ABSTRACT
Abstract
Vehicles, steering systems, and steering assemblies of a vehicle are provided in the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, a steering system includes a track oriented substantially in a side-to-side direction with respect to the vehicle. The side-to-side direction may be substantially horizontal with a ground surface and substantially perpendicular with a forward-facing direction of the vehicle. The steering system also includes a steering wheel adapted to slide laterally along the track. In another embodiments, the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising a steering wheel assembly adapted to be positioned in laterally variable locations with respect to the vehicle, whereby the steering wheel assembly is further adapted to enable a driver to manually operate the vehicle from a left-hand side of the vehicle and from a right-hand side of the vehicle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present disclosure is a continuation (CON) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/359,201, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, and entitled âVEHICLE HAVING MULTIPLE DRIVING POSITIONS,â the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure is generally directed to the automotive field. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to steering assemblies in which a steering wheel of a vehicle can be moved to multiple positions for manual operation, in both manufacturing and use contexts.
BACKGROUND
Currently, vehicles can be manufactured for use in various countries where rules and policies may differ. For example, in some countries, vehicles are driven on the right side of the road, and, in other countries, vehicles are driven on the left side of the road. For use in countries where vehicles are driven on the right side of the road, vehicles are typically manufactured with a steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle. Conversely, in countries where vehicles are driven on the left side of the road, vehicles are typically manufactured with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle.
Furthermore, in the field of vehicle manufacturing, a considerable amount of research and development has been focused recently on the technology of autonomous vehicles (AVs), which may also be referred to as automatic driving vehicles (ADVs), self-driving cars, or driverless vehicles. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has developed a way to define the different levels of driving autonomy in which a vehicle can be controlled. For example, Level 0 is defined as a fully-human operated mode where a human driver controls all aspects (e.g., steering, accelerating, braking, etc.) of vehicle operation, although this level may also include automated systems that can issue warnings for assisting the human driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Level 5 is defined as a fully-automated mode in which no human intervention is needed. In fact, Level 5 can sometimes be defined as a robotic taxi mode or a mode where the vehicle can be driven automatically even without human passengers. In some cases, a Level 5 vehicle may be manufactured without a steering wheel or other human interfacing control devices.
Levels 1-4 of the SAE automation definitions include various combinations of human and computer-controlled operation. Level 1 involves human control, but may include some automated assistance, such as cruise control, parking assistance, lane keeping assistance, etc. Level 2 is defined as an automated mode where an automated system can take full control of the vehicle (e.g., steering, accelerating, braking, etc.), but the driver is usually required to be âeyes onâ at all times in order to intervene when necessary. Level 3 is a mode where the human driver can he âeyes offâ and the automated system can control the vehicle. The driver may intervene within some limited time to provide input in Level 3. Level 4 is a mode where the human driver can be âmind offâ and the automated system can control the vehicle fully. In this mode, human control may be non-existent or limited to certain conditions, such as for driving in undefined spatial areas, for making human decisions in traffic jam conditions, etc.
Thus, there are numerous ways that vehicles can be manufactured in today's market to account for a number of different driving scenarios. For example, when operating the vehicle in a human-controlled mode (e.g., Levels 0-2), a driver can be positioned either on the left or right side of the vehicle depending on the rules of the country in which the vehicle is being driven. If a vehicle is configured for use in more automated modes (e.g., Levels 3-5), the steering wheel, accelerator, and brake pedal may not necessarily be used on a regular basis by a human driver, and in some situations, a human may not necessarily be seated in a conventional driving position.
Therefore, there is a need for flexibility in the design of manual-driving positions within a vehicle to accommodate the various driving scenarios mentioned above. Also, there is a need for a vehicle design that can allow this flexibility in a way that is convenient, easy to operate, and safe for the driver and passengers.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, the present disclosure includes vehicles and steering assemblies allowing a steering wheel to be positioned at multiple lateral positions for control by a human operator. In one embodiment, a steering system of a vehicle is provided, whereby the steering system includes a track oriented substantially in a side-to-side direction with respect to the vehicle. The side-to-side direction may be defined as being substantially horizontal with a ground surface and substantially perpendicular with a forward-facing direction of the vehicle. The steering system further includes a steering wheel adapted to slide laterally along the track.
According to another embodiment, a vehicle is defined by a front/back axis substantially oriented in a forward-facing direction. The vehicle may include a lateral track arranged substantially along a lateral axis perpendicular with the front/back axis of the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a steering wheel assembly adapted to slide laterally along the lateral track.
According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure further provides a vehicle having a steering wheel assembly adapted to be positioned in laterally variable locations with respect to the vehicle. The steering wheel assembly may be further adapted to enable a driver to manually operate the vehicle from at least a left-hand side of the vehicle or a right-hand side of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like system or assembly components/methods or algorithm steps. The illustrated components of the various systems are not necessarily drawn to scale.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of an inside of a vehicle having a steering assembly with a laterally movable steering wheel positioned for a left-hand steering mode, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of the inside of the vehicle having the steering assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the laterally movable steering wheel positioned for a right-hand steering mode, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of the inside of the vehicle having the steering assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the laterally movable steering wheel positioned in a center location for autonomous driving, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a top view of a floor mat for a vehicle, the floor mat having an acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device formed therein, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a top view of a floor panel of a vehicle, the floor panel being used in association with the floor mat of FIG. 4 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 6 A is a diagram showing a top view of another floor mat having an acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device formed therein, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 6 B is a diagram showing a view of an acceleration activator device and a separated deceleration activator device, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a top view of another floor panel of a vehicle, the floor panel being used in association with the floor mat of FIG. 6 A or the acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device of FIG. 6 B , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a side view of a steering assembly having a display device attached to a steering column housing of the steering assembly, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a front view of the steering assembly of FIG. 8 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of the inside of the vehicle of FIGS. 1 - 3 having an airbag system used in association with the steering assembly shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a partial cross-sectional side view of a steering assembly having a gear shifting device attached to a steering column housing of the steering assembly, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a front view of the steering assembly of FIG. 11 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of a vehicle having two fixed manual steering stations, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of a vehicle having multiple manual steering stations and laterally movable seats, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a top view of a laterally movable gear shifting device for use in association with the vehicle of FIG. 14 , according to various embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
According to the present disclosure, various embodiments are described in which a steering wheel can be moved to a left-hand side of the vehicle, a right-hand side of the vehicle, and locations therebetween. This allows a vehicle to be operated (or manufactured) in different countries where driving rules may be different (e.g., where a vehicle is driven on the right side of the road or on the left side of the road).
Also, with the flexibility of driving positions or manual steering stations for a human driver, the steering assemblies described in the present disclosure may be configured for use with automated systems that at least partially control the operations (e.g., steering, accelerating, braking, etc.) of the vehicle. The steering wheel of the steering assemblies described herein can be moved out of the way for these automated driving conditions.
In addition to steering wheel positioning, the vehicles described in the present disclosure may also include other vehicle equipment that can be moved to different positions to allow a human driver to operate the vehicle from these various manual steering stations. For example, if the steering wheel is moved to a left side of the vehicle for use by a driver in the left front seat, movable acceleration and brake controls may also be moved to a left side of a front floor panel so that the driver can also control the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle as needed. Other equipment, as mentioned in more detail below, may also be movable within the vehicle to keep these additional vehicle components in or near an established driver station.
The embodiments of the present disclosure thereby provide great flexibility in the positioning of driver stations or manual steering stations to allow the driver to safely operate the vehicle when the vehicle is in a human-controllable mode. Another advantage is that when the vehicle is operated in a mode that is primarily automated, the controls can be moved away from human passengers to improve the comfort of the passengers, although the controls can still be accessed from any suitable position when they are needed, such as if the vehicle is manually driven in an off-road scenario, manually driven into a bay or other work area where repairs, oil changes, etc. can be performed on the vehicle, and/or other situations where human involvement may be needed.
For example, the control systems (e.g., steering systems, acceleration systems, and braking systems) may be configured as âdrive-by-wireâ systems, wherein the systems include manual activation elements (e.g., steering wheel, acceleration activator, deceleration activator, etc.), but these elements may not necessarily be directly connected to mechanical components for controlling the vehicle. Instead of a direct connection to mechanical actuators, the manual activation elements may provide electrical output signals that can be communicated through a dedicated system of electrical conductors or via a wireless communication protocol. These electrical output signals can therefore be communicated to associated mechanical actuators that are configured to perform the physical operations that control the vehicle.
Although the embodiments of the present disclosure are described for human driving scenarios where the driver is positioned in a front seat of the vehicle, it should be noted that the controls can be positioned anywhere on the vehicle. Thus, a driver may be able to control the steering, accelerating, and braking from any position within the interior of the vehicle or even outside the vehicle.
FIG. 1 illustrates a forward-facing view of an inside of a vehicle 10 according to some embodiments. The vehicle 10 in this embodiment includes a steering assembly 12 or steering system having a laterally movable steering wheel 14 . In FIG. 1 , the steering wheel 14 is positioned for operation in a left-hand steering scenario to establish a left-side manual-steering station. The left-hand steering scenario or left-side manual-steering station may be defined as a mode where the steering wheel 14 is positioned generally on a left side (i.e., port side) of the vehicle 10 for operation by a driver positioned in
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present disclosure is a continuation (CON) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/359,201, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, and entitled âVEHICLE HAVING MULTIPLE DRIVING POSITIONS,â the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure is generally directed to the automotive field. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to steering assemblies in which a steering wheel of a vehicle can be moved to multiple positions for manual operation, in both manufacturing and use contexts.
BACKGROUND
Currently, vehicles can be manufactured for use in various countries where rules and policies may differ. For example, in some countries, vehicles are driven on the right side of the road, and, in other countries, vehicles are driven on the left side of the road. For use in countries where vehicles are driven on the right side of the road, vehicles are typically manufactured with a steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle. Conversely, in countries where vehicles are driven on the left side of the road, vehicles are typically manufactured with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle.
Furthermore, in the field of vehicle manufacturing, a considerable amount of research and development has been focused recently on the technology of autonomous vehicles (AVs), which may also be referred to as automatic driving vehicles (ADVs), self-driving cars, or driverless vehicles. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has developed a way to define the different levels of driving autonomy in which a vehicle can be controlled. For example, Level 0 is defined as a fully-human operated mode where a human driver controls all aspects (e.g., steering, accelerating, braking, etc.) of vehicle operation, although this level may also include automated systems that can issue warnings for assisting the human driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Level 5 is defined as a fully-automated mode in which no human intervention is needed. In fact, Level 5 can sometimes be defined as a robotic taxi mode or a mode where the vehicle can be driven automatically even without human passengers. In some cases, a Level 5 vehicle may be manufactured without a steering wheel or other human interfacing control devices.
Levels 1-4 of the SAE automation definitions include various combinations of human and computer-controlled operation. Level 1 involves human control, but may include some automated assistance, such as cruise control, parking assistance, lane keeping assistance, etc. Level 2 is defined as an automated mode where an automated system can take full control of the vehicle (e.g., steering, accelerating, braking, etc.), but the driver is usually required to be âeyes onâ at all times in order to intervene when necessary. Level 3 is a mode where the human driver can he âeyes offâ and the automated system can control the vehicle. The driver may intervene within some limited time to provide input in Level 3. Level 4 is a mode where the human driver can be âmind offâ and the automated system can control the vehicle fully. In this mode, human control may be non-existent or limited to certain conditions, such as for driving in undefined spatial areas, for making human decisions in traffic jam conditions, etc.
Thus, there are numerous ways that vehicles can be manufactured in today's market to account for a number of different driving scenarios. For example, when operating the vehicle in a human-controlled mode (e.g., Levels 0-2), a driver can be positioned either on the left or right side of the vehicle depending on the rules of the country in which the vehicle is being driven. If a vehicle is configured for use in more automated modes (e.g., Levels 3-5), the steering wheel, accelerator, and brake pedal may not necessarily be used on a regular basis by a human driver, and in some situations, a human may not necessarily be seated in a conventional driving position.
Therefore, there is a need for flexibility in the design of manual-driving positions within a vehicle to accommodate the various driving scenarios mentioned above. Also, there is a need for a vehicle design that can allow this flexibility in a way that is convenient, easy to operate, and safe for the driver and passengers.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, the present disclosure includes vehicles and steering assemblies allowing a steering wheel to be positioned at multiple lateral positions for control by a human operator. In one embodiment, a steering system of a vehicle is provided, whereby the steering system includes a track oriented substantially in a side-to-side direction with respect to the vehicle. The side-to-side direction may be defined as being substantially horizontal with a ground surface and substantially perpendicular with a forward-facing direction of the vehicle. The steering system further includes a steering wheel adapted to slide laterally along the track.
According to another embodiment, a vehicle is defined by a front/back axis substantially oriented in a forward-facing direction. The vehicle may include a lateral track arranged substantially along a lateral axis perpendicular with the front/back axis of the vehicle. The vehicle may also include a steering wheel assembly adapted to slide laterally along the lateral track.
According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure further provides a vehicle having a steering wheel assembly adapted to be positioned in laterally variable locations with respect to the vehicle. The steering wheel assembly may be further adapted to enable a driver to manually operate the vehicle from at least a left-hand side of the vehicle or a right-hand side of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like system or assembly components/methods or algorithm steps. The illustrated components of the various systems are not necessarily drawn to scale.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of an inside of a vehicle having a steering assembly with a laterally movable steering wheel positioned for a left-hand steering mode, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of the inside of the vehicle having the steering assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the laterally movable steering wheel positioned for a right-hand steering mode, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of the inside of the vehicle having the steering assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the laterally movable steering wheel positioned in a center location for autonomous driving, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a top view of a floor mat for a vehicle, the floor mat having an acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device formed therein, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a top view of a floor panel of a vehicle, the floor panel being used in association with the floor mat of FIG. 4 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 6 A is a diagram showing a top view of another floor mat having an acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device formed therein, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 6 B is a diagram showing a view of an acceleration activator device and a separated deceleration activator device, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a top view of another floor panel of a vehicle, the floor panel being used in association with the floor mat of FIG. 6 A or the acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device of FIG. 6 B , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a side view of a steering assembly having a display device attached to a steering column housing of the steering assembly, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a front view of the steering assembly of FIG. 8 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of the inside of the vehicle of FIGS. 1 - 3 having an airbag system used in association with the steering assembly shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a partial cross-sectional side view of a steering assembly having a gear shifting device attached to a steering column housing of the steering assembly, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a front view of the steering assembly of FIG. 11 , according to various embodiments;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of a vehicle having two fixed manual steering stations, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a forward-facing view of a vehicle having multiple manual steering stations and laterally movable seats, according to various embodiments;
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a top view of a laterally movable gear shifting device for use in association with the vehicle of FIG. 14 , according to various embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
According to the present disclosure, various embodiments are described in which a steering wheel can be moved to a left-hand side of the vehicle, a right-hand side of the vehicle, and locations therebetween. This allows a vehicle to be operated (or manufactured) in different countries where driving rules may be different (e.g., where a vehicle is driven on the right side of the road or on the left side of the road).
Also, with the flexibility of driving positions or manual steering stations for a human driver, the steering assemblies described in the present disclosure may be configured for use with automated systems that at least partially control the operations (e.g., steering, accelerating, braking, etc.) of the vehicle. The steering wheel of the steering assemblies described herein can be moved out of the way for these automated driving conditions.
In addition to steering wheel positioning, the vehicles described in the present disclosure may also include other vehicle equipment that can be moved to different positions to allow a human driver to operate the vehicle from these various manual steering stations. For example, if the steering wheel is moved to a left side of the vehicle for use by a driver in the left front seat, movable acceleration and brake controls may also be moved to a left side of a front floor panel so that the driver can also control the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle as needed. Other equipment, as mentioned in more detail below, may also be movable within the vehicle to keep these additional vehicle components in or near an established driver station.
The embodiments of the present disclosure thereby provide great flexibility in the positioning of driver stations or manual steering stations to allow the driver to safely operate the vehicle when the vehicle is in a human-controllable mode. Another advantage is that when the vehicle is operated in a mode that is primarily automated, the controls can be moved away from human passengers to improve the comfort of the passengers, although the controls can still be accessed from any suitable position when they are needed, such as if the vehicle is manually driven in an off-road scenario, manually driven into a bay or other work area where repairs, oil changes, etc. can be performed on the vehicle, and/or other situations where human involvement may be needed.
For example, the control systems (e.g., steering systems, acceleration systems, and braking systems) may be configured as âdrive-by-wireâ systems, wherein the systems include manual activation elements (e.g., steering wheel, acceleration activator, deceleration activator, etc.), but these elements may not necessarily be directly connected to mechanical components for controlling the vehicle. Instead of a direct connection to mechanical actuators, the manual activation elements may provide electrical output signals that can be communicated through a dedicated system of electrical conductors or via a wireless communication protocol. These electrical output signals can therefore be communicated to associated mechanical actuators that are configured to perform the physical operations that control the vehicle.
Although the embodiments of the present disclosure are described for human driving scenarios where the driver is positioned in a front seat of the vehicle, it should be noted that the controls can be positioned anywhere on the vehicle. Thus, a driver may be able to control the steering, accelerating, and braking from any position within the interior of the vehicle or even outside the vehicle.
FIG. 1 illustrates a forward-facing view of an inside of a vehicle 10 according to some embodiments. The vehicle 10 in this embodiment includes a steering assembly 12 or steering system having a laterally movable steering wheel 14 . In FIG. 1 , the steering wheel 14 is positioned for operation in a left-hand steering scenario to establish a left-side manual-steering station. The left-hand steering scenario or left-side manual-steering station may be defined as a mode where the steering wheel 14 is positioned generally on a left side (i.e., port side) of the vehicle 10 for operation by a driver positioned in a left-hand seat on the front, left side of the interior of the vehicle 10 . The left-hand steering mode is normally associated with vehicles used in countries where vehicles are driven on the right side of the road.
In addition to the steering wheel 14 , the steering assembly 12 includes a track 16 formed in a dashboard 18 . The track 16 may be arranged in a substantially horizontal manner with respect to a ground plane on which the vehicle 10 rests. The track 16 may also be arranged substantially in a direction from one side of the vehicle 10 to the other (e.g., a left-to-right direction). Thus, the track 16 may lie generally along a path or near an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a forward-facing direction of the vehicle 10 . In some embodiments, the track 16 may be oriented along a straight line, a curved path, or any suitable path between the left side (i.e., port side) of the vehicle 10 and the right side (i.e., starboard side) of the vehicle 10 .
Therefore, the track 16 allows the steering wheel 14 and associated components of the steering assembly 12 to be moved along its path to position the steering wheel 14 according to various modes or manual-driving stations. The steering wheel 14 can be moved during a vehicle manufacturing process and set at a predetermined position for left-hand or right-hand modes. However, according to other embodiments, the steering wheel 14 can be moved by a user after a vehicle manufacturing or vehicle purchasing event for after-market arrangement of the steering assembly 12 .
Also shown in FIG. 1 is a center console 20 having, among other things, a gear shifting device 22 . The gear shifting device 22 allows a driver in a manual or semi-manual mode to shift gears of the vehicle 10 . As positioned on the center console 20 , the gear shifting device 22 may be adapted to be utilized by a driver in the left-hand driving mode or in a right-hand driving mode.
Depending the type of vehicle 10 in which the steering assembly 12 of the present disclosure is incorporated, the gear shifting device 22 may have various configurations. For example, if the vehicle 10 has a manual transmission, the gear shifting device 22 may include a gear shifting shaft that is adapted to be moved in an up/down and side-to-side manner. For an automatic transmission, the gear shifting device 22 may have a more linear shifting movement and may include park (âPâ), reverse (âRâ), neutral (âNâ), and drive (âDâ) gears. In some embodiments of vehicles with automatic transmission, the gear shifting device 22 may further include specific gear numbers (e.g., 4, 3, 2, etc.). In the left-hand driving mode as shown in FIG. 1 , the driver may normally use his or her right hand to change gears using the gear shifting device 22 . In a right-hand driving mode as shown in FIG. 2 , the driver may normally use his or her left hand to change gears.
The vehicle 10 may further be adapted to include a display panel 24 positioned at a back end of the dashboard 18 next to a front windshield 26 or windscreen. The display panel 24 may be adapted to include light emitting diodes (LEDs), a liquid crystal display (LCD), lamps, or other suitable light and image display elements for visually communicating numerous types of information to the driver. For example, the display panel 24 may be adapted to show the operational conditions of the vehicle 10 , side views of the vehicle 10 , a rear view from a rear-facing camera, maps, etc.
In other embodiments (such as the embodiments described below with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9 ), all or parts of the information displayed on the display panel 24 may alternatively be displayed on other display devices. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the display panel 24 may be arranged in a rear-facing direction with respect to the vehicle 10 in order to face the driver.
The display panel 24 may include a left rear- view image 28 on a left end of the display panel 24 and a right rear- view image 30 on a right end of the display panel 24 . The left rear- view image 28 may be adapted to show an image that might normally be seen by the driver when viewing a conventional rear-view mirror located outside the vehicle 10 on a front portion of the left front door. The right rear- view image 30 may be adapted to show an image that might normally be seen by the driver when viewing a conventional rear-view mirror located outside the vehicle 10 a front portion of the right front door. The vehicle 10 may include rear-facing cameras positioned where the conventional rear-view mirrors may normally be located to capture the images that are displayed as the left and right rear- view images
28 , 30 displayed on the display panel 24 . The left and right rear- view images
28 , 30 , according to some embodiments, may be adapted to be displayed on the display panel 24 at the same place (i.e., at the far left and far right ends of the display panel 24 ).
The instrument panel display 32 may have any suitable configuration for displaying certain types of information to the driver. For example, the instrument panel display 32 may include graphical images of various gauges and/or may include the actual gauges or sensors. The instrument panel display 32 may include a speedometer 34 (or image of a speedometer), a tachometer 36 (or image of a tachometer), a fuel gauge 38 (or image of a fuel gauge), an engine temperature gauge 40 (or image of an engine temperature gauge), etc. In some embodiments, the instrument panel display 32 may be adapted to display fewer or more gauges/sensor that what is shown in FIG. 1 . For example, the instrument panel display 32 may further include a time display, an outside temperature display, a battery charge gauge, and/or other displays.
According to some embodiments related to displaying images that represent actual gauges and sensors, the display panel 24 may be adapted to display the instrument panel display 32 at different locations on the display panel 24 . Particularly, the display panel 24 may be adapted to display the image of the instrument panel display 32 in a location behind the positioning of the steering wheel 14 . Thus, if the steering wheel 14 is positioned on the left-hand side of the vehicle 10 , as illustrated in FIG. 1 , the instrument panel display 32 may be shown directly behind the steering wheel 14 to increase the driver's visibility of the instrument panel display 32 .
The display panel 24 may also include one or more additional displays 42 thereon. For example, some configurations of additional displays 42 may include road maps, directions, compass indications, directional instructions, etc. for communicating driving instructions to the driver for driving to a particular destination. In some embodiments, an additional display 42 may include cellular or mobile phone information. Another additional display 42 may include information regarding weather conditions or a weather forecast for the vicinity of the vehicle 10 and/or the conditions (e.g., temperature) of one or more areas within the passenger cabin of the vehicle 10 .
FIG. 2 illustrates another forward-facing view of the inside of the vehicle 10 of FIG. 1 . In this drawing, the steering assembly 12 is shown with the laterally movable steering wheel 14 positioned on the track 16 in the dashboard 18 for a right-hand steering mode. The right-hand steering mode may be defined as a mode where the steering wheel 14 is positioned generally on a right side (i.e., starboard side) of the vehicle 10 for operation by a driver positioned in a right, front seat of the vehicle 10 . In this mode, the manual-driving station is established at the right side of the vehicle 10 . The right-hand steering mode or right-side manual-driving station is normally associated with vehicles used in countries where vehicles are driven on the left side of the road.
The gear shifting device 22 on the center console 20 in the right-hand driving mode shown in FIG. 2 allows a driver in a manual-driving or semi-manual-driving mode to shift gears of the vehicle 10 , typically using the driver's left hand. As mentioned above, the gear shifting device 22 may include other alternative shifting mechanics and gear choices according to other embodiments.
Also, as shown in FIG. 2 , the display panel 24 may further include the instrument panel display 32 displayed at a position that is behind the positioning of the steering wheel 14 on the right side of the track 16 . Thus, when the vehicle 10 is manually operated by driver at a right-hand position, the instrument panel display 32 may be shown on the right side of the display panel 24 directly behind or near the steering wheel 14 to increase the driver's visibility of the instrument panel display 32 . The one or more additional displays 42 may be rearranged on the display panel 24 with respect to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 to accommodate the positioning of the instrument panel display 32 .
FIG. 3 shows another forward-facing view within the vehicle 10 with the steering wheel 14 of the steering assembly 12 arranged in a center position. For example, if the vehicle 10 is equipped for usage as a self-driving or autonomous vehicle (AV) in a completely or partially automatic mode, the steering wheel 14 can be moved out of the way of passengers in the front left seat or front right seat of the vehicle 10 . When configured as an AV, the vehicle 10 may be adapted such that the track 16 and/or dashboard 18 enable the steering wheel 14 to collapse or fold down and be hidden away within the dashboard 18 .
The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 may also be used in a vehicle that has a center front seat, a bench seat in the front row of the vehicle 10 , or a laterally movable seat that can be positioned in a center position (e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 14 below). Also, with the possibility of operating the vehicle 10 from a center position, as is possible with the implementations of the steering assembly 12 described in the present disclosure, the center console 20 of the vehicle 10 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , may be omitted, thus giving the center-positioned driver adequate leg room and allowing the driver to operate pedals or other suitable acceleration activator devices and deceleration activator devices on a floor panel of the vehicle 10 (e.g., as described with respect to FIGS. 4 - 7 ).
The vehicle 10 may furthermore be adapted, as illustrated in FIG. 3 , such that the display panel 24 includes the instrument panel display 32 shown at a central position behind the steering wheel 14 location. Thus, when the vehicle 10 is manually operated by a driver from this central position, the instrument panel display 32 can be easily viewed by the driver. Also, in this arrangement, the display panel 24 may one or more additional displays 42 positioned on the left side of the instrument panel display 32 and/or one or more additional displays 42 positioned on the right side of the instrument panel display 32 .
According to some embodiments, the steering wheel 14 may include one or more selectors 44 or other type of selection components for allowing the driver to select a level of autonomy for driving the vehicle. For example, the selectors 44 may allow the driver to select any level from Level 0 through Level 5 of the SAE definition of autonomous driving modes, depending on the modes that are available on the vehicle 10 . Other selections can be made using selectors 44 .
Therefore, according to some embodiments, the vehicle 10 may be equipped with the track 16 oriented substantially in a side-to-side direction with respect to the vehicle 10 . The side-to-side direction may be defined as a substantially horizontal direction with respect to a ground surface on which the vehicle 10 rests and may be substantially perpendicular with a forward-facing direction of the vehicle 10 . In addition to the track 16 , the vehicle 10 may also include the steering wheel 14 adapted to slide laterally along the track 16 .
The vehicle 10 can be operated in a first mode or a second mode, the first mode being defined as a fully human-operated mode and the second mode being defined as a driver-assisted mode, autonomous mode, automatic driving mode, self-driving mode, or driverless mode. When operated in the second mode, the steering wheel 14 may be adapted to be fixed in a center position ( FIG. 3 ) along the track 16 . Also, in the second mode, the steering wheel 14 may be adapted to be collapsed under the instrument panel or dashboard 18 of the vehicle 10 .
In some embodiments, the vehicle 10 may further comprise the display panel 24 positioned adjacent to the dashboard 18 . The display panel 24 may be adapted to display an instrument panel image 32 at a position on the display panel 24 corresponding to the positioning of the steering wheel 14 along the lateral track 16 . The instrument panel image 32 may include at least one operational condition of the vehicle (e.g., <figure-callout id="34" label="speed" filenames="US11801884-20231031-D00001.
CLAIMS
Claims ( 18 )
What is claimed is:
1. A pedal system of a vehicle, the pedal system comprising:
one or more of an acceleration activator device and a deceleration activator device comprising a pressure sensitive pad disposed in a floor mat of the vehicle in a location coincident with a steering wheel assembly of the vehicle, wherein each of the acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device is electrically coupled to an associated acceleration controller or deceleration controller,
wherein the one or more of the acceleration activator device and the deceleration activator device is adapted to be movable between multiple of a center activator position, a left-hand activator position, and a right-hand activator position in the vehicle coincident with the steering wheel assembly of the vehicle.
2. The pedal system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the acceleration activator device and the deceleration activator device comprises a combination acceleration and deceleration device comprising the pressure sensitive pad.
3. The pedal system of claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel assembly is part of a steering system comprising:
a track assembly formed in a dashboard of the vehicle and oriented in a side-to-side orientation with respect to the vehicle, the side-to-side orientation being horizontal with respect to a ground surface and perpendicular with respect to a forward-facing direction of the vehicle, wherein the steering wheel assembly is movably coupled to the track assembly and adapted to slide laterally from side to side along the track assembly and be fixed in multiple of a center position, a left-hand position, and a right-hand position along the track assembly; and
a display panel positioned on the dashboard and having a width traversing a length of the dashboard corresponding to at least a length of the track assembly comprising a reconfigurable instrument panel display positionable within the display panel in multiple of the center position, the left-hand position, and the right-hand position along the track assembly corresponding to the steering wheel assembly.
4. The pedal system of claim 3 , wherein fixing the steering wheel assembly in the left-hand position enables a driver to manually operate the vehicle from a left-hand side of the vehicle and fixing the steering wheel assembly the right-hand position enables the driver to manually operate the vehicle from a right-hand side of the vehicle.
5. The pedal system of claim 3 , wherein the steering wheel assembly is adapted to be fixed in all of the center position, the left-hand position, and the right-hand position.
6. The pedal system of claim 3 , wherein the steering wheel assembly is adapted to be moved laterally from side to side along the track assembly one of during manufacture and after manufacture.
7. The pedal system of claim 3 , wherein the vehicle is adapted to be operated in a first mode or a second mode, the first mode being defined as a fully human-operated mode and the second mode being defined as a driver-assisted mode, autonomous mode, automatic driving mode, self-driving mode, or driverless mode.
8. The pedal system of claim 7 , wherein, when operated in the second mode, the steering wheel assembly is adapted to be fixed in the center position along the track assembly.
9. The pedal system of claim 8 , wherein the steering wheel assembly is adapted to be collapsed under and extended from an instrument panel of the vehicle.
10. A vehicle defining a front/back axis substantially oriented in a forward-facing direction, the vehicle comprising:
a pedal system comprising one or more of an acceleration activator device and a deceleration activator device comprising a pressure sensitive pad disposed in a floor mat of the vehicle in a location coincident with a steering wheel assembly of the vehicle, wherein each of the acceleration activator device and deceleration activator device is electrically coupled to an associated acceleration controller or deceleration controller,
wherein the one or more of the acceleration activator device and the deceleration activator device is adapted to be movable between multiple of a center activator position, a left-hand activator position, and a right-hand activator position in the vehicle coincident with the steering wheel assembly of the vehicle.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the one or more of the acceleration activator device and the deceleration activator device comprises a combination acceleration and deceleration device comprising the pressure sensitive pad.
12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the steering wheel assembly is part of a steering system comprising:
a track assembly formed in a dashboard of the vehicle and oriented in a side-to-side orientation with respect to the vehicle, the side-to-side orientation being horizontal with respect to a ground surface and perpendicular with respect to a forward-facing direction of the vehicle, wherein the steering wheel assembly is movably coupled to the track assembly and adapted to slide laterally from side to side along the track assembly and be fixed in multiple of a center position, a left-hand position, and a right-hand position along the track assembly; and
a display panel positioned on the dashboard and having a width traversing a length of the dashboard corresponding to at least a length of the track assembly comprising a reconfigurable instrument panel display positionable within the display panel in multiple of the center position, the left-hand position, and the right-hand position along the track assembly corresponding to the steering wheel assembly.
13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein fixing the steering wheel assembly in the left-hand position enables a driver to manually operate the vehicle from a left-hand side of the vehicle and fixing the steering wheel assembly the right-hand position enables the driver to manually operate the vehicle from a right-hand side of the vehicle.
14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the steering wheel assembly is adapted to be fixed in all of the center position, the left-hand position, and the right-hand position.
15. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the steering wheel assembly is adapted to be moved laterally from side to side along the track assembly one of during manufacture and after manufacture.
16. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is adapted to be operated in a first mode or a second mode, the first mode being defined as a fully human-operated mode and the second mode being defined as a driver-assisted mode, autonomous mode, automatic driving mode, self-driving mode, or driverless mode.
17. The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising a gear shifting device coupled to the steering wheel assembly, the gear shifting device enabling a driver to shift gears of the vehicle.
18. The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising an airbag system coupled to the steering wheel assembly, wherein, during a collision event, the airbag system is adapted to deploy one or more airbags based on a positioning of the steering wheel assembly along the track assembly.
US17/686,557
2019-03-20
2022-03-04
Vehicle having multiple driving positions
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2039-03-20
US11801884B2
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Vehicle having multiple driving positions
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US16/359,201
US11292504B2
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2019-03-20
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Vehicle having multiple driving positions
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US11801884B2
( en )
2019-03-20
2022-03-04
Vehicle having multiple driving positions
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Vehicle having multiple driving positions
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Active
2039-03-20
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2022-03-04
Vehicle having multiple driving positions
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2019-03-20
Vehicle having multiple driving positions
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US11292504B2
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( 1 )
EP3712035B1
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( 1 )
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