IP Library Granted Patent US 8,296,012
Granted Patent B2
US 8,296,012 · App. 12/292,150 · Granted Oct 23, 2012

Vehicle communication system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,296,012
App. No.
12/292,150
Granted
Oct 23, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle communication system and communication steering wheel is provided. The communication steering wheel includes a display, a wireless transceiver configured to operably connect to a wireless device, a sensor, configured to obtain directional steering information and a controller, configured to receive input from the wireless transceiver and the sensor and output a signal to the display based on the received input.

Claims (17)

1. A vehicle communication system, comprising:

a steering wheel, comprising:

a display configured to out put information to a driver of the vehicle;

a wireless transceiver configured to operably connect to a wireless device;

a steering sensor, configured to obtain directional steering information; and

a controller, configured to receive input from the wireless transceiver and the sensor and output a signal to the display based on the received input; and

a navigation system, operably connected to the controller, configured to receive input from the wireless device, and

at least one vehicle sensor, configured to collect and provide sensor information about the vehicle to the navigation system;

wherein the controller is configured to determine an appropriate movement of the steering wheel based on an input from the navigation system and wherein the controller is configured to change the appearance of the display based on a comparison between the appropriate movement of the steering wheel and the actual movement of the steering wheel determined from the direction steering information.

2. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor information is at least one of directional heading, acceleration, braking, velocity, yaw, and pitch.

3. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display comprises one or more of an inorganic LED, an organic LED, an LCD display, a TFT display, an incandescent bulb, a plasma display and a CRT display.

4. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is any one of a cell phone, PDA, laptop or other portable electronic device.

5. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the steering sensor is configured to measure at least one of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angle rate, tilt and inertia.

6. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the signal can convey information of any one of telephony commands, caller ID information, audio, text, video, images, navigation information, turn-by-turn directions, point of interest information, vehicle information or financial information.

7. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: a speaker, configured to receive a signal from the controller and output an audio signal.

8. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change the appearance of the display by altering the intensity of the display.

9. A vehicle communication system, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change the appearance of the display by altering the color appearing on the display.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2026
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
Reel/Frame 075554/0717 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jan 13, 2026
From: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC; JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN G.K.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBH
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 074331/0585 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
Reel/Frame 057775/0726 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 057828/0411 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2018
From: TK HOLDINGS INC.
To: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
Reel/Frame 046173/0180 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Apr 17, 2018
From: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 045959/0305 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2009
From: CECH, LEONARD; O'BOYLE, MICHAEL EDMUND
To: TK HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 022487/0914 →