Operation of servo devices for driving a motor vehicle - control, arrangement and method
US5335743A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20834
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A steering wheel (11) is fitted with a control (13) which, when operated in mutually independent control directions (41-45), controls the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, as well as upward and downward gear changing, and activates one of a number of cruise control functions. The control (13) may preferably be mounted immediately adjacent to the steering wheel rim (15) on the upper side of a wheel spoke (12), so that it may readily be operated by the driver's thumb without the necessity of releasing the grip on the wheel. Thus, the control incorporates all of the most essential driving control functions. The control according to the present invention encourages the driver to select, at an early stage, those accelerator and gear-change parameters which are most advantageous to economic driving or are most suited to the prevailing traffic conditions, the control actions required involving a minimum of manual movements. The present invention also relates to an arrangement and a method of controlling servo devices for the driving of a motor vehicle, utilizing the control (13) mounted on the steering wheel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.