Steering column switch, steering wheel system, motor vehicle, and method
AssigneeVolkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsThomas Mauterer, Thomas Fricke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure describes a steering column switch for a motor vehicle, such as an electric motor vehicle, designed to select functions. A rigid lever is at least partially surrounded by a lever cap that includes at least one touch sensor. The touch sensor enables function selection through a defined user contact. A monitoring unit, connected to the touch sensor for data transmission, detects the selected function and relays it via an interface to a motor vehicle control device, facilitating execution of an action corresponding to the selected function.
Claims21
1-15. (canceled)
A steering column switch for a motor vehicle configured to select functions, comprising:
- a rigid lever;
- a lever cap at least partially surrounding the rigid lever, the lever cap including at least one touch sensor configured to select at least one function through a defined touch by an operator;
- and
- a control unit having a data-communicating connection to the at least one touch sensor, the control unit configured to detect the selected function and relay the detected function via an interface of the control unit to a control device of the motor vehicle to execute an action corresponding to the selected function.
A steering wheel system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a steering wheel;
- a steering wheel mount;
- and
- at least one steering column switch including:
- a rigid lever attached to the steering wheel or the steering wheel mount;
- a lever cap at least partially surrounding the rigid lever, the lever cap including at least one touch sensor configured to select at least one function through a defined touch by an operator;
- and
- a control unit having a data-communicating connection to the at least one touch sensor, the control unit configured to detect the selected function and relay the detected function via an interface of the control unit to a control device of the motor vehicle to execute an action corresponding to the selected function.
A method for executing a function using a steering column switch of a motor vehicle, the steering column switch comprising a rigid lever, a lever cap at least partially surrounding the rigid lever and having at least one touch sensor, and a control unit having a data-communicating connection to the at least one touch sensor, the method comprising:
- receiving a defined touch on the at least one touch sensor by an operator to select at least one function;
- detecting, by the control unit, the selected function based on the defined touch;
- and
- relaying, via an interface of the control unit, the selected function to a control device of the motor vehicle to execute an action corresponding to the selected function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.