Methode Electronics, Incorporated

Methode Electronics International Gmbh

Joseph Elias Khoury

Vladimir Karasik

Rajkumar Ramamurthy

Steven R Hoskins

Roland Ruegenberg

Conrad M Pastwa

Michael Shahan

Juergen Korn

Ray C Goff

Norbert G Swidersky

Christopher Robinson

Hans-Juergen Walther

Yih-Chin Lin

Rafic Jergess

The invention relates to a force and angle sensor for measuring the angle of rotation of a shaft () and a force exerted on a torsion rod (), which interconnects two shaft parts () of the shaft (). In a housing (), through which the shaft () runs, are arranged a main circuit board () arranged non-rotatably in relation to the housing () and which has a central opening (), through which the shaft () runs, a first circuit board () for measuring the angle of rotation arranged non-rotatably on a first shaft part () on one side of the main circuit board (), said first circuit board having a central opening () through which the first shaft part () runs, and a second circuit board () for measuring the force connected non-rotatably to the other shaft part () on the other side of the main circuit board (), said second circuit board having a central opening () through which the other shaft part () runs. The planes of the main circuit board (), of the first circuit board () and of the second circuit board () each run perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (). Mutually opposing electrodes for measuring the angle of rotation and/or the force and for the capacitive measurement of the twist between the first circuit board () and the main circuit board () and/or the twist between the second circuit board () and the first circuit board () are arranged on the surfaces of the main circuit board () and of the first circuit board (), said surfaces being turned towards one another, and also on the surfaces of the main circuit board () and of the second circuit board, said surfaces being turned towards one another.

Capacitive force and angle sensor

The present invention is directed towards an electrical contact assembly in a steering wheel that allows the contacts of a primary circuit board to move relative to the corresponding contacts of a secondary circuit board without disengaging the electrical connection. Thus, any minor deviation in the positioning of the primary or secondary circuit board may be compensated for without the loss of electrical contact. The primary circuit board is located in the center of the steering wheel around the steering column. The primary circuit board includes left and right arms which engage and cooperate with left and right button assemblies on the steering wheel to actuate various vehicle controls, such as radio volume and tuning control, in the vehicle. The arms include leaf-spring contacts which resiliently and non-fixedly engage the secondary circuit board which is connected to control buttons on the steering wheel.

Floating contact assembly for a steering wheel

A lighting system for a vehicle having luminescent or 'glow-in-the-dark' markings placed on an interior surface of the vehicle and a light source located remotely from the markings to illuminate the markings, particularly at night. The markings can be placed on any surface inside a vehicle, such as a gear shift know, door handle or steering column control stalk. Additionally, the light source can be placed in the roof of the vehicle, behind a steering wheel, or any other location having an unobstructed view of the markings.

Illuminated surfaces in the interior of an automobile

A windshield wiper lever, wherein a single contact slide operates both as a contact element and as a detent plunger, enabling both wiper wash and wipe functions. To this end, the steering column lever comprises: (i) a hollow knob having an inner wall that defines a plurality of axially disposed detents; (ii) a first slide adapted for translational movement having a cam at one end adapted to engage one of the detents; and (iii) a substrate supporting translational movement of the first slide, the substrate having a trace adapted to engage a conductive member of a second slide to form an electrical connection, wherein one of the detents maintains the electrical connection.

Combined detent plunger and moving contact

A combined windshield front and rear washing and wiping stalk switch having a single contact substrate that is adapted to engage a front wiper carrier, a front wash carrier and a rear wipe/wash carrier. To this end, the multifunctional steering column stalk switch comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) a substrate fixed inside the housing having a first leg and a second leg defining a predetermined angle between the first leg and the second leg; (iii) a conductive trace on one surface of each leg; (iv) a first carrier moveably engaged with the first leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the first leg; (v) a second carrier moveably engaged with the second leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the second leg; (vi) a first manual input device adapted to move the first carrier with respect to the first leg; and (vii) a second manual input device adapted to move the second carrier with respect to the second leg.

Multifunctional windshield wiper stalk switch

A steering lock device includes an override cam slidingly engageable with a steering column, a lock bolt engageable with a recess on a steering shaft, and an override spring clutch attaching the lock bolt to the override cam. In a locked position, i.e., the steering wheel can not rotate, the lock bolt engages the recess of the steering shaft. In an unlocked position, i.e., when the steering wheel can freely rotate, the lock bolt is disengaged from the recess of the steering shaft. When the ignition key is removed from the ignition switch, the lock bolt engages the recess of the steering shaft. When the ignition key enters the ignition switch and is rotated, the lock bolt is removed from the recess of the steering shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Gensingen, Germany

Joseph Elias Khoury