Rotation control system for a steering wheel and method

Abstract

A rotation control system for a steering wheel is provided. The rotation control system includes a steering wheel and a steering shaft operatively coupled to the steering wheel. The rotation control system also includes at least one component operatively coupled to the steering shaft configured to switch the steering wheel between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition.

1 . A rotation control system for a steering wheel comprising:
 a steering wheel;   a steering shaft operatively coupled to the steering wheel; and   at least one component operatively coupled to the steering shaft configured to switch the steering wheel between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition.   
     
     
         2 . The rotation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one component decouples the steering shaft from a steering shaft gear operatively coupled to road wheels of a vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The rotation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one component decouples the steering shaft from the steering wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The rotation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one component comprises a mechanical device. 
     
     
         5 . The rotation control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one component comprises an electrical device. 
     
     
         6 . The rotation control system of  claim 5 , wherein the electrical device de-activates a component operatively coupled to the steering wheel. 
     
     
         7 . The rotation control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a condition switching device configured to allow a user to switch between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition. 
     
     
         8 . The rotation control system of  claim 7 , wherein the condition switching device comprises at least one of a switch, button, handle and voice prompt. 
     
     
         9 . The rotation control system of  claim 7 , wherein the condition switching device comprises the steering wheel, the application of a torque on the steering wheel switching from the non-rotational condition to the rotational condition. 
     
     
         10 . An autonomous vehicle driving system comprising:
 a controller for providing a plurality of autonomous driving functions with a plurality of controller subsystems, wherein one of the controller subsystems comprises a steering wheel rotation control system, the rotation control system comprising:   a steering wheel;   a steering shaft operatively coupled to the steering wheel; and   at least one component operatively coupled to the steering shaft configured to switch the steering wheel between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition.   
     
     
         11 . The autonomous vehicle driving system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one component decouples the steering shaft from a steering shaft gear operatively coupled to road wheels of a vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous vehicle driving system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one component decouples the steering shaft from the steering wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous vehicle driving system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one component comprises a mechanical device. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous vehicle driving system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one component comprises an electrical device. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous vehicle driving system of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical device de-activates a component operatively coupled to the steering wheel. 
     
     
         16 . The autonomous vehicle driving system of  claim 10 , further comprising a condition switching device configured to allow a user to switch between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling a rotational condition of a vehicle steering wheel comprising:
 initiating steering control of a vehicle with an autonomous driving system; and   switching the vehicle steering wheel from a rotational condition to a non-rotational condition.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein switching the vehicle steering wheel from the rotational condition to the non-rotational condition comprises mechanically decoupling at least a portion of a steering shaft from the vehicle steering wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein switching the vehicle steering wheel from the rotational condition to the non-rotational condition comprises electrically de-activating a component operatively coupled to the vehicle steering wheel.