EP3418852B1 - Control device and steering wheel equipped with such a device, in particular for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a control device, in particular a steering wheel control device, in particular for a motor vehicle.

In this field, it is known to arrange on a front face of the arms of a steering wheel first actuators serving to display information on the dashboard or to control various driving assistance systems or entertainment for vehicle occupants. It is also known to have second actuators such as control paddles for an automatic gearbox behind the steering wheel.

The advantage of such an arrangement is that the first and second actuators can be actuated by the fingers of the same hand of a user such as the thumb for the first actuators and the other fingers of the hand for the second.

As shown in figure 1 , the first actuators 1 and the second actuators 2 are integrated in respective control modules 3, 4 connected by an electrical harness 5.

The control modules 3 integrating the first actuators 1 comprise a connector 6 serving to connect the electrical harness 5 connecting the control modules 3, 4 to each other.

The control modules 4 integrating the paddles 2 are independent and include switches 7, intended to be activated by the paddles 4 when the latter are actuated by the user, as well as processing means 8, transmitting the signals coming from the switches 7 to electrical harness 5.

Such a configuration requires a complex assembly in several operations comprising in particular a step of passing the electrical harness 5 through the arms of the steering wheel then the connection of the harness 5 to the connector 6 dedicated to the electrical connection of the modules 3, 4. The harness 5 must then be installed in housings provided in foam blocks forming an inner part of the arms, in order to hide them from view once the assembly of the steering wheel is complete.

We also know from the document US 8,158,897 B2 a manual control device with two control modules and two processing elements. The control modules are mechanically integral with each other, each actuating its own processing unit.

The present invention aims to solve the above problems and proposes in this sense a manual control device, in particular for a motor vehicle, said device comprising first and second control modules, respectively provided with a first and a second control interfaces , intended to be actuated by the same hand of a user, said first and second control modules being configured to be mounted on either side of an arm of a steering wheel, said device further comprising an actuator, configured to be actuated by the second interface, said first control module comprising a processing unit, in relation to said first interface and said actuator, for converting an actuation of said first and second interfaces into control signals, said actuator comprising a rigid rod, said first control module comprising a first housing, said first housing having a passage well, said e rod being movable through said passage well, said second control module comprising a second housing and said second housing having a base provided with a passage orifice, said rod being movable through said passage orifice.

In this way, thanks to the invention, the second control module, while remaining independent, no longer has to be connected to the first control module by a harness. Indeed, the actuation of the second interface is transmitted to the first module via the actuator. The single processing unit of the first module thus manages both the actuation of the first control interface and the actuation of the second control interface. In other words, the detection of the actuation of the second interface and its conversion into a control signal has been moved to the level of the first control module. The actuation of the second interface therefore no longer has to be processed by the second control module or transmitted to the first control module by an electrical harness, which has become useless. This avoids the delicate assembly and connection operations encountered with the devices of the state of the art. The processing means necessarily associated with the second interfaces in the second modules for the purpose of converting an actuation of said second interfaces into control signals are also eliminated.

• ladite première interface comprend un premier organe d'actionnement manuel,
• ledit premier organe d'actionnement manuel est destiné à être localisé en face avant d'un bras du volant,
• ledit premier organe d'actionnement est destiné à être actionné dans une direction parallèle à un plan d'extension du volant,
• ledit premier organe d'actionnement est destinée à être actionné par un pouce de ladite main,
• ledit premier organe d'actionnement est une molette mobile en rotation,
• ladite deuxième interface comprend un deuxième organe d'actionnement,
• ledit deuxième organe d'actionnement est destiné à être localisé en face arrière du volant,
• ledit deuxième organe d'actionnement est destiné à être actionné dans une direction transversale/orthogonale au plan d'extension du volant,
• ledit deuxième organe d'actionnement est destiné à être actionné par un des doigts de ladite main, différent du pouce,
• ledit deuxième organe d'actionnement est une palette.
• ledit actionneur comprend une tige rigide, un câble bowden, un capteur optique et/ou un capteur magnétique,
• ladite tige est configurée pour être entrainée par ladite deuxième interface de commande, en particulier ladite palette,
• ledit premier module de commande comprend un premier boîtier, ladite première interface de commande, en particulier ladite molette, est mobile par rapport audit premier boîtier,
• ledit premier boitier présente un couvercle muni d'un puits de passage, ladite tige étant mobile à travers ledit puits de passage,
• ledit deuxième module de commande comprend un deuxième boîtier, ladite deuxième interface de commande, en particulier ladite palette, étant mobile par rapport audit deuxième boîtier,
• ledit deuxième boitier présente une base munie d'un orifice de passage, ladite tige étant mobile à travers ledit orifice de passage,
• ledit organe de traitement comprend une carte de commande,
• ledit premier module de commande comprend un commutateur, relié audit organe de traitement, en particulier à ladite carte de commande, ledit commutateur étant apte à être activé par ledit actionneur, en particulier ladite tige,
• ledit commutateur comprend une membrane silicone,
• ledit commutateur est un micro commutateur,
• ledit commutateur comprend un capteur optique et/ou un capteur magnétique,
• ledit organe de traitement, en particulier ladite carte de commande, comprend une unité de traitement, configurée pour traiter des signaux provenant dudit commutateur et de ladite première interface,
• ledit dispositif comprend un faisceau de transmission d'informations, relié audit organe de traitement, en particulier à ladite carte de commande, ledit faisceau étant configuré pour transférer des informations provenant de ladite unité de traitement,
• ladite deuxième interface est configurée pour être localisé en vis-à-vis dudit commutateur,
• ledit dispositif comprend des moyens de positionnement relatif du premier et du deuxième modules de commande, en particulier du premier et du deuxième boîtiers,
• ladite tige est rectiligne.

According to additional characteristics of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

• said first interface comprises a first manual actuation member,
• said first manual actuation member is intended to be located on the front face of an arm of the steering wheel,
• said first actuating member is intended to be actuated in a direction parallel to an extension plane of the steering wheel,
• said first actuating member is intended to be actuated by a thumb of said hand,
• said first actuating member is a wheel movable in rotation,
• said second interface comprises a second actuation member,
• said second actuating member is intended to be located on the rear face of the steering wheel,
• said second actuating member is intended to be actuated in a direction transverse/orthogonal to the steering wheel extension plane,
• said second actuating member is intended to be actuated by one of the fingers of said hand, different from the thumb,
• said second actuating member is a pallet.
• said actuator comprises a rigid rod, a bowden cable, an optical sensor and/or a magnetic sensor,
• said rod is configured to be driven by said second control interface, in particular said pallet,
• said first control module comprises a first housing, said first control interface, in particular said wheel, is movable relative to said first housing,
• said first box has a cover provided with a passage well, said rod being movable through said passage well,
• said second control module comprises a second housing, said second control interface, in particular said pallet, being movable relative to said second housing,
• said second box has a base provided with a passage orifice, said rod being movable through said passage orifice,
• said processing unit comprises a control card,
• said first control module comprises a switch, connected to said processing unit, in particular to said control card, said switch being able to be activated by said actuator, in particular said rod,
• said switch comprises a silicone membrane,
• said switch is a micro switch,
• said switch comprises an optical sensor and/or a magnetic sensor,
• said processing unit, in particular said control card, comprises a processing unit, configured to process signals originating from said switch and from said first interface,
• said device comprises an information transmission beam, connected to said processing unit, in particular to said control card, said beam being configured to transfer information coming from said processing unit,
• said second interface is configured to be located opposite said switch,
• said device comprises means for relative positioning of the first and of the second control modules, in particular of the first and of the second boxes,
• said rod is straight.

The invention also relates to a steering wheel comprising an arm and equipped with a control device as described above, said first control module and said second control module being located on either side of said arm.

• ledit bras présente un logement pour le passage dudit actionneur, en particulier de ladite tige,
• ledit logement forme un canal de passage de ladite tige,
• ledit logement est de forme cylindrique, de section sensiblement identique à une section dudit puits.

According to additional characteristics of the invention which may be taken together or separately:

• said arm has a housing for the passage of said actuator, in particular of said rod,
• said housing forms a passage channel for said rod,
• said housing is cylindrical in shape, of section substantially identical to a section of said well.

• la Figure 1, déjà commentée, est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif selon l'état de l'art,
• la Figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention, selon une première orientation,
• la Figure 3 reprend la Figure 2 selon une autre orientation,
• la Figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale d'après la figure 2, en élévation, d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention,
• la Figure 5 est une vue de face d'un volant selon la présente invention.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of a practical example, illustrated with the drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 , already commented on, is a perspective view of a device according to the state of the art,
• the Figure 2 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a first orientation,
• the Figure 3 take it back Figure 2 in another direction,
• the Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view from the figure 2 , in elevation, of a device according to the invention,
• the Figure 5 is a front view of a steering wheel according to the present invention.

As shown in figure 2 and 3 , the invention relates to a manual control device, in particular for a motor vehicle. It may in particular be a steering wheel control device.

Said device comprises a first control module 10, provided with a first control interface 14, and a second control module 12, provided with a second control interface 16. Said control interfaces 14, 16 are intended to be actuated by the same hand of a user, for example the thumb for the first interface 14 and the other fingers of the hand for the second interface 16. The device illustrated here is intended for manipulation by a left hand but, by symmetry, the The invention applies just as well to control interfaces intended to be controlled by a right hand.

Said first and second control modules 10, 12 are configured to be mounted on either side of an arm of a steering wheel. The steering wheel is not shown here. The arm on either side of which said first and second control modules are intended to be mounted passes between said first and second control modules 10, 12 and has one end, linked to the center of the steering wheel, intended to be on the right of the figure, and an opposite end, linked to the circumference of the steering wheel, intended to be on the left of the figure. An intermediate plate 17 here illustrates the location through which said arm passes. Its inclined orientation does not predict the orientation of the arm.

As is best seen at the picture 3 , said first interface 14 advantageously comprises a first manual actuation member 18. Here it is intended to be located on the front face of an arm of the steering wheel, downwards in the figure. Said first actuating member 18 is intended to be actuated, for example, in a direction, marked Z, parallel to a plane, marked P, of extension of the steering wheel. Said first actuating member 18 may be a knob, rotatable about its axis in one direction or the other, said axis of rotation being parallel to a direction, marked Y, of extension of the steering wheel. Said first control module 10 is equipped with a first spring element to return the wheel to the intermediate rest position after actuation. Such an actuation member 18 can be used for a large number of functions at the choice of the automobile manufacturer, such as the display of information on the dashboard, the adjustment of values, in particular of the speed in an automatic control system of speed, or the selection of various parameters in other driving assistance or entertainment systems for the passengers of the vehicle.

Said second interface advantageously comprises a second actuation member 20. Here it is intended to be located on the rear face of the steering wheel, towards the top in the figure. Said second actuating member 18 is intended to be actuated, for example in a direction, marked X, transverse, in particular orthogonal, to the steering wheel extension plane. Said second actuating member may be a pallet. Such a pallet is intended to be actuated, for example, in the direction of the steering wheel. Said second control module 12 is equipped with a second spring element to return the pallet in the opposite direction to the rest position after actuation. Such a pallet is intended, for example, for controlling an automatic gearbox system, in particular for adjusting the transmission ratio values between the engine and the wheels of the vehicle.

Advantageously, said device is configured to convert the actuation of the first or of the second control interfaces 14, 16 into information intended to be transmitted to various management units of the vehicle.

Said first module 10 here comprises a beam 20 for transmitting said information, said beam 20 being common to the first and second control modules 10, 12. This means that said beam 20, although linked only to the first module 10, transmits the all of the information relating to the actuation of the first and second control interfaces 14, 16. As illustrated in figure 4 , according to the invention, said device further comprises an actuator 22. Said actuator 22 is configured to be actuated by the second interface 16 of the second control module 12. At the same time, said first control module 10 comprises a processing unit 24. Said processing member 24 is related to said first interface 14, in particular said wheel, in particular using contacting means 25. Said processing member 24 is also related to said actuator 22. The relationship established between the processing unit 24, on the one hand, and said first interface 14 and said actuator 22, on the other hand, is intended to convert an actuation of said first and second interfaces 14, 16 into control signals.

In this way, the actuation of the first control interface 14 as of the second control interface 16 is converted by the same processing unit 24, this rather than processing separately the information relating to the actuation of the second control interface 16 then to transmit them from the second control module 12 to the first control module 10 by a specific cable, as in the devices of the state of the art mentioned above.

Such operation is made possible thanks to the actuator 22 which transmits the movement of the second control interface 16, through the arm of the steering wheel, configured in this sense, to said processing unit 24.

Said actuator 22 is here a rigid rod 26. It is for example a rectilinear rod, advantageously ribbed longitudinally.

Said rod 26 is configured to be driven by said second control interface 16, in particular said pallet, for example by a sliding connection between a rear face 28 of said pallet and a top 30, possibly rounded, of said rod 26.

Said first control module here comprises a first box 32. Said first control interface 14, in particular said wheel, is movable relative to said first box 32. Said first box 32 here has a cover 34, provided with a passage well 36, projecting transversely, in particular orthogonally, to one side of said cover 34 intended to be located opposite the steering wheel arm. Said rod 26 is movable through said passage well 36. For its part, said arm, in particular said intermediate plate 17, has a first passage 37, intended to allow said well 36 and said rod 26 to pass.

Said second control module 12 comprises, for example, a second box 38. Said second control interface 16, in particular said pallet, is movable relative to said second box 38. Said second box 38 has a base 40, intended to be located opposite the steering wheel arm, provided with a passage orifice 42. Said rod 26 is movable through said passage orifice 42.

Said processing unit 24 comprises, for example, a control board 44, in particular a PCB (Printed Circuit Board or printed circuit board).

Said first control module 10 also advantageously comprises a switch 46, connected to said processing unit 24, in particular to said control card 44. Said switch 46 is capable of being activated by said actuator 22, in particular said rod 26. Said switch comprises, for example, a silicone membrane, intended to detect the movements of the rod 26. Said switch may also be a microswitch, a switch with an optical and/or magnetic sensor or others.

Said processing unit 24, in particular said control card 44, comprises a processing unit, for example a microprocessor, not shown, configured to process signals coming from said switch 46, and corresponding to the actuation of said pallet , as well as said first interface 14, and corresponding to the actuation of the latter.

Said information transmission beam 20 is here connected to said processing unit 24, in particular to said control card 44, for example using a connector 21. Said beam 20 is configured to transfer information coming from said processing unit.

In the example illustrated, said second interface 16 is configured to be located opposite said switch 46. Thus, a contact zone between said pallet and said rod 26, said rod 26 itself, and said switch 46 are in the straight extension of each other, on either side and across the arm of the steering wheel. According to other configurations, not shown, a shift is possible, in particular by providing the actuator with a return mechanism.

Said device may further comprise means for relative positions of the first and said second casing 32, 38. Said first relative positioning means here comprise a tenon 48 projecting orthogonally to the face of said cover 34 intended to be opposite screw of the steering wheel arm, and a light 50, located on the base 40 of said second housing 38. Said tenon 48 and said light 50 are configured to allow the screwing of a screw 52 of said device, this through said light 50 provided in the base 40 and in a bore of said tenon 48. The steering wheel arm, in particular said intermediate plate 17, comprises a second passage 54 for said tenon 48.

The invention also relates to a steering wheel comprising an arm and equipped with a control device as described above.

As already indicated, said first control module 10 and said second control module 12 are located on either side of said arm, in particular on its front and back faces. More specifically, said first and second boxes 32, 38 are integrated into the arm so as to be concealed from view, only the wheel and the paddle respectively associated with each being visible and/or reachable.

Said arm has a housing for the passage of said actuator 22, in particular of said rod 26, in particular formed in a frame and/or blocks of foam forming said arm. The same may apply for the passage of the tenon 48. Said housing forms, for example, a passage channel for said rod 26. Said channel is, in particular, of cylindrical shape, of section substantially identical to a section of said well 36.

Claims (11)

1. Manual control device, in particular for a motor vehicle, said device comprising first (10) and second (12) control modules, which are respectively provided with a first (14) and a second (16) control interface, which are intended to be actuated by one and the same hand of a user, said device also comprising an actuator (22), configured to be actuated by the second interface (16), said first and second control modules (10, 12) being configured to be mounted on either side of an arm of a steering wheel, said first control module (10) comprising a processing member (24), associated with said first interface (10) and said actuator (22), for converting an actuation of said first and second interfaces (14, 16) into control signals, said actuator (22) comprising a rigid stem (26), wherein said first control module (10) comprises a first casing (32), said first casing (32) having a through-tunnel (36), said stem (26) being movable through said through-tunnel (36), and characterized in that said second control module (12) comprises a second casing (38), said second casing (38) having a base (40) provided with a through-orifice (42), said stem (26) being movable through said through-orifice (42) .
2. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein said stem (26) is configured to be driven by said second control interface (16).
3. Device according to either one of the preceding claims, wherein said processing member (24) comprises a control board (44).
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first control module (10) comprises a switch (46) connected to said processing member (24), said switch (24) being able to be activated by said actuator (22) .
5. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein said switch (46) comprises a silicone membrane.
6. Device according to Claim according to either one of Claims 4 and 5, wherein said processing member (24) comprises a processing unit configured to process signals coming from said switch (46) and from said first interface (14).
7. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein said device comprises an information-transmitting bundle (20) connected to said processing member (24), said bundle (20) being configured to transfer information coming from said processing unit.
8. Device according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, wherein said second interface (16) is configured to be located opposite said switch (46).
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said device comprises means for relative positioning of the first and second control modules (10, 12) .
10. Steering wheel comprising an arm and equipped with a control device according to any one of the preceding claims.
11. Steering wheel according to the preceding claim, wherein said arm has a housing for the passage of said actuator.

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