CN116325510A

CN116325510A - Steering wheel mounted display assembly maintaining upright orientation regardless of rotational position

Info

Publication number: CN116325510A
Application number: CN202180063902.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·A·梅维尔; C·阿卢; C·索阿维; T·D·康内曼
Original assignee: Kuster North America Inc
Current assignee: Kuster North America Inc
Priority date: 2020-09-17
Filing date: 2021-09-17
Publication date: 2023-06-23
Also published as: WO2022072153A1; EP4214732A1

Abstract

A steering wheel mounted visual display includes a housing that is coupled at a location defined within a circumference of a steering wheel and has a graphical display output. Upon rotation of the steering wheel, the display adjusts to remain in an upright orientation. The housing further includes a main lower housing and an assemblable upper housing sandwiching a display component providing a graphical display output. The display component further includes a fixed inner component, a display support, and a PCB component that cooperate to automatically update the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

Description

Steering wheel mounted display assembly maintaining upright orientation regardless of rotational position

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a continuation of the portion of application 17/180,920 filed on 22 nd 2 nd 2021. Application 17/180920 claims priority from U.S. provisional application 62/979,794 filed on day 21 of 2/2020. This application is a continuation of the portion of application Ser. No. 17/178,881 filed on day 2021, 2, 18. Application 17/178881 claims priority from U.S. provisional application 62/978,400 filed on day 19 of 2/2020. The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional application 63/079,620 filed on 9/17 of 2020.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a steering wheel mounted assembly for providing any of transmission gear, drive mode or vehicle performance indicators. The display portion may include, but is not limited to, any combination of TFT/OLED or segmented display aspects and is integrated into a housing mounted anywhere within the circumference of the steering wheel. Any of the displays or the entire assembly incorporated into the steering wheel may be constructed in accordance with a number of variations, including a first all-electronic variation in which the image is updated within the device in response to rotation of the steering wheel so as to maintain an upright display orientation. A physical variation of the assembly includes a weight component for rotating the display in response to rotation of the steering wheel to again maintain the upright orientation. In another physical variation, the device including the display is rotated via either a gear or pulley to maintain the upright steering wheel orientation.

Background

The prior art describes interactive user interfaces, such as may be incorporated into a steering wheel. Such an example is set forth in US10,780,909 to Aerts et al for an interactive user interface for a steering wheel. The user interface allows navigation of a set of controls associated with a menu provided through the user interface based on the recognized gesture movement.

Another example is the reconfigurable vehicle user interface system of US8,406,961 to Pathak et al, which provides touch sensitive input devices such as touchpads and touchscreens with specific functional commands mapped to them. The user may select which function commands are mapped to which portions of the touch screen, which allows the user to customize the steering wheel function commands.

US2016/0375924 to Bodtker et al discloses a steering wheel for a vehicle comprising a steering wheel hub having an electronic display in a first portion and a keypad in operative communication with the display in a second portion.

Disclosure of Invention

A steering wheel mounted visual display includes a housing coupled at a defined location within a circumference of a steering wheel, the display having a graphical display output. The display adjusts to maintain a continuous upright orientation as the steering wheel is rotated.

The housing further includes a main lower housing and an assemblable upper housing sandwiching a display component providing a graphical display output. The display component further includes a fixed inner component, a display support, and a PCB component that cooperate to automatically update the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

The display component further includes a solid rotation adjustment internal component coupled to each of the weight, PCB component, base and support ball bearing component for rotating the continuous graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel. The display member further includes a solid rotation adjustment inner member coupled to each of the display support, the display support having the display member disposed on a front side thereof, the PCB member being located on a back side of the display support, and a harness connector extending from the display member through the support to the PCB member.

The outer toothed base member is secured to the ball bearing collar member with fasteners. The motor includes a toothed output shaft that is in engagement with the outer tooth profile of the base member and operates in response to input from the PCB to the motor to rotate the base and the supported display to maintain an upright orientation.

Other features associated with visual displays include any of thin film displays (TFTs), transistor LCDs, or Organic LED (OLED) display variants that allow for the creation of any representation within the display surface geometry that is not limited to color, pattern, or intensity. The display may also include any of transmission gear, drive mode, or vehicle performance indicators.

Drawings

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a display device incorporated into a vehicle steering wheel, the device being controllable by any of capacitive touch and/or gesture control, and being automatically oriented so as to be presented upright to a driver regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the steering wheel mounted device of FIG. 1;

3-3A, 4-4A, 5-5A, and 6-6A present a series of views of an enlarged subset view of the entire steering wheel and mounted display 10, respectively, and illustrate real-time correction of a displayed image or physical element in response to rotation of the steering wheel;

FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of an all-electronic fastening system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the all-electronic fastening system of FIG. 7;

9-9A and 10-10A provide first and second pairs of illustrations of a steering wheel in an upright position and a 180 degree rotated position, respectively, wherein a display component of the device is updated to compensate for the angle of rotation of the steering wheel;

11-12 illustrate a pair of partial cross-sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 9-10, and with reference to FIG. 12, which depicts updating images based on steering wheel orientation to present them upright;

FIG. 13 is an assembled perspective view of a weight system for physically adjusting the orientation of a graphic display;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the weight system of FIG. 13;

15-15A and 16-16A correspond to FIGS. 9-9A and 10-10A and depict a steering wheel and an enlarged display in an upright position and a 180 degree rotated position, respectively, utilizing the weight system of FIG. 13;

17-18 illustrate a pair of partial cross-sectional views of the weight assembly, as best shown in FIG. 18, rotation of the steering wheel causing the weight to seek gravity and rotate the entire device within the housing so as to maintain an upright orientation;

FIG. 19 is an assembled perspective view of a motor drive system for redirecting a display in response to rotation of a steering wheel;

FIG. 20 is an exploded view of the motor drive system of FIG. 19;

FIGS. 21-21A and 22-22A correspond to each of FIGS. 9-9A and 10-10A and FIGS. 15-15A and 16-16A, and depict the steering wheel in an upright position and a 180 degree rotated position;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 19, the assembly being responsive to rotation of the steering wheel to rotate the entire mechanism by actuation of the motor drive mechanism to maintain the display in an upright orientation;

24-26 provide a series of illustrations of a steering wheel in which the device is mounted in different positions (center, lower, side);

FIG. 27 is a representative illustration of a display in the form of a conventional gear shift selector;

28A-28E provide a representative selection of a series of alternative graphical display options incorporated into a display component;

FIG. 29 is an illustration of an alternative mounting arrangement in which the toggle assembly is located on the steering wheel so that the user's fingers are readily accessible when the hand is supported on the steering wheel;

FIG. 30 is a view similar to FIG. 29, with the steering wheel in an initial upright orientation in alignment;

FIG. 31 is a subsequent view from FIG. 21, wherein the steering wheel has been rotated counterclockwise approximately 90 degrees and the toggle converter has also been cooperatively rotated within the steering wheel so as to maintain a continuous upright orientation regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel;

FIG. 32 illustrates a first alternative variation for cooperatively rotating a toggle-type transducer assembly as an operator rotates a steering wheel, and which includes a toothed or other frictionally engaged drive belt interconnecting a rotationally shaped toggle-type transducer with a center support gear incorporated into the steering wheel;

FIG. 33 shows a second alternative mechanical variation of FIG. 29, in which a series of interconnected drive wheels are provided for cooperatively rotating a toggle-type transducer of the rotational shape in response to rotation of the steering wheel;

FIG. 34 illustrates a third electrical drive option in which rotation of the steering wheel is translated into corresponding rotation of the rotary switch element using the sensor arrangement;

FIG. 35 illustrates another electronic redirection variant of a toggle converter assembly by which steering wheel angle is measured with a sensor system for continuously redirecting any type of capacitive or other touch screen display positioned on the steering wheel to an upright viewing position;

FIG. 36 provides another variation in which the electronic redirection display is provided separately with a separate and likewise redirected toggle member;

FIG. 37 shows yet another variation of a rotational adjustment/redirection display by which a center joystick is incorporated into a redesigned directional display; and

FIG. 38 is a subset variation including an auto-reorientation XY toggle incorporated into a rotatable display.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, the present invention discloses a number of variations of steering wheel mounted assemblies for providing any of transmission gear, drive mode or vehicle performance indicators. As will be further described, any of the displays or the entire assembly are incorporated into the steering wheel and may be constructed in accordance with a number of variants, including a first all-electronic variant in which the image is updated within the device in response to rotation of the steering wheel, maintaining an upright display orientation. A related physical variation of the assembly includes a weight member for rotating the display in response to rotation of the steering wheel to again maintain the upright orientation. Another physical variation is provided in which the device including the display is rotated via either of a motor actuated gear or pulley in order to maintain an upright steering wheel orientation.

Before describing the three main variations shown herein, the relevant display portions in each variation may include, but are not limited to, any combination of TFT/OLED or segmented display aspects and be integrated into a housing mounted anywhere within the circumference of the steering wheel. The present invention also contemplates an improved graphic display for incorporation into a transducer assembly to provide identification of transducer position. The display may be, but is not limited to, any of the combination thin film display (TFT), transistor LCD, or Organic LED (OLED) display variants, and which allows creation of any representation within the display surface geometry that is not limited to color, pattern, or intensity (again, for example, not limited to circular displays in a rotary converter or rectangular displays associated with a linear gate converter).

The invention also allows the use of a clear display surface (without any painting or etching associated with the known transducer position indication PNRD) and is limited only by the operating software transmitted from the associated circuit board and microcontroller. Additional features may include a programmed surface display (e.g., associated with an OLED/TFT variant) that shows the currently selected gear in an enlarged depiction in the center of the graphical display. The PCBA board may also include a master microcontroller having a serial communication protocol that is not limited to any of LIN, SPI, and I2C. Other features include a PCBA board that shows a master microcontroller with a serial communication protocol that is not limited to any parallel interface established between the master microcontroller and the graphics display.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a display device is shown generally at 10 that is incorporated into a vehicle steering wheel 12. According to any of the variants described herein, the device can be controlled by any of capacitive touch and/or gesture control and can be automatically oriented so as to be presented upright to the driver, regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the steering wheel mounted device of fig. 1 and shows the individual components incorporated into the central location of the steering wheel 12. As will be further described, the assembly can be arranged at any location within the circumference of the steering wheel and can include any arrangement of information, not limited to gear shift selection (PRNDM/S), driving mode selector (snowy, rainy, sports, etc.), and/or four by four, low, etc. Without limitation, the display may also present any other desired vehicle performance indicator (e.g., engine oil life status, average MPG, tire pressure, etc.).

The device mounted in the steering wheel also presents information to the driver by enabling the driver to confirm or select/change any displayed information. Fig. 3-3A, 4-4A, 5-5A, and 6-6A present a series of views of the entire steering wheel mounted display 10, and corresponding enlarged subset views of the display, respectively, showing real-time correction of the display image (or corresponding rotation of the physical unit) in response to rotation of the steering wheel. This includes a continuous 90 degree counterclockwise rotational movement depicted in fig. 4-6, respectively, from the initial steering wheel position of fig. 3, during which the display images (see again fig. 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A) are shown as being held in an upright orientation.

Referring to fig. 7, an assembled perspective view of an all-electronic fastening system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is again shown at 10. Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the all-electronic fastening system of fig. 7, including an annular lower housing 14 and an assemblable annular upper housing 16 having an inner peripheral edge 18. A graphic display 20 (which may be selected, for example, from the foregoing options) is positioned below the upper housing 16 such that it is visible through the inner peripheral edge 18.

A display support 22 is provided for the graphic display 20 with a Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) 24 supported thereunder for communication with connectors extending from the display, including but not limited to LCD segmented display strips (also referred to as harness connectors) 25 and any additional connections, such that the entire package is contained within the lower housing 14. Also shown are a pair of fasteners 26 which assemble the packaging unit together for mounting in a desired location within the circumference of the steering wheel 12.

Fig. 9-9A and 10-10A provide paired illustrations of steering wheel 12 in an upright position and a 180 degree rotated position, respectively, wherein images presented by the display component of device 10 are automatically updated in response to compensation of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel. In this embodiment, the lower and

upper housings

14, 16 of the assembly, as well as the internally supported graphic display 20, display support 22 and PCBA24, are all stationary, and in response to rotation of the steering wheel 12, the Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) 24 causes the graphic display 20 to continually and in real-time update the presentation of images so that the images always appear upright to the driver. This is further illustrated in the partial cross-sectional views of fig. 11-12 corresponding to fig. 9-9A and 10-10A, and with reference to fig. 12, the updated images are shown to be presented upright based on steering wheel orientation.

Referring to fig. 13, an assembled perspective view of a weight system for physically adjusting the orientation of a graphic display in accordance with another non-limiting physical variation of the present invention is shown generally at 50. In combination with the motor driven variation 100 of fig. 19, the variations of fig. 13 and 19 provide an alternative physical form of automatic correction mechanism, wherein steering wheel rotation causes physical rotation of the internal components of the respective assembly (and in contrast to the first variation 10 which only updates the image to maintain an upright orientation).

Fig. 14 is an exploded view of the weight system of fig. 13 and includes an annular lower or rear housing 52 and an assemblable upper or front housing 54 having an inner peripheral extension surface 56. The inner component includes a graphical display component 58 having an extension connector 59, the graphical display component 58 being visible between the inner annular edges 56 of the upper housing 54 when assembled. The graphic display member 58 is supported by a disk or wafer-shaped weight 60. The PCBA plate 62 is positioned against the back of the weight 60 and the base 64 is positioned against the back side of the PCBA plate 62. The bearing member 66 includes an inner annular support ball 67. Fasteners 68 are provided and secure the PCBA62, the base 64, and the weight 60 to one another. The base 64 is pressed into the inner diameter of the bearing member 66 to allow the inner member (again PCBA62, base 64, weight 60 and display 58) to rotate while the outer housing member 52/54 remains stationary.

Fig. 15-15A and 16-16A correspond to fig. 9-9A and 10-10A, and depict steering wheel 12 having the weight system of fig. 13 in an upright position and a 180 degree rotated position, respectively. 17-18 illustrate a pair of partial cross-sectional views of the weight assembly, and as best shown in FIG. 18, rotation of the steering wheel causes the weight 60 to seek gravity and rotate the entire device inside the housing (see arrow 69 in FIG. 18) (again collectively including each of the display 58, weight 60, PCB62, base 64, and collar-shaped ball bearing member 66, the outer diameter of the bearing member 66 being pressed into the inner diameter of the lower housing 52 and remaining stationary). The balls 67 within the bearing member 66 and the inner diameter (see 69 in fig. 14) of the bearing member 66 are pressed into the rear housing 52 and allow the inner member to rotate during gravity-based self-adjustment to maintain an upright orientation in response to rotation of the steering wheel. As the steering wheel rotates, the weight 60 responds by seeking gravity correction to physically reset the orientation of the display to maintain an upright view to the driver/viewer, again independent of the steering wheel orientation.

Referring to fig. 19, an assembled perspective view of a motor drive system for physically redirecting a display in response to rotation of a steering wheel is again shown at 100. Fig. 20 is an exploded view of the motor drive system of fig. 19 and includes a modified lower housing 102 and an assemblable upper housing 104, which define an enclosure. The upper housing 104 includes an annular inner periphery 106, the annular inner periphery 106 defining a window for viewing a graphical display component 108 contained within the housing.

The display support 110 is depicted as positioning the graphic display 108 on the front face, while the PCBA component 112 is located on the back face thereof. Harness connector 114 is shown extending from display 108, through support 110 to PCBA112. The additional components include an externally toothed base component 116, the base component 116 being secured by press fitting through a press fit sleeve annular ball bearing component 118 into an inner diameter 117 of the ball bearing component 118 (see also annular support balls 119). The fastener 120 is again provided and secures the PCBA112, the gear component 116, and the display 108. As previously described with respect to the variation of fig. 14, the outer diameter of the ball bearing member 118 is pressed into the rear housing 102, and the inner diameter 117 of the ball bearing member 118 presses against the gear member 116 to allow the inner member to rotate freely while the outer housing remains stationary. The motor 122 includes a toothed output shaft 124, the toothed output shaft 124 meshing with the external tooth profile 116 and operating in response to input from the PCBA112 to the motor to rotate the base 116 and the supported display 108 to maintain an upright orientation upon receipt of a continuous signal determining a change in rotational position of the steering wheel.

Fig. 21-21A and 22-22A correspond to each of fig. 9-9A and 10-10A and fig. 15-15A and 16-16A, and depict the steering wheel in an upright position and a 180 degree rotated position. Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of fig. 19, and the assembly is rotated by actuation of the motor drive mechanism in response to rotation of the steering wheel 12 to maintain the display in an upright orientation. In this way, the angle of the steering wheel is read by the device, which is then compensated by the actuation of the motor drive mechanism to rotate the entire mechanism.

24-26 provide a series of illustrations of the steering wheel 12 with the device 100 mounted in different positions (center, lower, side). Fig. 27 is a representative illustration 126 of a display in the form of a conventional gear shift selector.

28A-28E provide representative selections of alternative graphical display options corresponding to terrain selections incorporated into the display component at 128, 130, 132, 134, and 136, respectively, and these selections are non-limiting. Any of the colors, layouts, etc. may be redefined entirely in different situations. As further shown, the graphical depiction of the terrain selection includes each of a road condition (128), a snow/ice terrain condition (130), a highway terrain condition (132), a mountain/rock condition (134), and a mud/roadway condition (136). In addition to what is shown, it is to be understood and appreciated that the device may be used as any type of information and selection center not limited to gear or terrain selection.

Fig. 29 is an illustration of an alternative mounting arrangement that provides a non-limiting variation of the transducer assembly (e.g., including any of the toggle or roller transducers shown) and which may present a redesigned rotary-shaped housing that is incorporated into the center-exposed position of the vehicle steering wheel 12 to facilitate easy access by a user's fingers when the user's hand is supported on the steering wheel 12 (at 140 and 142). As best shown in fig. 30, the toggle assembly includes a display portion 144 and a toggle knob 146 (which may also be replaced by a roller) that allow for simultaneous rotation/redirection in response to rotation of the steering wheel 12, which thereby maintains the upright orientation of the assembly at all times.

Fig. 30 is a view similar to fig. 29 with the steering wheel in an initial upright orientation in alignment. Fig. 31 is a subsequent illustration to that of fig. 30, in which the steering wheel 12 and display 100 are rotated approximately 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction, the toggle assembly likewise cooperatively rotates within the steering wheel 12, thereby maintaining a continuous upright orientation regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel.

Fig. 32 shows a first alternative variation for rotating the toggle-converter assembly 138 in cooperation with an operator rotating the steering wheel 12, and includes a toothed or other frictionally-engaged drive belt 140, which drive belt 140 interconnects the toothed or frictionally-engaged outer circumference associated with the rotationally-shaped toggle-converter assembly 138 with a center support gear or similar support 146 incorporated into the steering wheel 12. This mechanical embodiment contemplates a number of sub-variants, including a centrally located gear or support 146 defining the central rotational axis of the steering wheel 12, and the centrally located gear or support 146, in turn, is capable of rotating in unison when rotated by an operator to impart a continuous upright orientation to the circular cross-section transducer assembly 138. This further contemplates the steering wheel support assembly being supported within a bearing ring or similar device (not shown) to permit free rotation in response to the action of the drive belt 140.

Referring to fig. 33, a second alternative mechanical variation of fig. 32 is shown in which a series of interconnected drive wheels are provided for cooperating reconfiguration of the rotary toggle converter 148 in response to rotation of the steering wheel 12. The sun gear or support is reconfigured as shown at 150 and presents a toothed outer profile 152. An intermediate gear 154 is provided and the intermediate gear 154 transmits rotation of the gear 150 defined by the central axis to the toothed exterior of the reconfigured toggle converter 148 to achieve a similarly upright retention orientation of the assembly.

Fig. 34 shows a third electrically driven option, wherein a sensor arrangement is used to convert rotation of the steering wheel 12 into corresponding actuation and rotation of an electric motor 156 operating as a power switching element. As shown, the motor output shaft 158 incorporates a bevel gear portion 160, which bevel gear portion 160 in turn contacts the outer tooth profile of the transducer 148 and converts the angle of rotation of the steering wheel into real-time rotation of the transducer when the motor is actuated by a separate sensor (not shown) in order to maintain its upright orientation.

Referring to fig. 35, there is shown another electronic redirection variant 162 of a toggle-type transducer assembly by which steering wheel angle is measured with a similar sensor system (not shown) to continually redirect the assembly to an upright viewing position. Without limitation, the component 162 incorporates any type of capacitive or other touch screen display that includes two PRND tags (

zones

164, 166, 168, and 170). In this particular variation, the toggle element is replaced with an up arrow 172 and a down arrow 174 for switching gear positions by using any type of capacitive touch or other touch screen function.

Fig. 36 provides another variation in which the electronic redirection display 176 is provided separately from the same rotating/redirecting toggle element 180. The various elements cooperatively rotate (see arrows 182 and 184) in response to any mechanical or electronic input not limited to those described herein in order to maintain toggle element 180 and engaged display 176 in an upright orientation.

Fig. 37 shows yet another variation of a rotational adjustment/redirection display, see 186, and by this variation a center joystick or toggle portion 188 is incorporated into the redesigned directional display. As in the previous embodiments, rotation of the steering wheel 12 causes the sensor or other redirecting unit to responsively cause rotation of the display (see double-headed arrow 190). A subset variant of this configuration may include a central joystick or toggle that is fixed or rotatable with a concentric externally positioned display portion, manipulation of the joystick providing displacement between indicated positions on the display.

Finally, fig. 38 also shows a subset variant (further rotatably bi-directional actuated as indicated by arrow 194) that includes an auto-reorientation XY toggle 192. In this case, a separate display (not shown) may optionally be provided at another location (e.g., a fixed location) of the vehicle for providing a readout display of the selected transducer location.

In summary, placing the device and assembly of the present invention within the steering wheel results in more upright display options for reducing the amount of head movement and amount of time that the driver must take to perform the required conversion/selector operation, which in turn results in an overall safer action.

Having described the invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The detailed description and drawings are also to be understood as supporting the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims. While the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed teachings have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims.

The foregoing disclosure is also to be understood as not being limited to the precise forms or particular areas of use disclosed. Thus, various alternative embodiments and/or modifications of the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the present disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the claims.

In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the various embodiments disclosed herein may be modified or otherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the description is to be regarded as illustrative and is intended to teach those skilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the forms of disclosure shown and described herein are to be taken as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes or steps may be substituted for those representatively illustrated and described herein. Moreover, certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Expressions such as "comprising," "including," "combining," "consisting of," "having," "being" and the like, which describe the present disclosure and claim the present disclosure, are intended to be interpreted in a non-exclusive manner, i.e., allowing for the existence of items, components, or elements that are not explicitly described as well. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.

Furthermore, the various embodiments disclosed herein are to be understood in an illustrative and explanatory sense and should in no way be construed as limiting the invention. All joinder references (e.g., attached, affixed, coupled, connected, etc.) are merely to aid the reader in understanding the disclosure, and are not limiting, particularly with respect to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Accordingly, if any joinder references are provided, they should be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other.

In addition, all numerical terms such as, but not limited to, "first," "second," "third," "primary," "secondary," "primary," or any other common and/or numerical terms, should also be construed as merely identifiers to aid the reader in understanding the various elements, embodiments, variations, and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and without any limitation, particularly as to the order or preference of any element, embodiment, variation, and/or modification relative to or above another element, embodiment, variation, and/or modification.

It should also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the figures/illustrations may also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. In addition, any signal hatching in the drawings/figures should be considered exemplary only, and not limiting unless specifically stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A steering wheel mounted visual display, comprising:

a housing coupled at a location defined within a circumference of the steering wheel and including a graphical display output; and

the display output is adjusted to maintain an upright orientation as the steering wheel rotates.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a main lower housing and an upper housing that is assemblable, the display output further comprising a display member sandwiched between the upper and lower housings.

3. A display according to claim 2, wherein the display component further comprises a fixed internal component, a display support and a PCBA component that cooperate to automatically update the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

4. The display of claim 2, wherein the display component further comprises a solid rotation-adjusting internal component in combination with each of the weight, PCBA component, base, and support ball bearing component for continuously rotating the display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

5. The display of claim 2, wherein the display component further comprises a solid rotation-adjustable internal component in combination with each of a display support that positions the display component on a front face thereof, a PCBA component on a back face of the display support, and a harness connector extending from the display component through the support to the PCB component.

6. The display of claim 5, further comprising an outer toothed base member secured over the ball bearing housing annular member with fasteners; a motor comprising a toothed output shaft that meshes with the outer tooth profile of the base component and operates in response to input from the PCBA component to the motor to rotate the base and supported display to maintain the upright orientation.

7. The display of claim 2, wherein the display component further comprises any of a thin film display (TFT), a transistor LCD, or an Organic LED (OLED) display, and which allows creation of any presentation within the display surface geometry that is not limited to color, pattern, or intensity.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the display output further comprises any of a transmission gear, a driving mode, or a vehicle performance indicator.

9. A steering wheel mounted visual display, comprising:

a housing incorporated at a location defined within a circumference of the steering wheel and including a graphic display output, the housing including a main lower housing and an upper housing that are assemblable, the main lower housing and the upper housing sandwiching a display member for providing the graphic display output;

the display component further includes each of a fixed inner component, a display support, and a PCBA component that cooperate to automatically update the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

10. A steering wheel mounted visual display, comprising:

a housing integrated at a location defined within a circumference of the steering wheel and including a graphic display output, the housing including a main lower housing and an upper housing that are assemblable, the main lower housing and the upper housing sandwiching a display component for providing the graphic display output;

the display component further includes each of the solid rotation-adjusted internal components in combination with each of the weight, PCBA component, base, and support ball bearing component for rotating the continuous graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

11. A steering wheel supporting gear shifter assembly, comprising:

a housing supported within the steering wheel;

a display visible through the housing and including a plurality of gear shift positions; and

rotation of the steering wheel causes the display to be continually repositioned, thereby maintaining a continuous upright orientation regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the assembly further comprises a printed circuit board assembly in communication with the display and responsive to a signal input, indicating a shift change in the gear position.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the display further comprises a capacitive touch screen, a sensor determining angular rotation of the steering wheel to reposition the display to maintain the upright orientation.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the assembly further comprises any one of a joystick and a toggle incorporated into the housing for indicating a change in the transition.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises a main lower housing and an assemblable upper housing, the display output further comprising a display member sandwiched between the upper and lower housings.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the display component further comprises a fixed inner component, a display support, and a PCBA component that cooperate to automatically update the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the display component further comprises a solid rotation-adjusting internal component in combination with each of the weight, PCBA component, base, and support ball bearing component for continuously rotating the display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the display component further comprises a solid rotation-adjustable internal component in combination with each of a display support that positions the display component on a front face thereof, a PCBA component on a back face of the display support, and a harness connector extending from the display component through the support to the PCB component.

19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises: an outer tooth base member secured into the ball bearing housing annular member with a press fit interface; a motor comprising a toothed output shaft that meshes with the outer tooth profile of the base component and operates in response to input from the PCBA component to the motor to rotate the base and supported display to maintain the upright orientation.

20. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the display component further comprises any of a thin film display (TFT), a transistor LCD, and an Organic LED (OLED) display, and which allows for any presentation within the display surface geometry that is not limited to color, pattern, or intensity.