Steering module

Details Steering module Steering module

1997-06-19

2001-02-06

Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C200S061540, C200S061570

Reexamination Certificate

active

06183005

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a steering module provided at the center of a steering section of an automobile, and more particularly to the structure of a switch module coupled to the steering module.
Recently, an automobile has been improved in the automation of various operations. With this, travel controlling switches, radio operating switches, etc. are collectively provided at the steering section. A variety of steering switch modules of this type are available. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei 2-95949 has disclosed one example of the steering switch module which is designed as follows:
That is, as shown in
FIG. 11
, a pad
81
is provided at the center of a steering handle
80
, and a car radio operating section
82
, and a telephone operating section
83
are provided on the pad
87
.
The internal structure of the pad
81
is shown in
FIG. 12. A
membrane switch sheet
85
, and the pad
81
are fixedly mounted on a printed circuit board
86
, and movable operating keys
82
and
83
are provided on the pad
81
. The membrane switch sheet
85
comprises: a spacer; and a thin sheet having electrodes at positions corresponding to those of the operating keys
82
and
83
.
The printed circuit board
86
has rectangular openings
87
at the positions corresponding to those of the operating keys
82
. Around each of the openings
87
, an elliptic contact is formed as a low electrode. Furthermore, the printed circuit board
86
has elliptic contacts at the positions corresponding to those of the telephone operating key
83
, and near each of the elliptic contacts a rectangular or square opening
88
is provided so that a light emitting diode is set in it.
In the above-described steering switch module, the membrane switch sheet
85
and the pad
81
are fixedly mounted on the printed circuit board
86
including the contracts and the output circuit. Hence, the resultant switch module is relatively thin, and small in the number of components.
However, the above-described switch module is rather troublesome to install, because it includes no connecting circuit element which is used for the connection of a wire harness laid in the vehicle body. More specifically, in coupling the switch module to the steering section, it is necessary to additionally perform a connector connecting operation.
Furthermore, the switches on the switch module are limited in function, and it is impossible to mount switches on it, which have other functions.
One of the current technical tendencies of automobiles is to improve the safety. As one link in the improvement of safety, air bags are mounted in the vehicle. However, as for the above-described switch module, the provision of air bags are not taken into consideration. Hence, the switch module is not practical in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a steering module which is simplified in structure as a whole, and which makes it possible to collectively obtain various functions and to improve the functions, and to allow standardizing the wire harness.
The foregoing object of the invention has been achieved by the provision of a steering module which is coupled through an electronic combination switch to a steering column on a vehicle body; in which, according to the invention, between the electronic combination switch and a steering wheel, a switch module is provided which has a switch operating section which is replaced in response to a given control.
In the steering module, the switch module comprises: a PCB (printed circuit board) having a switch programmable function which selects an operating mode in correspondence to the traveling control and performs a control operation; a connecting circuit element which electrically connects the electronic combination switch to the PCB; connectors mounted on the end portions of the PCB; switch means which are selectively coupled to the connector from outside a rear casing which accommodates the connecting circuit element and the PCB, and are controlled; and a semiconductor read-only memory ROM which is mounted on the PCB and replaced from outside the rear casing.
Furthermore, in the steering module, a steering pad is mounted on the switch module through the steering wheel. The steering pad has an air bag and switch operating members adapted to control tact switches on the PCB.
In the above-described steering module, the switch module coupled to the steering wheel has a switch operating section which may be replaced when necessary.
Therefore, the switch operating section can be replaced in response to a given control; that is, without replacement of the whole switch module, a desired control function is obtained. Thus, the steering module having the switch module has a variety of functions, and is simplified in structure.
With respect to the switch module in which the switching means are replaceable, the PCB having the switch programmable function has the connecting circuit element which electrically connects the electronic combination switch to the PCB, and the connector which detachably connects switch means forming the switch operating section, so that the switch means can be replaced, and the ROM can be replaced from outside the rear casing which accommodates the connecting circuit element and the PCB.
Hence, by coupling the switch module to the steering wheel, the electronic combination switch is electrically connected to the switch module. That is, the coupling work and the wiring work are achieved at the same time. This means that the coupling work is high in efficiency according to the invention.
Furthermore, the steering pad having the air bag can be coupled through the steering wheel to the switch module. The steering pad has the switch members to drive the tact switches on the PCB. Hence, the steering module is increased in the number of functions, and is improved in safety.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5744769 (1998-04-01), Proctor et al.
patent: 5808374 (1998-09-01), Miller et al.
patent: 6040542 (2000-03-01), Wolfe
patent: 6062595 (2000-05-01), Ha
patent: 2-95949 (1990-04-01), None

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