| US 7,560,905 B2 | ||
| Vehicle steering wheel power switch apparatus and method | ||
| Yvan Lafontaine, Grand-Mère (Canada) | ||
| Assigned to Teleflex Megatech, Inc., Grand-Mere, Quebec (Canada) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 28, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/236,571. | ||
| Application 11/236571 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/961297, filed on Oct. 12, 2004, granted, now 7,405,540. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/516757, filed on Nov. 04, 2003. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/512100, filed on Oct. 20, 2003. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/512089, filed on Oct. 20, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0106237 A1, May 08, 2008 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. H01M 10/44 (2006.01); H01M 10/46 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 320—166 | 28 Claims |
| 1. A method for powering at least one subsystem switch provided on a steering wheel assembly of an off road vehicle, comprising:
providing a rechargeable accumulator having an energy level, in said steering wheel assembly;
powering said switch from said accumulator;
providing an energy source in said off road vehicle, able to induce recharge energy into said accumulator; comparing one of
a detected value of said energy level with an energy threshold value corresponding to a value of said energy level sufficient
to power said at least one switch and enable its use, and
a detected time elapsed since recharge energy was induced into said accumulator with a time threshold value corresponding
to a time after which said energy level equals said energy threshold value,
determining one of a sufficiency and an insufficiency of said energy level upon said comparison;
if said comparison yields said insufficiency, instructing said energy source to recharge said accumulator, thereby increasing
said energy level; and
repeating said steps of comparing, determining, and instructing thereby ensuring said sufficiency.
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