Vehicle steering column control system

• Main Authors: HANSEN, JAMES EDWARD, REID, SCOTT ANDERSON, ROPS, PAUL GREGORY, HUBBELL, RUTH ELLEN, REHM, B. ERICH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 27.11.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORSOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

A control circuit is provided for transferring power and communication signals through a wireless coupling device (10) in a vehicle steering column. The device can comprise a rotary transformer (10) having a primary and secondary magnetic structure respectfully associated with the wheel side and column side of the steering column. A squib power circuit (20, 60) transforms a high energy power signal suitable for firing an air bag from the column side to the wheel side. A low energy power circuit (30) generates a signal from the column side to the wheel side suitable for operating isolated wheel side electronics, such as cruise control and the like. A tone encoder and decoder circuit (40) communicates low level control signals suitable for signalling wheel side commands from the wheel side to the column side. The low energy power circuit (30) and the tone encoder circuit (40) operate simultaneously and continuously without signal debilitating interaction.