US 12,168,470 B2
Steering column with verifiable adjustability and method for operating such a steering column
Christian Pichonnat, Indianapolis, IN (US); and Andreas Willi, Lauterach (AT)
Assigned to thyssenkrupp Presta AG, Eschen (LI); and thyssenkrupp AG, Essen (DE)
Appl. No. 18/265,924
Filed by thyssenkrupp Presta AG, Eschen (LI); and thyssenkrupp AG, Essen (DE)
PCT Filed Dec. 6, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/084460
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 7, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/122680, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 215 759.6 (DE), filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025469 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 1/181 (2006.01); B62D 1/185 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/181 (2013.01) [B62D 1/185 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a support unit by which a positioning unit is adjustably held, and
an adjustment device which is designed to adjust the positioning unit relative to the support unit between a stowed position and a use position,
wherein associated with the steering column is a control unit configured to receive at least one signal,
wherein the control unit is configured to evaluate the at least one signal in terms of a predefined release condition and to produce a release state of the steering column when the at least one signal meets the release condition, and to produce a locked state of the steering column when the at least one signal does not meet the release condition,
wherein adjustment of the positioning unit between the stowed position and the use position is enabled exclusively in the release state.