Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC

T K Holdings, Inc.

Erick Paul Staszak

Jason Carl Lisseman

David Andrews

Valerie D Gardner

Dwayne Van'tZelfde

Nicholas Borgerding

Adorian Marc

Jason Peters

Daniel Alt

Norbert Hubert Mueller

Prathap Chandra

Filippo Leone

Makoto Kawaguchi

Kurt Kastelic

Karl Kiefer

Various implementations include a switch assembly that includes a housing and at least two printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are disposed within the housing and are axially arranged relative to each other. One or more force sensors are disposed on one of the PCBs, and, in some implementations, the one or more force sensors receive force input received by a touch overlay plate. Signals from the force sensors are processed to determine a magnitude, acceleration, and/or location of the force input, and a haptic feedback response is received by the touch overlay plate. The haptic feedback response is based on the force magnitude, acceleration, and/or location of input, according to some implementations. Axially arranging the PCBs reduces the footprint of the switch assembly and allows for the inclusion of more electrical components in the switch assembly, according to some implementations.

Switch assembly and methods of use

Various implementations of an illumination system include a light guide, a housing having a ceiling and defining a window, and a base coupled to the housing. The light guide is supported between the base and the ceiling. At least one light source is disposed adjacent a first end of the light guide. The light guide transmits the light from the light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide and the window. One or more tabs extending from the base each define at least one opening, and the at least one opening defined by each tab is alignable with an opening in a spoke portion of a frame. The openings receive a fastener to couple the base to the spoke portion. The housing may be integrally formed with a trim cover coupled to the frame.

Vehicle illumination systems and methods

Systems and methods of printing sensor loops on a sensor mat for use in a steering wheel are disclosed herein. For example, the sensor mat may include a base substrate, one or more printed sensing loops, and an insulating material. The printed sensing loops are made with conductive ink that is disposed upon the base substrate or the insulating layer from a print head and adheres thereto. These sensor mats are versatile with respect to the type of base substrate and insulating materials that may be used, the shape of the sensing loops, and the area each loop may occupy. Shielding loop(s) may also be printed adjacent the sensing loop(s). This configuration allows shielding for the sensing loops as part of the sensing mat, which may reduce the thickness of the steering wheel rim and manufacturing and installation times.

Systems and methods for printing sensor circuits on a sensor mat for a steering wheel

Various implementations of a horn system include one or more force sensors disposed on a first portion of a driver air bag module and one or more actuators disposed on a second portion of the driver air bag module. For example, the force sensors may be disposed adjacent a perimeter of a base plate of the driver air bag module, and the actuators may extend inwardly toward the force sensors from an inner surface of a cover of the driver air bag module, or vice versa. To actuate the horn, the cover is moved axially toward the base plate, causing the actuators to apply force to the force sensors. Force signals received from the force sensors are used by one or more processors to determine characteristics of the force received and/or select a control message for communicating to the horn system based on the force signal characteristics.

Force sensing horn system

Implementations include a display assembly for a switch assembly, comprising a display assembly touch overlay plate, wherein at least a portion of the display assembly touch overlay plate is comprised of a transparent or translucent material; a display, wherein the display is disposed underneath the display assembly touch overlay plate and wherein at least a portion of the display is visible through the portion of the display assembly touch overlay plate; a display assembly first housing and a display assembly second housing, wherein the display assembly touch overlay plate is in communication with the display assembly first housing, wherein a force applied to the display assembly touch overlay plate is at least partially transmitted from the display assembly touch overlay plate to the display assembly first housing to a switch assembly through a central portion of the display assembly first housing.

Display-based switch assembly and methods of use

Various implementations include a steering wheel assembly. The assembly includes a hub, a steering grip, and a hinging mechanism. The hub is configured to be rotatably coupled to a steering column such that the hub is rotatable about a central axis of the steering column. The steering grip has one or more spokes. The hinging mechanism couples the one or more spokes to the hub such that the steering grip is rotatable relative to the hub about a rotational axis from a first position to a second position. The rotational axis is perpendicular to the central axis of the steering column.

Foldable steering wheel

A haptic communication system includes either a switch assembly or a compilation of discretely installed components. The switch assembly and the installed components utilize a haptic actuator to elicit tactile and/or audibly perceptible haptic outputs. The switch assembly and/or a collective haptic communication system includes a processor communicating with the actuator. Computerized instructions cause the processor to receive a message from an external system, identify either an audio or vibrational output signal, and communicate the output signal to the actuator. The audio or vibrational output signal causes the actuator to propagate a respective pressure wave that elicits an audible or inaudible, vibrational response at the output surface of the actuator. The pressure wave causes tactilely and/or audibly perceptible vibration within the individual switch assembly or within an overall installation such as a seat or steering assembly in a vehicle.

Systems and methods of providing haptic feedback

Various implementations of illumination systems are described herein. For example, the illumination system includes a light guide having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the light guide, and at least one light source disposed adjacent the first end of the light guide. The light source emits infrared or visible light into the first end of the light guide. The light guide transmits the light from the light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide. In addition, the system may include a second light source disposed adjacent the second end of the light guide. The second light source emits infrared or visible light into the second end of the light guide.

An illumination system for a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle including a housing coupled to a rim of the steering wheel assembly. At least one visible light source is disposed adjacent the housing and emitting visible light through an opening in the housing. A lens is provided covering the opening in the housing such that an inner surface of the lens is disposed adjacent the opening in the housing. A cover material covers the outer surface of the lens and at least a portion of the rim, and includes translucent and/or transparent portions such that the lens is not visible through the cover material. The visible light from the visible light source passes through the transparent and/or translucent portions of the cover material.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Erick Paul Staszak