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US 12,741,685 B2Granted
Motion control device for controlling a vehicle
AssigneeFca US LLC
InventorsTravis D Bechtel, Zachary A Luetzen, Brandon F Brady
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motion control device may have a main body having a right grip and a left grip fixed to the main body, wherein the right grip and the left grip are separated by the main body. The right grip and the left grip may be configured to be grasped by a hand and/or one or more fingers of a vehicle occupant to control the rotation of the motion control device about an axis. A right paddle and a left paddle mounted to the main body may be actuatable by one or more fingers of the vehicle occupant between a first position and a second position to control acceleration, friction braking, regenerative braking, or other vehicle functions.
Claims20
A motion control device for controlling a vehicle, comprising:
- a main body, a right grip connected to the main body by a first right bridge and a second right bridge, a left grip connected to the main body by a first left bridge and a second left bridge, the right grip and the left grip are each spaced from the main body, and the right grip and the left grip are configured to be grasped by a hand and/or one or more fingers of a vehicle occupant, wherein the second right bridge is connected to the right grip between an upper end of the right grip and a lower end of the right grip and at or closer to a midpoint of the right grip than the lower end of the right grip, where the midpoint of the right grip is midway between the upper end and the lower end, and the right grip is not connected to the main body between the lower end and the second right bridge, and wherein the second left bridge is connected to the left grip between an upper end of the left grip and a lower end of the left grip and at or closer to a midpoint of the left grip than the lower end of the left grip, where the midpoint of the left grip is midway between the upper end of the left grip and the lower end of the left grip, and the left grip is not connected to the main body between the lower end of the left grip and the second left bridge;
- a right paddle pivotably mounted to the main body and located behind the right grip, and a left paddle pivotably mounted to the main body and located behind the left grip, the right paddle and the left paddle being movable relative to the main body between a first position and a second position, wherein an upper edge of the right paddle is vertically below a lower surface of the first right bridge and vertically above an upper surface of the second right bridge, and wherein an upper edge of the left paddle is vertically below a lower surface of the first left bridge and vertically above an upper surface of the second left bridge;
- a first right gap defined between the main body, the right grip, the first right bridge and the second right bridge, wherein the first right gap, the right grip, and the right paddle are configured to simultaneously receive one or more fingers, or surfaces of a hand of the vehicle occupant;
- a first left gap defined between the main body, the left grip, the first left bridge, and the second left bridge, wherein the first left gap, the left grip, and the left paddle are configured to simultaneously receive one or more fingers, or surfaces of a hand of the vehicle occupant;
- a second right gap defined between the main body, the right grip, and the second right bridge, wherein the second right gap, the right grip, and the right paddle are configured to simultaneously receive one or more fingers or surfaces of a hand of the vehicle occupant;
- and
- a second left gap partially defined between the main body, the left grip, and the second left bridge, wherein the second left gap, the left grip, and the left paddle are configured to simultaneously receive one or more fingers or surfaces of a hand of the vehicle occupant.
4 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a propulsion system having a prime mover that provides power to propel the vehicle;
- a braking system having one or more brake assemblies configured to slow and stop the vehicle;
- a steering system configured to control a steering angle of the vehicle;
- and
- a motion control device, including:
- a main body that has a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a right side, and a left side, the main body is rotatable about an axis to actuate the steering system and change the steering angle;
- a right paddle mounted to the back surface by a right mount, wherein the right paddle is actuatable between a first position and a second position to cause an output used to control one of the braking system or the propulsion system;
- a right paddle sensor capable of determining the instantaneous position of the right paddle between the first position and the second position;
- a right grip extended from the right side, wherein the right grip is received in front of the right paddle;
- a right knob extending from the right grip and vertically elevated from the top surface of the main body;
- a left paddle mounted to the back surface by a left mount, wherein the left paddle is actuatable between a first position and a second position to cause an output used to control the other one of the braking system or the propulsion system that is not associated with the right paddle;
- a left paddle sensor capable of determining the instantaneous position of the left paddle between the first position and the second position;
- a left grip extended from the left side, wherein the left grip is received in front of the left paddle;
- a left knob extending from the left grip and vertically elevated from the top surface of the main body;
- a first right gap circumferentially surrounded by the main body, the right grip, and a first right bridge that connects the main body and the right grip;
- a second right gap partially circumferentially surrounded by the main body, the right grip, and a second right bridge;
- a first left gap circumferentially surrounded by the main body, the left grip, and a first left bridge that connects the main body and the left grip;
- and
- a second left gap partially circumferentially surrounded by the main body, the left grip, and a second left bridge, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are spaced apart in a vertical direction, the left side and the right side are spaced apart in a lateral direction, and the front surface and the back surface are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction, the right knob has a peripheral side surface that extends vertically to an upper surface, the upper surface is above the top surface of the main body, and the right knob has a front surface that is offset from and forward of the front surface of the main body, and wherein an upper edge of the right paddle is vertically below a lower surface of the first right bridge and vertically above an upper surface of the second right bridge, and wherein an upper edge of the left paddle is vertically below a lower surface of the first left bridge and vertically above an upper surface of the second left bridge.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.