The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 2021

Filed:

Aug. 03, 2018
Applicant:

Tesla, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);

Inventors:

Joris Aerts, Amsterdam, NL;

Felix Louis Godard, Los Angeles, CA (US);

Erik Raymond Hammer, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Assignee:

Tesla, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 3/0484 (2013.01); B62D 1/04 (2006.01); B60R 16/023 (2006.01); H01H 57/00 (2006.01); H03K 17/96 (2006.01); B60K 35/00 (2006.01); F16H 63/42 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D 1/046 (2013.01); B60R 16/0231 (2013.01); H01H 57/00 (2013.01); H03K 17/962 (2013.01); H03K 17/964 (2013.01); B60K 35/00 (2013.01); B60K 2370/143 (2019.05); B60K 2370/782 (2019.05); F16H 63/42 (2013.01); F16H 2063/423 (2013.01); G06F 3/017 (2013.01); H01H 2215/05 (2013.01); H03K 2217/96062 (2013.01);
Abstract

A steering wheel assembly includes a steering rim and a steering housing connected to the steering rim. The steering wheel assembly also includes at least one pressure sensitive component disposed within the steering housing. The at least one pressure sensitive component generates electric signals in response to force applied on the steering housing. The at least one pressure sensitive component may include any one of at least one piezoelectric switch, a piezoelectric sensor, and a capacitive array. Further, at least one pressure sensitive component may provide a haptic feedback. Additionally, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) disposed within the steering housing is electrically connected to the at least one pressure sensitive component. The PCB includes a controller that determines a user input or a gesture made by a user on the steering housing based on the electric signals received from the at least one pressure sensitive component.


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