Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle is operative to apply a friction brake force to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The braking system includes a master cylinder is in fluid communication with a reservoir of brake fluid and in fluid communication with the hydraulic brake device. According to one aspect, the braking system includes an electric brake force generator which moves the brake fluid within the master cylinder to deliver brake fluid to the friction brake device in response to a first predetermined displacement of a brake pedal. The electric brake force generator includes a housing defining a boost chamber filled with brake fluid and in fluid communication with the reservoir of brake fluid and further includes a drive arrangement for creating pressure in the boost chamber.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a mounting bracket and a column jacket moveable relative to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket defines a rake slot having rake slot teeth and a telescope slot having telescope slot teeth. A shaft extends through the rake slot and the telescope slot transverse to a longitudinal axis of the column jacket. A rake lock having rake lock teeth is disposed within the rake slot and a telescope lock having telescope lock teeth is disposed within the telescope slot. The shaft extends through and rotatably supports the rake lock and the telescope lock. The rake lock and the telescope lock rotate as the rake lock and the telescope lock move into interlocking toothed engagement with the slot teeth to avoid peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth and the slot teeth, thereby permitting full meshing engagement between the lock teeth and the slot teeth.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a mounting bracket and a column jacket moveable relative to the mounting bracket to adjust a position of the column jacket. A rake plate is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket and defines a rake slot having rake slot teeth. A telescope plate is pivotably coupled to the column jacket and defines a telescope slot having telescope slot teeth. A rake lock having rake lock teeth is disposed within the rake slot and a telescope lock having telescope lock teeth is disposed within the telescope slot. The rake plate and the telescope plate pivot as the rake lock and the telescope lock move into interlocking toothed engagement to avoid peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth and the slot teeth, thereby permitting full meshing engagement between the lock teeth and the slot teeth.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rear steering angle of a vehicle includes receiving a plurality of signals indicative of rear steering angle; checking at least one of the plurality of signals to determine if it falls within a valid range; correlating at least a first signal of the plurality of signals with at least a second signal of the plurality of signals to determine if either the first signal or the second signal is invalid; and rejecting any signals found to be invalid.

Abstract: A power actuator assembly includes a torque transmission device, a motor mounted to the torque transmission device extending along a motor axis, and a screw coupled to the torque transmission device and extending along a screw axis. An adjustment mechanism interconnects the screw and the torque transmission device and permits selective rotational adjustment between the adjustment mechanism and the torque transmission device to rotate the motor relative to the torque transmission device. A connecting device releasably interconnects the adjustment mechanism to the torque transmission device to permit repeated re-positioning of the motor relative to the torque transmission device.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly is provided that includes a column jacket and a bracket for attaching the assembly to a vehicle. A plate is coupled to the column jacket, and defines a opening therethrough and a slot extending along a longitudinal axis from the opening. A pyrotechnic device interconnects the bracket to a pin, and transversely moves the pin relative to the plate into the opening in response to a collision event. The pin deforms the slot as a result of longitudinal movement of the plate relative to the pin for absorbing energy imparted to the vehicle during the collision event, thereby reducing the likelihood of injuring a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a mounting bracket and a column jacket moveable relative to the mounting bracket to adjust a position of the column jacket. A rake plate is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket and defines a rake slot having rake slot teeth. A telescope plate is pivotably coupled to the column jacket and defines a telescope slot having telescope slot teeth. A rake lock having rake lock teeth is disposed within the rake slot and a telescope lock having telescope lock teeth is disposed within the telescope slot. The rake plate and the telescope plate pivot as the rake lock and the telescope lock move into interlocking toothed engagement to avoid peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth and the slot teeth, thereby permitting full meshing engagement between the lock teeth and the slot teeth.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a mounting bracket and a column jacket moveable relative to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket defines a rake slot having rake slot teeth and a telescope slot having telescope slot teeth. A shaft extends through the rake slot and the telescope slot transverse to a longitudinal axis of the column jacket. A rake lock having rake lock teeth is disposed within the rake slot and a telescope lock having telescope lock teeth is disposed within the telescope slot. The shaft extends through and rotatably supports the rake lock and the telescope lock. The rake lock and the telescope lock rotate as the rake lock and the telescope lock move into interlocking toothed engagement with the slot teeth to avoid peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth and the slot teeth, thereby permitting full meshing engagement between the lock teeth and the slot teeth.

Abstract: A power actuator assembly includes a torque transmission device, a motor mounted to the torque transmission device extending along a motor axis, and a screw coupled to the torque transmission device and extending along a screw axis. An adjustment mechanism interconnects the screw and the torque transmission device and permits selective rotational adjustment between the adjustment mechanism and the torque transmission device to rotate the motor relative to the torque transmission device. A connecting device releasably interconnects the adjustment mechanism to the torque transmission device to permit repeated re-positioning of the motor relative to the torque transmission device.

Abstract: A steering system with reduced coupling between a position overlay unit and a torque overlay unit may include a remote valve assembly for controlling a hydraulic assist force or an electric motor for providing torque overlay and electric assist to a rack of a rack and pinion steering system. In one embodiment, the position overlay unit may provide the assist force and the torque overlay unit may provide a motor command signal to the motor of a differential positioned on a steering shaft. In another embodiment, the position overlay unit may provide the motor command signal and the torque overlay unit may provide the assist force. In either embodiment, the position overlay unit may include variable ratio gain that uses a position signal to output a variable ratio command.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly preferably has a collapsible steering shaft that extends rotatably along a centerline and a collapsible column that houses and co-extends with the shaft. The column preferably has inner and outer jackets that retract axially to collapse the column. An energy absorbing device has a member engaged between the inner and outer jackets and controls the collapse of the column generally via a high load stage and a low load stage of operation. The member is preferably elongated axially having a distal end that is looped over and spaced radially outward from the remainder of the member. The distal end is attached disengagably to the outer jacket via a pin received in a hole in the distal end and a fuse engaged operably to the pin and attached to the outer jacket.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly is provided that includes a column jacket and a bracket for attaching the assembly to a vehicle. A plate is coupled to the column jacket, and defines a opening therethrough and a slot extending along a longitudinal axis from the opening. A pyrotechnic device interconnects the bracket to a pin, and transversely moves the pin relative to the plate into the opening in response to a collision event. The pin deforms the slot as a result of longitudinal movement of the plate relative to the pin for absorbing energy imparted to the vehicle during the collision event, thereby reducing the likelihood of injuring a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle steering device may include a rotatable input shaft, a motor in communication with an input augmentation shaft, the input augmentation shaft and the input shaft sharing a longitudinal axis, and the motor further having a stator stationary with respect to rotation of the input shaft. The vehicle steering device may further include a differential mechanism for providing variable ratio steering to the steering device. The differential mechanism may be a harmonic drive differential or a planetary gearing system. In one embodiment, an external wave generator may be used within the harmonic drive differential gearing mechanism. The vehicle steering device may include a sensorless synchronous machine.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly preferably has a collapsible steering shaft that extends rotatably along a centerline and a collapsible column that houses and co-extends with the shaft. The column preferably has inner and outer jackets that retract axially to collapse the column. An energy absorbing device has an elongated strap having a substantially linear first segment engaged to the inner jacket and a substantially linear second segment engaged to the outer jacket. The first and second segments preferably project in a common axial direction from a bend segment of the strap having a pre-defined radius. At least a portion of the strap is in a preferably converging recess that extends axially with the column. The recess is preferably defined by the outer jacket and is configured to accept the bend segment. During column collapse and thus plastic deformation of the strap, the radius of the bend segment preferably decreases as the bend segment generally scrolls along the length of the strap.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly preferably has a collapsible steering shaft that extends rotatably along a centerline and a collapsible column that houses and co-extends with the shaft. The column preferably has inner and outer jackets that retract axially to collapse the column. An energy absorbing device has a member engaged between the inner and outer jackets and controls the collapse of the column generally via a high load stage and a low load stage of operation. The member is preferably elongated axially having a distal end that is looped over and spaced radially outward from the remainder of the member. The distal end is attached disengagably to the outer jacket via a pin received in a hole in the distal end and a fuse engaged operably to the pin and attached to the outer jacket.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle steering device, comprising, a pancake harmonic drive with an external wave generator surrounding a flex spline that is in mesh with both a tooth matched spline and a dynamic spline, a rotatable input shaft in operable communication with the harmonic drive, a rotatable output shaft in operable communication with the harmonic drive, and a motor in operable communication with the wave generator, and the gear ratio of the input shaft to the output shaft is altered by rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A method for implementing a vehicle stability enhancement (VSE) system for a vehicle is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a handwheel angle input and adjusting the handwheel angle input in response to a variable steering ratio generated in the vehicle. The adjusted handwheel angle input is inputted into a reference model, the reference model thereby outputting one or more desired vehicle handling aspects.

Abstract: A steering system with reduced coupling between a position overlay unit and a torque overlay unit may include a remote valve assembly for controlling a hydraulic assist force or an electric motor for providing torque overlay and electric assist to a rack of a rack and pinion steering system. In one embodiment, the position overlay unit may provide the assist force and the torque overlay unit may provide a motor command signal to the motor of a differential positioned on a steering shaft. In another embodiment, the position overlay unit may provide the motor command signal and the torque overlay unit may provide the assist force. In either embodiment, the position overlay unit may include variable ratio gain that uses a position signal to output a variable ratio command.

Abstract: A vehicle steering device may include a rotatable input shaft, a motor in communication with an input augmentation shaft, the input augmentation shaft and the input shaft sharing a longitudinal axis, and the motor further having a stator stationary with respect to rotation of the input shaft. The vehicle steering device may further include a differential mechanism for providing variable ratio steering to the steering device. The differential mechanism may be a harmonic drive differential or a planetary gearing system. In one embodiment, an external wave generator may be used within the harmonic drive differential gearing mechanism. The vehicle steering device may include a sensorless synchronous machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the feel back torque of a motor provides for receiving a difference between a desired motor position and an actual motor position; filtering the difference into two or more frequency bands; and applying a gain to one or more of the filtered frequency bands in correspondence with the received signal or a low-pass portion of the received signal to provide a motor command.