# US 11,299,192 B2 · Motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,192 B2 - Document ID: US11299192B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/781,249 - Filed: 2020-02-04 - Published: 2020-06-04 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-17 - Assignees: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Klaus Hirschfeld; Peter Floeper; Martin Deitmerg; Knut Moldenhauer; Ludwig Feldmueller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299192B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/181: with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory - B62D 1/185: adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B62D 1/18: yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable (padded linings associated with the steering column B60R21/05) - B62D 1/183: adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 37/20: Dashboard panels - B60K 2360/1438: Touch screens - B60K 2360/175: Autonomous driving - B60K 2360/685: Instruments movable with steering column - B60K 2360/782: on the steering wheel - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract An operating arrangement for a vehicle includes a steering column retractable into and extendable out of a dashboard, a steering shaft that is retractable and extendable relative to the steering column, a steering wheel on an end of the steering shaft, and a steering column module arranged on the steering column between the steering wheel and the dashboard. The steering column module has a screen positioned behind the steering wheel. In a manual vehicle driving mode, the steering column is extended out of the dashboard to position the steering wheel and the steering column module away from the dashboard. In an automatic (or autonomous) vehicle mode, the steering column is retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module against the dashboard and the steering shaft is retracted relative to the steering column to position the steering wheel adjacent the dashboard with the screen resting against the steering wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An operating arrangement for a vehicle operable in a manual driving mode and in an automatic driving mode, the operating arrangement comprising: a steering column that is retractable into and extendable out of a dashboard, the steering column having a steering shaft that is retractable and extendable relative to the steering column; a steering wheel on an end of the steering shaft; a steering column module arranged on the steering column between the steering wheel and the dashboard, the steering column module having a screen positioned behind the steering wheel; wherein, in the manual driving mode, the steering column is extended out of the dashboard to position the steering wheel and the steering column module away from the dashboard; and wherein, in the automatic driving mode, the steering column is retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module against the dashboard and the steering shaft is retracted relative to the steering column to position the steering wheel adjacent the dashboard with the screen resting against the steering wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The operating arrangement of claim 1 wherein: the steering wheel includes a steering wheel rim; and in the automatic driving mode, the steering shaft is retracted far enough relative to the steering column such that the screen is sunk into a free space within the steering wheel rim. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The operating arrangement of claim 1 wherein: the steering column module has at least one switch unit situated off from the screen on at least one side of the steering column module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The operating arrangement of claim 3 wherein: at least one of the at least one switch unit is lever switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The operating arrangement of claim 3 wherein: at least one of the at least one switch unit is a push switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The operating arrangement of claim 3 wherein: in the automatic driving mode, the at least one switch unit is concealed by the steering wheel and/or edges of the dashboard to be inaccessible. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The operating arrangement of claim 3 wherein: in the manual driving mode, the at least one switch unit is exposed to be accessible. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The operating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is further operable in a semi-automatic driving mode, wherein: in the semi-automatic driving mode, the steering column is partially retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module adjacent to the dashboard. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The operating arrangement of claim 8 wherein: the steering column module has at least one switch unit situated off from the screen on at least one side of the steering column module; and in the semi-automatic driving mode, the at least one switch unit is exposed to be accessible. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The operating arrangement of claim 1 wherein: the screen is a touchscreen. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The operating arrangement of claim 1 wherein: the screen is a front face of the steering column module. ### Claim 12 A vehicle operable in a manual driving mode and in an automatic driving mode, the vehicle comprising: a dashboard; a steering column that is retractable into and extendable out of the dashboard, the steering column having a steering shaft that is retractable and extendable relative to the steering column; a steering wheel on an end of the steering shaft; a steering column module arranged on the steering column between the steering wheel and the dashboard, the steering column module having a screen positioned behind the steering wheel; wherein, in the manual driving mode, the steering column is extended out of the dashboard to position the steering wheel and the steering column module away from the dashboard; and wherein, in the automatic driving mode, the steering column is retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module against the dashboard and the steering shaft is retracted relative to the steering column to position the steering wheel adjacent the dashboard with the screen resting against the steering wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12 wherein: the dashboard includes a recess; and in the automatic driving mode, the steering column is retracted far enough into the dashboard such that the steering column module is completely countersunk into the recess of the dashboard and the steering shaft is retracted far enough relative to the steering column such that the steering wheel is at least partially countersunk into the recess of the dashboard. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12 wherein: the steering wheel includes a steering wheel rim; and in the automatic driving mode, the steering shaft is retracted far enough relative to the steering column such that the screen is sunk into a free space within the steering wheel rim. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12 wherein: the steering column module has at least one switch unit situated off from the screen on at least one side of the steering column module; in the manual driving mode, the at least one switch unit is exposed to be accessible for use by a driver of the vehicle; and in the automatic driving mode, the at least one switch unit is concealed by the steering wheel and/or edges of the dashboard to be inaccessible for use by a driver of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is further operable in a semi-automatic driving mode, wherein: in the semi-automatic driving mode, the steering column is partially retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module adjacent to the dashboard. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16 wherein: the steering column module has at least one switch unit situated off from the screen on at least one side of the steering column module; and in the semi-automatic driving mode, the at least one switch unit is exposed to be accessible for use by a driver of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 An operating arrangement for a vehicle operable in a manual driving mode and in an automatic driving mode, the operating arrangement comprising: a steering column that is retractable into and extendable out of a dashboard; a steering shaft that is retractable and extendable relative to the steering column, the steering shaft having an end extending out of the steering column; a steering wheel connected to the end of the steering shaft; a steering column module mounted on the steering column between the steering wheel and the dashboard, the steering column module having a screen positioned behind the steering wheel; wherein, in the manual driving mode, (i) the steering column is extended out of the dashboard to position the steering wheel and the steering column module away from the dashboard and (ii) the steering shaft is extended relative to the steering column such that the steering wheel is spaced apart from the steering column module at a given distance; and wherein, in the automatic driving mode, (i) the steering column is retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module against the dashboard and (ii) the steering shaft is retracted relative to the steering column such that the steering wheel is positioned against the steering column module with the screen resting against the steering wheel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The operating arrangement of claim 18 wherein the vehicle is further operable in a semi-automatic driving mode, wherein: in the semi-automatic driving mode, (i) the steering column is partially retracted into the dashboard to position the steering column module adjacent to the dashboard and (ii) the steering shaft is extended relative to the steering column such that the steering wheel is spaced apart from the steering column module at the given distance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The operating arrangement of claim 19 wherein: the steering column module has at least one switch unit situated off from the screen on at least one side of the steering column module; in the manual driving mode, the at least one switch unit is exposed to be accessible; in the semi-automatic driving mode, the at least one switch unit is exposed to be accessible; and in the automatic driving mode, the at least one switch unit is concealed by the steering wheel and/or edges of the dashboard to be inaccessible.