Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/10—Controlling the intensity of the light
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/20—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments
  • B60Q3/283—Steering wheels; Gear levers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
  • H05B45/20—Controlling the colour of the light

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle parts, and in particular, to a steering wheel and an airbag module, especially for a steering wheel.
• Airbag modules are disposed in steering wheels of vehicles.
• the airbag module is generally disposed in a central region of the steering wheel.
• the airbag module may be further provided with illumination apparatuses, such as light-emitting diodes (LED), light-emitting signs and LED lamp beads. Through control over brightness, blinking and other states of the LED apparatuses, various information and instructions can be provided to a driver.
• illumination apparatuses such as light-emitting diodes (LED), light-emitting signs and LED lamp beads.
• a controller area network (CAN) communication module is usually used as an illumination control module, and is disposed in a housing of the airbag module.
• the CAN communication module receives a vehicle signal through a CAN bus for executing drive control over the illumination apparatuses. Since an airbag is contained in the housing of the airbag module, the remaining available space is relatively small, but the CAN communication module is provided with many components, so that the assembly of the LED control module is not facilitated.
• the present invention provides a steering wheel and an airbag module for a steering wheel.
• a first communication apparatus especially a first LIN communication apparatus, disposed in a cover of the steering wheel receives a control signal and a first microcontroller controls LED apparatuses, so that it is possible to simplify parts of the first control device, reduce the volume of the first control device, and facilitate the assembly of the first control device in a limited space in the steering wheel.
• the cover of the steering wheel is preferably part of the housing of the airbag module, especially a module cover.
• a steering wheel comprising: illumination apparatuses, especially LED apparatuses, disposed on a cover of the steering wheel; and a first control device disposed in the cover, wherein the first control device comprises a first communication apparatus, especially a first LIN communication apparatus, and a first microcontroller that are in communication connection with each other, and the first microcontroller is connected to the illumination apparatuses.
• the first control device further comprises an illumination driver, especially an LED driver; and the illumination driver is integrated in the first microcontroller, or the illumination driver is separated from the first microcontroller and the first microcontroller is connected to the illumination apparatuses via the illumination driver.
• the first communication apparatus, the first microcontroller and the illumination driver are integrated on a first control chip.
• the first control chip and the illumination apparatuses are integrated on a circuit board.
• the illumination driver comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the positive terminal is connected to positive electrodes of each of the illumination apparatuses, and the negative terminal is grounded; and the first microcontroller comprises a first pin connected to the positive terminal, a second pin connected to the first communication apparatus, and a plurality of third pins connected to negative electrodes of each of the illumination apparatuses.
• each of the illumination apparatuses has three branches, the positive terminal is connected to a positive electrode of each branch of each of the illumination apparatuses, and the first microcontroller is provided with the plurality of third pins each connected to a negative electrode of a respective branch of a respective illumination apparatus.
• each of the first microcontrollers is connected to two illumination apparatuses.
• the steering wheel includes a second control device disposed outside the steering wheel cover, e.g. on a main body of the steering wheel, that is connected to the first control device, wherein the second control device comprises a second communication apparatus, especially a second LIN communication apparatus, in communication connection with the first communication apparatus; and the second control device is a master control device, the first control device is a slave control device, the second communication apparatus is a transceiver, especially a LIN transceiver, and the first communication apparatus is a transceiver or a receiver, especially a LIN transceiver or a LIN receiver.
• the second control device further comprises: a second microcontroller in communication connection with the second communication apparatus; and a vehicle signal transceiver in communication connection with the second microcontroller.
• the vehicle signal transceiver, the second microcontroller and the second communication apparatus are integrated on a second control chip.
• the second control chip is integrated on an operation button of the main body of the steering wheel, i.e. outside the steering wheel cover.
• the second control chip can also be integrated in a vehicle element outside the steering wheel.
• the vehicle signal transceiver receives or transmits a vehicle signal through a LIN bus, CAN bus, an Ethernet bus or a FlexRay bus.
• the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects.
• the first communication apparatus especially first LIN communication apparatus, disposed in the steering wheel cover receives a control signal and the first microcontroller controls the illumination apparatuses, so that it is possible to simplify parts of the first control device, reduce the volume of the first control device, and facilitate the assembly of the first control device in a limited space at the steering wheel cover.
• the volume of a illumination module can be further reduced, making it easier to assemble the illumination module and the steering wheel cover.
• the illumination apparatuses are preferably LED apparatuses and/or the communication apparatus is preferably a LIN communication apparatus.
• an airbag module for a steering wheel described above wherein the cover of the steering wheel is identical with part of a housing of the airbag module, especially a module cover.
• an airbag module comprising illumination apparatuses disposed on a housing of the airbag module and a first control device disposed in the housing of the airbag module, wherein the first control device comprises a first communication apparatus and a first microcontroller that are in communication connection with each other, wherein the first microcontroller is connected to the illumination apparatuses.
• the first control device comprises a first communication apparatus and a first microcontroller that are in communication connection with each other, wherein the first microcontroller is connected to the illumination apparatuses.
• Such airbag module does not necessarily need to be included in a steering wheel but can be applied at any suitable position in a vehicle and have at least in part an illuminated housing. All features described above in connection with the airbag module for a steering wheel can certainly also be present in such general airbag module.
• a second control device disposed outside the airbag housing is provided, that is connected to the first control device, wherein the second control device comprises a second communication apparatus, especially a second LIN communication apparatus, in communication connection with the first communication apparatus; and the second control device is a master control device, the first control device is a slave control device, the second communication apparatus is a transceiver, especially a LIN transceiver, and the first communication apparatus is a transceiver or a receiver, especially a LIN transceiver or a LIN receiver.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of constituent modules of an airbag module for a steering wheel in an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a steering wheel in an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an airbag module in an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an integrated circuit of a first control device and LED apparatuses in an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of constituent modules of a steering wheel in an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 shows constituent modules of an airbag module for a steering wheel in an embodiment
• FIG. 2 shows the overall structure of a steering wheel
• FIG. 3 shows the structure of an airbag module of a steering wheel.
• a cover 110 of an airbag module for a steering wheel 100 in this embodiment comprises: illumination apparatuses, especially LED apparatuses 120, disposed on the cover 110; and a first control device 130 disposed in the cover 110 of the airbag module.
• the first control device 130 comprises a first local interconnect network (LIN) communication apparatus 140 and a first microcontroller 150 that are in communication connection with each other, and the first microcontroller 150 is connected to the LED apparatuses 120.
• LIN local interconnect network
• reference sign 110 indicates the cover of steering wheel 100 covering a hub portion of the steering wheel 100.
• an airbag module is included in the hub portion of steering wheel 100, the airbag module having an airbag module housing that especially includes a module cover.
• the cover 110 of the steering wheel 100 is identical with the cover 110 of the airbag module housing.
• the LED apparatuses 120 each may be an LED lamp bead
• the first LIN communication apparatus 140 may be a LIN transceiver or a LIN receiver
• the first microcontroller 150 may be a microcontroller unit (MCU).
• the first LIN communication apparatus 140 disposed in the cover 110 can receive a control signal about the LED apparatuses 120, and the first microcontroller 150 controls the LED apparatuses 120.
• the LIN communication apparatus can greatly simplify the parts of the first control device 130, thereby reducing the volume thereof and facilitating the assembly of the first control device 130 in a limited space in the cover 110.
• the first control device 130 further comprises an LED driver 160.
• the LED driver 160 may be integrated in the first microcontroller 150. Alternatively, the LED driver may be separated from the first microcontroller 150, and the first microcontroller 150 is connected to the LED apparatuses 120 via the LED driver.
• the first LIN communication apparatus 140, the first microcontroller 150 and the LED driver 160 in the first control device 130 may be integrated in a module, for example, on a first control chip.
• the first control chip may be further integrated with the LED apparatuses 120 on a circuit board, for example, on a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) of the cover 110.
• the PCBA is a PCB on which electronic elements are mounted.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an integrated circuit of a first control device and LED apparatuses in an embodiment.
• the LED driver comprises a positive terminal BAT+ and a negative terminal BAT-.
• the positive terminal BAT+ is connected to positive electrodes of each LED apparatus.
• Four LED apparatuses are shown in FIG.
• the first microcontroller (labeled as SLAVE MCU in FIG. 4) comprises a first pin (labeled as VBAT in FIG. 4) connected to the positive terminal BAT+, a second pin (labeled as VLIN in FIG. 4) connected to the first LIN communication apparatus (labeled as LIN in FIG. 4), and a plurality of third pins (labeled as HV0 to HV5 in FIG. 4) connected to negative electrodes of each of the LED apparatuses.
• Each of the LED apparatuses has three branches respectively corresponding to three pins R, G and B.
• the positive terminal BAT+ is connected to a positive electrode of each branch of each of the LED apparatuses, and the first microcontroller SLAVE MCU is provided with the plurality of third pins each connected to a negative electrode of a respective branch of a respective LED apparatus.
• each of the first microcontrollers SLAVE MCU is connected to two LED apparatuses, but this embodiment is not limited thereto.
• the first microcontrollers SLAVE MCU each may specifically control the brightness and colors of the LED apparatuses.
• FIG. 5 shows constituent modules of a steering wheel in an embodiment.
• the steering wheel 100 comprises: the airbag module including cover 110 described in any one of the foregoing embodiments; and a second control device 210 disposed outside the cover 110 of steering wheel 100, especially on a main body 200 of the steering wheel 100 that is connected to cover 110.
• the second control device 210 comprises a second LIN communication apparatus 220 in communication connection with the first LIN communication apparatus 140.
• the second control device 210 is a master control device
• the first control device 130 is a slave control device
• the second LIN communication apparatus 220 is an LIN transceiver
• the first LIN communication apparatus 140 is an LIN transceiver or an LIN receiver.
• the second control device 210 further comprises: a second microcontroller 230 in communication connection with the second LIN communication apparatus 220; and a vehicle signal transceiver 240 in communication connection with the second microcontroller 230.
• the second control device 210 and the first control device 130 jointly execute drive control over the LED apparatuses 120.
• the vehicle signal transceiver 240 is configured to receive a demand signal from a vehicle and transmits the demand signal to the second microcontroller 230.
• the second microcontroller 230 sends the demand signal to the first LIN communication apparatus 140 through the second LIN communication apparatus 220. Therefore, the first microcontroller 150 receives the demand signal through the first LIN communication apparatus 140, converts the demand signal into a control signal, and executes drive control over the LED apparatuses 120 by means of the LED driver 160.
• the second microcontroller 230 may be an MCU.
• the second microcontroller 230 is a master MCU, namely a master controller unit, and the first microcontroller 150 is a slave MCU, namely a slave controller unit.
• the vehicle signal transceiver 240 may receive or transmit a vehicle signal through a CAN bus, an Ethernet bus or a FlexRay (de facto standard for automotive industry) bus.
• the second control device 210 may specifically be composed of, but not limited to, a CAN transceiver, a master MCU and an LIN transceiver.
• the first control device 130 may specifically be composed of, but not limited to, an LIN transceiver, a slave MCU and an LED driver.
• the vehicle signal transceiver 240, the second microcontroller 230 and the second LIN communication apparatus 220 in the second control device 210 may be integrated in a module, for example, on a second control chip.
• the second control chip may be further integrated on an operation button, such as a multimedia button, of the main body 200 of the steering wheel 100, to facilitate the operation of the driver.
• the second control device disposed e.g. on the main body of the steering wheel and the first control device disposed in the cover of the steering wheel or the airbag module housing jointly execute drive control over the LED apparatuses, so that the volume of the control devices that need to be disposed in the limited space of the cover can be reduced.
• the first LIN communication apparatus disposed in the cover of the steering wheel or the airbag module housing receives a control signal and the first microcontroller controls the LED apparatuses, so that it is possible to simplify parts of the first control device, reduce the volume of the first control device, and facilitate the assembly of the first control device in a limited space in the cover .
• the volume of an LED module can be further reduced, making it easier to assemble the LED module and the cover of the steering wheel or the cover of the airbag module housing.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Air Bags (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=80011622

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (5)

• 2021
  • 2021-09-02 CN CN202122109730.3U patent/CN215706178U/zh active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-08-09 WO PCT/IB2022/057399 patent/WO2023031705A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

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