Force sensing horn system

A vehicle horn actuation system comprising:

• a base plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the base plate is configured for being coupled to a steering hub of the vehicle;
• a cover, wherein the cover has outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the cover faces outwardly toward an operator of the vehicle, and the inner surface of the cover faces toward the base plate in a direction opposite the outer surface,
• wherein the outer surface of the base plate faces outwardly toward the cover, and the inner surface of the base plate faces toward the hub, in a direction opposite the outer surface of the base plate, and wherein the cover and/or the base plate are axially translatable relative to one another;
• one or more side walls that extend from the inner surface of the cover toward the base plate, wherein the side walls are spaced apart from each other and are adjacent a perimeter of the cover, the one or more side walls define openings therethrough;
• one or more side walls that extend from the inner surface or outer surface of the base plate adjacent a perimeter of the base plate, the one or more side walls of the base plate having one or more tabs that extend radially outwardly from the one or more side walls of the base plate and axially downwardly relative to the outer surface of the base plate such that these one or more tabs extend through the openings in the one or more side walls of the cover and such that the one or more walls of the base plate are radially inside the one or more walls of the cover wherein each opening defined by the one or more side walls of the cover has a height to allow the respective base plate tab to move axially within the opening;
• a driver air bag module comprising a driver air bag and an inflator, wherein the driver air bag and the inflator are disposed between the one or more side walls of the base plate and the one or more side walls of the base plate are disposed between the one or more side walls of the cover;
• at least one force sensor disposed outside the one or more walls of the cover;
• an actuator disposed on one of the base plate or the cover, the actuator and the force sensor being axially aligned such that the actuator moves axially toward the force sensor in response to an axial force being applied to the base plate or the cover;
• and
• a processor in communication with a memory, wherein the processor executes computer-readable instructions stored on the memory, said instructions cause the processor to:
• receive a force signal from the force sensor;
• and
• select a control message to communicate to a horn system, wherein the control message is selected from a plurality of control messages depending upon the force signal.