit (10) is arranged along a portion of the rim of the steering wheel.

9. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one embedded electrical and/or electronic component (41) is an optical device.

10. The steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first and second electrical connection interfaces (11, 12) comprise at least one connector.

11. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to claim 10, in which the at least one connector is a female connector.

12. A motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims.