Engagement of a sensor system with a vehicle operating device
US7377186B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D1/046
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A steering wheel has a structural skeleton forming a core within an outer covering, the covering and skeleton forming a hub portion having at least one arm interconnecting the hub portion with an outer wheel portion. The skeleton within the outer wheel portion has a U-shaped cross sectional conformation. A wire harness is positioned within the U-shaped conformation of the outer wheel portion and a plurality of ethanol detectors are mounted in spaced apart relationship within the outer wheel portion and adjacent to an outer surface of the steering wheel. The ethanol detectors communicate with the wire harness and an electrical circuit, the circuit engaging the hub portion of the skeleton. The circuit is in communication with the wire harness for receiving electrical signals from the ethanol detectors for sensing ethanol vapors in proximity to at least one of the ethanol detectors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.