Horn switch and ancillary device switches for vehicles

Details Horn switch and ancillary device switches for vehicles Horn switch and ancillary device switches for vehicles

1999-12-16

2001-07-10

Trieu, Van T. (Department: 2632)

Communications: electrical

Condition responsive indicating system

Specific condition

C340S438000, C340S552000, C250S229000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06259364

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a horn switch or a switch for an ancillary device in a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Before the advent of airbag systems, the horn switch was typically mounted on the hub of the steering wheel. The mounting or installation of the horn switch was straightforward and vehicle operator grew accustomed to the location of the horn switch.
With the advent of airbag systems, the use of a hub mounted horn switch has become cumbersome. The difficulty in mounting the horn switch stems from the insertion of an airbag module beneath the cover of the steering wheel hub as well as the conversion of the cover of the steering wheel hub into a deployment door.
To overcome the expense and challenge of mounting a horn switch on the center of the steering wheel, the industry has developed different locations for mounting the horn switch along with different operating mechanisms of the horn switch. One approach has been to have the whole airbag module move to close a switch. This approach has led to very complex steering wheel/airbag design and manufacturing. Another approach to the problem is the utilization of membrane switches that reduce the problems associated with moving the whole airbag module to close a switch; however, these switches have temperature and humidity limitations. Another approach is the relocation of the horn switch to the spokes of the steering wheel. The downside of this approach is that this placement provides a source of inconvenience for the vehicle operator.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,828 teaches a horn switch having specially designed optically conductive material capable of detecting deformation of its medium. The drawbacks to this horn switch are the undue hardship required in molding the steering wheel was well as the possibility of the conductive material becoming a projectile during deployment of the airbag. This patent requires the use of the optically conductive material for the functioning of the horn switch but does not teach or suggest a design for this invention that does not employ special optically conductive material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided in accordance with one aspect of the invention an inexpensive horn switch that can be mounted underneath the airbag cover. There has been a long felt need for a practical, low cost horn switch for use with an airbag equipped steering wheel. The present invention is beautiful in its simplicity and its low cost. The horn switch comprises a light source which generates a light signal and a light detector which measures the intensity of the light signal. The horn switch is activated by either partially obstructing the light signal or by altering the orientation or alignment of the light source or light detector.
There is provided in accordance with another aspect of the invention optical switches for controlling various vehicle devices. The electronic components of these optical switches can be identical to the disclosed horn switches. The optical switches can be mounted on the airbag cover as well as on the spokes or rim of the steering wheel or any other suitable vehicle component.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 5743555 (1998-04-01), Durrani
patent: 5934702 (1999-08-01), Coleman
patent: 6040532 (2000-03-01), Munch
patent: WO 9427301 (1994-11-01), None
patent: WO 9805543 (1998-02-01), None

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