Visual display unit for a steering wheel assembly
A visual display unit configured to mount on a steering wheel assembly has a screen display, preferably a touch screen display. The screen display is mounted over an airbag module of the steering wheel assembly. A hinged structure holds the screen display to the steering wheel assembly. The hinged structure is configured to be pivotally attached to a center portion of the steering wheel assembly and non-obstructively movable upon deployment of an airbag. The visual display unit can be a computer or video monitor for occupant viewing while traveling in an autonomous vehicle. The visual display unit includes driver alerts activated by the autonomous vehicle. The visual display unit preferably includes vehicle instrumentation gauges, satellite navigation system, speed, temperature and other data displays.
1. A steering wheel assembly comprises:
a rotatable rim affixed to a center armature attached to a steering shaft configured to steer a vehicle, the rotatable rim being rotatable about a central axis of the steering shaft;
a non-rotatable mounting assembly positioned spaced apart from and within a perimeter defined by the rotatable rim, wherein the rotatable rim is rotatable about the non-rotatable mounting assembly;
an airbag module mounted onto and forming a part of the non-rotatable mounting assembly, the airbag module configured to deploy an inflatable airbag cushion between the rim and an occupant; and
a visual display unit mounted to the non-rotatable mounting assembly and positioned within the perimeter of the rim, wherein the rotatable rim is rotatable about the visual display unit, and the visual display unit is non-rotatable about the central axis;
wherein upon deployment of the airbag cushion, the visual display unit does not impede the airbag cushion deployment, and
wherein the visual display unit is attached to a hinged structure for allowing the visual display to rotate about a rotational axis transverse to the central axis, the hinged structure including a pair of guide grooves on the non-rotatable mounting assembly or on the airbag module and the visual display unit being movable along the guide grooves.
2. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit moves during an airbag cushion deployment.
3. The steering wheel assembly of claim 2 wherein the hinged structure is configured to pivot about said airbag module during deployment.
4. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit is attached to a cover affixed to the airbag module.
5. The steering wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein the airbag module has the cover open on deployment and the visual display unit moves with the cover.
6. The steering wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein the cover has a frangible opening that tears on deployment and the visual display unit is stationary and affixed to a fixed portion of the cover removed from the frangible opening.
7. The steering wheel assembly of claim 6 wherein the frangible opening of the cover is positioned along an upper portion or lower portion of the airbag module defined as centered at 12:00 o'clock or 6:00 o'clock position where 12:00 o'clock is an upper position and 6:00 o'clock is a lower position relative to the steering wheel assembly.
8. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit has a touch screen for controlling the visual display unit.
9. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit has a rigid display.
10. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit has a flexible touch screen display directly affixed to the airbag module.
11. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit is tiltably adjustable at a viewer's discretion.
12. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit is positioned relative to the rotatable rim above, at or below a plane defined by the perimeter of the rotatable rim.
13. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the rotatable rim is spaced a distance from the airbag module and visual display unit to facilitate hand grip along 360 degrees of the perimeter of the rotatable rim.
14. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit is part of an autonomous vehicle drive system.
15. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the visual display unit broadcasts incoming calls, text messages and video including satellite navigation systems.