Liquid metal rotary connector apparatus for a vehicle steering wheel and column
US7726972B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R2201/26
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A liquid metal rotary connector for a vehicle steering mechanism utilizes a conductive alloy comprising Gallium, Indium, Tin and Zinc to electrically couple stationary and rotary terminals of the connector. The alloy is a liquid at ambient temperatures, and has a melting point of −36° C., though testing has shown that it operates satisfactorily at temperatures as low as −40° C. In a preferred arrangement, the rotary connector provides a two-wire connection through which power is supplied from the steering column to the steering wheel, and electronic modules located in the steering column and the steering wheel support bi-directional data communication through voltage and current modulation of the supplied power.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.